ASCAP's Rhythm & Soul Team Presents... Women Behind the Music

NEW YORK, NY--(Marketwire - August 17, 2009) - ASCAP (the American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers) has revealed plans for ASCAP Presents... Women Behind the Music, a new series of events produced exclusively by the women of ASCAP's Rhythm & Soul Team. The program is designed to encourage and recognize women in the music creator community, and will feature showcases and educational panels in Atlanta, Los Angeles and New York.

"We're very excited to launch this new series," said Nicole George, ASCAP Assistant Vice President of Membership, Rhythm & Soul. "Whether established or just starting out in their careers, our goal is to encourage the professional development and career advancement of our talented female songwriters and artists, and recognize their positive contributions to music."

The "Women Behind the Music" series kicks off in Atlanta on Tuesday, August 25 with a high-profile showcase taking place at 595 North Lounge, 595 North Ave. NW, (North Ave. & Northside Dr.). Headlining the showcase is Grammy Award-winning songwriter Kandi Burruss, who has written songs for several major artists, including Mariah Carey, Whitney Houston, Alicia Keys and TLC. Burruss, a former member of R&B girl group Xscape, was named ASCAP Songwriter of the Year at the organization's Rhythm & Soul Music Awards in 2000, and is the first female to receive this honor at the annual awards ceremony. Burruss is currently working on her sophomore solo CD, titled B.L.O.G.S., scheduled for release this fall, and is the newest addition to Bravo's hit reality show, "The Real Housewives of Atlanta."

Completing the line-up for the Atlanta showcase is Alja Jackson aka Jesse James (Leftfield/Interscope Records), Mika Means (Universal/Motown Records), Myxx (Drift City Records), and Brittany Street (Good ComPENy). The showcase will also feature DJ Traci Steele of 95.5 The Beat, who is Musiq Soulchild's official DJ. The event starts at 9:00pm and is free and open to the public, 18 & over with ID. Please RSVP to kbrown.ascap@gmail.com. Donations will be accepted at this event for Susan G. Komen For The Cure - Greater Atlanta Area.

Other events in the "Women Behind the Music" series include a panel in New York on September 2nd, a showcase in Los Angeles on September 8th, and a special interview in New York on September 9th. More details to be announced.

About ASCAP

Established in 1914, ASCAP is the first and leading U.S. Performing Rights Organization (PRO) representing the world's largest repertory totaling over 8.5 million copyrighted musical works of every style and genre from more than 350,000 songwriter, composer and music publisher members. ASCAP has representation arrangements with similar foreign organizations so that the ASCAP repertory is represented in nearly every country around the world where copyright law exists. ASCAP protects the rights of its members and foreign affiliates by licensing the public performances of their copyrighted works and distributing royalties based upon surveyed performances. ASCAP is the only American PRO owned and governed by its writer and publisher members. www.ascap.com