WEST COAST SONGWRITERS 44th ANNUAL CONFERENCE
Los Angeles College of Music (LACM)
300 S Fair Oaks Ave, Pasadena, CA 91105
SEPTEMBER 27-29, 2024
Join us at the West Coast Songwriters Conference hosted in collaboration with the Los Angeles College of Music (LACM) and DISCO! This dynamic event brings together aspiring songwriters, industry professionals, and music enthusiasts for a day of education, networking, and propelling songwriters’ careers.
Standard Price
Price ends September 26th!
Purchase your standard price ticket before it increases!
$300
Late Price
Available for online and walk-up registration.
$350*
*Member price $310
View Schedule
Event Highlights:
- Interactive Workshops: Dive into interactive workshops led by industry experts, covering topics such as songwriting techniques, music production, and music business essentials.
- Song Critique Sessions: Receive valuable feedback on your songs from experienced songwriters and producers, including insights on lyric writing, melody development, and arrangement.
- Keynote Presentations: Gain insights from keynote speakers on the latest trends in the music industry and strategies for advancing your career as a songwriter.
- Performance Opportunities: Showcase your talent in live performances and open mic sessions, connecting with fellow musicians and industry professionals.
- Networking and Collaboration: Engage with DISCO and LACM representatives and other attendees to explore collaboration opportunities, discover new music, and expand your professional network.
Why Attend:
- Learn from Experts: Benefit from the knowledge and expertise of renowned industry professionals as well as those from LACM and DISCO, gaining practical skills to enhance your songwriting craft.
- Connect with Peers: Build meaningful connections with fellow songwriters, exchange ideas, and collaborate on creative projects.
- Unlock Opportunities: Discover new opportunities for exposure, licensing, and career advancement in the music industry.
Event Details:
- Date: September 27, 28, 29
- Location: LACM, 300 S Fair Oaks Ave, Pasadena, CA 91105
- Registration: Secure your spot and join us for an inspiring weekend dedicated to songwriting excellence!
Join Us at the West Coast Songwriters Conference for an Unforgettable Experience! Elevate your songwriting journey, expand your musical horizons, and connect with a community of passionate creatives at this collaborative event presented by WCS and hosted by LACM and sponsored DISCO.
View Schedule
Confirmed Guests
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Heather Holley
Multi-platinum songwriter and produce Heather Holley is a multi-platinum songwriter and producer known for her pivotal role in launching Christina Aguilera’s career. She and Rob Hoffman wrote and produced the demo that led to Christina signing with RCA. The demo included Heather’s song “Obvious,” which appeared on Christina’s debut album which debuted at #1 on…
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Michael “Smidi” Smith
2-time Emmy award winner and 3-time BMI Film and TV Award winner Michael “Smidi” Smith is a Clio, Telly, Addy, 2-time Emmy award winner and 3-time BMI Film and TV Award winner. Smid has produced and written songs that have sold over 14 million copies worldwide including multiple #1 songs, albums and top tens. Smidi…
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Alex Elena
Grammy Nominated Producer Curiosity has always been the driving force behind anything I do. Italian born music producer and photographer, Alex Elena has built an illustriouscareer over 30 years. He began touring as a drummer for Bruce Dickinson (IronMaiden) at age 17 and then played on Avril Lavigne’s multi-platinum debut album“Let Go” as well as…
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Barbie Quinn
BMI: Senior Director, Distribution & Publisher Relations Barbie Quinn is Senior Director, Distribution & Publisher Relations at Broadcast Music, Inc(BMI) in Los Angeles. She works closely with the departments of Operations and InformationTechnology as part of an integral team responsible for the ongoing development of royaltypayment policies and procedures regarding music use reporting in audio-visual productionsaired…
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Eric Polin
Music Business Consultant This high-level entertainment industry executive has over 25 years of experience,ranging from film to music to TV to home entertainment. He has identified anddeveloped strategic initiatives worth tens of millions of dollars, and has a proventrack record of achieving sustained double-digit income growth for his companiesand their clients. Eric Polin is currently…
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Garrett M. Johnson, ESQ.
Specializing in entertainment and tax law Garrett Johnson is a member of the Bars of New York and the District of Columbiaspecializing in entertainment and tax law. Currently representing a wide spectrum ofcreative talent and industry participants, including musicians, authors, recording artists,composers, screenwriters, playwrights, record producers, artist managementcompanies, independent film makers and record labels, Mr.…
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Jonathan Haskell
Alibi Music Your Role in 25 Words or Less My role is to register ALIBI’s songs worldwide, across all sources of income, and ensure that the company and its composers are accurately paid for their work. Personal Mantra It’s what I tell my Little League team: Attitude and effort. Mistakes make us human. It’s our…
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Jeff Brabec, ESQ
Jeff Brabec is Senior Vice President of Legal and Business Affairs for BMG (representing, among others, the catalogues of Bruno Mars, John Legend, Kurt Cobain, Roger Waters, ZZ Top, OutKast, Buddy Holly, David Bowie, Chuck Berry, Bo Diddley, My Morning Jacket, John Lee Hooker, Devo, Hal David, Blondie, Paul Anka, Billy Idol, Jethro Tull, Burt Bacharach,…
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Micki Stern
Warner Chappell Senior Vice President, Clearance and Sync Licensing Prior to joining Warner Chappell in 2019 as Vice President of Clearance and Sync Licensing, Stern ran her own music clearance company, Micki Stern Music Services, for over a decade. She worked closely with music supervisors, studios and independent companies to clear tracks for more than…
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Caleb McFadden
Music Coordinator at Clearly Music Services Caleb McFadden is a music business professional specializing in sync licensing and music supervision. He carries a wealth of knowledge from his past experiences in music performance, artist relations, and talent booking. Currently, Caleb is on the Music Supervision team at Jingle Punks and is the Music Coordinator at Clearly Music…
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Patty and Michael Silversher
WCS Founders, Disney, Jim Henson Michael and Patty Silversher have been writing songs together since 1989 . They have written hundreds of songs and scores for Walt Disney, Jim Henson, Sony, Children’s Television Workshop, Warner Bros, etc., including the theme songs to the TV series, Gummi Bears and Tale Spin for Disney, and Pajanimals for…
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Karl McHugh
Vice-President West Coast Songwriters, Singer-Songwriter Karl McHugh’s folk/rock songwriting is a fusion of his upbringing in Donegal, Ireland and his current home in the San Francisco Bay Area. The retro-style folk music falls somewhere between the purview of Paul Simon and CCR, evoking a house party singalong vibe: fun, warm, inclusive, and good for a…
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David Quan
Board of Directors AIMP David Quan, Head of Licensing & Administration at The Greater Goods Co. Board of Directors of the Los Angeles Chapter of the Association of Independent Music Publishers (AIMP). David Quan is a 30 year veteran of the music industry and is an expert in all facets of Music Publishing. He is…
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Claudia Campos Jugo
Account Executive @ DISCO I am an outgoing leader that makes things happen. I have a strategic mind combined with a hands-on approach to generate innovative and practical solutions to any problem thrown at me. I recently graduated with my M.A. in Global Entertainment & Music Business from Berklee College of Music, specializing in the…
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Tracey & Vance Marino
The Kelly Clarkson Show, Today Show, Late Show, Tonight Show… Tracey & Vance Marino are known for writing and producing happy, upbeat music and have had hundreds of placements in film, TV, commercials, trailers, video games, and promos. Their music has been on CBS, NBC, ABC, Netflix, HBO, Hallmark; talk shows like The Kelly Clarkson Show,…
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Serona Elton MLC
Elton directs The MLC’s efforts to engage future members…. Serona Elton serves as Head of Educational Partnerships for The Mechanical Licensing Collective (TheMLC). In this role, Elton directs The MLC’s efforts to engage future members of the music industrycurrently studying music business and related subjects at colleges and universities across the countryand around the world.…
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Ken Caillat
Fleetwood Mac albums Rumours, Tusk, Mirage, Live, and The Chain Box Set… KEN CAILLAT Ken Caillat is a Grammy-winning record producer and engineer. His legendary work has earned him multiple Grammy nominations including ‘Best Engineered Album’, and the ‘Album of the Year’ Grammy award for Fleetwood Mac’s “Rumours”, one the best selling albums of all…
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Warner Chappell Music
We have offices in more than 20 countries and are home to a wide array of songwriters spanning all genres, with material ranging from top-charting contemporary hits to a rich catalog of influential standards. We provide deep expertise across a myriad of creative services and offer the most innovative opportunities for songwriters and copyright holders. With a…
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Chris Keller
Stephen Wilson Jr., Anderson East, Amanda Brown, Natalie Mendoza Chris Keller has been coaching vocals and performing in rock, pop and country bands for over 20 years in New York and Nashville. Founder and Vocal Expert of Chris Keller Vocal Studio, Chris gets the best vocals out of singers with his uniquely holistic approach that…
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Doug Green
New Rivals Entertainment Hailing from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Doug Green started New Rivals Entertainment with a strong passion for music which built the foundation of his company. Green began his professional career in 2012 as Director of Business Affairs for Flexitone Records run by David Ivory. Ivory is a Grammy Award-nominated multi-Platinum recording engineer, producer, studio owner, and…
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The MLC
The Mechanical Licensing Collective (The MLC) is a nonprofit organization designated by the U.S. Copyright Office pursuant to the historic Music Modernization Act of 2018. In January 2021, The MLC began administering blanket mechanical licenses to eligible streaming and download services (digital service providers or DSPs) in the United States. The MLC collects the royalties…
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BMI
BMI was founded in 1939 by forward-thinkers who wanted to represent songwriters in emerging genres, like jazz, blues and country, and protect the public performances of their music. BMI is currently the largest music rights organization in the U.S. and continues to nurture new talent and new music.
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Jonathan Lane
Clearly Music Services My name is Jonathan Lane. I’m a Music Supervisor and Music Executive with over 15 years in the music-for-media industry. I operate my own music supervision company called Clearly Music Services while simultaneously serving as the VP, Head of TV & Film at Audio Network (one of the largest global music for…
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Richard Harris
Richard is a #1 Billboard songwriter,producer, artist and mentor. Transplanted from the UK over a decade ago to LA, Richard quickly signed a staff writer publishing deal with Peer Music landing multiple major label song cuts all around the world. With several #1’s, top ten singles and platinum records he continues to have hits including…
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Atrium
“Atrium brings together musicians from all around the world and combines their talents to offer a wide musical range consisting of all current styles. With the help of our vast musical offerings, our clients can apply the emotion needed to their projects and add to the soul that helps tell their stories.”
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AIMP
Association of Independent Music Publishers (AIMP) The Association of Independent Music Publishers (AIMP) was formed in 1977 and has local chapters in Atlanta, Los Angeles, Nashville, and New York. The organization’s primary focus is to educate and inform music publishers about the most current industry trends and practices by providing a forum for the discussion…
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Jen Adan
Platinum Songwriter Jennifer’s journey began in San Mateo, California, when she was 10 years old. During a fifth-grade history class, Jennifer secretly wrote her first song unaware that it could lead to a career. At age 15, she revealed her talent by playing her parents a song she’d written for their 25th wedding anniversary. In…
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Wendy Parr
Sara Bareilles, Regina Spektor, Melanie Martinez Wendy Parr, The Holistic Artist Coach + Founder of The Parr Method has spent more than 20 years in the entertainment industry empowering recording artists to develop their authentic voice with consistency across every platform. Starting her artist career at the age of 8, it is her personal and…
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Steven Baughman
Michael Jackson, Usher, Dr. Dre, Eminem, Snoop Dogg… Steven Baughman (Producer, Engineer, Mixer, Studio Owner) Steve Baughman is a classically trained musician who was adopted into a family of music teachers in Sacramento, California. He developed a love for producing early in life, recording his friends on a 4-track, using his closet as a sound…
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Darian Cowgill
Darian is an independent audio engineer and co-founder of Atrium Music,[1] Atrium has been operational since 1998. Atrium Music,[2] a music licensing and publishing firm, focuses not only on the individual artist, but their independent and continual growth. The Atrium library consists of over 3000 composers and independent artists licensed from around the world for the purpose…
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Maria Christensen
Celine Dion, Jennifer Lopez, N’Sync MARIA CHRISTENSEN is a multi platinum award winning songwriter and artist with hit songs recorded by global artists including Celine Dion, Jennifer Lopez, N’Sync and many placements in Disney films and TV shows including Girl Meets World and Stuck In The Middle. Originally from South Florida by way of Pittsburgh, PA, Her…
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Steven Memel
Steven Memel, Creator of The Science of Switching On Steven Memel is an internationally acclaimed voice & performance coach, based in Los Angeles, CA. He is the creator of and the energy behind “The Science Of Switching On”, a unique and impactful system that enables him to achieve rapid and dramatic results with all performers.…
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Ned Hearn, ESQ
Attorney/Author/Past President of West Coast Songwriters Ned’s practice concentrates on the entertainment, Internet, and computer software businesses. A partial listing of past and present clients include: Will Ackerman, Starbucks/Hear Music, Joe Satriani, SF Weekly, Klutz Press, Wells Fargo Creative Services and Green Day. Additionally, Ned has co-authored Musician’s Guide to Copyright and Musician’s Business and Legal Guide Member, Board of Directors, California Lawyers…
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Todd Brabec, ESQ
Todd Brabec, former ASCAP Executive Vice President and Worldwide Director of Membership, is an entertainment law attorney and industry consultant, a Deems Taylor Award–winning co-author of the best-selling music business book Music, Money, and Success: the Insiders Guide to Making Money in the Music Business, now in its eighth edition (Schirmer Trade Books/Music Sales) as…
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Melissa Harding
Sixx:A.M, “Mania, the Show!” “I’m thrilled to be on the board for WCS! I look forward to expanding our reach to artists of all kinds in Los Angeles and beyond, and creating a buzzing community focused on networking, collaboration, and educational opportunities!’ Melissa Harding is a Los Angeles based singer, songwriter and vocal coach with…
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Geoff Mayfield
Billboard and Universal Music writer, Geoff’s credits include former Billboard and Universal Music writer, now at Los Angeles College of Music and a contributor to Variety and Billboard.
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Jennifer Smith
Jennifer Smith is the founder of the LA based Music Supervision company “Rat Dance Party” and has worked in the music and media industry for over a decade. She started her career as part of the music teams for Dancing With The Stars (ABC), The Ellen Show (WB), and America’s Best Dance Crew (MTV). Her…
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Kasia “KC” Livingston
Kasia “KC” Livingston is a singer/songwriter who broke into the scene with her Grammy-nominated, worldwide #1 single “StickWitU” by thePussycat Dolls. She is a frequent Britney Spears collaborator with multiple songs on Britney’s #1 albums Circus and Femme Fatale. She hascontinued to have releases with Flo Rida, Chris Brown, Jessie J, Cheryl Cole, and Gloria…
