Ausralian Songwriters Conference
The first of its kind in Australia, Australian Songwriters Conference, 6th to 9th June 2008, is open to all songwriters and will deal specifically and exclusively with the craft and business of songwriting.

The Australian Songwriters Conference is a four day event, being held Friday 6th to Monday 9th June 2008, taking advantage of the Queen's Birthday long weekend. The conference will take place in the beautiful surrounds of Ettalong Beach Club and Mantra Resort on the NSW Central Coast.

Although week-long songwriting camps and conferences are regularly held overseas, particularly in the USA, there has never been a conference of this scope, particularly for songwriters, held in Australia.

The Australian Songwriters Conference will deal specifically and exclusively with the craft and business of songwriting.

The ASC is unique in that it is open to all songwriters, regardless of age, location, songwriting experience or genre. Songwriters do not need to be members of existing organisations, and the conference agenda is packed full of seminars, workshops and other activities relevant to both performing and non-performing songwriters.

Keynote Speaker and main seminar facilitator for the event will be top US songwriter, author and teacher, JASON BLUME. Blume is one of the few songwriters to ever achieve the distinction of having his songs on Billboard’s Pop, R&B, and Country charts - all at the same time. With his songs recorded by pop superstars Britney Spears, the Backstreet Boys, and Jesse McCartney as well as country stars including Collin Raye, the Oak Ridge Boys and John Berry, His songs are included on albums that have sold more than 50 million copies!

One of the USA's most respected songwriting teachers, when he is not writing hits, Jason Blume teaches others how to do so. He developed and teaches the BMI Nashville Songwriters workshops and has taught his songwriting techniques as a guest lecturer at U.C.L.A. and Vanderbilt University, as well as a member of the faculty of Los Angeles' Pierce College, Nashville's Watkins Institute, and internationally in Norway, Ireland, Jamaica, Canada, and Mexico. His lessons are used by the Nashville Songwriters Associations members throughout the U.S. and internationally. Formerly Assistant to the Director of A & R for RCA Records, Blume has worked with artists including the Judds, Alabama, the Pointer Sisters, Eurythmics, Diana Ross, Dolly Parton, Starship, and Kenny Rogers. For more information about Jason Blume, visit his website at www.jasonblume.com.

The ASC Agenda includes seminars run by Jason Blume on a variety of subjects such as ‘Using Successful Song Structures and Rhymes’, ‘Writing Melodies Listeners Can’t Forget – and Artists Want to Record’, ‘Producing Demos that Demonstrate Your Song’s Hit Potential’, ‘This Business of Songwriting (A Discussion of Publishing; Royalties; Pitching Songs, and More)’ and ‘Pitching/Placing Songs in International Markets’. Jason will also facilitate a group songwriting exercise as well as informal Q&A sessions.

The ASC is committed to bringing in Australia’s top music industry professionals to run seminars and informal discussions relating to songwriters and the Australian music industry, including top songwriters, producers, publishers, music lawyers, and representatives from all the major Australian songwriting associations.

Representatives from top music publishing companies will conduct pitch/critique sessions. Attendees will be given the opportunity to pitch their original songs to attending publishers and will also be able to mix and chat with the industry Pros over the course of the conference.

The ASC will provide a relaxed informal atmosphere where attendees can network with each other, enjoy Open Mics and jam sessions, find collaborators and learn more about their craft.

There are ‘special extras’ for Early Bird sign-ups to the conference, including one-on-one critique sessions with Jason Blume and special discounts are available for members of selected industry organisations.