ASCAP CEO Beth Matthews, ASCAP Foundation President Paul Williams and House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi at the “We Write the Songs” event hosted by ASCAP and the Library of Congress. (Photo courtesy of ASCAP Foundation We Write the Songs)

Celebrating American songwriting and the “wild ride” of music creators’ rights the ASCAP Foundation and the Library of Congress jointly held the 10th annual “We Write the Songs” Wednesday in Washington, D.C. Hosted by Librarian of Congress Carla D. Hayden and ASCAP Foundation President Paul Williams, ASCAP songwriters donated manuscripts, lead sheets, lyrics sheets, photos and letters to the library, where a concert at the historic Coolidge Auditorium saw Senator Tim Kaine (D-VA) wailing on harmonica behind Jason Mraz on “I’m Yours.”

“This past year has been a wild ride in the fight for music creators’ rights,” ASCAP Foundation President Paul Williams said in his opening remarks. “We are grateful beyond language for the support we get here. As advocates for those who create music, tonight we’d like to thank you from the bottom of our hearts for everything you’ve done to help secure our future.”

The Washington Post gave Kaine an upbeat review, calling his playing “passionate, and surprisingly good.” The publication reported that Mraz had the audience in tears, performing with students of varying abilities on both “I’m Yours” and “I Won’t Give Up.” That may well be the music industry’s motto, too,  as a decade of lobbying finally comes to fruition with the Music Modernization Act sailing through the House and Senate. The bill updates antiquated licensing rules, setting the legal framework for a new era of artist compensation in the digital age.

The Library of Congress concert was followed by ASCAP’s “Stand with Songwriters Advocacy Day” on Capitol Hill Thursday, May 17, with many “We Write the Songs” music creators meeting with Senators to discuss the challenges facing songwriters in the digital music age and urge them to support the Music Modernization Act— bipartisan music reform legislation that was passed unanimously by the House of Representatives in April and is expected to get a full Senate vote next week.

Legislators on hand for the festivities included House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-CA), Senators Dean Heller (R-NV), Mike Enzi (R-WY), Pat Roberts (R-KS) and Rand Paul (R-KY) and Representatives Lacy Clay (D-MO), Ted Lieu (D-CA), Ami Bera (D-CA), Billy Long(R-MO), Bob Goodlatte (R-VA), Lamar Smith (R-TX), Martha Roby (R-AL), Steve Cohen (D-TN), Marsha Blackburn (R-TN) and Debbie Wasserman Schultz (D-FL). As is tradition, “We Write the Songs” featured a program in which the performers were introduced by music-loving members of Congress.

Senator Lamar Alexander (R-TN) introduced Brandy Clark, who performed “Mama’s Broken Heart,” made popular by Miranda Lambert and “Hold My Hand.” Alexander, a co-sponsor of the original Music Modernization Act introduced in January, was on message, stating, “We want to follow the House and work in the Senate to, number one, make sure songwriters get paid and, number two, make sure they get paid a fair market value for what they create.”

“Here in Congress we do understand creativity matters,” echoed Representative Doug Collins (R-GA) as he introed Johntá Austin, who performed “Be Without You,” popularized by Mary J. Blige and “We Belong Together,” a hit for Mariah Carey.

Introducing Suzanne Vega, who delivered heartfelt versions of her hits “Luka” and “Tom’s Diner,” Representative Joe Crowley (D-NY)  thanked Collins for his work on the Music Modernization Act, dating back to December when he sponsored the House bill that originally had the title, then quipped: “But have you ever written a song with Paul Williams? Because I have.”

Michael McDonald had the house rocking with raucous renditions of “What a Fool Believes” and “Takin’ It to The Streets, ” while former Beach Boy Mike Love, accompanied by his son Christian, belted out “California Girls” and brought on “Good Vibrations.”

Representative Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) summed up the evening, stating, “They say Washington is a powerful town, but music is more powerful. It can educate us. It’s so powerful it can bring together Democrats and Republicans.”

Jason Mraz backed by kids from School of the Performing Arts in the Richmond Community (SPARC) and Senator Tim Kaine. (Photo courtesy the ASCAP Foundation’s We Write the Songs)