Donato Poveda (right) and Randy Singer (left)

The evening featured acoustic performances by award-winning songwriters including Sergio George, Donato Poveda, Randy Barlow, Nicolas Tovar, Juan Carlos Perez-Soto, Joel Someillan, Archie Pena, Jean Rodriguez and Alih Jey. The songwriters also discussed how they wrote some of their most successful and meaningful songs and the music business behind their hits.

Also performing were rising singer/songwriters Jacob Jeffries, Vic Kingsley, Manolo Alayeto and Ricky Melendez.

(left to right) Claribel Cuevas (Creative Director, Sony/ATV Music Publishing); songwriter Donato Poveda, songwriter Jacob Jeffries, songwriters Claudia Sarmiento and Martika Chavarria from the duo Tronica; BMI’s Jake Cavazos, songwriter Alih Jey, and songwriter Alicastro

(left to right ) BMI’s Jake Cavazos; songwriters Sergio George and Jean Rodriguez

(left to right) Songwriters Sergio George, Jorge Luis Piloto, Aimee Nuviola and Luis Enrique

(l to r) songwriters Randy Barlow, Elsten Torres and Nicolas Tovar

BMI’s Jake Cavazos (center) and some of BMI’s talented writers

Vic Kingsley performing during the “Hitmakers of Tomorrow” segment

Her 1997 debut, Mujeres Liberadas, was followed by 1998’s Con Los Pies Sobre La Tierra, which led her to ascend the Puerto Rican charts with "Me Voy De Fiesta,” and unveil her first composition, "Te Amo." After issuing Baño de Luna, the singer was awarded Best Female Merengue Record by Premios Tu Musica in 2000. By 2003, she was also performing as an actress in television movies such as Yo Creo en Santa Claus and has had several successful albums and singles on the Billboard Tropical and Latin charts.

And die for music…"

Intense words from an equally dynamic artist: Meet singer/songwriter Alicastro, a guitar-slinging, Colombian-born rocker from the city of Cali. Sharp-edged six strings shadow intricate arrangements; pointed lyrics celebrate the baffling complexities and hard won ecstasies of love.

As a kid growing up in Colombia, it was a mesh of classical music and modern rock — traditional boleros to Metallica — that charted Alicastro’s musical world. This duality continued to mark his musical progress, as he developed his identity as a rocker in the streets and clubs, and as a devoted student in the conservatory classroom. Eventually, rock won out, and with his band Legend Maker, Alicastro’s ambitions moved beyond the borders of his home country as the group played massive festival stages and concert venues across Latin America.

Alicastro’s destiny and destination both changed dramatically with a move to Miami and his subsequent transformation into a solo artist. His Sony BMG/Discos 605 debut, Todo Vales, reveals a fully realized artist expressing sensitive romanticism, with "Uno Nunca Sabe," "Libre" and "Universo Sin Explicacion” contrasting with “Testarudo," "Lloran" and "Sin Querer Queriendo,” songs warmed by humor and love of life.

Alicastro’s artistry shines with distinctive colors that reflect the soul, as he notes, “ When love pierced my heart, my guitar learned to speak another language: My language.”