DioGuardi, who shared BMI 2007 Pop Songwriter of the Year honors with Sean Garrett, has had her songs recorded by Kelly Clarkson, Christina Aguilera, Gwen Stefani, Celine Dion, Faith Hill, Carrie Underwood and Pink, among others. Her recent Top 40 hits include Stefani's "Rich Girl," Aguilera's "Ain't No Other Man," Clarkson's "Walk Away" and Dion's "Taking Chances."

The newly-installed fourth judge on American Idol is confident she'll find her niche within the bickering, ratings-tested judges' panel where the line between love and hate is blurred with every critique.

"I'm just gonna speak to Simon the way I speak to everybody," DioGuardi told reporters during a teleconference Monday. "I'm just gonna have my opinion, be honest and I don't foresee any problems. I'm really excited about this, and up for the challenge."

The Grammy-nominated songwriter will make her debut when the eighth season of "Idol" premieres in January, the Fox network said Monday.

"We are turning the heat up on `Idol' this year and are thrilled to welcome Kara to the judges' table," said creator and executive producer Simon Fuller in a statement. "She is a smart, sassy lady, and one of America's most successful songwriters. We know she will bring a new level of energy and excitement to the show."

Hit troubadours including Bobby Pinson (Sugarland’s “Want To,” his own “Don’t Ask Me How I Know”), Jon Randall (Brad Paisley & Alison Krauss’s “Whiskey Lullabye”), Stephony Smith (Tim McGraw & Faith Hill’s “It’s Your Love,” Kenny Chesney’s “Big Star,” Reba McEntire’s “How Was I To Know”), Billy Montana (Sara Evans’ “Suds In the Bucket,” Jo Dee Messina’s “Bring On the Rain,” Garth Brooks’ “More Than A Memory”), John Wiggins (Joe Nichols’ “Tequila Makes Her Clothes Fall Off”), and Chuck Jones (Diamond Rio’s “Love A Little Stronger,” Deana Carter’s “Count Me In,” John Berry’s “Your Love Amazes Me”), Woody Mullis and Mike Geiger (co-writers of George Strait’s “Adalida,” Sawyer Brown’s “This Missin’ You Heart of Mine,” and Neil McCoy’s “City Put The Country Back In Me”), along with smoldering singer/songwriters Jessi Alexander and Shelly Fairchild, and CMT Can You Duet show standouts The Coppolas (Kate and Kasey) will mingle with music industry executives and ambitious up-and-comers.

In addition to BMI, sponsors include the Florida House Inn, WQIK-FM, Folio Weekly, WRJY the WAVE and Amelia Island Tourism Development Council. For lodging, schedule, venues and ticket information, please visit www.songwriterfestival.org.

The 13th Annual Hog's Breath Key West Songwriters Festival looms enticingly on the horizon. Presented by Cherry Heart Music and proudly supported by charter sponsor BMI, the event is slated for April 30 through May 4 in Key West, Florida. The festival revolves around five days and nights of more than 20 free shows, staged at an array of the island's most popular drinking holes and hot spots. Informal adaptations of Nashville's signature in-the-round acoustic showcases dominate much of the schedule, while this year, a street concert Saturday, May 3 featuring the Jeffrey Steele Band and Robert Earl Keen adds a Mardis Gras fillip to the mix.

BMI songwriters dominate the diverse lineups. Americana trendsetters including Robert Earl Keen, Raul Malo, Kim Richey and John Oates will perform alongside Nashville's most engaging and prolific hitmakers, including Jeffrey Steele (Rascal Flatts' "What Hurts the Most"), John Scott Sherrill (Steve Wariner's "Some Fools Never Learn"), Wendell Mobley (Rascal Flatts' "Fast Cars & Freedom"), Jamey Johnson (George Strait's "Give It Away"), Scotty Emerick (Toby Keith's "As Good As I Once Was"), David Lee (Tim McGraw's "I Need You," featuring Faith Hill), Keith Follese (Tim McGraw's "Something Like That"), Jim Beavers (Gary Allan's "Watching Airplanes"), Heather Little (Miranda Lambert's "Gunpowder and Lead"), Steve Bogard (Dierks Bentley's "Every Mile A Memory"), Bobby Pinson (Sugarland's "Want To"), Doug Johnson (Randy Travis's "Three Wooden Crosses"), Chas Sandford (John Waite's "Missing You"), Chuck Cannon (Toby Keith's "How Do You Like Me Now"), Max T. Barnes (Diamond Rio's "That's How Your Love Makes Me Feel"), Chuck Jones (Chris LeDoux's "Cadillac Ranch"), Rodney Clawson (Jason Aldean's "Why"), Gary Hannan (Joe Nichols's "Tequila Makes Her Clothes Fall Off"), Billy Yates (George Jones's "Choices"), Jerrod Niemann (Garth Brooks' "Good Ride Cowboy") and Dallas Davidson (Trace Adkins's "Honky Tonk Badonkadonk"), with Curb recording artist Lee Brice (Garth Brooks' "More Than A Memory"), singer/songwriters Heather Morgan, Stephanie Chapman and Lauren Lucas and Orange County rock outfit Lit's Jeremy Popoff.

For a complete list of sponsoring hotels, local businesses, schedules and participating songwriters, please visit www.keywestsongwritersfestival.com or call 305.296.4222.

Shown are (l-r): (Seated) Kylie Sackley, Tina Shafer (creator/owner of Songwriter’s Circle), Jeff Cohen, John Oates. (Standing) Rickie Trudeau, Shai Navon (Songwriter’s Circle), guest , Hugh Prestwood, and BMI’s Charlie Feldman.

Oates, one-half of the chart-topping pop duo Daryl Hall & John Oates, performed hook-laden new songs, showcasing his songwriting prowess; Sackley, scribe of Top Five singles for Leann Rimes (“Nothin’ ‘Bout Love Makes Sense”) and Faith Hill (“Sunshine and Summertime”), wowed the audience with her sentimental tunes and Australian flare; Cohen, creator of radio and television hits heard on Dawson’s Creek and Party of Five, delivered a witty performance stacked with anecdotes; and Prestwood, a Nashville Songwriters Hall of Famer, performed a rousing interpretation of “Ghost In This House,” a song he penned for Shenandoah.

Shown performing are (l-r): Kylie Sackley, Hugh Prestwood, Jeff Cohen, and John Oates.

For 18 years, The New York Songwriters Circle has been the premiere spot in NYC to feature the best up-and-coming as well as many legendary songwriters in an intimate and cozy atmosphere.

“I was about to leave town,” explains Ed. “It’s just so hard when you start out, and I didn’t really have a Plan B. But I just kept my head down like a farmer, like my daddy, and kept working hard. And if you do that, eventually you’ll work your way into some luck.”

Ed had plenty of experience to draw on from his early years as part of the ’70’s Bakersfield scene. He played five nights a week at a club where legends like Merle Haggard and Kris Kristofferson would sit in with the band, and later joined the famed Palomino Club house band in L.A. Ed became so adept on the keys while out West that he was nominated for the Academy of Country Music’s Piano Player of the Year in 1980 and ’82.

Arriving in Nashville in 1986, Ed joined AMR/New Haven Music, and was soon getting cuts by Reba McEntire (“Til Love Comes Again”), Faith Hill (“It Matters to Me”), and John Michael Montgomery (“Be My Baby Tonight”). He also scored hits with Trace Adkins’s “Songs About Me,” and Martina McBride’s “Whatever You Say,” and is currently on the charts with Tracy Lawrence’s comeback hit, “Find Out Who Your Friends Are.” And he has a track on Reba’s upcoming duets album with LeAnn Rimes, “When You Love Somebody Like That.”

Known to write a song a week on average, Ed never knows where inspiration will strike, so he follows one strict rule of thumb: “I always make my wife buy me shirts with front pockets on them, and I carry a pen and pad in that pocket, no matter where I go. That way I can just pull it out when I get an idea, which could be at any time. I always have my antennas out…it’s fun!”

GAC's Country Music Across America interviewed "Stand" co-writer Danny Orton (left) and BMI songwriter Blair Daly (right)

The CMA's Hank Adam Locklin (right) presented a certificate to Blair (left)

Combustion Music Group President Chris Farren made a special presentation

With this No. 1, Blair earned his BMI signature Takamine guitar. Pictured are (l to r): BMI's David Preston, Blair Daly and BMI's Jody Williams

The Combustion crew got together for a shot. Pictured are (l to r): Combustion Music Group's Chris Van Belkom, Ashley Hertzog, Blair Daly, Stephanie Greene and Chris Farren

Pictured are (l to r): BMI's Phil Graham, Lyric Street's Doug Howard, Windswept Publishing's Steve Markland, co-writer Danny Orton, BMI songwriter Blair Daly, Combustion Music Group's Chris Farren and Stephanie Greene, with BMI's Jody Williams

Photos by Steve Lowry

DiPiero and Steele will lead a session focusing on "The Making of a Hit" at the annual gathering for radio broadcasters. To be held at the Minneapolis Marriott City Center, June 27 – July 1, this year’s conference is titled "Radio Under Construction."

BMI, an organization that represents thousands of songwriters, composers and music publishers, has regularly sponsored events at the Conclave to promote better understanding between the professions. "The Conclave is an excellent educational opportunity for radio industry professionals, and it's appropriate that songwriters should be a part of that learning experience," said Mike O'Neill, BMI Senior Vice President, Licensing.

An award-winning songwriter, Steele noted that, "While some of the songwriting process is inspiration, we writers rely on the skills we've developed through the years to bring us to that place where 'the magic' happens. Bob and I will talk about co-writing partnerships — the good and the bad of collaborating — and also share some stories about the unique combination of words, music and, of course, luck that made certain songs hits for us."

As a songwriter, artist and producer, Jeffrey Steele is enjoying one of the hottest streaks in music. Named Songwriter of the Year by BMI (2003) and by the Nashville Songwriters Association International (2003, 2005-06), he was nominated for a 2007 Grammy Award for the crossover Rascal Flatts smash, "What Hurts the Most." Among the more than 300 songs he's had recorded in the past six years are the #1 singles "The Cowboy in Me" (Tim McGraw), "These Days" and "My Wish" (Rascal Flatts), "Something To Be Proud Of" (Montgomery Gentry) and "Brand New Girlfriend" (Steve Holy). Other highlights of his catalog — recognized by BMI for more than 25 million airplays — are the hit singles "Chrome," "Hell Yeah," "Help Somebody," "Unbelievable" and "My Town." Steele performs frequently around the country — solo and with his band — and has produced recent projects for Montgomery Gentry and Keith Anderson, among others.

With literally hundreds of songs recorded over the last 20 years, Bob DiPiero is one of Nashville's most celebrated songwriters: 19 Top 10 hits, 13 of them number ones. He's won 19 BMI Awards, including the 1995 Robert J. Burton Award for most-performed country song of the year for Neal McCoy's "Wink." He was named 1998's Songwriter of the Year at the Nashville Music Awards and in both '95 and '96 he won CMA Triple Play (an award for having three number one songs in a 12-month period) for chartbusters including Faith Hill's "Take Me As I Am," Reba McEntire's "Till You Love Me," George Strait's "Blue Clear Sky, and Vince Gill's "Worlds Apart." He has also had songs recorded by pop artists including Neil Diamond, Dusty Springfield and Jason and the Scorchers.

The “early-bird” $100 registration fee has been extended until the end of May. For more information, including a list of the songwriters and top industry representatives expected to attend and to register for the Festival, visit kauaimusicfestival.com. Unlike many other expos and conferences, registration to the Kauai Music Festival is limited to allow our small group of registrants more personal attention.  As a result, it will fill up quickly... so early registration is strongly suggested to guarantee participation.

The staff of songwriters and executives participating are among the best in the business, including multi-platinum writers who have penned hits for Christina Aguilera, Rascal Flatts, Hinder, Avril Lavigne, Daughtry, Faith Hill, Brandy, Meredith Brooks, N'Sync, Joss Stone, and Jojo, plus executives from Interscope, A&M, Atlantic Records, peermusic, BMI and more. BMI is proud to support the festival, which will feature Jason Blume, Charles Brotman, Barbara Cane, John Cruz, Beau Dozier, Adam Gorgoni, Brian Howes, Tony Kilbert, Michael Laskow, Myles Lewis, Steven Melrose, William G. Meyer III, Mollie Moore, David Pack, Shelly Peiken, Jeff Peterson, Jeffrey Steele, David Tickle, Harry Witz and more.