Brendan Okrent

Having developed a keen fascination for songs and a deep affection for songwriters early in her life, Brendan feels privileged to have been able to work with and for music creators over the course of her career.  

She was an executive at ASCAP’s west coast membership department for over two decades where some of her signature achievements included: starting the nationally-known Quiet On The Set showcase series featuring over 500 acts such as John Mayer, Jonatha Brooke, Ben Harper, Hillary Lindsey, the Weepies,  Bonnie Hayes, Kristin Hall (Sugarland), Matt Nathanson, Allen Shamblin, Rufus Wainwright and Lindy Robbins among many others; co-producing the ASCAP Pop Music Awards for many years and working on the ASCAP I Create Music EXPO from its inception in 2006.  

Also at ASCAP, Brendan is proud to have led the Lester Sill Songwriters Workshop for 15 years and still enjoys ongoing relationships with many of the over 200 writers who consider that workshop a meaningful starting ground for their careers. The workshop featured such prominent guest speakers as Sir George Martin, Linda Perry, Diane Warren, Billy Steinberg, Jody Gerson, Greg Wells, Don Was and scores of others. Among her hundreds of signings to ASCAP membership over the years, Brendan notes that in 2004 she met a then 19-year old songwriter/artist named Katy Perry and had the honor of bringing her to ASCAP. 

A native of Cincinnati, Brendan graduated from the Ohio State University School of Journalism and began her career with a brief stint as a publicist after moving to Los Angeles. Prior to joining the ASCAP staff she ran her own independent music publishing company and was later west coast creative director for Motown’s publishing arm, Jobete Music, hired by the legendary Lester Sill.  

She is a founding board member of Songwriters of North America (SONA), where she wears many hats and enjoys continuing to work with her friends in the songwriting community, advocating on behalf of creators’ rights.