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Mentor: Jason Blume Location: Nashville, Tennessee

JASON BLUME

- A Brief Biography - A staff-writer for Zomba Music since 1991, Jason Blume is one of those rare individuals to ever achieve the distinction of having songs on the Country, Pop and R & B charts -- all at the same time. Blume's songs are on albums that have sold more than 25 million copies in the past year. His song, "Back to Your Heart" is included on the Backstreet Boys' Grammy nominated "Millennium" album, which shattered all first-week sales records with sales in the U.S. exceeding 1,133,000. Debuting at #1 in the U.S. as well as in seven additional countries, the album has received "Gold" or "Platinum" awards in 45 countries and was named Billboard's "Album of the Year." His upcoming releases include "Dear Diary" (written with Britney Spears) on the follow-up to Britney's 15 million-selling debut, his third cut with country star Collin Raye, recordings by Ronan Keating, (lead singer for "Boyzone," Europe's #1 pop band), "Solid HarmoniE," and Boyz n Girlz United.
	Blume's composition, "I'll Never Stop Loving You," was a #1 video in the U.S. and an international hit for fifteen year old J'Son, garnering an NSAI Award for being among the "Favorite Pop Songs of the Year." This song is also included as a "bonus track" on the international version of Britney Spears' debut album which has reached the #1 slot in more than 10 countries. The song is available in the United States on Target's "Positive Interference" compilation album. "The Dream Song" and "When You Say Your Prayers" are included on Collin Raye's "Counting Sheep" family-oriented CD, and "She's Gonna Fly (On Angels' Wings) is on Collin's new CD "Tracks".

This multitalented writer's recent hits include John Berry's Top 5 country single, "Change My Mind," and Steve Azar's country hit "I Never Stopped Lovin' You." Previous chart singles include cuts by the Oak Ridge Boys, MC Potts and Darlene Austin. In 1997 Blume was presented with a prestigious ASCAP Award for "Change My Mind" being "One of the Most Performed Songs of the Year" on country radio. Blume's work is featured on the soundtrack of Disney's hit film, "First Kid" starring Sinbad. On television his songs have been heard on the "Miss America Pageant," "Dangerous Minds," "Fame," "Entertainment Tonight," Emmy-Award winning "Whatever Happened to Childhood," and Emmy-nominated PBS "Frontline" episode, "Down For the Count."

One of the nation's most respected songwriting teachers, Blume presents seminars internationally and developed and teaches BMI's Nashville Songwriters Workshops and "Demo Derby." He has taught his songwriting techniques as a guest lecturer at U.C.L.A. and as a member of the faculty of Los Angeles' Pierce College and Nashville's Watkins Institute. His lessons are used by Nashville Songwriters Association International's 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, Pointer Sisters, Eurythmics, Diana Ross, Dolly Parton, Starship, and Kenny Rogers. Blume has been Production Coordinator for artists including Aaron Tippin and Engelbert Humperdinck.

Blume is the author of critically acclaimed 6 Steps to Songwriting Success: The Comprehensive Guide to Writing and Marketing Hit Songs (Billboard Books). Additional information can be found at www.jasonblume.com.