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Sundance 2012 Blog: Keaton Simons

I've always had a special connection to Sundance because my late grandpa David Rayfiel and festival founder Robert Redford were extremely close friends and associates. My grandpa David wrote The Way We Were, Three Days of the Condor, Out Of Africa, and many other films starring Redford. Admittedly this is where I switch from associating Sundance with film and start thinking of music and friends. The last time I attended…
busbee Bridges LA and Nashville

Chances are, you’ve tapped your toe along to one of busbee’s creations, even if this is your first encounter with his name. Songs like Lady Antebellum’s chart-topper “Our Kind of Love,” Timbaland’s “If We Ever Meet Again,” featuring Katy Perry, and Rascal Flatts’ “Summer Nights” bear his musical fingerprints: thoughtful lyrics whose messages cut through, even after the melodies have initially…
L.A. ‘Industry Insider’ Spotlights Latin Music
BMI, Gibson Guitar and Billboard magazine will present a Latin music-focused “Industry Insider” panel series on Wednesday, October 17. Focusing on Latin music, the “Producers Roundtable” will be held from 7:00 to 8:30 p.m. at the Gibson Guitars Showroom in Beverly Hills. The showroom is located at 9350 Civic Center Drive, Suite 130. The panel will be moderated by Billboard Latin music correspondent Ayala Ben-Yehuda, and will feature some of…
BMI Salutes Top Urban Music Makers at Star-Studded Gala in NYC
BMI saluted the premier r&b, rap and hip-hop songwriters, producers and publishers at its 6th Annual Urban Awards held Aug. 30 in New York City. Hosted by BMI President & CEO Del Bryant and Atlanta Writer/Publisher VP Catherine Brewton, the red carpet was hopping at the star-studded ceremony, which took place at the famed Roseland Ballroom.
Hitmakers Babyface and L.A. Reid To Be Honored as BMI Icons at 6th Annual Urban Awards
Prolific songwriting and production team Kenneth "Babyface" Edmonds and Antonio "L.A." Reid will be honored as BMI Icons at the performing right organization's 6th Annual Urban Awards. The invitation-only gala, which will also recognize the past year's most performed BMI urban songs, is set for Aug. 30 at Roseland Ballroom in New York City, coinciding with the MTV Video Music Awards being held…
R. Kelly: Boundless Talent Reaps Big Rewards

The mark of a true artist is the ability to transcend genre and launch into creative diversity. It is just that kind of talent that allowed R. Kelly to strut away from last year’s Billboard Awards with four of its top laurels: Hot 100 Songwriter, R&B Songwriter, Hot 100 Producer, and R&B Producer. That 2003 was an incredible ride for the multi-talented performer is…
Cash Money
Cash Money, the camp that that brought the term “bling-bling” to the masses, is gearing up to close out the second half of the year with a slew of new releases. Coming this summer are two new Cash Money signees: r&b/hip-hop singer TQ and R. Kelly protégés Boo & Gotti. In the fall, the label issues new projects from its perennial hitmakers Lil…
At BMI, Black Music Month Is Celebrated All Year Long

At BMI, Black Music Month Is Celebrated All Year Long By Rob Patterson From the dawning days of rhythm & blues through today's multifaceted urban music scene, BMI has been at the forefront of music from the African American tradition, styles and community. A continuity of teamwork between BMI and Black music-makers extends from Aretha Franklin to…
Talent, Timing Put Babyface on Top

Kenneth "Babyface" Edmonds has fashioned one of the most successful writing and producing careers in the history of pop music. His ability to tailor material and arrangements to a wide roster of clients, including Eric Clapton, Whitney Houston and Boyz II Men is due, in part, to Babyface's ability to handle production on his own work. Gifted with an evocative voice,…
Keeping the Faither Helps K.C. Porter Connect

The Bahai' Faith speaks to an essential unity among all peoples of the world. K.C. Porter, whose phenomenal rise as a producer and songwriter was capped with his Grammy-winning work on Carlos Santana's Supernatural, was raised in that tradition, and his dedication to the cause of freedom and social equality for all peoples has helped fuel his meteoric rise in the…
