Faith Hill appears in...
BMI Growth Outpaces U.S. Economy During Century’s First Decade
BMI’s revenues surged by more than 80 percent and royalty distributions increased by almost 90 percent during the first decade of the 21st century, while the overall U.S. economy remained stagnant during that same period, with The Washington Post reporting that gross domestic product increased by less than 20% and household net worth declined by 4 percent, Not all areas of the music industry have fared so well during the…
Tim McGraw’s ‘Southern Voice’

When Tim McGraw first arrived in Nashville 20 years ago, he was just one more gung-ho foot soldier in the city’s perpetually teeming ranks of country music aspirants, battling it out on nightclub stages and facing tremendous odds against ever making any headway. Yet within several years, the Louisiana-born singer-guitarist had established himself as Nashville royalty. Despite his mind-bendingly successful track record, with sales topping 40 million…
Durango Songwriters Expo Offers 10% Discount to BMI Affiliates

BMI songwriters and publishers may now receive a 10% discount on registration for the 14th annual Durango Songwriters Expo, slated for October 8-10 in Colorado Springs, CO. Sponsored by BMI, the anticipated event will take over the Doubletree Hotel, where more than 40 music industry professionals will gather to network with and critique the work of the 200 attendees. Showcases, mixers and panel discussions dominate the packed schedule. While the…
Stillwater Runs Deep: Marti Frederiksen and the Next Great Song

Like David Foster, Diane Warren, Timbaland and other multi-platinum writer/producers before him, Marti Frederiksen has earned an enviable reputation for being one of the industry’s most reliable “go-to” composers. Over the course of a still flourishing career, Frederiksen has penned tunes for a veritable gallery of superstars, including Mick Jagger, Ozzy Osbourne, Aerosmith, Def Leppard, Sheryl Crow, Pink,
Kara DioGuardi Delivers with Start-to-Finish Finesse

An ambitious practitioner of the old-fashioned art of matching song and artist, Kara DioGuardi wasn't sure if her agent had gotten hold of the right person a few months ago. But the news was indeed good: Already an amazingly successful songwriter who had come up in the record business the hard way, the New York-born DioGuardi learned she was on the short list to become the newest…
Key West Songwriters Festival Slated for April 29 – May 3
The 14th Annual Key West Songwriters Festival will invade the venues of its paradisiacal namesake April 29 through May 3, 2009, offering eclectic show lineups that introduce crowds to the faces, voices and stories behind the songs. The festival features more than 100 top songwriters and revolves around five days and nights of more than 20 free concerts, staged at an array of the island’s most popular drinking holes and…
Inaugural Amelia Island Songwriter Festival Claims Place in the Sun
The First Annual Amelia Island Songwriter Festival recently celebrated its inaugural installment in Fernandina Beach, Florida, August 27 through 31. The BMI-sponsored event offered an innovative mash-up of hit songwriter showcases, aspiring troubadour workshops, song contests and networking opportunities. Successful songwriter and author Jason Blume transplanted his invaluable workshop south, sharing encouragement and insight with songwriting hopefuls. In the Song of the Festival contest, honors went to…
Kara DioGuardi To Join ‘American Idol’ Judges Panel
Grammy-nominated BMI songwriter Kara DioGuardi will sit alongside Simon Cowell, Paula Abdul and Randy Jackson when the eighth season of American Idol premieres in January, according to the Fox network. 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,…
First Annual Amelia Island Songwriter Festival Slated for August 27-31
The First Annual Amelia Island Songwriter Festival will drop anchor in Fernandina Beach, Florida, August 27-31. The BMI-sponsored event offers a unique combination of workshops, showcasing and networking opportunities for aspiring songwriters of all levels. Established Nashville hitmakers will also attend, performing their smashes at evening showcases on the island and offering invaluable insight during daily seminars led by songwriter and author Jason Blume. Favorite local venues…
Melissa Peirce Signs with BMI

BMI proudly welcomes auspicious songwriter Melissa Peirce to its growing brood. An impressive list of superstars including Reba McEntire, LeAnn Rimes, Carrie Underwood and Faith Hill has recorded the Pennsylvania native's tunes. A writer for Crosstown Songs Nashville, Peirce also works with respected producer/songwriter Dann Huff.
