John Legend appears in...
Indie Spotlight: Crush Club

Crush Club is a pop/rap group established in Boston. Albums by Kanye West, Gym Class Heroes, John Legend, and Brother Ali are just a few influences that emerge in the band’s ever-expanding, original sound. Members Nicholas Shanholtz and Bryce Ross-Johnson are currently students at Berklee College of Music, and now, with Nick's imaginative beats and flows, Bryce's catchy vocal and writing…
NO ID: Godfather of Chicago R&B Still On Top

He possesses what may be the most ironic name in contemporary pop. Over the course of a career spanning nearly 20 years, producer No I.D. has collaborated with some of the biggest names in hip-hop and R&B, including Janet Jackson, Alicia Keys, John Legend, Jamie Foxx and more. Dubbed “The Godfather of Chicago R&B”—a reference to his pioneering early work with…
BMI Tops Previous Year in Revenues with $905 Million in FY 2009

BMI has announced that it earned more than $905 million in revenues for its 2009 fiscal year, including its subsidiary Landmark Digital Services®, LLC. The company also announced that it increased royalty distributions to more than $788 million for the songwriters, composers and copyright owners it represents. With more than 400,000 songwriters, composers and music publisher affiliates, BMI is the world’s largest music copyright organization. Despite one of the most…
BMI Sets Stage for ACL Music Festival 2009

The sounds scheduled to pour off of BMI’s shady stage at the 2009 Austin City Limits Music Festival slated for October 2-4 in Austin, Texas, promise grade-A sonic gumbo. Mirroring the acclaimed diversity of the festival itself, BMI has stacked a stage with rock-n-roll, soulsters, neo-folkies, and musical melting pots who adroitly glean from it all, from the prowling soul-pop of Matt Morris and the contemplative folk-pop of Sarah Siskind,…
Marcus Johnson: A Man with a Plan

To say that Marcus Johnson is a man with a plan is an understatement. After only a decade in the music business, he is, without question, a man with a realized business strategy. Johnson did not want to just be a musician; he wanted to become a successful one, and eventually, in his own words, a brand. On his MySpace page, a line summarizes his goal: “A…
A.R. Rahman Sweeps Oscars

Composer A. R. Rahman swept the fields honoring musical contributions to the year’s best in film at the 81st Annual Academy Awards, staged Sunday, February 22 in Los Angeles. Rahman’s composition for Slumdog Millionaire earned the statuette for Original Score, while the film’s “Jai Ho,” featuring music by Rahman and lyrics by Gulzar, claimed Original Song honors. Slumdog Millionaire’s creative hive…
Alison Krauss and Lil Wayne Win Big at 2009 Grammys
Ethereal BMI songwriter Alison Krauss enjoyed frequent trips to the Grammy stage during the Recording Academy’s 51st annual ceremony Sunday, February 8 in Los Angeles. In all, Krauss accepted five trophies for Raising Sand, her collaboration with rock legend Robert Plant. The pair, along with super producer and fellow BMI songwriter T-Bone Burnett, walked away with many of the night’s top honors, including album…
Grammy Winners and Nominees to Discuss ‘How I Wrote That Song’ at Key Club in LA
BMI Panel Discussion will Feature will.i.am, T-Pain, Chad Hugo (Neptunes), Makeba Riddick, Keri Hilson and Surprise GuestsBMI will present its annual “How I Wrote That Song” panel Saturday, February 7, from 1 until 3 p.m. at the Key Club (9039 Sunset Blvd.) in Los Angeles. Led by BMI’s Catherine Brewton, the discussion will feature insight from Grammy Award-winning singer, rapper, songwriter, and producer will.i.am, Grammy Award-winning rapper, songwriter, and producer…
Lil Wayne Leads Grammy Field with Eight Nominations

Nominations for the 51st Annual Grammy Awards were announced by The Recording Academy on December 3, with superstar BMI songwriter/artist Lil Wayne topping the field with eight mentions. Other top BMI nominees included Kanye West, who earned six nods, while Alison Krauss and Radiohead received five each. The Eagles,
‘Industry Insider’ Talks Artist Management
BMI, along with Gibson Guitar and Billboard magazine, sponsored an Industry Insider panel entitled “Artist Management: The Making of a Successful Artist,” Sept. 18 at the BMI New York office. The panel of artist managers discussed the new challenges of management in a do-it-yourself marketplace and delved into topics such as how to market an artist, brand sponsorship, how to build a fan base, and the day-to-day responsibilities. Providing insight…
