Lyric Financial and BMI also co-hosted an industry mixer on the rooftop of Atlanta hotspot Luckie Lounge, where Lyric Financial's Eli Ball and Al Kapone detailed the unique services the company offers exclusively to BMI songwriters and producers.

About the Atlantis Music Conference & Festival Now in its 10th year, Atlantis is a three-day and four-night musical extravaganza held September 17-20 in Atlanta, Georgia. Atlantis' goals are to provide independent artists unparalleled access to educational and networking opportunities including professional demo critiques, insightful panels featuring industry insiders and exposure to a&r executives and music fans through nightly showcases. The mercurial state of the contemporary music industry has opened new avenues for independent artist development and success, all thoroughly explored and explained during the unique Atlantis Music Conference & Festival. www.atlantismusic.com

Panel participants huddle for a group shot. Pictured are (l-r): BMI's Byron Wright and Catherine Brewton, Zack Odom, Kenneth Mount, Cri$tyle, DJ Toomp, Jasper Cameron, Jeffrey Steele and BMI's David Claassen. (Photo by Donna Parmell)

Crossover hit-maker Jeffrey Steele shares lessons learned with the audience. (Photo by Duncan McAlynn)

DJ Montay listens attentively to a question from an attendee. (Photo by Duncan McAlynn)

Jasper Cameron shares stories behind his songs for stars including Ciara, Lloyd and Nelly. (Photo by Duncan McAlynn)

Center Stage in Midtown provided an ideal setting for the panel. (Photo by Catrina Maxwell)

Pictured at the Lyric Financial and BMI mixer are (l-r): Yung Joc manager William Word, Lyric Financial's Eli Ball, BMI's Catherine Brewton, Al Kapone, attorney TaQuisha Tobin, Lyric Financial's Joseph Moran and BMI's Dave Claassen. (Photo by Cara Pastore)

Pictured at Luckie Lounge are (l-r): Battery 5 Productions CEO Greg Smith, Trimm, Ashe Watson and Head ROC. (Photo by Cara Pastore)

Luckie Lounge mixer attendees enjoy the Atlanta skyline.

For more information, please visit Atlantis Music or Center Stage-Atlanta.

BMI will take part in the 2008 Atlantis Music Conference and Festival by presenting a Producer/Songwriter panel Thursday, September 18 at Atlanta’s Center Stage in Midtown (1374 West Peachtree St) from 4 until 5:30 p.m. A diverse cross-section of the elite producers, managers and songwriters who happen to share a passion for working with up-and-comers will discuss current issues facing independent artists, including creating memorable music on a shoe-string budget; taking advantage of digital recording technology indies can use at home; and the dynamics behind an electrifying producer/artist relationship.

Established hit-makers including Cri$tyle (Mariah Carey, Brandy, Teyana Taylor), DJ Montay (DJ Unk, Flo Rida, Three 6 Mafia), DJ Toomp (Mariah Carey, Kanye West, TI), Eric Hudson (John Legend, Kanye West, Omarion), Jasper Cameron (Ciara, Lloyd, Nelly) and Jeffrey Steele (Rascal Flatts, Tim McGraw, Montgomery/Gentry), with Zack Odom and Kenneth Mount (Cartel, Mayday Parade) will provide invaluable insight during an intimate discussion.

About the Atlantis Music Conference & Festival Now in its 10th year, Atlantis is a three-day and four-night musical extravaganza held September 17-20 in Atlanta, Georgia. Atlantis’ goals are to provide independent artists unparalleled access to educational and networking opportunities including professional demo critiques, insightful panels featuring industry insiders and exposure to a&r executives and music fans through nightly showcases. The mercurial state of the contemporary music industry has opened new avenues for independent artist development and success, all thoroughly explored and explained during the unique Atlantis Music Conference & Festival.

For more information on the Atlantis Music Conference & Festival, please visit www.atlantismusic.com.

But New York native Lanz isn’t one to be fenced in by expectations. Signed to Interscope Records, which will be releasing her debut album, Young $ Restless, on Feb. 12, 2008, Lanz is currently on tour opening for no less a hip-hop icon than Snoop Dogg, winning converts and proving her mettle night after night.

Born Alana Michelle Josephs, the only child shuffled between her parents for a few years, eventually ending up with her mother. Despite what Lanz calls a “blissful” relationship, the reunion was soon shattered by her mother’s boyfriend’s unstable, drug-fuelled behavior. Combined with the absence of her father, Lanz increasingly turned to such straight-ahead, occasionally rage-fueled acts as Tupac, DMX and Eminem, and, in the process, began developing her own skills.

“As a young kid, instead of having my mind guarded, it wasn’t really shielded at all,” she says. “So real life at an early age was a real thing for me.”

Lanz started recording demos and rapping on the underground scene, eventually gathering a team of industry professionals and ultimately becoming the subject of label interest, leading to a meeting at Interscope honcho Jimmy Iovine’s home. The pair clicked, and Lanz is now finishing up her album with such well-established producers as Three 6 Mafia, Stargate, and Organized Noize.

“When you’re creating waves in uncharted waters, there’s always going to be haters who try to sink your float,” she says. “No matter how many times they try to stop me, I’ve kept right on my beautiful struggle. I’ve felt both the pain and the love so I speak for the kid always pushed on. I show them how to shove back. I'm not just trying to make it, I’m trying to be one of the best to ever do it.”

Beneath Calle’s street-driven grooves beats a strong political consciousness. Their first single, "Querido FBI" ("Dear FBI"), was a reaction to the alleged FBI ambush of Puerto Rican revolutionary leader Filiberto Ojeda Ríos. The song served as an instant introduction to a Puerto Rican audience hungry for homegrown stars.

In 2005, two back-to-back hits on local radio stations, "Se Vale Tó-Tó" and "Atrevete-te-te!,” propelled the pair further into the public consciousness, as did collaborations with other artists, notably Voltio for the song "Ojalai" (also known as "Chulin Culin Chunfly") and remixes with Three 6 Mafia. At the end of 2005, they finally released their self-titled album, which was lauded as a benchmark in Puerto Rico's rich musical history. In 2006, the band won three Latin Grammys (Best New Artist, Best Urban Album, and Best Short Version Video, for the song “Atrevete-te-Te!”) and in 2006 and 2007, Calle 13 continued collaborating with a diverse slate of international artists, including Nelly Furtado (Canada) and superstar Alejandro Sanz (Spain.)

These imaginative pairings continue on their just-released second album, Residente o Visitante, as they are joined by such diverse guests as the Cuban group Orishas, Argentinean Vicentico (from Los Fabulosos Cadillacs), and La Mala Rodríguez from Spain in the mix.

Although originally grouped under the reggaetón banner, Calle 13 has far exceeded the definitions of that genre with cumbia, salsa, and even bossa nova. Their lyrics are alternately funny and acerbic, greased with the oil of pure shock value. When they exhort their fans to "turn up the volume on satanic music," in the chorus for the new single "El Tango del Pecado” (The Tango of Sins), they may be kidding, but it’s proof that the duo doesn’t intend to veer away from the serrated edges. The song, a collaboration with Oscar-winning Argentinean producer Gustavo Santaolalla, is a pointed reference to René (Residente) Pérez’s controversial relationship with the wholesome former Miss Universe Denise Quiñone. “"I want people to think, to question things," Residente says. "The reality is that we have to record commercial songs, but we put a little sting into them."

Shown poolside at the party are composer John Williams, BMI's Barbara Cane, Oscar winner Gustavo Santaolalla, BMI's Doreen Ringer Ross, Oscar winner Frayser Boy, BMI's Linda Livingston, and Oscar winners Juicy J and DJ Paul of Three 6 Mafia.

Best Score nominees included BMI composers John Williams (Munich and Memoirs of a Geisha) and Gustavo Santaolalla (Brokeback Mountain), who took home the Academy Award the next night. BMI Icon Dolly Parton ("Travelin' Thru" from Transamerica) was among the Best Song nominees in attendance, as were ultimate Oscar winners Jordan Houston (aka Juicy J) and Paul Beauregard (aka DJ Paul) of hip-hop group Three 6 Mafia, and labelmate Cedric Coleman (aka Frayser Boy), who co-wrote "It's Hard Out Here For a Pimp" from the Hustle & Flow soundtrack.

Oscar nominee Dolly Parton (center) is congratulated by BMI's Doreen Ringer Ross and Linda Livingston.

Sharing a toast are DJ Paul, BMI's Barbara Cane, Juicy J and Frayser Boy.

Photos by Jacky Sallow

Gustavo Santaolalla	Three 6 Mafia

Latin rock producer, songwriter, performer, film composer and Surco Records president Gustavo Santaolalla earned his first Academy Award for the riveting score to Brokeback Mountain. The music from the triple Oscar-winning film also won big at this year's Golden Globes, taking home the Best Original Song award for "A Love That Will Never Grow Old."

A native of Argentina, Santaolalla worked his way through the business as a performer before turning to producing with business partner Anibal Kerpel. Together, the two formed Surco Records and are responsible for some of today's most influential rock en español music, including Café Tacuba, Juanes, Molotov and Bajofondo Tango Club. His other notable film scores include 21 Grams and The Motorcycle Diaries.

The Academy Award for Best Song went to "It's Hard Out Here For A Pimp" from the Hustle and Flow soundtrack. Co-written by BMI songwriters Jordan Houston (aka Juicy J) and Paul Beauregard (aka DJ Paul) of hip-hop group Three 6 Mafia, and labelmate Cedric Coleman (aka Frayser Boy), the win marked only the second time in Oscar history that a rap song received one of the top movie music prizes (Eminem's "Lose Yourself" from 8 Mile won Best Song in 2003).

"Pimp" also goes down in the Oscar record books as the first rap song to be performed live during the telecast; Eminem passed up on the invitation when he was nominated.

Legendary figures in the Memphis underground, Three 6 Mafia has been through several incarnations over the past 10 years and is currently churning out their own brand of hardcore, "crunk"-style rap with members Juicy and Paul, as well as Crunchy Black and Lord Infamous. Their most recent release Most Known Unknown on their own Hypnotize Minds imprint (Sony) includes the smash hit single "Stay Fly" (featuring 8 Ball & MJG and Young Buck of G-Unit), as well as guest appearances from Project Pat, Lil' Flip, DJ Kay Slay and Paul Wall.