BMI's "See It Hear First" podcast has become an important tool for exposing new BMI songwriters and artists to key industry professionals and fans alike. Since its release in May 2005, more than one million listeners from around the world have tuned in to discover new music from a broad range of genres and regions.

In addition to hearing great music from an array of vital new songwriters and artists, podcast listeners can also vote for their favorite artist to help them win a CD duplication package from Disc Makers, the leading CD manufacturer for the independent musician. Winners get 1,000 discs, a prize with a promotional value of more than $10,000.

All editions of the BMI podcast are available at bmi.com/podcast, as well as from iTunes at bmi.com/itunes and Yahoo's podcast directory at podcasts.yahoo.com, or you can listen on the go with mobile podcasting services like Pod2Mob. The first in the music industry to be listed in Apple's podcast directory, "See It Hear First" is currently rated five out of five stars at Yahoo! and has won the "5 Star Award" from PodSpider, one of the world's largest podcast databases.

Orlando's Between the Trees combine universal tales of adolescence, young adulthood and all the gray space between with catchy, pop melodies. Most of the five members have yet to turn 20 years-old, so identifying with their young fans comes naturally. Their debut album, The Story and the Song, hit shelves Sept. 15, formally introducing a band that exudes sanguine confidence. Hear Between the Trees first on "Words."

The Explorer's Club entice audiences with sweet pop concoctions that recall the complex harmonies and arrangements of The Beach Boys and Zombies to sinful perfection. The six members' worshipping of Brian and Carl Wilson adopts a serious tone when the listener realizes these young musicians' lyrical skills, four-part harmonies and eccentrically brilliant arrangements serve as their timeless prayers. Dive in on "Forever."

Twenty-six -year-old Cary Ann Hearst takes ghosts, angels and dreams from her native South and channels them into cogent, poetic lyrics. Hearst's musky voice plays nicely with her choice of country and punk-tinged instrumentation, resulting in moody, raucous treats. The singer-songwriter's study of the sounds of icons like Hank Williams and Bob Dylan transmits deftly through her compositions. Savor Cary Ann Hearst on "Dust and Hearst."

Rollicking lyrics propel singer-songwriter Corey Smith's feel-good tunes. Smith's grass-roots gigs and acoustic charm have fostered a growing fan base that's surged outside sold-out shows in his native Georgia into much of the southeast coast. His soulful voice shares stories of brazen youth, carefree college days and characters in which his listeners easily recognize themselves. Hear this up-and-comer first on "If I Could Do It Again."]]> 2006-09-22T05:00:00-05:00 http://www.bmi.com/musicworld/entry/533473 Artists, Smith, Corey, Musicworld, On The Scene Since the 2003 release of his debut album, Undertones, singer-songwriter Corey Smith has been flying high under the radar, attracting an enthusiastic grassroots following with an Americana sound that is all his own. Drawing heavily from the blues, country and rock traditions of the South, he applies the back-porch twang of an acoustic guitar, a soulful singing voice, and well-crafted lyrics to the task of creating music that is at once distinct and familiar. Audiences are certainly responding - proving that a genuine, unpretentious approach to songwriting and live performance has mass appeal. 

At 28-years-old, after nearly a decade of honing in his craft and coping with an unkind music business, Smith is thrilled to finally taste the fruits of his labor. Growing up in a family of musicians in the small, rural setting of Jefferson, Ga., (a short drive from the famed Athens music scene), he has been singing, playing guitar and performing for as long as he can remember. However, he traces his professional musical endeavors back to his college years, when he began learning the ropes as a working musician, taking classes in voice and guitar during the day and gigging at night. Smith made extra money in local bars, restaurants and coffeehouses, covering popular tunes and earning a reputation as an up-and-coming original artist, with songs such as “The Basement,” “When the Sun Goes Down in Georgia” and “The Bottle.”

After graduating from the University of Georgia in 2001 and marrying his college sweetheart, Shannon, he took a two year hiatus from professional performance and focused on his career as a social studies teach at North Gwinnett High School in Suwanee, Ga. He continued studying music in his spare time and used songwriting as a way to cope with the pressure of settling down and transitioning from the college life. Songs like “In Love with a Memory,” “What Happened,” and the college anthem, “Twenty-One,” were penned during this tumultuous period and poetically convey the emotional struggles that often characterize the end of adolescence. 

In the spring of 2003, Smith began easing back into the North Georgia music scene, showcasing his original music at open-mics around the region and playing regularly at local watering holes. He was warmly accepted by audiences at venues such as the legendary Eddie’s Attic in Decatur and Cheetah Marie’s Cafe in Monroe, where he won a songwriting competition that allowed him to record his first album, Undertones. Although the unpolished, debut record was originally intended as a demo and sold primarily to friends and family, it effectively captured the raw emotion of Smith’s music and served as a fitting demonstration of his songwriting anticipated. The popularity of Undertones made Smith a hot commodity in venues across North Georgia, especially in the college towns of Athens and Dahlonega, where his energetic and highly entertaining live performances added to his appeal and earned him a reputation among students seeking a good time. 

Encouraged by the positive response, Smith wrote busily and compiled enough material to produce a new album, entitled In the Mood, in September of 2004.  Although it differed in style and production from Undertones, the songs contain the sincerity and attention-to-detail that characterize all of Smith’s work. Tracks such as “It’s Over,” “Drinkin’ Again” and “In the Mood” showcase a wide array or musical and lyrical styles and are striking testimonials of a musician who is learning to “make it big” on his own terms. 

2005 was a year of growth and opportunity for Corey Smith.  The March birth of his first son, Aden Ryan, has provided a powerful new source of motivation and inspiration that is greatly affecting all of his endeavors, and the success of his albums has opened important doors in the rough-and-tumble music business. In the fall of 2005 Corey began working closely with guitarist Jason Kenney, touring in support of his latest album, The Good Life. One listen and it’s easy to hear why the album has been met with great acclaim and continues captivating audiences since its release. 

Word about his heartfelt songs and captivating live performances has spread quickly. His status as a “party-in-a-song phenom” is rapidly growing and is largely due to an extraordinary Internet presence. He has over 800,000 MySpace plays and 22,000 “friends” (adding over 200 new fans a day). Smith is consistently ranked among MySpace’s “Top Artists” and as of Aug. 1, 2006, was the No. 5 indie-country and indie-acoustic artist, and No. 51 on the rock ranking chart. Nearly 10,000 of his 28,000 paid downloads are from iTunes (the remaining coming from Rhapsody, Musicnet, Emusic, BuyMusic, Verizon Wireless and MusicNow, among others). All since May 2006! 

Since the beginning of 2006, Smith has SOLD OUT over 20 shows in the southeast U.S., many of them selling out in advance, including The Roxy (Atlanta, GA - 1005 capacity), Georgia Theatre (Athens, GA - 1000 capacity, 3 shows), The Handlebar (Greenville, SC - 550 capacity), Blue Horse Music Hall (Augusta, GA - 450 capacity), Capital Theatre (Macon, GA - 450 capacity), Brother’s Bar (Jacksonville, AL - 425 capacity, 2 shows). With other shows selling out day of show, Smith has now expanded his touring base to nearly 40 markets from North Carolina to Mississippi to Florida.

http://www.coreysmith.com