Cool & Dre met and became friends in high school in the early ’90s, and soon became part of a four-man singing group called Basic Unity. Although the group faded, their friendship and strong interest in music stayed intact. They began writing and producing hooks and beats — with Cool, the technical enforcer producing the beats, and Dre, co-writing and singing the hooks — that caught the attention of rapper Fat Joe, who soon sought out Cool & Dre to write and produce for both himself and the Terror Squad.

By 2004, the duo began gaining attention with such hits as Terror Squad’s “Take Me Home” and Ja Rule’s “New York.” On the list of BMI’s 2005 Top 10 Urban Producers, Cool & Dre have written and produced tracks for Mary J. Blige, Chris Brown, Juvenile, Christina Milian and Busta Rhymes, among others. They are also the production team behind one of the hottest tracks of 2005, “Hate It or Love It,” by the Game featuring 50 Cent, earning them a Billboard #1 Award at BMI’s 2005 Urban Awards and their first Grammy nomination.

Cool & Dre have finally arrived. They formed their own record label, Epidemic Music, through Jive Records, and are set to release Dre’s solo album, The Trunk, featuring the hit single “Chevy Ridin’ High,” this fall. They are also working with upcoming artists in Miami through their label and hope to continue to create good music and produce more No. 1 hits in the years to come.]]> 2006-10-15T18:00:01-05:00 http://www.bmi.com/musicworld/entry/334715 Artists, Black Eyed Peas, Eminem, Evanescence, Fat Joe, Ja Rule, Lopez, Jennifer, Luny Tunes, Neptunes, The, Omar, Don, Shakira, Snoop Dogg, TANG, Musical Styles, Latin, Musicworld, Feature Levitating from the underground to the top of the Latin charts, the genre known as reggaetón has pumped a much-needed shot of vitality into a complex and shifting record market. In the first half of 2005, unit shipments of various formats of Latin music increased a monumental 27.7 percent, a figure attributed in great part to the rise of reggaetón. Correspondingly, mainstream artists have now appropriated the trademark rhythms as reggaetón remixes of tracks from Alicia Keys, Enrique Iglesias, Shakira and even Evanescence shake the dance floors. This cross-cultural popularity has everything to do with the music’s core audience: the growing demographic of young, American-born Latinos, nearly 20 percent of all Americans 34 and younger. They speak English, listen to hip-hop and are more connected in their attitudes than their parents and grandparents were. Reggaetón has also had a global impact, most notably in Central and South America, along with such European countries as France, Germany and Spain.

The genre’s defining feature is a relentless drum-machine track, almost identical across different songs, derived from Trinidadian soca music and Jamaican dancehall and reggae rhythms. This beat is called “Dem Bow” after the beat in a Shabba Ranks song of the same name. Although it emerged from the island of Puerto Rico, reggaetón reflects cross-cultural roots. In the ’70s, Jamaican workers migrated to Panama to work on upgrading the country’s famous canal and the trademark “riddims” they imported were appropriated into the popular songs and styles in this adopted locale. DJs helped popularize this hybrid form of Latin reggae, and by the early ’80s it could be heard mainly in underground settings across Latin America. Meanwhile in Puerto Rico, artists were translating Jamaican reggae into Spanish, and fusing these lyrics with Panamanian-style reggae beats after artists like El General introduced this blend of rap and reggae music to the island. Translating Jamaican reggae into Spanish, and fusing these lyrics with Panamanian-style reggae beats, hip-hop and dancehall, reggaetón was born. DJ Playero, who produced Vico C’s first underground recordings, is one of the pioneers in the introduction of this genre. He produced five reggaeton compilation albums with artists like Daddy Yankee, Yaviah, Mexicano, Big Boy, and Frankie Boy, among others, in the early ’90s.

“The Queen of Reggaetón,” Ivy Queen, is the genre’s undisputed female ruler. Born in Puerto Rico but raised in New York, she returned to the island in the ’90s and teamed up with impresario DJ Negro, who invited her to join a rap compilation label known as The Noise. Ivy Queen wrote and performed her first hit song, “Somos Raperos Pero No Delincuentes,” with them and launched her career as a formidable artist. “Sabes Que Tu,” a collaboration with Wyclef Jean, raised her profile even higher. With her own releases and projects with others — notably El Mexicano, K-7 and Don Omar — she maintains her powerful allure through self-penned lyrics that often speak of her alliance to her native Puerto Rico with pointed pro-feminist messages injected into the rhymes.

Francisco Saldaña and Victor Cabrera — the duo known as Luny Tunes — are often described as “the Neptunes of reggaetón,” owing to their chart dominance and canny knack for inventing hits for other artists. Former kitchen workers at Harvard University, they migrated to Puerto Rico, where they added bachata and meringue to the reggaeton formula and crafted one of the genre’s biggest smashes, Daddy Yankee’s track “Gasolina,” from Barrio Fino, a benchmark release that hovered on the Latin charts for nearly two years. Since then, Luny Tunes has showcased a rotating cast of talent on their own releases. The two’s Mas Flow (2003), La Trayectoria (2004) and Mas Flow, Vol. 2 (2005) — arguably the party album of the year — solidified their reputation as songwriters and artists of note whose productions are conspicuously musical. “We never use samples,” confirms Saldana. “We want to create everything new.”

An illustrious cast of contributors, including Ivy Queen, Pit Bull, D’Mingo and Nina Sky, join Tony Touch on his latest opus, The ReggaeTony Album, proof of his prominence in the genre. Alternately known as “Tony Toca,” the Brooklyn-based DJ has orchestrated massive releases via his mix tapes, beginning with The Piece Maker, featuring the music of Big Pun, Wu Tang Clan, Eminem and others. Also an alumnus of The Noise nightclub in Puerto Rico, the DJ and producer has enriched the genre with his deft productions, grafting the incendiary street smarts of hip-hop to more tropical Latin grooves. With a regular slot on New York’s Power 105.1, Music Choice Television and Sirius Satellite Radio plus choice DJ gigs spinning from Spain to Switzerland, Touch/Toca is among the genre’s foremost ambassadors, spearheading a roster of artists that often includes Vico C and Don Dinero.

His frequent guest artist, D’Mingo, a vocalist, keyboardist and arranger, was originally a more traditional singer. His debut, Que Vacile Mi Gente, (executive produced by Jelly Bean Benitez) presented a salsa-flavored style, while Rumbero Soy upped the Latin quotient considerably.On all of the projects on which he now guests, his distinctive tenor voice connects the high-octane rhythms of reggaetón to the seductive melodies of classic Latin songcraft.

From Hector “El Bambino” to Hector “El Father”: A name change signifies the musical maturation of the artist/producer often compared to his stateside counterparts, P. Diddy or Dr. Dre. In the ’90s, Hector Delgado Roman was one half of a pioneering duo, Hector and Tito, notably the first reggaetón artists with the drawing power to sell out massive concerts in Puerto Rico. In 2005, after a heady 12-year run, Hector launched his solo career with a performance in Pasto, Colombia, to a stadium filled with 60,000 adoring fans. His compilation album, Los Anormales, with guest spots by Daddy Yankee, Don Omar, Wisin y Yandel and others and released on his own imprint, GoldStar Music, sold 130,000 copies in just two days in Puerto Rico. In addition to founding his label, he was the first reggaeton artist to sell out two concerts in the new 18,000-seat coliseum in Puerto Rico. Today, most of these artists have signed contracts with major labels such as Universal, Columbia, EMI and Interscope.

DJ Playero is another notable figure in the growth of the genre, compiling some 39 volumes of reggaetón and helping to launch the careers of Daddy Yankee, Chezina, and Baby Rasta y Gringo, among others.

Reggaetón is clearly a genre of inclusion, and the most accomplished artists now collaborate outside of the genre. Ivy Queen’s Real has pairings with Sean Paul, Beenie Man and Fat Joe, and Luny Tunes anticipate working with Jennifer Lopez, the Black Eyed Peas and Ja Rule. Boundaries aren’t limited to the Caribbean or the East Coast. In Southern California, two brothers, Johnny and Victor Lopez, the duo known as Crooked Stilo, have mixed hard-core rap and cumbias into a stew they describe as “crunketón,” incorporating such far-flung sounds as the regional Mexican bounce of banda and hard core hip-hop. Says Victor, “We grew up with Dr. Dre, NWA and Snoop Dogg. It’s a big influence. We’ve been in this for 10 or 12 years, and we’ve always mixed the Latin and English stuff. It’s just lately that the reggaetón blew everyone out of the water. It’s something new, it’s hot in the clubs and people like dancing to it, plus the words and melodies have something to them.”

With their latest release, Retrasalo, Crooked Stilo advances their genre bending sound. Victor Lopez, who lives in the San Gabriel Valley town of Temple City, attests that he listens to potential beats in his car, “bumping” them before his lyrics arrive. Reggaetón is, he says, a physical experience. “There’s a saying that with the music you can only get the people through their hearts or through their feet. Reggaetón does it through the feet.”

BMI saluted the premier R&B, rap and hip-hop songwriters, producers and publishers at its 2004 BMI Urban Awards, staged tonight (8/27) at the Grand Ballroom at the Fontainebleau Hilton Resorts & Towers in Miami Beach.

Pictured at the 2004 BMI Urban Awards are BMI's Del Bryant and Frances Preston, Producer of the Year R. Kelly, BMI ICON honoree Al Green and BMI's Catherine Brewton

R. Kelly won two of the evening's top honors as writer of Song of the Year, "Ignition," and as Urban Producer of the Year. Chad Hugo and Pharrell Williams were proclaimed Urban Songwriters of the Year and Universal Music Publishing was named Urban Publisher of the Year. A highlight of the gala was a tribute to soul music legend Al Green, who was named a BMI ICON for "his enduring influence on generations of music makers."

BMI Urban Awards Event Photos

2004 BMI Urban Awards Song List

Al Green: MusicWorld Feature | BMI Awards List

More on BMI and Urban Music

The black-tie ceremony was hosted by BMI President and CEO Del Bryant. President Emeritus Frances W. Preston and Assistant Vice President of Writer/Publisher Relations Catherine Brewton assisted with the presentations to the BMI-affiliated writers and publishers of the 36 most performed songs in the urban music format.

Al Green	R. Kelly	Busta Rhymes

"Ignition," written by R. Kelly and published by R. Kelly Publishing, Inc. and Zomba Songs Inc., was named Urban Song of the Year for tallying the most US broadcast performances during the eligibility period. Included on Kelly's multi-platinum Jive Records album, Chocolate Factory, "Ignition" was a Billboard R&B/Hip-Hop, Hot 100 and Top 40 charts smash.

Mannie Fresh	Nate Dogg	Kanyé West

Kelly collected his second major award of the night when he was crowned Producer of the Year. The BMI Top Urban Producers list also included Chad Hugo and Pharrell Williams of the Neptunes, Busta Rhymes, Irv Gotti, Jazze Pha, Lil' Jon, Mannie Fresh, Nate Dogg, Kany� West, Mario Winans, and D-Roc and Kaine of the Ying Yang Twins.

Irv Gotti	Jazze Pha	Lil' Jon

The BMI Urban Songwriter of the Year trophy went to the team of Chad Hugo and Pharrell Williams - also known as the Neptunes - who placed five titles on the most performed list. The songs earning them the prize were "Beautiful" (recorded by Snoop Dogg featuring Pharrell and Uncle Charlie Wilson), "Excuse Me Miss" (by Jay-Z), "Frontin'" (Pharrell featuring Jay-Z), "Luv U Better" (LL Cool J featuring Marc Dorsey) and "When the Last Time" (The Clipse).

Mario Winans	Ying Yang Twins

This is the third Urban Songwriter of the Year award for Williams; he also won in 2001 and 2002. At last year's ceremony, Williams took the BMI Urban Song of the Year honor for co-writing "Hot In Herre," and the Neptunes were named Urban Producers of the Year.

Eight songwriters were double winners, contributing two songs each to the most-performed list: Jeff I. Bass, Mary Y. Brown, Eminem, Irv Gotti, Jazze Pha, R. Kelly, Lil' Jon and Sham. Other writer/artists earning awards were Jennifer Lopez, Ja Rule, Busta Rhymes, Snoop Dogg, Anthony Hamilton, Wayne Wonder and Paul Simon.

Universal Music Publishing was named BMI Urban Publisher of the Year by accumulating the highest percentage of copyright ownership in award songs. David Renzer, Worldwide President of Universal Music Publishing Group, accepted on behalf of the publisher, which boasted 10 songs on the most-performed list (through its companies Irving Music, Songs of Universal, Inc., and Universal-Songs of PolyGram International, Inc.).

Other publishers with multiple award-winning songs were EMI-Blackwood Music, Inc. (9); Warner/Chappell Music Group (Unichappell Music, Inc./Warner-Tamerlane Publishing Corp.) (7); Waters of Nazareth Publishing (5); Careers-BMG Music Publishing, Inc./Zomba Songs Inc., Ensign Music Corporation, Noontime Tunes (3); and Bubba Gee Music, D J Irv Publishing, Eight Mile Style Music, Miss Mary's Music, Nitty and Capone Publishing, R. Kelly Publishing, Inc., White Rhino Music, Inc. (2).

The evening culminated in the ICON tribute to Al Green, who was honored during the dinner with performances by BMI artists Kany� West, Pharrell, Sleepy Brown, Claudette Ortiz and Lloyd. Born in Forest City, Ark., Green blends southern gospel, Philadelphia soul, and a soaring, sensual voice to create music that has rocked our world for four decades. Ranked by many as the world's greatest living soul artist, he became an international superstar through such self-written hits as "Let's Stay Together," "I'm Still in Love With You," "Call Me," "Love and Happiness," "Here I Am (Come and Take Me)" and "Tired of Being Alone." Green is in the midst of a remarkable comeback, thanks to his current Blue Note album, I Can't Stop, which reunites him with producer/arranger/songwriting collaborator Willie Mitchell, who first signed Green to the Memphis-based Hi label and oversaw the singer's seminal string of '70s smashes.

The Rock and Roll Hall of Famer joins an impressive list of previous ICON honorees including country songwriter/artists Bill Anderson and Dolly Parton; R&B legends James Brown, Chuck Berry, Little Richard and Bo Diddley; "Soul Man" Isaac Hayes; Motown songwriting trio Brian Holland, Lamont Dozier and Eddie Holland; and pop songwriting master Brian Wilson.

In addition to the BMI performance awards, music trade magazine Billboard recognized the BMI-affiliated writers who had #1 songs on the R&B/Hip-Hop Singles and Rap Tracks charts during the past year; Kany� West led with four songs, two of which topped both lists.

BMI annually honors the songwriters and music publishers of the most performed songs on American radio in the urban, pop, country, Latin and Christian genres.

Delta is the official airline of BMI's 2004 Urban Awards.

"The Game of Love" earned the BMI Pop Song of the Year Crystal for songwriter Gregg Alexander and his publishing company Keepin' It Real How 'Bout You Music Publishing; this distinction is given to the song tallying the most feature broadcast performances during the eligibility period. Recorded by Santana featuring Michelle Branch, "The Game of Love" was a #1 single from Santana's Arista album Shaman and has already been certified as a BMI Million-Air (one million broadcast performances). Multi-instrumentalist and producer Alexander won a Pop Award in 1999 for "You Get What You Give," a hit for his former group, the New Radicals. Alexander co-wrote "The Game of Love" with Rick Nowels (share not licensed by BMI).

Brian Wilson	Gregg Alexander	The Matrix

Lauren Christy and Scott Spock contributed three to the Most Performed List of 50 to share the BMI Pop Songwriter of the Year crown. The songs earning Christy and Spock the title were "Complicated" and "I'm With You," both #1 singles for Avril Lavigne, and "The Remedy (I Won't Worry)," recorded by Jason Mraz. Christy and Spock, along with Graham Edwards (PRS), are also known professionally as songwriting/production team The Matrix. Other artists for whom they have written songs are Christina Aguilera, David Bowie, Ricky Martin, Ronan Keating, Liz Phair and Hootie & the Blowfish.

With 11 songs represented, Warner/Chappell Music Group (through its companies Warner-Tamerlane Publishing Corp. and Unichappell Music, Inc.) claimed the BMI Pop Publisher of the Year prize. Les Bider, Chairman & CEO of Warner/Chappell Music Group, accepted the crystal obelisk. The Publisher of the Year accolade is given to the publishing concern with the highest percentage of copyright ownership in award songs. Warner/Chappell's top performing tunes were "Are You Happy Now?," "Crazy In Love," "Complicated," "Dilemma," "I'm With You," "In A Little While," "Mesmerize," "Miss You," "Picture," "The Remedy (I Won't Worry)" and "Soak Up The Sun."

Brian Wilson was saluted as a BMI Icon for his "unique and indelible influence on generations of music makers." One of the most revered pop music creators of the last 50 years, Wilson co-founded the Beach Boys and co-wrote such seminal rock and pop songs as "Good Vibrations," "I Get Around," "God Only Knows," "California Girls," "Help Me, Rhonda" and "Wouldn't It Be Nice," among many others. Collectively with the Beach Boys and individually, he helped to create the sound that defined a generation and painted the picture of the West Coast "surf" sound. His genius is embedded throughout the group's history, but it particularly resonates on their legendary 1966 release, Pet Sounds.

After an Icon video tribute, Fountains of Wayne performed "Be True To Your School," followed by Wilson Phillips - featuring Wilson's daughters Carnie and Wendy - singing "In My Room." Wilson and his band took the stage for several songs, closing with "Good Vibrations."

Wilson enters the elite company of previously praised BMI Icons including Isaac Hayes, Bill Anderson, James Brown, Holland-Dozier-Holland, Dolly Parton, Chuck Berry, Little Richard and Bo Diddley . He is also the first person to be honored by BMI as both an Icon and with the President's Award (in 1995).

Of the 80 songwriters cited, nine were double winners: Sheryl Crow, R. Kelly, Jennifer Lopez, Shania Twain, N.E.R.D.'s Pharrell Williams, Foo Fighters' Dave Grohl, Nate Mendel and Chris Shiflett, and matchbox twenty's Rob Thomas.

Other writer/artists earning awards were Audioslave, Daniel Bedingfield (PRS), Big Tymers, Michelle Branch, Cam'Ron, Vanessa Carlton, Creed, Eminem, Evanescence, Ja Rule, Kid Rock, Linkin Park, Queens of the Stone Age, Red Hot Chili Peppers, 3 Doors Down, Uncle Kracker, and Unwritten Law.

Publishers garnering three or more awards were EMI Music Publishing (EMI-Blackwood Music, Inc./EMI-Unart Catalog, Inc./EMI-Virgin Songs, Inc.); Careers-BMG Music Publishing, Inc./Zomba Songs Inc.; Universal Music Publishing Group; Dwight Frye Music, Inc.; Mr. Spock Music/Scott Spock Songs; Rainbow Fish Publishing (Christy's company) and Sony/ATV Songs LLC.

"When I'm Gone" by 3 Doors Down enjoyed Most Performed Song on College Radio kudos for songwriters Brad Arnold, Todd Harrell, Chris Henderson and Matt Roberts of the group. Included on 3 Doors Down's Republic/Universal CD Away From the Sun, "When I'm Gone" is published by Escatawpa Songs and Universal-Songs of PolyGram International, Inc.

Another special presentation was the announcement of Andrew Horowitz as the 1st Place winner of the 2004 John Lennon Scholarship Awards. A student at the University of Michigan, Horowitz earned a $10,000 scholarship for his song, "Goodday." Established in 1997 by Yoko Ono in conjunction with the BMI Foundation, the John Lennon Scholarship Awards recognize the talent of young songwriters between the ages of 15 and 24. More than $125,000 has been awarded over the last seven years through generous donations from Ono and Gibson Musical Instruments. The BMI Foundation is a not-for-profit corporation dedicated to encouraging the creation, performance and study of music through awards, scholarships, commissions and grants.

Five of the 2004 top Pop songs are repeat achievers: "Heaven," first honored in 1985 for writer/artist Bryan Adams; "Landslide," a 1998 Pop Award winner for Fleetwood Mac's Stevie Nicks and the 2003 BMI Country Song of the Year via its recording by the Dixie Chicks; plus last year's winners "Complicated," "One Last Breath" and "Soak Up The Sun."

BMI's Citation of Achievement performance certificates are given annually in recognition of popularity in the field of popular music, as measured by feature broadcast performances on American radio and television. This year's Pop Awards eligibility period ran October 1, 2002 through September 30, 2003.

Ex-Eurythmics guitarist Dave Stewart (center) holds his BMI Crystal for writing the Song of the Year. Stewart is flanked by BMI Senior Vice President Writer Publisher Relations Phil Graham and BMI President and CEO Frances Preston

"Underneath It All," written by Eurythmics co-founder Dave Stewart (PRS), published by BMG Music Publishing Ltd. (PRS), and recorded by No Doubt (featuring Lady Saw), was honored as the Song of the Year and received the organization's highest accolade, The Robert S. Musel Award. The prestigious award is named for the late Robert Musel, BMI's long-time UK consultant.

BMI songwriter/artist Marsha Ambrosius of singing duo Floetry and Dave Stewart

"19-2000," written by Damon Albarn (PRS) and Jamie Hewlett (PRS), and published by EMI Music Publishing Ltd. (PRS), was named College Song of the Year for the most performances on college radio in the US. The Gorillaz' hit is from the virtual cartoon band's self-titled album, which also produced last year's College Song of the Year, "Clint Eastwood."

Marsha Ambrosius and film composer David Arnold

Receiving two Million-Air certificates each this evening were multiple BMI Award-winning songwriter/artists Sting (PRS) and Sir Elton John (PRS). Sting's "Every Breath You Take," published by EMI Music Publishing Ltd./Magnetic Music (PRS), reached the seven million performance plateau and his "Every Little Thing She Does Is Magic," also published by EMI Music Publishing Ltd./Magnetic Music (PRS), received a four million performance award. Sir Elton John received a six million performance award for "Your Song," co-written with Bernie Taupin and published by Universal Music Publishing (PRS), and a three million performance certificate for "Island Girl." Van Morrison's "Brown Eyed Girl," published by Universal Music Publishing (PRS), also reached the six million performance plateau, and the Bert Kaempfert (GEMA) classic "Spanish Eyes," co-written with Charles Singleton and Eddie Snyder and published by Doma Edition Bert Kaempfert (GEMA), received a five million performance award. Million-Air awards are given to the writers and publishers of the most performed songs in the BMI repertoire that have achieved more than one million US radio and television performances, or the equivalent of more than 5.7 years of continuous airplay.

BMI's Brandon Bakshi (left) and Phil Graham (right) congratulate songwriters Spencer Davis and Muff Winwood, co-writers of the Spencer Davis Group classic "Gimme Some Lovin'," which received a Million-Air Award for reaching the three million performance plateau.

BMI Pop Awards went to Paul Oakenfold (PRS) for "Starry Eyed Surprise" (co-written with Fred Neil and published by Mute Song [PRS]); Daniel Bedingfield (PRS) for his smash, "Gotta Get Through This," published by Reverb Music Ltd. (PRS); and to Trevor Horn (PRS) and publisher Unforgettable Songs Ltd. (PRS) for the Eminem hit "Without Me," which also received an Urban Award. The multi award-winning rap song was co-written by BMI songwriters Jeff I. Bass, Kevin "DJ Head" Bell and Eminem.

BMI's Phil Graham and Frances Preston present a Million-Air Award to EMI Music Publishing's Peter Reichardt for the Police hit, "Every Breath You Take." The song, which earned a seven million performance award, was written by Sting.

Other awards included both Pop and Urban certificates to the Michael Jackson song "Butterflies," published by Perfect Songs Ltd. (PRS) and written by Marsha Ambrosius, half of female singing duo Floetry; a second Pop Award to the Paul Herman (PRS)-penned and Cheeky Music Ltd. (PRS)-published "Thank You," which was last year's Song of the Year; a Latin Award to "Yo No Soy Esa Mujer," written by Mike Shepstone (PRS), Carlos Toro Montoro (SGAE) and Christian De Walden; and Country Awards to the Brooks & Dunn hit "The Long Goodbye," written by Ronan Keating (IMRO) and published by Universal Music Publishing (PRS), and to the Rascal Flatts song "These Days," written by Steve Robson (PRS), Jeffrey Steele and Danny Wells, and published by Rondor Music (London) Ltd. (PRS). "Emotion," written by Barry and Robin Gibb, and published by Gibb Brothers Music/BMG (PRS), received its second Pop Award for the Destiny's Child cover version; the Bee Gees classic hit won a BMI Pop Award in 1978.

Irish songwriter Ronan Keating (left) is congratulated by BMI's Frances Preston and Phil Graham. Keating took home a BMI Country Award for his Brooks & Dunn smash, "The Long Goodbye."

Music from the top US movies and television shows were also honored including David Bergeaud (SACEM) for the Cable TV Award-winning show Strong Medicine, Pete Townshend (PRS) for the smash TV hits CSI: Crime Scene Investigation and CSI: Miami, David Arnold (PRS) for the James Bond thriller Die Another Day, and George Fenton (PRS), who took home two Film/TV Awards for his Emmy Award-winning documentary Blue Planet: Seas of Life and the hit movie Sweet Home Alabama.

High-resolution photos from the event will be available to registered users only. To request access, please contact mediarelations@bmi.com.

2003 BMI LONDON AWARDS

SONG OF THE YEAR (THE ROBERT S. MUSEL AWARD)
UNDERNEATH IT ALL
Dave Stewart (PRS)
BMG Music Publishing Ltd. (PRS)
Artist: No Doubt featuring Lady Saw

COLLEGE SONG OF THE YEAR
19-2000
Damon Albarn (PRS)
Jamie Hewlett (PRS)
EMI Music Publishing Ltd. (PRS)
Artist: Gorillaz

MILLION-AIR AWARDS

7 Million Performances
EVERY BREATH YOU TAKE
Sting (PRS)
EMI Music Publishing Ltd./Magnetic Music (PRS)

6 Million Performances
BROWN EYED GIRL
Van Morrison*
Universal Music Publishing (PRS)

YOUR SONG
Sir Elton John (PRS)
Bernie Taupin*
Universal Music Publishing (PRS)

5 Million Performances
SPANISH EYES
Bert Kaempfert (GEMA)
Charles Singleton*
Eddie Snyder*
Doma Edition Bert Kaempfert (GEMA)

4 Million Performances
EVERY LITTLE THING SHE DOES IS MAGIC
Sting (PRS)
EMI Music Publishing Ltd./Magnetic Music (PRS)

GET BACK
John Lennon (PRS)

THE HOUSE OF THE RISING SUN
Alan Price (PRS)
EMI Music Publishing Ltd. (PRS)

NEVER ON SUNDAY
Manos Hadjidakis (SACEM)
Billy Towne*
EMI United Partnership Ltd. (PRS)

WHAT'S LOVE GOT TO DO WITH IT
Graham Lyle (PRS)
Goodsingle Ltd. (PRS)
Hornall Brothers Music Ltd. (PRS)

3 Million Performances
BUILD ME UP BUTTERCUP
Michael d'Abo (PRS)
EMI United Partnership Ltd. (PRS)

BUS STOP
Graham Gouldman (PRS)
Hournew Music Ltd./Music Sales (PRS)

GIMME SOME LOVING
Spencer Davis (PRS)
Muff Winwood (PRS)
Steve Winwood (PRS)
FS Ltd. (PRS)
Universal Music Publishing (PRS)

ISLAND GIRL
Sir Elton John (PRS)

MY LOVE
Tony Hatch (PRS)
Sony/ATV Music Publishing (UK) Ltd. (PRS)

TALKIN' IN YOUR SLEEP
Roger Cook (PRS)
Bobby Wood*
Music 1 Limited (PRS)

POP AWARDS
BUTTERFLIES
Marsha Ambrosius*
Perfect Songs Ltd. (PRS)
Artist: Michael Jackson

DAYS GO BY
Steve Smith (PRS)
EMI Music Publishing Ltd. (PRS)
Artist: Dirty Vegas

EMOTION (2nd Award)
Barry Gibb (PRS)
Robin Gibb (PRS)
Gibb Brothers Music/BMG (PRS)
Artist: Destiny's Child

FEEL IT BOY
Beenie Man (PRS)
Pharrell Williams*
EMI Music Publishing Ltd. (PRS)
Artist: Beenie Man featuring Janet Jackson

GOTTA GET THRU THIS
Daniel Bedingfield (PRS)
Reverb Music Ltd. (PRS)
Artist: Daniel Bedingfield

A MOMENT LIKE THIS
Jorgen Elofsson (STIM)
John Reid (PRS)
BMG Music Publishing Scandinavia AB (STIM)
Sony/ATV Music Publishing (UK) Ltd. (PRS)
Artist: Kelly Clarkson

STARRY EYED SURPRISE
Paul Oakenfold (PRS)
Fred Neil*
Mute Song (PRS)
Artist: Paul Oakenfold featuring Shifty Shellshock

THANK YOU (2nd Award)
Paul Herman (PRS)
Cheeky Music Ltd. (PRS)
Artist: Dido

THIS WOMAN'S WORK
Kate Bush (PRS)
EMI Music Publishing Ltd. (PRS)
Artist: Maxwell

UNDERNEATH IT ALL
Dave Stewart (PRS)
BMG Music Publishing Ltd. (PRS)
Artist: No Doubt featuring Lady Saw

WHAT'S LUV?
Graham Lyle (PRS)
Irv Gotti*
Ja Rule*
Goodsingle Ltd. (PRS)
Hornall Brothers Music Ltd. (PRS)
Artist: Fat Joe featuring Ashanti

WITHOUT ME
Trevor Horn (PRS)
Jeff I. Bass*
Kevin "DJ Head" Bell*
Eminem*
Unforgettable Songs Ltd. (PRS)
Artist: Eminem

WRONG IMPRESSION
Gary Clark (PRS)
Chrysalis Music Ltd. (PRS)
Artist: Natalie Imbruglia

URBAN AWARDS
BUTTERFLIES
Marsha Ambrosius*
Perfect Songs Ltd. (PRS)
Artist: Michael Jackson

GANGSTA LOVIN'
Jonah Ellis*
Lonnie Simmons*
Alisa Yarbrough*
Minder Music Ltd. (PRS)
Artist: Eve with Alicia Keys

HALFCRAZY
Francis Lai (SACEM)
Artist: Musiq

HAPPY
Raymond James Calhoun*
Irv Gotti*
Minder Music Ltd. (PRS)
Artist: Ashanti

WHAT'S LUV?
Graham Lyle (PRS)
Irv Gotti*
Ja Rule*
Goodsingle Ltd. (PRS)
Hornall Brothers Music Ltd. (PRS)
Artist: Fat Joe featuring Ashanti

WITHOUT ME
Trevor Horn (PRS)
Jeff I. Bass*
Kevin "DJ Head" Bell*
Eminem*
Unforgettable Songs Ltd. (PRS)
Artist: Eminem

LATIN AWARD
YO NO SOY ESA MUJER
Mike Shepstone (PRS)
Carlos Toro Montoro (SGAE)
Christian De Walden*
Artist: Paulina Rubio

COUNTRY AWARDS
HELP ME UNDERSTAND
Wayne Hector (PRS)
Steve Mac (PRS)
Rokstone Music (PRS)
Rondor Music (London) Ltd. (PRS)
Artist: Trace Adkins

THE LONG GOODBYE
Ronan Keating (IMRO)
Universal Music Publishing (PRS)
Artist: Brooks & Dunn

THESE DAYS
Steve Robson (PRS)
Jeffrey Steele*
Danny Wells*
Rondor Music (London) Ltd. (PRS)
Artist: Rascal Flatts

YOUNG
Steven McEwan (PRS)
BMG Music Publishing Ltd. (PRS)
Trinifold Music Ltd. (PRS)
Artist: Kenny Chesney

DANCE AWARD
DAYS GO BY
Steve Smith (PRS)
EMI Music Publishing Ltd. (PRS)
Artist: Dirty Vegas

EMMY AWARD
BLUE PLANET: SEAS OF LIFE
George Fenton (PRS)

FILM MUSIC AWARDS
DIE ANOTHER DAY
David Arnold (PRS)

SWEET HOME ALABAMA
George Fenton (PRS)

TV MUSIC AWARDS
CSI: CRIME SCENE INVESTIGATION
Pete Townshend (PRS)

CSI: MIAMI
Pete Townshend (PRS)

PROVIDENCE
John Lennon (PRS)

CABLE TV AWARD
STRONG MEDICINE
David Bergeaud (SACEM)

* Share licensed directly through BMI

Although certain terms in hip-hop conjure negative images - especially among the uninformed - in the case of Gotti’s organization, when taken in context, the meaning behind his record label’s name is crystal clear: Murder Inc. is about delivering “killer” music and artists with “murderous” talent for the hip-hop masses.

Gotti was honored as the Urban Songwriter of the Year at the 2003 BMI Urban Awards. Click here to read more

“I chose The Murderers [Ja Rule, Black Child, 0-1, Vita and Cadillac Tah] because they’re the hottest rappers on the streets, and I wanted that new blood to set off the Murder Inc. movement,” Gotti explains.

At Murder Inc., million-sellers are the norm, with Ashanti, Ja Rule’s Pain Is Love and Rule 3:36, and The Fast & the Furious soundtrack all certified multi-platinum).

As the music world knows, Gotti’s creative touch extends well beyond the streets, and he’s got the industry laurels to prove it. At the 2002 BMI Urban Awards — which saluted the top rap, hip-hop and r&b songwriters, producers and publishers — Gotti was a recipient of the prestigious Songwriter of the Year trophy for placing two songs on the most performed list: “I’m Real” (Jennifer Lopez featuring Ja Rule) and “Put It On Me” (Ja Rule featuring Lil’ Mo and Vita).

That’s not all: Gotti also claimed a Producer of the Year award, and his DJ Irv Publishing walked away with a pair of publishing awards. To top it all off, Gotti was among the select BMI songwriters who had #1 songs on the R&B/Hip-Hop and Rap charts during the previous year.

But his most recent laurels came at this past May’s 51st Annual BMI Pop Awards. Gotti placed five titles on the Most Performed List of 50 to reap the coveted BMI Pop Songwriter of the Year award. The songs earning Gotti the crown were “Always On Time” (Ja Rule featuring Ashanti), “Foolish” (Ashanti), “I’m Real” (Jennifer Lopez with Ja Rule), “Livin’ It Up” (Ja Rule featuring Case), and “What’s Luv?” (Fat Joe featuring Ashanti).

Gotti’s influence on new millennium rap is undeniable.

“My goal is to make really good music and give something to the people that buy the music, he says. “Artists owe it to the people; we have to go to the record studio and put out great albums.”

Gotti got his start in New York as DJ Irv, which led to working on Mic Geronimo’s 1995 debut album The Natural. A year later, he contributed production on Jay Z’s 1996 seminal debut Reasonable Doubt, which went on to become a hit. Then in 1998, he worked on DMX’s debut, It’s Dark and Hell Is Hot, another set that made waves in the hip-hop world.

Gotti’s claim as Don of the hip-hop world was solidified thanks to “Put It On Me,” by Ja Rule featuring Lil’ Mo & Vita, which Gotti co-produced. The song went Top 10 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart in the spring of 2001. “It made Ja a star,” says the CEO.

Later that fall, Jennifer Lopez's “I’m Real” was released and soared to the #1 spot on the Hot 100, and peaked at #2 on the Hot R&B Singles & Tracks chart. Gotti was co-writer, and to him it was a defining moment. “Jennifer was a pop star and well known, and that changed things; it took us over the top.”

Gotti sums up his business career success by looking to his creative past as a DJ. “That’s what built the passion for the music,” he recalls. “Seeing people like Eazy-E, Dr. Dre and Russell Simmons getting paid for the passion. . . . I wanted to get paid for it as well, you know what I’m saying? But the passion — that came from being a DJ.”]]> 2003-08-26T18:00:00-05:00 http://www.bmi.com/news/entry/233797 Baltimore, Charli, Big Tymers, Bilal, Bryant, Del, Busta Rhymes, Cam'ron, Dilemma, Eminem, Fat Joe, Floetry, Gotti, Irv, Hamilton, Anthony, Hayes, Isaac, Hugo, Chad, Ja Rule, Jazze Pha, Kelly, R., Neptunes, The, Rooney, Rooney, Cory, Snoop Dogg, Williams, Pharrell, Winans, Mario, Dance, Pop, R&B, Rock, Urban, BMI Urban Awards Isaac Hayes Honored as BMI ICON

BMI saluted the top R&B, rap and hip-hop songwriters, producers and publishers at its 2003 Urban Awards, staged last night (8/5) at Club Tropigala at the Fontainebleau Hilton Resorts & Towers in Miami. The black-tie ceremony was hosted by BMI President and CEO Frances W. Preston, with Executive Vice President Del Bryant and Assistant Vice President of Writer/Publisher Relations Catherine Brewton. Top honors went to Murder Inc. President Irv Gotti, who earned his second Urban Songwriter of the Year award; the #1 smash "Hot in Herre" was named Song of the Year, and EMI Music Publishing took home its third consecutive Urban Publisher of the Year trophy. Pharrell Williams and Chad Hugo from famed production duo, The Neptunes, were named BMI Urban Producers of the Year.

BMI Urban Awards Event Photos

BMI Urban Awards Song List

Irv Gotti

Pharrell Williams

Chad Hugo

A special highlight of the gala evening featured a salute to soul music legend Isaac Hayes, who was honored as a BMI ICON for his enduring influence on generations of music makers. The Rock and Roll Hall of Famer was honored during the dinner with an all-star musical tribute that featured stellar performances by BMI artists Bilal, Floetry, and Anthony Hamilton, among others. From the instantly recognizable beats of the "Theme From Shaft," to the Sam and Dave classic hit "Hold On! I'm Comin'," the Oscar and Grammy Award-winning composer and singer continues to impact music and is widely sampled by some of today's biggest rap, hip-hop, and R&B artists.

Isaac Hayes

Bilal

Floetry

The BMI Urban Songwriter of the Year trophy went to rap mogul Irv Gotti, who placed nine titles on the most performed list. Songs earning him the crown included the Ja Rule hits "Always On Time" (feat. Ashanti), "Down 4 U" (feat. Vita, Ashanti, and Charli Baltimore), "Down A** Chick" (feat. Charli Baltimore) and "Livin' It Up" (feat. Case), as well as "Rainy Dayz" (Mary J. Blige feat. Ja Rule), "What's Luv?" (Fat Joe feat. Ja Rule and Ashanti), and "Baby," "Foolish," and "Happy," all recorded by Murder Inc. artist Ashanti. This is the second Urban Songwriter of the Year award for Gotti; he shared the spotlight last year with five others. Gotti was also named BMI's Pop Songwriter of the Year at the May 14 ceremony in Los Angeles, bringing his total BMI Awards to 19.

Anthony Hamilton

Ja Rule

Charli Baltimore

In addition to Gotti, several other writers earned multiple awards including Ja Rule with six; Pharrell Williams with four; and Charli Baltimore, Jeff I. Bass, Cam'Ron, Eminem and Mario Winans, who each placed two songs on the most performed list.

Song of the Year "Hot in Herre," co-written by BMI songwriters Charles L. Brown and Pharrell Williams, and published by Ascent Music, Inc., EMI-Blackwood Music, Inc., Nouveau Music Company, Swing T Publishing and Waters of Nazareth Publishing, spent seven weeks at the top of the Billboard Hot 100 chart. The infectious number one hit was last summer's party anthem and is still heating up at radio and on the dance floor as well.

Jeff I. Bass

Cam'Ron

Eminem

Chad Hugo and Pharrell Williams, better known as The Neptunes, were feted as Producers of the Year with a performance from multi-platinum artist (and fellow Top 10 Songwriter/Producer) R. Kelly. The hit-making production and songwriting team has collaborated with the A-list in urban music, from Snoop Dogg to Busta Rhymes to Justin Timberlake, with titles including "Beautiful," "Pass the Courvoisier Part II," and "Rock Your Body." Rounding out the BMI Top 10 Urban Producers list were Songwriter of the Year Irv Gotti, rapper Eminem, Big Tymers' Mannie Fresh, Cash Money's Jazze Pha, Trackmasters' Poke, producer Cory Rooney and Hitmen Production's Mario Winans.

Mario Winans

Charles L. Brown

R. Kelly

EMI Music Publishing picked up its third consecutive Urban Publisher of the Year award by placing 11 songs on the most performed list, including Song of the Year, "Hot in Herre." This is the thirteenth top BMI Publisher honor awarded to EMI since 1989 in all genres of music. Other multiple award-winning publishers included Ensign Music Corporation (10), D J Irv Publishing (9), Universal Music Publishing (8), Slavery Music (6), Waters of Nazareth Publishing (4), Warner-Tamerlane Publishing Corp. (3), and Careers-BMG Music/Zomba Songs, Eight Mile Style Music, Inky Sisi Music, Janice Combs Music, Killa Cam Music, Marsky Music, Songs of DreamWorks, SPZ Music, Inc., and Taking Care of Business Music (2).

In addition to the song, publisher and producer awards, music trade magazine Billboard announced the names of the BMI-affiliated writers who had #1 songs on the R&B/Hip-Hop Singles and Rap Tracks charts during the past year. Among the winners were Producer of the Year Pharrell Williams, who placed two songs on the R&B/Hip-Hop Singles chart, and the #1 hit "Dilemma," which reached the peak position on both Billboardcharts. The BMI Urban Awards 2003 is the kick-off event to the 4th Annual Billboard R&B/Hip-Hop Conference and Awards, taking place in Miami Beach August 6-8.

Among other songwriters, producers and artists confirmed to attend are multiple-platinum recording artist R. Kelly, Ja Rule, Irv Gotti, Rodney Jerkins, Chad Hugo, Mario Winans, Big Tymers, Lil Wayne, Charli Baltimore, Nappy Roots, Angie Stone and Jazze Pha. Additional names will be released as they are confirmed.

The BMI Urban Awards will recognize the songwriters and publishers of the most-played urban songs on US radio and television. An Urban Song of the Year, Urban Songwriter of the Year and Urban Publisher of the Year will be announced that night. In addition to the song awards, BMI will also honor the Top Urban Producers of 2002-2003 and the BMI writers whose songs hit #1 on the Billboard R&B/Hip Hop and Rap charts.]]> 2003-07-27T18:00:00-05:00