The prestigious Album of the Year trophy went to Miranda Lambert for her critically acclaimed project, Crazy Ex-Girlfriend. Lambert accepted the award with genuine surprise and gratitude, thanking both the industry and fans for embracing her "left of center" approach. Her charged performance of single "Gunpowder and Lead" was easily one of the night's best.

Contemporary country royalty Carrie Underwood garnered the Top Female Vocalist crown for the second consecutive year. With the release of her sophomore effort, Carnival Ride, the powerhouse vocalist has eloquently underscored her undeniable staying power. Underwood also delivered a highlight of the ceremony, performing a duet with Brad Paisley on a beautifully pared-down version of Eddy Arnold's "Make the World Go Away," in tribute to the late icon.

Perennial favorites Brooks & Dunn took home yet another Top Vocal Duo win, marking their 15th award in the category. Brooks & Dunn stake a comfortable claim to the most-awarded pair in ACM history and remain contemporarily potent on top of their historically successful career.

Country golden girl Taylor Swift enjoyed more official recognition of her overwhelming crossover dominance with the Top New Female Vocalist honor. Eighteen year-old Swift tearfully thanked her mother for her early sacrifices and steadfast support.

Top New Male Vocalist went to singer/songwriter Jack Ingram. Already a familiar face to Texas and Americana fans, Ingram's win arrives on the heels of more than a decade of critically heralded albums and live shows. His breakout success in 2007 introduced him to a wider audience and delivered long overdue recognition.

Lady Antebellum earned Top New Duo or Vocal Group honors. The win marks the budding trio's first award and bodes well for their self-titled debut album.

Top Vocal Group honors went home with Rascal Flatts for the sixth consecutive year. The dominating crossover titans are now tied with legendary group Alabama for most wins in the coveted category. Rascal Flatts also received the Home Depot Humanitarian Award in recognition of their substantial philanthropic endeavors.

Tim McGraw shared in the Vocal Event of the Year win for "Find Out Who Your Friends Are," while Sugarland's Kristian Bush and producer Byron Gallimore enjoyed honors for their individual creative contributions to "Stay," named Single Record of the Year.

All BMI 2008 ACM Award Winners

Top Female Vocalist
Carrie Underwood

Top Vocal Group
Rascal Flatts

Top Vocal Duo
Brooks & Dunn

Top New Male Vocalist
Jack Ingram

Top New Female Vocalist
Taylor Swift

Top New Duo or Vocal Group
Lady Antebellum

Album of the Year
Crazy Ex-Girlfriend
Miranda Lambert

Single Record of the Year [Award to Artist(s)/ Producer(s)/ Record Company]
"Stay" by Sugarland
Co-produced by Kristian Bush and Byron Gallimore

Vocal Event of the Year
"Find Out Who Your Friends Are" featuring Tim McGraw

Home Depot Humanitarian Award
Rascal Flatts

• Who, in 1958 at the age of 14, joined the Royal Teens (Top Five hitmakers with "Short Shorts")?


• Who, in 1960, began his career as a BMI songwriter with a number called "My Kinda Love," which was recorded by Anastasia?


• Who has written hundreds of songs, all part of his BMI catalog?


• Who co-wrote "This Diamond Ring," the 1965 pop chart-topper for Gary Lewis and the Playboys? The song, incidentally, is approaching four million radio performances.


• Who, also in '65, helped create Bob Dylan's hard, radically new rock & roll sound (and, by extension, what came to be known as “folk rock") when he played the organ — for his very first time on a released recording — on Dylan's epochal single, "Like a Rolling Stone"?

• Who, in the mid-'60s, was a member of the Blues Project, the New York-based band that was among the first in this country to spread the joy (and pain) of black-influenced white electric blues?


• Who, in 1967, founded Blood, Sweat & Tears, the pioneering ensemble that melded rock with the hippest horn arrangements?


• Who, in 1968, came up with the concept of "Super Session," and produced the hit LP on which he co-starred with guitarists Michael Bloomfield and Stephen Stills?


• Who has recorded as a sideman with, among many others and in addition to Dylan ("Highway 61 Revisited" and "Blonde on Blonde"): the Rolling Stones (piano, organ and French horn on "You Can't Always Get What You Want"); Jimi Hendrix (piano on "Long, Hot Summer Night"; The Who (on the LP "The Who Sell Out"); George Harrison (arranged and played keys on the hit "All Those Years Ago"); Simon & Garfunkel; Alice Cooper; the Butterfield Blues Band; Moby Grape; Taj Mahal; B.B. King; Lynyrd Skynyrd; Judy Collins; Joan Baez; Phil Ochs; Roger McGuinn; Tom Petty; Joe Cocker; Betty Wright; Rita Coolidge; ex-Rolling Stone Bill Wyman; and Trisha Yearwood? In an issue devoted to the 500 Greatest Recordings of All Time, Rolling Stone magazine included 12 albums with serious participation by our mystery man.


• Who has produced commercially successful and publicly acclaimed discs by Bob Dylan, Lynyrd Skynyrd (he discovered them and produced their first three albums, which spawned the mega-hits "Sweet Home Alabama," "Free Bird," and "Saturday Night Special"), B.B. King, Rick Nelson, the Tubes (who gave the world the timeless "White Punks On Dope"), Shuggie Otis, Don Ellis, Nils Lofgren, and Joe Ely?


• Who has written original soundtrack music for films like Hal Ashby's The Landlord and John Waters's Cry Baby, as well as Michael Mann's television series Crime Story, and was music director for the 1991 cable TV special "Ray Charles: 50 Years in Music"?


• Whose songs have been recorded by a diverse roster of artists that includes Freddie Cannon; Lorraine Ellison; Keely Smith; "Gene Pitney ("I Must Be Seeing Things"); Bobby Vee; Lulu; Billy Fury; the Rockin' Berries; the Blues Project ("Flute Thing" and "Wake Me, Shake Me"); Ten Years After ("I Can't Keep from Cryin' Sometimes"); the Staple Singers and Rufus; Lynyrd Skynyrd ("Mississippi Kid" and "Cheatin' Woman"); Roger McGuinn; the Beastie Boys; Jay-Z; Alchemist; Dakota Staton; and Betty Wright? Then there is "I Love You More Than You'll Ever Know," the heart-tugging soul ballad that was recorded by more than 25 artists, including Donny Hathaway, Kenny Lattimore, and Carmen McRae).

Answer: Al Kooper.

Any way one looks at it, Brooklyn-born (in 1944) Al Kooper has had an unusually variegated, extraordinary career. He credits Bob Gaudio for giving him his start. Gaudio later found international fame as a member and chief songwriter for the Four Seasons before producing LPs (including Frank Sinatra's Watertown, the songs for which he also co-composed) and, more recently, for writing the music for the smash Broadway, multi-Tony-winning, Jersey Boys. "He was the Royal Teens," recalls Kooper of Gaudio, "and without him hiring me I never would have begun as early as I did."

In 2008, as he celebrates his first half-century in music, that career is still moving forward. Kooper is the consummately versatile music business pro. He is, of course, a singer/songwriter. He's a multi-instrumentalist (keyboards, guitars, mandolin, synthesizers, French horn), and a producer and an engineer. Kooper also has nearly 20 albums as leader to his credit, including the excellent two-disc retrospective from Sony Music, Rare and Well Done.

Further, he warrants induction into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame as a sideman, if only for the instantly recognizable approach to the organ he created during Dylan's paradigm-shattering work of the mid-1960s. And changing the subject slightly, he's hosted and imaginatively programmed his own spot on Britain's Radio Caroline.

Kooper continues to tour with two different bands, as well as presenting a one-man show that is by turns, affecting and witty, surveying his life in music through song and anecdote. First and foremost, though is the Funky Faculty, at which he's been at the helm for the past decade. The Faculty, a sextet, is made up of veteran instructors at the prestigious Berklee College of Music in Boston, and their specialty is an engaging mix of rock, blues and jazz. Kooper himself formerly taught at Berklee and in 2001 he received, along with the late, innovative drummer Elvin Jones, a Doctorate of Music. (He also holds a doctorate from Long Island's Five Towns College.) When in New York, he often fronts an all-star foursome that also features guitarist Jimmy Vivino and bassist Mike Merritt (both from Conan O'Brien's house band) and drummer Anton Fig, from Late Show with David Letterman.

Though a debilitating condition permanently robbed him in 2001 of two-thirds of his sight, it's not stopped Kooper from taking the Funky Faculty to Norway, Denmark, Italy, England, Spain and all sorts of faraway places; late in 2007 the Faculty played for enthusiastic audiences in the Czech Republic and Japan, and more travels are in the works. Also planned for 2008: an updated edition of Dr. Kooper's autobiography, "Backstage Passes and Backstabbing Bastards," which is a fresh, funny, and compelling read. Then there is his forthcoming disc, tentatively titled White Chocolate, due from A Minor Record Company, for which Kooper is CEO. The album is highlighted by two new songs on which he collaborated with the legendary lyricist Gerry Goffin.

During 2007 Kooper also garnered two individual honors: he was honored in New York by the Mix Foundation with the Les Paul Award, receiving an autographed Les Paul guitar from the great man, who was present for the ceremonies. Shortly thereafter, on the Sunset Strip in Los Angeles, Kooper dipped his hands in cement in the Rock Walk of Fame during festivities that also honored Otis Redding and the Mamas & the Papas.

Perhaps closest to Kooper's heart, however, is the scholarship that Berklee formed in his name: The Al Kooper It Can Happen Fund assists handicapped students in overcoming any difficulties that would prevent them from attending Berklee. "They do a great job," says Kooper, "and I'm very proud of what has been accomplished thus far."

As he prepares to embark on his sixth musical decade, Kooper reflects with typical straightforwardness, and speaks of BMI's significance in his career: "I've been ripped off voluminously by record companies, managers, etc. I always thought of BMI as the cavalry, coming to rescue me from a hand-to-mouth existence. When times were really tight, and it seemed as if the end might be around the corner, that BMI check would come crashing through the mail slot and bring me back to the real world. To this day, I could not exist without it."

BMI will be hosting a showcase at the Sunset Cork Room (2200 East 2nd St. Suite E, Gulf Shores, AL).

Scheduled to appear at 7:00 p.m. is Max T. Barnes, Tim James, Kendell Marvel and Trent Tomlinson.

Scheduled to appear at 9:00 p.m. is Rodney Clawson, Bob DiPiero, Bobby Pinson and Jeff Stevens.

For more information on the festival, click here.

At Lollapalooza, buzz artists including Nashville, Tennessee's Bang Bang Bang (www.myspace.com/bangbangbang), St. Louis, Missouri's Ludo (www.myspace.com/cagetheelephant) and Muscle Shoals, Alabama's John Paul White (www.myspace.comjohnpaulwhite) will perform on BMI's day stage. Set in Chicago's Grant Park, the indie-inspired festival presents legendary names like Iggy and the Stooges alongside a selection of the world's most promising independent up-and-comers.

The Austin City Limits Music Festival, the namesake of the long-running PBS series, fittingly invades the Austin, Texas, the Live Music Capitol of the World. Over three days in Zilker Park, BMI's stage at the festival will present an enticing line-up of auspicious up-and-comers and renowned singer/songwriters, including Memphis, Tennessee's Amy LaVere (www.myspace.com/amylavere), Nashville's Jeffrey Steele (www.jeffreysteele.com), Charleston, South Carolina's Cary Ann Hearst (www.myspace.com/caryannhearst), and Athens, Georgia's Patterson Hood (www.myspace.com/pattersonhood) of Drive by Truckers fame.

The Big State Festival is a new breed of country mega-concert held at Texas Motor Speedway in Bryan-College Station, Texas. The event will feature an all-star line-up and another impressive BMI showcase stage dedicated to highlighting honk-tonk-tinged artists that claim Texas roots. Over two days, the BMI stage will feature a line-up including Austin's Sunny Sweeney (www.myspace.com/sunnysweeney), New Braunfels's Drew Kennedy (www.myspace.com/drewkennedy), Austin's The Weary Boys (www.myspace.com/thewearyboys) and Austin's The Gougers (www.myspace.com/thegougers).

All three festivals are produced by C3 and Capital Sports & Entertainment. For more information on Lollapalooza, please visit www.lollapalooza.com; for information on the Austin City Limits Music Festival, visit www.aclfestival.com; and for details regarding the Big State Festival, please go to www.bigstatefestival.com.

The new artist categories were reserved for BMI singer/songwriters as well, albeit the respected winners are far from "new" to most listeners. Critic and fan favorite Miranda Lambert earned a Top New Female Vocalist win, while hard-working Rodney Atkins claimed the Top New Male Vocalist crown-10 years after signing his first record deal. Harmony-drenched quartet Little Big Town secured Top New Duo or Vocal Group honors as well.

Perennial favorites Brooks & Dunn won four awards including Top Vocal Duo and Vocal Event of the Year for "Building Bridges." The song featured fellow BMI members Sheryl Crow and Vince Gill, and both Ronnie Dunn and Kix Brooks also received nods for their work as producers. Brooks & Dunn now hold the record for most Top Vocal Duo wins with 14. In recognition of their numerous charitable endeavors, the duo was also presented with the Home Depot Humanitarian of the Year honor.

Both Song and Single Record of the Year went to "Give It Away," produced by BMI affiliate Tony Brown and co-written by BMI songwriters Whisperin' Bill Anderson and Jamey Johnson. The staunchly honky tonk tune was a No. 1 hit for recent Country Music Hall of Fame inductee George Strait, and it earned the first ACM award for Country Music Hall of Fame and Grand Ole Opry member Bill Anderson.

Megastars Rascal Flatts took home Top Vocal Group honors. The group recently saw their single "Stand" hit No. 1 and were also named Billboard's top-selling act for 2006. Their fifth ACM Top Vocal Group win ties them with Country Music Hall of Famers Alabama for the most consecutive wins in this category.

BMI legends swept the prestigious Pioneer and International Award categories. Peerless songwriter Harlan Howard, American treasure Dolly Parton and rebel icon Waylon Jennings were each honored with Pioneer Awards, while the academy bestowed the International Award on Bakersfield sound architect Buck Owens.

The Academy of Country Music, an artist and industry-driven organization, exists to produce a world-class network television awards show, and its associated events, to provide the financial resources to ensure the on-going philanthropic work of its Charitable Fund. Academy of Country Music Charitable Fund promotes and supports music education and humanitarian programs that transform the human spirit. Through its charitable donations, the ACMCF works towards two main goals: encouraging Learning Through Music and Healing Through Music. The Academy, which is comprised of more than 4,500 professional members and more than 48,000 associate members, was established in 1964 and is headquartered in Encino, Calif.

For more information on the Academy of Country Music Awards and the Academy of Country Music, please visit www.acmcountry.com.

BMI 2007 ACM Winners

Top Female Vocalist
Carrie Underwood

Top Vocal Group
Rascal Flatts

Top Vocal Duo
Brooks & Dunn

Top New Male Vocalist
Rodney Atkins

Top New Female Vocalist
Miranda Lambert

Top New Duo or Vocal Group
Little Big Town

Album of the Year [Award to Producer(s)/ Artist(s)/ Record Company]
Some Hearts
Carrie Underwood
19 Recordings Limited/Arista Records

Single Record of the Year [Award to Artist(s)/ Producer(s)/ Record
Company]
"Give It Away"
Producer: Tony Brown
MCA Nashville

Song of the Year [Award to Composer(s)/ Publisher(s)/ Artist(s)]
"Give It Away"
Writers: Bill Anderson and Jamey Johnson
Publishers: Sony/ATV Tree Publishing/Mr. Bubba Music, Inc., Admin. By
Sony/ATV Music Publishing and EMI Blackwood Music, Inc.

Video of the Year [Award to Producer(s)/Director(s)/Artist(s)]
"Before He Cheats"
Carrie Underwood

Vocal Event of the Year [Award to Artist(s)/Producer(s)/Record Company]
"Building Bridges"
Brooks & Dunn with Vince Gill & Sheryl Crow
Producers: Tony Brown, Ronnie Dunn & Kix Brooks
Arista Nashville

Pioneer Award
Harlan Howard
Dolly Parton
Waylon Jennings

International Award
Buck Owens

Musicians

Aubrey Haynie
Fiddle

Brent Mason
Guitar

John Hobbs
Piano/Keyboards

Stuart Duncan
Specialty Instrument

Michael Johnson
Steel Guitar

BMI’s Mark Mason (right) hands over Big Kenny’s brand new BMI signature Takamine.

Kenny took advantage of the packed audience and announced his decision to donate $100,000 of revenue generated by “Last Dollar” to three charities: My Sister’s Keeper, Covenant House and Magdalene House. Each of the organizations was present to accept the gifts and educate the crowd.

Big Kenny (left) and Tim McGraw (right) joke onstage.

The largest sum went to My Sister’s Keeper, reflecting Big Kenny’s dedication to exposing and ending the genocide in Darfur. In the fall of 2003, organization My Sister’s Keeper established a school for girls in the village of Akon, located in southern Sudan. The education offered is free and open to all young women of the region. Soon after its inception, the school’s population numbered 600 students, many of whom are the children of former slaves. Four years later, increased peace and stability in southern Sudan has prompted the return of numerous refugees. As of April 2007, 1000 girls attend the school. The teachers go unpaid, and the school lacks even the most rudimentary books, supplies and shelter.

Big Kenny made his own special presentation to good friend Tim McGraw.

About My Sister’s Keeper

My Sister’s Keeper (MSK) is a faith-inspired, multi-racial collective of women who work together to lend sisterly assistance to communities of women in various locations throughout the World. At present, they are focused on supporting the aspirations of women in the African country of Sudan. MSK exists to be a friend to these women and their children: We listen to their stories, we learn about their needs, and we support their aspirations for economic, educational and physical vitality. mskeeper.org

Tim McGraw (left) takes over the mic for a few minutes to thank and rib Big Kenny (right).

About Covenant House

Covenant House is the largest privately-funded nonprofit agency in North and Central America providing shelter and other services to homeless, runaway and throwaway youth. It was incorporated in New York City in 1972 and has since expanded in the United States to Anchorage, Atlanta, Atlantic City, Detroit, Fort Lauderdale, Houston, Los Angeles, Newark, New Orleans, Oakland, Orlando, Philadelphia, St. Louis, Washington, D. C., and, outside the United States, to Toronto, Vancouver, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico and Nicaragua. covenanthouse.org

Big Kenny presented to local charity Magdalene’s House.

About Magdalene House

Magdalene House is a two-year residential community for women with a criminal history of addiction and prostitution. Magdalene was created to provide a sanctuary in Nashville for women in need of a safe, disciplined and compassionate community. Since its inception, 87% of the women who entered the program and stayed beyond three months remain in recovery. thistlefarms.org

Muzik Mafia member and neo-soul up-and-comer Damien Horne accepted the check on behalf of Covenant House. Damien credits Covenant House for helping him get on his feet.

My Sister’s Keeper’s Karissa Culbreath was on hand to educate the audience and accept the generous donation from Big Kenny and Christiev Alphin.

Pictured prior to the presentations are (l to r): BMI’s Jody Williams, Big Kenny and Tim McGraw.

Photos by Eric England

The RCA Records newcomer originally wanted to be a professional golfer. However, an accident changed those plans. “I was home for the summer and a few weeks before I was supposed to go back to school, I was waterskiing and had a bad accident,” Owen recalls. “I had reconstructive shoulder surgery and spent the next year and a half doing rehabilitation. I really couldn’t play golf. My neighbor had a guitar and I started teaching myself how to play.”

That led to performing around his Florida hometown and an eventual move to Nashville. “I think things happen for a reason,” he says. “You just roll with it, keep your head up and keep believing. It happens the way it’s supposed to and my life has definitely worked out that way. I’m so thankful that I’m able to call this a job.”

After moving to Music City, he opened a bank account and while chatting with the teller, told her he was trying to break into country music. She asked him for a CD, and he just happened to have one in his pocket. The next day he got a call from Warner/Chappell Music. That didn’t result in a deal, but soon after, Owen met producer Jimmy Ritchey. The two began writing together and Ritchey helped Owen land his deal with RCA.

Owen co-wrote every song on his debut, Startin’ With Me, which includes a duet with one of his musical heroes, Alabama’s Randy Owen. The newcomer caught the attention of country radio with his up-tempo debut single “Yee Haw,” and then followed up with the poignant title track.

Owen spent the better part of 2006 opening for Kenny Chesney and Brad Paisley. “It’s a very surreal kind of feeling because a lot of people work really hard to get to where they really want to be,” he says. “Now that I’ve gotten to this point, it’s an amazing feeling, but actually I’m still not there yet. I’m the opening act and I want to be where Kenny is. I want to be the guy with the name on the ticket. That’s my goal.”

BMI recognized too that the emerging center of country music—Nashville—was to become one of the hubs of the music industry. An office was started there in 1958, and permanent facilities were constructed for BMI on Music Row in 1964 just in time for the emergence of some of “Music City U.S.A.’s” most legendary writers. That list includes writers like Willie Nelson, who before he became a star in his own right, created hits like “Crazy” for Patsy Cline and “Hello Walls” for Ray Price, and the late Harlan Howard, who penned a string of songs over more than five decades that many of country’s major stars recorded, including “I Fall to Pieces” and “Heartaches by the Number.” From that day on, BMI has assisted in the careers of many of country’s creative legends and recognized that this genre was no flash in the pan, but instead, an indisputable piece of America’s musical fabric. The fact that 87% of the members of the Country Music Hall of Fame are BMI songwriters attests to that fact.

BMI’s list of songwriters and composers also includes such country giants as Hank Williams Jr., Loretta Lynn, Felice & Boudleaux Bryant, Dolly Parton, Kris Kristofferson, Maybelle Carter, Lester Flatt, Earl Scruggs, Conway Twitty, Merle Haggard, the Stanley Brothers, Bob Wills, Bill Anderson, Doc Watson, Jimmy Martin, Mac Wiseman, Jim & Jesse McReynolds, Buck Owens, Faith Hill, Toby Keith, Tim McGraw, Alabama, Shania Twain, Vince Gill, Charlie Daniels, Don Gibson, Curly Putman, Bill Monroe, Brooks & Dunn, John Michael Montgomery and Alison Krauss.

Founded in l939 as a non-profit-making organization, BMI opened the door to performing rights representation for songwriters and composers of all types of music, many of whom were not eligible under the membership guidelines of the older American PROs. BMI offered first-time representation to songwriters of blues, jazz, r&b, gospel, folk, country and Spanish-language music, and as several of these musical trends converged to produce a new music called “rock & roll,” BMI became the preeminent performing right organization for songwriters of this new genre. The company quickly made reciprocal agreements with sister societies around the world.

The success of BMI’s songwriters and composers is unequaled, as evidenced by their dominance of the industry’s most prestigious awards and honors over the years, representing 51% of the Grammy Awards, 67% of the Country Music Association Awards, 69% of the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame inductees, 87% of the R&B Foundation’s Pioneer Awards and 95% of the Blues Music Awards.

Friday begins at 11:15 a.m., and features Chicago-based band the Bon Mots-composers of sugar kissed pop music. Often compared to the Byrds and praised for vintage instrumentation, PopMatters.com cheers that the band mixes "witty lyrics and sly nods to the likes of Elvis Costello and Pavement," while AllMusic.com proclaims, "The Bon Mots just may be Chicago's best-kept secret."

12:30 p.m. ushers in another Chicago troupe, Cameron McGill and What Army. McGill's lyrics and melodies embrace the enigmatic and the melancholy, all while categorically maintaining a stark dedication to beauty and self-deprecating humor.

1:45 to 2:30 p.m. will be dominated by Houston's Makeshifte. Makeshifte is not for the faint of heart. The 2005 Texas Buzz Award winners for the "Musicians' Choice" award cite Hoobastank, Linkin Park and Incubus as key influences of their heavy, guitar-driven tunes led by feverish vocals.

San Francisco's Kelley Soltz follows Makeshifte at 3:00 until 3:45 p.m. Stoltz is capable of channeling Carl Wilson to sinful perfection, then swings over and nods to the Beatles, refusing to adopt any one monotonous sound or voice. A master of several instruments, Stoltz waves fondly to past icons while planting his feet firmly in 21st century pop.

4:15 to 5:00 p.m. brings Anderson, Indiana's Jon McLaughlin. A classically trained pianist, McLaughlin relishes in the sounds of Billy Joel and Ben Folds, and melds spirited keys with crooner-inspired vocals. The result jumps vigorously between genres like jazz, funk, rock and ragtime.

Chicago's Musical Outfits kick things off Saturday at 11:15 a.m. These four young musicians have created quite a buzz thanks in large part to the group's dynamic live show. Their 2005 debut album, Left Here, garnered spins on popular Chicago radio stations 93.1 WXRT, WLUW and Q101.

12:30 to 1:15 p.m. sees Austin, Texas, band St. James take the stage. The trio's buoyant harmonies are layered copiously over exquisite strings and the occasional piano, creating a moody feast for the ears well-worth revisiting.

New York rapper Lanz takes over at 1:45 p.m. Sixteen-year-old Lanz originally embraced the sounds of Jay Z, Tupac and Nas as an escape from the hardships that greeted her at an early age. Lanz has poured her arduous experiences into her lyrics, resulting in mature reflections in spite of her youth.

From 3:00 to 3:45 p.m., Rhode Island's Elvis Perkins holds down the fort. Dreamy melodies and stories dominate Perkins' music, which draws thoughtfully from folk rock and relies heavily on guitar and occasional fiddle mastery paired with emotive percussion.

At 4:15, Chicago's Kill Hannah wraps up Saturday's day stage. The Atlantic Records recording artists have created a fresh British-inspired rock / electronica hybrid best savored live. BMI proudly offers the opportunity to witness the band Billy Corgan called "the future of Chicago rock."

From 11:15 a.m. to noon Sunday morning, Chicago's Katie Todd Band will pleasantly awaken the crowd. Three albums deep into a promising career, the band is buoyed by Todd's sweet vocals that hint provocatively at the jagged edge buried just beneath the surface.

Chicago's Catfish Haven takes the stage at 12:30 p.m. The band's rustic sound achieves notoriety thanks to soulful lead singer George Hunter's gravelly vocal delivery. Named for the trailer park Hunter called home in his youth, the troupe's authentic grittiness seeps into every corner of their sound.

1:45 p.m. brings Atlanta's Manchester Orchestra to Chicago. The young pop band displays an innate understanding of balancing emotional depths with radio-friendly hooks that often evades artists twice their age. Manchester Orchestra is sauntering down a golden path, prompting Paste Magazine to proclaim, "When experience matriculates into that pre-existing talent, great music will spring from this simply good music."

Birmingham, Alabama's Moses Mayfield hits the stage from 3:00 to 3:45 p.m. Epic Recording artists who claim influences ranging from Pearl Jam to Peter Gabriel, Moses Mayfield delivers an insightful rock punch that somehow prompts both introspection and unbridled head-banging.

Chicago's Assassins wrap up BMI's Lollapalooza day stage from 4:15 to 4:45 p.m. The group's unique approach to composition and songwriting itself results in experimental layers of electro-rock bearing the distinct thumbprint of each one of the six members.

It wasn’t an easy ascent for Kimberly Roads, Karen Fairchild, Jimi Westbrook and Phillip Sweet, who had each put in time singing in church and bands before meeting up in Music City and finding their Fleetwood Mac-esque harmonies. They landed and lost several record deals, and lost their way musically a bit along the path, before settling in to make their now-gold Equity Records album, The Road To Here, with producer Wayne Kirkpatrick.

By the time they landed on Kirkpatrick’s doorstep, they were worn by career defeat, relationship struggles and even death (Kimberly’s husband passed away unexpectedly in 2005), but they were ready to write.

“We’re all real strong believers there’s purpose in all of this,” says Roads. “Many days we went into the studio to write and ended up having a long therapy session! We’d talk for hours and our emotions just kind of flowed out.”

“I think everything that’s happened, happened for a reason,” explains Fairchild. “And we made much better music for going through all this. Our lives are not that much different from anyone else out there . . . we just get to pour that emotion into art, which is a beautiful gift.”]]> 2006-10-15T18:00:00-05:00