BMI Video: 7 Clips from 2011 You Don’t Want to Miss

By MusicWorld staff

Dec 15 2011

Throughout the year, BMI captures exclusive moments on video. From sharing a career high with Lady Gaga to advice from pop master David Foster to a mad dash through SXSW with Welsh phenom Bright Light Bright Light, we’ve picked our seven small-screen favorites from 2011.

David Foster’s 10 Tips for Songwriters

When David Foster was named a BMI Icon at our Pop Awards this May, he shared 10 sage tips for success. Our favorites? It’s a tie –no. 9: “Make every creative decision based on the notion that you have millions of dollars in the bank – even if you have nothing in the bank”; and no. 2: “Don’t get married unless you really, really, really want to.”

Drake at BMI Urban Awards

When Drake was crowned BMI Urban Songwriter of the Year at the 2011 ceremony, his buzz-generating acceptance speech featured key shout-outs to Mom and the dictionary.

Bright Light Bright Light Does SXSW

BMI asked Welsh singer/songwriter/producer/DJ Bright Light Bright Light to record his SXSW 2011 experience. The result is a six-minute joyride that’s as freewheeling and goodie-packed as the festival itself.

Bobby Braddock: Why BMI?

Honored as the BMI Icon at this year’s BMI Country Awards, legendary songwriter Bobby Braddock – of “He Stopped Loving Her Today” and “D-I-V-O-R-C-E” fame – explains the reason for his multi-decade relationship with BMI in characteristically poetic terms: We’re the “performance organization of the people.”

Chino y Nacho’s Happiness is Contagious

Venezuelan natives Chino y Nacho have helped the entire world fall in love with reggaeton. The master performers’ excitement over being honored as master songwriters at the BMI Latin Awards in March couldn’t be more clear – even if your Spanish is a little rusty.

Mark Mothersbaugh: Please Allow Me to Introduce Myself

Mark Mothersbaugh is a one-man lesson in creative reinvention. As soon as he explains with polite sincerity, “I don’t know if you know, but I have a band...” at the BMI Film/TV Awards, you know this four-minute interview – which spans Devo, film/television/gaming composing and his kids’ attitudes when he’s on the road – is refreshingly different.

Lady Gaga the Songwriter

Of all the awards she’s loved before, Lady Gaga counts her recent BMI Pop Songwriter of the Year title among the most special. But don’t take our word for it. Watch her heartfelt acceptance speech, in which she proclaims: “This is the most important award I could be winning.”

Want to watch more? Check out BMI’s “How I Wrote That Song” panel, an exercise in global co-writing at the BMI Kingston Songwriter Camp, Nathan Barr and director Matthew Chapman’s chat at Sundance and more on BMI’s YouTube channel.