Recent News
Global Leaders Meet in Cannes for midem 2012

International leaders in music, technology, brands and education came together for midem 2012, January 27-30 in Cannes. Panels led by experts in copyright, delivery platforms, music publishing and so much more filled the schedule of the summit, a must-attend event where current issues are debated and key business deals are reached. Richard Conlon, Senior Vice President, Corporate Strategy, Communications & New Media for BMI, served as an advocate for copyright… more
Remembering Jean Banks: 1934-2012

Jean Banks, Senior Director of Jazz and Musical Theatre at BMI, passed away on February 2 in her Lower East Side home after a long battle with lung cancer. She was 77 years old. Jean got her first taste of show business when she worked as an executive secretary for the New York office of Seven-Arts Productions. After her stint at Seven Arts, she also worked for a time at… more
Sundance 2012: Rodriguez

When Rodriguez took the stage to perform at BMI’s 8th annual Sundance Snowball, he was every bit the awe-inspiring rock poet first introduced in his 1970’s recordings. The only difference is now, everyone knows it. Born in 1942 in Detroit to Mexican immigrants, Sixto Diaz Rodriguez released his first single in 1967, and followed with two albums on Sussex/A&M, 1970’s Cold Fact and the following year’s Coming… more
Supreme Court Decision Provides for Restoration of Copyright Protection for Foreign Works

A January 18 ruling by the U.S. Supreme Court upholding a federal law that essentially pulls some works in the public domain back into copyright protection is winning applause from the creative community. The case, Golan vs. Holder, revolved around a 1994 law that applied largely to works first published abroad from 1923 to 1989 that had earlier not been eligible for copyright protection under U.S. law. The Court ruled… more
Pitbull to Receive BMI President’s Award at 19th Annual BMI Latin Awards

Pitbull will receive the BMI President’s Award at the 19th annual BMI Latin Awards slated for March 30 at the Encore Wynn Las Vegas. The private ceremony salutes the songwriters and publishers of the past year’s most-performed Latin songs on American radio and television in the U.S. The BMI President’s Award is presented on unique occasions when an individual songwriter or executive has distinctly and… more
Kenny Chesney Leads List of 2012 ACM Awards Nominees

BMI songwriters and artists overwhelmingly dominate the list of 2012 Academy of Country Music Awards nominees, announced Thursday, January 26. BMI has historically represented the majority of country music’s leaders – from Hank Williams, Loretta Lynn and Porter Wagoner, to Willie Nelson, Dolly Parton and Merle Haggard – and a review of… more
BMI Live Celebrates 1st Anniversary of Distributing Royalties for Singer-Songwriter Performances

This month, BMI Live — the important and groundbreaking program that enables performing songwriters to be compensated for their public performances of their songs — celebrates its first year anniversary. Over the course of the year, thousands of songwriters have signed up for the free program, many of them receiving royalty payments for the first time as a result. By logging onto the BMI Live section of bmi.com and… more
Michael Woodard Wins on Series Finale of Popular Reality Singing Show ‘Majors and Minors’

14-year-old up-and-coming BMI writer wows fans and industry judges Last night, on the highly anticipated season finale of the popular reality singing show Majors and Minors, 14-year-old BMI writer and singer Michael Woodard took home the top prize of a music publishing deal and a record deal with RCA Records. Woodard, a sweet and gifted eighth grader from Philadelphia, won fans’ hearts with his incredible voice, positive attitude and infectious… more
BMI Bids Farewell to Outstanding Sundance 2012

The 2012 Sundance Film Festival was once again filled with premieres of awe-inspiring work by BMI composers, along with signature BMI events that have become annual favorites. The highly anticipated BMI composer/director roundtable, “Music & Film: The Creative Process,” took place on Wednesday, January 24. Focusing on the relationship between composer and director, the panel is a cornerstone discussion at the festival on the role of music in film. Panelists… more
Save the Date: Grammy Edition of BMI’s “How I Wrote That Song” Slated for Feb. 11 in L.A.

Grammy-winning hip-hop icon Rev Run; RZA, the Grammy-winning founder of Wu-Tang Clan; Good Charlotte co-founders Joel and Benji Madden; multiple Grammy nominee/producer/artist and official voice of South Florida DJ Khaled; and Grammy-winning songwriter/producer RedOne are confirmed panelists for BMI’s “How I Wrote That Song” 2012, slated for Saturday, February 11, from 12 p.m. to 2 p.m. at the Key Club (9039 West Sunset Boulevard, West Hollywood, CA 90069).… more
WIPO and OAS Release Report on the Economic Contribution of the Copyright Industries

BMI Supports the Value of Music in Global Joint Statement JOINT STATEMENT: The vibrant music of the Western Hemisphere is widely recognized as one of the great contributions of our peoples to global society. Yet our ability to continue creating and offering this magnificent music is under threat today like never before. The collective output of our songwriters, performers, musicians, publishers, technicians and producers is being stolen on a massive… more
NARM Offers $50 Discount Off Entertainment & Law Course Cost

NARM – the National Association of Recording Merchandisers – will offer a CLE (continuing legal education) course on Thursday, March 1 at the offices of Greenberg Traurig LLP in New York City. Part of the Entertainment & Technology Law Conference Series co-presented by NARM and digitalmusic.org, the half-day session will cover bankruptcy’s effects on copyright assets; the complex licensing of musical works; current monopoly and antitrust… more
SF MusicTech Summit & Digital Music Forum Offer BMI Member Discounts

BMI will sponsor two key gatherings of digital and music movers and shakers next month: the San Francisco MusicTech Summit on February 13 and Digital Music Forum: East, February 22 and 23. Held at Hotel Kabuki in San Francisco, the one-day SF MusicTech Summit brings music and technology leaders together. BMI songwriters, composers and music publishers are encouraged to attend and to take advantage… more
Majority of 2012 BRIT Award Nominations Go to BMI Songwriters

BMI’s international songwriting family earned a commanding 55% of the nominations for the BRIT Awards 2012, the celebration of the year’s best popular music in the U.K. and around the world. Many of the nominees are members of British performing rights organization PRS for Music, but choose BMI to represent them in the United States. 2011 belonged to Adele, and her soulful reign is reflected in nominations… more
Remembering Etta James: 1938-2012

Etta James died on Friday, January 20. She was 73 years old. “With the passing of Etta James, we lose one of the most powerful and beautiful voices of blues and soul, and a woman whose spirit was as fierce and unapologetic as her music,” said BMI President & CEO Del Bryant. “James lived a life of both triumphs and… more
Remembering Johnny Otis: 1921-2012

Legend Johnny Otis died on January 19. He was 90 years old. Otis was many things -- songwriter, band leader, musician, talent scout, dj, activist, preacher, author -- but those labels only hint at the scope and power of his versatility and vision. He had an incomparable knack for spotting and nurturing artistic genius, and is credited with guiding the careers of soul and r&b pioneers such as… more
MusicWorld: Skylar Grey, Anthony Hamilton, Sundance & More

Check out the new BMI MusicWorld digital issue, featuring… Anthony Hamilton: “This new album came in sections. I was in a space where I wanted to change it up a bit. I was in a moving mood; I wanted to feel like it was traveling.” Skylar Grey: “I don’t go out and specifically take a song and say, ‘I wanna do something like this’—because… more
Ludovic Bource, ‘The Artist’ Take Golden Globe for Best Score

French composer Ludovic Bource clinched a big win at the 69th annual Golden Globe Awards, held Sunday, January 15 in Los Angeles. His music for The Artist was named Best Original Score for a Motion Picture, and joined the cavalcade of honors for the film, including Best Motion Picture – Comedy or Musical and Best Actor – Comedy or Musical. “It’s an incredible honor,” Bource… more
BMI Honors Kirk Franklin, Hezekiah Walker & Marvin Sapp at 13th Annual Trailblazers

BMI honored gospel giants Kirk Franklin and Hezekiah Walker at its 13th annual Trailblazers of Gospel Music Awards Luncheon today in Nashville. Held at Rocketown, the event brought legends and contemporary stars together to celebrate the careers of two of the genre’s finest. Marvin Sapp’s “The Best in Me” was named BMI’s Most-Performed Gospel Song of the Year. Co-written… more
BMI Presents Annual Composer/Director Roundtable at Sundance 2012

BMI and the Sundance Film Festival will present the 14th annual Composer/Director Roundtable and 10th annual Snowball during the 2012 Sundance Film Festival, slated for January 19-29 in Park City, Utah. Entitled “Music & Film: The Creative Process,” BMI’s roundtable will take place on Wednesday, January 25 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Sundance House presented by HP (638 Park Avenue). The Snowball – also on Wednesday, January… more
