May 1, 2000

BMI Hosts MCTI Kickoff Party

BMI hosted the kickoff party for Warner Music Group Presents the 27th Annual Music City Tennis Invitational (MCTI), providing the 'Gold' and 'Platinum' team tennis squads a friendly gathering before competition got underway.

The MCTI, the oldest music-supported tennis tournament in the nation, was held Saturday, April 29 and Sunday, April 30 to benefit the Child Development Center (CDC) at Vanderbilt Children's Hospital in Nashville. The Child Development Center is a significant resource for families of children with a wide variety of disorders, such as learning difficulties, autism, mental retardation and attention deficit and hyperactivity disorders. The community involvement in the annual tennis tournament brings much needed funds. Last year's MCTI donation to the CDC totaled more than $40,000.

The Warner Music Group sponsorship marks a new level of participation from several labels, including the Nashville operations of Warner/Reprise, Giant, Asylum, Atlantic and Curb Record Labels and Warner/Chappell Music. Other companies lending to the success of this event through generous sponsorships include BMI, EMI Publishing, RCA Label Group, SESAC, Sony/Nashville, and Williams, Crosslin, Sparks & Vaden, P.C.

The tournament, with BMI songwriter Martina McBride as Honorary Chair, was held at the Brownlee O. Currey, Jr. Tennis Center at Vanderbilt University.

Dr. Ian Burr of Vanderbilt Children's Hospital; Barry Coburn of Atlantic Records; Phran Galante, MCTI Chair; and Bob Saporiti of MCTI title sponsor Warner Music Group