March 5, 2006

BMI Movie Music Scores at Oscars

BMI film music stole the show at last night's 78th Annual Academy Awards (3/5), winning both music Oscars for Best Original Score and Best Song.


Gustavo Santaolalla	Three 6 Mafia

Latin rock producer, songwriter, performer, film composer and Surco Records president Gustavo Santaolalla earned his first Academy Award for the riveting score to Brokeback Mountain. The music from the triple Oscar-winning film also won big at this year's Golden Globes, taking home the Best Original Song award for "A Love That Will Never Grow Old."

A native of Argentina, Santaolalla worked his way through the business as a performer before turning to producing with business partner Anibal Kerpel. Together, the two formed Surco Records and are responsible for some of today's most influential rock en español music, including Café Tacuba, Juanes, Molotov and Bajofondo Tango Club. His other notable film scores include 21 Grams and The Motorcycle Diaries.

The Academy Award for Best Song went to "It's Hard Out Here For A Pimp" from the Hustle and Flow soundtrack. Co-written by BMI songwriters Jordan Houston (aka Juicy J) and Paul Beauregard (aka DJ Paul) of hip-hop group Three 6 Mafia, and labelmate Cedric Coleman (aka Frayser Boy), the win marked only the second time in Oscar history that a rap song received one of the top movie music prizes (Eminem's "Lose Yourself" from 8 Mile won Best Song in 2003).

"Pimp" also goes down in the Oscar record books as the first rap song to be performed live during the telecast; Eminem passed up on the invitation when he was nominated.

Legendary figures in the Memphis underground, Three 6 Mafia has been through several incarnations over the past 10 years and is currently churning out their own brand of hardcore, "crunk"-style rap with members Juicy and Paul, as well as Crunchy Black and Lord Infamous. Their most recent release Most Known Unknown on their own Hypnotize Minds imprint (Sony) includes the smash hit single "Stay Fly" (featuring 8 Ball & MJG and Young Buck of G-Unit), as well as guest appearances from Project Pat, Lil' Flip, DJ Kay Slay and Paul Wall.