July 27, 2006

BMI’s Scott Andrews Appointed to NATAS Board of Governors

The National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences (NATAS), which has taken a leadership position in encouraging and recognizing creativity in editorial content and video production for emerging new media, has appointed BMI's Scott Andrews, Executive Director, Business Development - New Media to the Board of Governors of its Nashville/Midsouth chapter. Andrews will act as a new media industry representative.

NATAS Nashville/Midsouth Executive Director Geneva M. Brignolo (l) welcomes BMI's Scott Andrews to the Board of Governors.

"Music licensing has always been an important feature of production for television stations and production companies," commented Geneva M. Brignolo, Executive Director of the Nashville/Midsouth chapter. "With expanding delivery platforms, the Academy has introduced new awards to honor those advanced media technologies. We are delighted to welcome Scott to our Board as an expert in these fields."

The TV Academy's leadership role includes the recent approval by its National Awards Board of Trustees to introduce a new Emmy Award in response to the burgeoning number of individuals and companies announcing plans to produce original programming for new media. This new award was presented for the first time at the 33rd Annual Creative Arts Daytime Emmy Awards ceremony held last April, given out for original programming created specifically for non-traditional viewing platforms such as computers, mobile phones, MP3 players like the iPod, PDAs and similar devices.

An overwhelming number of entrants vied for a spot on the Emmy nomination list, with contenders being considered for original made-for-broadband or made-for-mobile material. These platforms include video blogs, website programs including journalistic reporting, event coverage or event analysis, mobisodes (short episodics created for mobile devices), video-on-demand, and other video delivered over an IP network or a platform such as wireless, broadband or VOD.

BMI plays an important role in collecting licensing fees from these emerging technologies, ensuring that its more than 300,000 songwriters, composers and publishers are fairly compensated for the use of their copyrighted music in the digital space.

BMI represents more than 500,000 songwriters, composers, and publishers with more than 7.5 million works.