Recent London Updates
The BMI Holiday Countdown: John Lennon, “Happy Xmas (War Is Over)”

Hall-decking, bell-jingling, holiday hysteria is upon us, and joining the party is so much more fun than grinching out on the sidelines. So count us in. Here at BMI, we’re sharing eight of our favorite holiday songs – check back every Tuesday and Thursday on bmi.com until December 22, the week before Christmas.
This is it! John Lennon caps off the countdown.
The BMI Holiday Countdown: Vince Guaraldi Trio, “Christmas Time is Here”

Hall-decking, bell-jingling, holiday hysteria is upon us, and joining the party is so much more fun than grinching out on the sidelines. So count us in. Here at BMI, we’re sharing eight of our favorite holiday songs – check back every Tuesday and Thursday on bmi.com until December 22, the week before Christmas.
Vince Guaraldi and the Peanuts gang claim the seventh slot.
The BMI Holiday Countdown: Run-D.M.C., “Christmas in Hollis”

Hall-decking, bell-jingling, holiday hysteria is upon us, and joining the party is so much more fun than grinching out on the sidelines. So count us in. Here at BMI, we’re sharing eight of our favorite holiday songs – check back every Tuesday and Thursday on bmi.com until December 22, the week before Christmas.
It’s an ill reindeer! Run-D.M.C. claim the next slot.
New Digital MusicWorld Issue: Top 7 Videos of 2011 and More

Check out the last BMI MusicWorld digital issue of 2011, featuring… Seven 2011 Video Clips You Don’t Want to Miss: 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…
BMI Video: 7 Clips from 2011 You Don’t Want to Miss

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…
The BMI Holiday Countdown

Hall-decking, bell-jingling, holiday hysteria is upon us, and joining the party is so much more fun than grinching out on the sidelines. So count us in. Here at BMI, we’re sharing eight of our favorite holiday songs – check back every Tuesday and Thursday on bmi.com until December 22, the week before Christmas.
Spotlight: First-Time BMI Songwriting Award Winners

For a composer or lyricist, being recognized for a songwriting achievement never loses its luster, no matter how many times such an honor comes an artist’s way. Still, the thrill that results from being a “first-time” winner is always especially memorable. In 2011, BMI staged seven ceremonies that recognized the writers, publishers and producers of the most-performed songs of the past year, in a wide range of genres. When asked…
Chris Willis, Writing Gospel-Bred Electronica with a Rock Edge

The word “songwriter” typically conjures a loner with a guitar or piano, or maybe two or three tunesmiths ensconced in a room at a publisher’s office in Nashville or L.A. But for Chris Willis and other creative sparkplugs of the dance and electronic music realm, it’s a wildly different game, played with trans-Atlantic emails, multiple studios, sample clearances, Skype and the high-tech wizardry of sequencing and beats…
The BMI Holiday Countdown: Clarence Carter, “Back Door Santa”

Hall-decking, bell-jingling, holiday hysteria is upon us, and joining the party is so much more fun than grinching out on the sidelines. So count us in. Here at BMI, we’re sharing eight of our favorite holiday songs – check back every Tuesday and Thursday on bmi.com until December 22, the week before Christmas.
For the fifth entry, we head south with Clarence Carter.
The BMI Holiday Countdown: Mariah Carey, “All I Want for Christmas is You”

Hall-decking, bell-jingling, holiday hysteria is upon us, and joining the party is so much more fun than grinching out on the sidelines. So count us in. Here at BMI, we’re sharing eight of our favorite holiday songs – check back every Tuesday and Thursday on bmi.com until December 22, the week before Christmas. Our first three songs debuted in the 1960s. The next entry in the countdown jumps ahead…
The BMI Holiday Countdown: Darlene Love, “Christmas (Baby Please Come Home)”

Hall-decking, bell-jingling, holiday hysteria is upon us, and joining the party is so much more fun than grinching out on the sidelines. So count us in. Here at BMI, we’re sharing eight of our favorite holiday songs – check back every Tuesday and Thursday on bmi.com until December 22, the week before Christmas.
Darlene Love, Jeff Barry, Ellie Greenwich and Phil Spector keep the countdown going.
Kanye West, Adele Lead BMI List of Grammy Nominees

Kanye West and Adele top the long list of BMI nominees for the 54th Annual Grammy Awards, announced Wednesday, November 30. With seven, West garnered the most nods of any artist. His prolific risk-taking over the past year helped ensure his nominations haul. He’ll compete against himself in the Best Rap Album field: solo effort My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy and Watch the Throne,…
New MusicWorld Digital Issue Features Joss Stone, Wiz Khalifa & More

Check out the new digital issue of BMI MusicWorld, featuring… Joss Stone: “I never say ‘no’ to trying something. That’s just not in my personality.” Wiz Khalifa: “23-year-old Wiz Khalifa quieted the naysayers, embraced the haters and mobilized the Taylor Gang crew, pushing his Atlantic Records debut Rolling Papers to gold-selling status.” Skylar Grey: “‘It’s natural,’ Skylar Grey says of her bond with English beat-making phenom…
Joss Stone Talks Songwriting

In the eight years that Joss Stone has been in the international spotlight, you’d have to believe she’s fielded questions on just about every topic under the sun at least twice. And yet she sounds pleasantly surprised to find her songwriting the focus of an interview: “Oh, cool! That’s really nice.” Stone’s voice — a fiery and formidable instrument — has often grabbed the attention. It begins…
Mick Schultz: Jeremih’s Go-To Guy Stays on Top

Some artists balk at the notion that they possess a gift for assessing popular tastes. But for songwriter/producer Mick Schultz, who recently scored his second no. 1 r&b/hip-hop chart success with Jeremih’s recording of “Down on Me,” the ability to consciously craft hits is a point of pride. “When I was making ‘Down on Me,’ I wasn’t thinking, ‘This is going to no. 1,’ but…
Sandy Vee on Producing the Perfect Pop Song

If renowned pop music producer Sandy Vee had come across his current job among the help wanted ads, it may have read something like this: Job Listing: Top Music Producer Major Duties and Responsibilities: Ideal candidate must basically know how to do everything and do it extremely well on a daily basis — including, but not limited to, producing, mixing and mastering pop songs that much of…
James Bond Composer David Arnold Branches Out with London Olympics

From the Grammy-winning heroics of Independence Day to the pulse-pounding excitement of the last five James Bond films, the music of English composer David Arnold has helped to propel moviegoers into the 21st century with panache. But this year’s recipient of BMI’s Richard Kirk Award for career achievement isn’t just a film composer. His commitment to international human-rights issues and his willingness to take on a major…
With “Love the Way You Lie” and Her Own Album, Skylar Grey Takes Off

In a reprise of her pivotal performance at this year’s Grammys, Skylar Grey joined Eminem for his headlining set on the second night of Lollapalooza in Chicago. Once again the pair ran through the now chart-topping “I Need a Doctor,” only this time, Grey and Eminem were sharing the spotlight. Along with her own slot on BMI’s stage earlier that same day, Skylar Grey’s…
With Grammy-Winning “Revolver,” Afrojack Crosses Over

In 2010, MusicWorld declared that producer/dj Afrojack was “poised to rule the global dance floor alongside internationally renowned djs such as Armin van Buuren, Paul van Dyk and deadmau5.” In a further demonstration of faith in the Dutch writer/producer, BMI proclaimed Afrojack “dance music’s heir apparent.” It hasn’t taken long for Afrojack to make good on those predictions. Last February, he shared a Grammy…
The BMI Holiday Countdown: Buck Owens, “Santa Looked A Lot Like Daddy”

Hall-decking, bell-jingling, holiday hysteria is upon us, and joining the party is so much more fun than grinching out on the sidelines. So count us in. Here at BMI, we’re sharing eight of our favorite holiday songs – check back every Tuesday and Thursday on bmi.com until December 22, the week before Christmas.
Buck Owens and Don Rich claim the second spot on the countdown.
