September 15 marks the beginning of a month-long recognition of the rich history and important contributions Latinos have made to American society and culture. What started as Hispanic Heritage Week under President Lyndon B. Johnson in 1968 grew into a month-long observation in the late ’80s. “Nurtured by their rich… Read more...
UK jazz star Jamie Cullum became the youngest writer at age 26 to receive a prestigious Gold Badge Award, presented by the British Academy of Composers and Songwriters on October 24 at The Savoy, Strand, in London. Cullum was born in Essex but grew up in Wiltshire where he absorbed… Read more...
World-renowned BMI composer Michael Kamen died yesterday (11/18) of an apparent heart attack at his home in London. He was 55. Kamen, who was considered a visionary for skillfully fusing classical music with rock and roll, did orchestrations for a wide range… Read more...
BMI and the Sundance Institute have announced the six participants selected for the 6th Annual Sundance Institute Composers Lab held at Sundance in Utah. This year's Composers Lab Fellows are Christopher Anderson-Bazzoli, Billy Childs, Courtney Von Drehle, Mark De Gli Antoni, Ronit Kirchman and Christopher Tin. The lab kicked… Read more...
UK hip-hop/R&B diva Ms. Dynamite (right) is greeted by BMI's Brandon Bakshi at the recent Nordoff-Robbins Music Therapy's Silver Clef Lunch in London. The Silver Clef Lunch is the biggest fundraising event on the Nordoff-Robbins calendar and has become the music business charity event… Read more...
They are the best-selling duo in pop music history with nearly 30 Top 40 hits to their credit, yet Hall & Oates have always taken a dignified approach to stardom. Though they could rightfully promote themselves as pop royalty, singer/songwriters Darryl Hall and John Oates have eschewed… Read more...
The Philadelphia Chapter of the Recording Academy recently presented its 2003 Heroes Awards to BMI songwriter/producer/artists Larry Gold, Joe Nicolo, Walter "Bunny" Sigler and McCoy Tyner. R&B artist Musiq was also honored. The Chapter presents its Heroes Awards annually to honor outstanding individuals and institutions in the Philadelphia region who… Read more...
"You've Lost That Lovin' Feelin'," "On Broadway," "(You're My) Soul and Inspiration": These are just a few of the classic songs that husband and wife team Barry Mann and Cynthia Weil has written. The wildly successful partnership has spanned nearly every genre of popular… Read more...
"We're really interested in finding the beauty of music these days," R.E.M bassist Mike Mills recently told VH1.com. "It's not so much about hitting people over the head with anything, but taking a song and seeing how you can either find something really lovely inside it, or… Read more...
Since recording her first Rounder Records album at the age of 15, singer, fiddler, and bandleader Alison Krauss has forged her own path to mass popularity and critical acclaim. She has achieved remarkable success in country, bluegrass, and popular music on her own terms, without ever compromising… Read more...
