“Great means incredibly well crafted, easily memorable, with a universally relatable sentiment and a sense of authenticity—“from the heart” as they say. Iconic means touching a cultural nerve, standing the test of time and instantly recognizable by many people - that holds true even if it’s not widely considered… Read more...
At my BMI Nashville Songwriters’ Workshops, I screen and critique songs from each attendee. When I find songs that I believe are competitive with those being written by today’s top hitmakers, I forward them to ten music publishers who have agreed to listen. After the last BMI Workshop, I forwarded… Read more...
I taught my first songwriting class at Los Angeles’ Pierce College in 1991. Back then, if my car radio were tuned to a pop station, it was likely I would hear chart-topping artists such as Michael Jackson, Wilson Phillips, Janet Jackson, Michael Bolton, Poison, and Roxette. During that same era,… Read more...
J-Pop and K-Pop, respectively, refer to wildly popular (and lucrative) genres of pop music recorded in Japan and South Korea. In many instances, these songs garner airplay and sales in additional Asian countries, and are sometimes translated into Mandarin for promotion in the Chinese market, as well. Young hopeful artists… Read more...
With so many artists and producers writing or co-writing their own material, there seem to be fewer opportunities than ever for writers and music publishers to pitch and place songs. It’s become increasingly important to think outside the box when writing and promoting material—and that includes looking beyond our own… Read more...
Last night, music legend Kenny “Babyface” Edmonds was honored at the 66th Annual BMI/NAB Dinner during the National Association of Broadcasters (NAB) Convention in Las Vegas. Few creative forces have impacted the contemporary pop/urban genres as much as the 10-time GRAMMY winner.Babyface’s incredible achievements include 11 solo albums, more than 125… Read more...
More than a decade ago, the voice of GRAMMY-winning songwriter and producer Nasri – born Nasri Tony Atweh – could be heard all over Canadian radio stations. Likewise, his videos were getting play on Canada’s most popular music video channel, Much Music. That’s because at 19, the Toronto native walked… Read more...
He’s only 28 years old, but Julian Bunetta talks like a wizened beatnik thrust into a focus-grouped world he didn’t create. The California-based producer/engineer habitually tosses out phrases and metaphors that speak volumes about his churning creativity, not to mention his philosophical approach to life. As Bunetta sees it, strong… Read more...
About 10 years ago, writer/producer E. Miles made his first trek to the Big Apple. Hailing from the unincorporated town of Pleasant Grove, North Carolina—a town so small it doesn’t even have its own McDonald’s restaurant—Miles was particularly dazzled by New York’s bright lights and thrusting skyscrapers. “I was 16-17… Read more...
Born and raised in Toronto, August Rigo absorbed pop R&B readily; the tunes of Boyz II Men, Jodeci and, of course, Michael Jackson shaped him. He taught himself piano, drums and guitar, and then went on to performing arts high school, where he was occasionally shoved out of his comfort… Read more...
