News Archive
In a historic moment, Librarian of Congress Carla Hayden, today cited 25 recordings worthy of perpetual preservation in the National Recording Registry due to their cultural, historical or aesthetic significance in the nation’s sound heritage. BMI is very proud that nine of these selections are from our repertoire. “The National…
When Clever is Too Clever in Songwriting
Before addressing what might constitute being “too clever” in lyrics, I’ll begin by defining what I mean by “clever” lyrics. For the purposes of this article I’m referring to songs with lyrics that are witty, tongue-in-cheek, humorous, or amusing. These are in contrast to those that fall into the category…
BMI Songwriters Dominate First Six Months of 2011 Awards Season
Half of 2011 is already history, complete with a suite of awards ceremonies celebrating music’s best. From the Grammys to the Tonys, the cultural supremacy of BMI’s deep repertoire has been on full display. January The year launched with a high bar, as Atticus Ross’s music for The Social…
BMI Country Royalty Reigns at 2011 CMT Music Awards
BMI’s country vanguard dominated the 2011 CMT Music Awards, taking honors for every award presented for the trophies handed out on Wednesday, June 8 in Nashville. The surge underscores the viability of the BMI catalog, whose creators continue to excel in the ever-expanding menu of ways to connect with fans.…
Marshall Chapman Pays Tribute to ‘Best Friend in Music’
Big Lonesome, Marshall Chapman’s first album since 2006’s Mellowlicious, is not the record she had planned to make. Chapman had been hoping to record an album of duets with fellow BMI singer/songwriter Tim Krekel, but those plans ended with Krekel’s death in June 2009. His passing was an enormous personal…
Hank Cochran Dies
Iconic songwriter Hank Cochran died Thursday morning at his home in Hendersonville, Tennessee. The writer behind country standards including “Make the World Go Away,” “She’s Got You,” “I Fall to Pieces,” “The Chair,” “Ocean Front Property,” “Don’t You Ever Get Tired of Hurting Me,” “Is It Raining at Your House,”…
Jimmy Buffet, Hugh Prestwood Join Nashville Song Hall
The Nashville Songwriters' Hall of Fame christened two more BMI members Sunday night (10/22) at the annual induction ceremony hosted by the Nashville Songwriters Association International (NSAI) and the Nashville Songwriters Foundation (NSF). Songwriters selected sea-faring icon Jimmy Buffett and cherished…
Nashville Song Hall Nominates BMI Greats
BMI songwriters claimed an impressive majority of the 2006 nominations for induction into the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame - 10 of the 15 call BMI home. The nods honor elite members of the songwriting community whose contributions to popular music span genres and decades. …
Keith Urban, Toby Keith Lead BMI’s CMA Nominees
Country superstars Keith Urban and Toby Keith lead the list of BMI songwriters and artists nominated for the 39th Annual Country Music Association Awards. The announcement was made September 7 from New York City, this year's host city for the ceremony being held November 15 at…
CMT Music Awards Finals Favor Big & Rich, Toby and Tim
Big & Rich, Toby Keith and Tim McGraw led the BMI list of finalists for the 2005 CMT Music Awards, country music's only fan-voted awards show. Each act collected four nominations, including Video of the Year mentions. Keith Urban picked up three nominations, with Alison Krauss,…