News Archive
“That ain’t country!” is a comment I often hear when I play current country hits in my songwriting workshops. It’s true that today’s country hits bear little resemblance to the songs that topped the charts by Elvis, Tammy, Waylon, Willie, and Patsy. Music evolves and the styles that rule the…
Managing Your Digital Brand: Part Three — Crowdfunding Your Music Project
So far this series has examined strategies for using Facebook, Twitter and YouTube to maximize your social media presence and build a community around your music. This third and final installment looks at crowd source funding, a must for many independent and even signed songwriters and…
Inaugural Amelia Island Songwriter Festival Claims Place in the Sun
The First Annual Amelia Island Songwriter Festival recently celebrated its inaugural installment in Fernandina Beach, Florida, August 27 through 31. The BMI-sponsored event offered an innovative mash-up of hit songwriter showcases, aspiring troubadour workshops, song contests and networking opportunities. Successful songwriter and author Jason Blume transplanted his invaluable workshop south,…
Destin Songwriters Festival Highlights Writers Behind the Hits
BMI recently returned to the beach with a slew of Music City’s finest hit-makers and most promising newcomers for the 2nd Annual Destin Songwriters Festival at the Hog’s Breath Saloon. Held June 20 and 21 in Destin, the event featured a stacked lineup of hit singer/songwriters including Kyle Jacobs (Garth…
BMI Presents 2nd Annual Destin Songwriters Festival June 20-21
BMI will proudly present the 2nd Annual Destin Songwriters Festival in its Florida namesake June 20 and 21 at the Hog’s Breath Saloon(541 Highway 98 East). Destin’s own version of the Key West Songwriters Festival will feature a stacked lineup of hit singer/songwriters including Kyle Jacobs (Garth Brooks’ “More Than…
Lee Thomas Miller
After graduating from Eastern Kentucky University in 1991, Lee Thomas Miller knew exactly where he wanted to go next. “I told people that if I starved to death, it would be on the streets of Nashville,” he recalls. Luckily, it didn’t come to that. Miller instead became a top-rank songwriter…
Green Hills Music Group Signs Rick Giles
Green Hills Music Group recently signed their first BMI songwriter, veteran Rick Giles. Numerous contemporary country stars including Rascal Flatts, Tim McGraw, Steve Wariner, Terri Clark and Patty Loveless, along with perennial favorites Tanya Tucker, Eddie Rabbitt, Charlie Pride and The Oak Ridge Boys, have all recorded Rick’s compositions. His…
Eric Church
“I personally like music that goes way out and picks a side,” Eric Church explains about the song choices on his debut Capitol/Nashville CD. Indeed, the 28-year old North Carolinian seems to be making some waves in the often calm and predictable Nashville music waters with his…
Nashville’s Hit Songwriters Showcase Their Craft in NYC for CMA Week
To celebrate the 2005 CMA Awards in New York City, some of Nashville's finest BMI songwriters will be performing at Joe's Pub (425 Lafayette Street) during "Country Takes NYC," a week of activities leading up to the 39th Annual CMA Awards. The showcases will take place on November…
Dalley, Miller Visit BMI Nashville
Curb Records artist/songwriter Amy Dalley and BMI Award-winning writer Lee Thomas Miller stopped by BMI Nashville for a visit to talk about upcoming projects. Miller is currently producing tracks for Dalley; the pair also co-wrote Dalley's single "Men Don't Change." Dalley is preparing to embark on a west-coast tour, and…