Producing hit songs requires as much technical know-how as the ability to let one’s head fly above the clouds, so to speak, and if there’s any producer who can legitimately claim to have mastered both skills, it’s Howard Benson. A onetime aerospace engineer, Benson has become a go-to producer for… Read more...
At the beginning of my career, I had a song go on hold for a female country music star whose singles regularly went to #1. The head of her record label said my song was a “must-cut” situation, and I was faced with a daunting decision: should I buy a… Read more...
The 2018 Beasley Media Group General Managers meeting featured an intimate one on one conversation with BMI Pop Songwriter of the Year Kara DioGuardi. The annual gathering of managers from the Naples-based radio company took place recently (8/24) in Boston, where WKLB-FM midday personality Carolyn Kruse spent time chatting with… Read more...
When it was suggested I write about songs that are fun to sing, the jukebox in my brain instantly thought of “The Name Game” (recorded by Shirley Ellis, written by Lincoln Chase and Shirley Elliston). Anyone of a certain age remembers plugging his or her name into the… Read more...
BMI Songwriter of the Year Kara DioGuardi was the featured entertainer at “The Toast,” the annual reception held in conjunction with the New England Food Show. The event, which is a joint venture between the Massachusetts Restaurant Association and the National Restaurant Association was held on February 25, at The… Read more...
On Saturday, January 27, BMI presented its annual pre-GRAMMY event How I Wrote That Song® (HIWTS), in partnership with the Apollo Theater, at the legendary performance hall. The audience was treated to an enlightening panel discussion that featured multi-platinum and GRAMMY award-winning music producer Mark Batson, GRAMMY award-winning R&B royalty… Read more...
GRAMMY-nominated BMI songwriter Kara DioGuardi took center stage as the featured entertainment at the annual Council of State Restaurant Associations Summer Marketing and Membership Conference held recently (7/20/17) at the Cliff House in Cape Neddick, ME. The Maine resident entertained the audience of state restaurant association executives by singing and… Read more...
BMI once again joined forces with the Alliance for Women in Media to provide the musical entertainment at the organization’s annual Gracie Awards Luncheon held recently (6/27) at Cipriani’s on 42nd St. in New York City. GRAMMY-nominated songwriter, producer and publisher Kara DioGuardi told the stories behind her hits and… Read more...
BMI will celebrate the 10th Anniversary of “How I Wrote That Song,” Saturday, February 11 at 1 Oak Los Angeles. Moderated by BMI Vice President, Writer/Publisher Relations Catherine Brewton, the highly anticipated annual pre-GRAMMY event will feature rap superstar Fat Joe, multi-hyphenate phenom DJ Khaled, GRAMMY Award-winning music producer Alex… Read more...
To grab our listeners’ attention we need to separate our songs from the competition, and one way to accomplish this is by including an unexpected twist—an element of surprise. This article examines various ways to incorporate twists into lyrics and melodies. Story Songs With Surprise Endings “Ol’ Red” (written by… Read more...
