News Archive
Al Sherrod “A-Rod” Lambert, better known as POINTS, is a multiplatinum GRAMMY-nominated singer, songwriter, producer, and rapper. He started his career in 2010 by working with Jamie Foxx and Mary J. Blige and has since established himself as a bona fide hitmaker for artists like Beyoncé, Ariana Grande, Janet Jackson,…
Chef Tone, Writing and Winning
With a sprinkle of sexiness and a dash of innuendo, Atlanta-based songwriter Tony “Chef Tone” Scales dishes appetizing love songs and bold club bangers for r&b heavy-hitters like Jamie Foxx, Mario, J. Holiday, Sammie and, most notably, R. Kelly and Trey Songz. “I’m trying to apply pressure to these other…
2010 Award Season Belongs to BMI Songwriters & Composers
BMI songwriters dominated the 53rd Annual Grammy Awards, winning almost two-thirds of the awards that were handed out across all genres and categories. The Grammy wins cap an incredible year in which BMI songwriters and composers were the most celebrated creative voices in awards presentations and on the…
Album in Hand, Drake Stares Down 2010
New York magazine’s “Vulture” blog recently proclaimed: “If there’s one guy who doesn’t want 2009 to end, it’s Drake.” While at first glance it may be difficult to argue with that assessment — notching two Top 10 singles in the same week; working with everyone from Jay-Z, Kanye West and…
Taylor Swift Wins Album of Year at 2010 Grammys
Taylor Swift capped off her past year of pop culture domination with four career-defining wins, including the coveted Album of the Year for Fearless, during the 52nd annual Grammy Awards, held Sunday, January 31 in Los Angeles. She and her producer, fellow BMI songwriter Nathan Chapman, took the stage, as…
BMI Growth Outpaces U.S. Economy During Century’s First Decade
BMI’s revenues surged by more than 80 percent and royalty distributions increased by almost 90 percent during the first decade of the 21st century, while the overall U.S. economy remained stagnant during that same period, with The Washington Post reporting that gross domestic product increased by less than 20% and…
Elvis Williams: The Real Thing
Like the American icon whose name he bears, Elvis Williams — dubbed BlacElvis — benefited from a blues and gospel-soaked upbringing in small-town Mississippi before cutting his teeth in Memphis. Growing up in Clarksdale, Mississippi, Williams accompanied his grandfather, blues singer Big Jack Johnson, on gigs to bars in Memphis.…
NO ID: Godfather of Chicago R&B Still On Top
He possesses what may be the most ironic name in contemporary pop. Over the course of a career spanning nearly 20 years, producer No I.D. has collaborated with some of the biggest names in hip-hop and R&B, including Janet Jackson, Alicia Keys, John Legend, Jamie Foxx and more. Dubbed “The…
Drake Delivers
This is Drake’s year. Descending on the U.S. from Toronto, the singer-rapper offers more than stellar mixtapes: He just might be the poster boy for the changing face of the music business. Aubrey Drake Graham, 22, is the son of a drummer, Dennis; one of his uncles, Larry, is the…
BMI Mourns the Passing of Michael Jackson
An artistic and cultural tour de force whose gifts demanded the spotlight, Michael Jackson was equally potent behind the scenes. He received numerous BMI Awards recognizing his prolific career as a songwriter, the raw power of which will continue to influence generations of music makers. “BMI mourns the passing of…