News Archive
Declared a child prodigy by Indian music legend, Ravi Shankar, at the age of seven, Indian-American rapper, singer, songwriter, and dancer Raja Kumari creates fearless, charismatic music that sonically bridges East and West. Her time as a dancer sparked her love for Indian music, and upon receiving a copy of…
Nile Rodgers Honored as BMI Icon at the 2015 BMI R&B/Hip-Hop Awards
BMI proudly presented its BMI Icon award to GRAMMY-winning songwriter, composer, producer, arranger and guitarist, Nile Rodgers, at the 2015 BMI R&B/Hip-Hop Awards. The star-studded event, held at the Saban Theatre in Beverly Hills on August 28, also celebrated the songwriters, producers and publishers of the most-performed R&B/hip-hop songs of…
BMI’s Delia Orjuela, Byron Wright Recognized by Billboard
Billboard magazine recently published praise for BMI’s Delia Orjuela and Byron Wright, naming them to its 2011 Latin Power Players and 30 Under 30 lists, respectively. The honors underpin the diverse strength of BMI’s current executive roster, which includes established and up-and-coming leaders alike. Based in…
Benny Blanco Fills in the Blanks
Benny Blanco, the 22-year-old songwriter and producer with a string of hits to his credit, is driving through Los Angeles talking about how he has always loved music. Since he was a kid growing up in suburban Virginia—pulling out the stereo in the middle of his parents’ dinner parties to…
BMI Honors will.i.am, Lil Wayne, Polow Da Don, EMI Music Publishing & More at Urban Awards
BMI saluted the songwriters, producers and music publishers of the most-performed R&B, rap and hip-hop songs tonight at its annual Urban Awards. BMI President & CEO Del Bryant and Catherine Brewton, Vice President, Writer/Publisher Relations, Atlanta, hosted the ceremony along with Ray J at the Pantages Theatre in Hollywood. BMI…
Ester Dean Delivers in Eye-Popping Neon
If music appeared in color, Ester Dean’s would dazzle in eye-popping neon. Look at her logo: her name, sprawled in WOW! POW! font typically used to detail exploits of comic book heroes. Consider her hyperkinetic first single, “Drop It Low,” and its corresponding video, an over-the-top explosion of Technicolor, candy-coated…
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.…
BMI Honors George Clinton, T-Pain, Lil Wayne and Many More at Urban Awards in New York
BMI saluted the world’s premier R&B, rap and hip-hop songwriters, producers and publishers Thursday, September 10 at its annual Urban Awards. BMI President & CEO Del Bryant and Catherine Brewton, Vice President, Writer/Publisher Relations, Atlanta, hosted the ceremony at Frederick P. Rose Hall, Home of Jazz at Lincoln Center, Broadway…
T-Pain Celebrates BMI Songwriter of the Year Win in Atlanta
BMI staffers recently visited T-Pain in Atlanta’s Crossover Studios for a belated celebration of a glittering career milestone: Thanks to his compositions “Kiss Kiss” and “Low,” T-Pain garnered the 2009 BMI Pop Songwriter of the Year crown. While most of his peers were honored at the 57th annual BMI Pop…
Watch Interviews with Top Music Creators
BMI’s annual award shows honor the year’s best in every genre, attracting and celebrating the world’s preeminent songwriters, composers, and superstars. At each ceremony, BMI captures red carpet interviews, which are now available for viewing exclusively on bmi.com. To watch one-on-one chats with a-listers including Colbie Caillat, Taylor Swift, Michael…
Polow Da Don: Polow Da Don wins the BMI Urban Producer of the Year Award
Captured at 2010 Urban Awards