Last night, the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame honored BMI songwriters Kent Blazy (“If Tommorow Never Comes,” “Ain’t Goin’ Down”), Rhett Akins (“Dirt on My Boots,” “Honey Bee”), John Scott Sherrill (Nothin’ But the Wheel,” “The Church on Cumberland Road) and Toby Keith (Should’ve Been a Cowboy,” ‘Beer for My… Read more...
The nominations are out and the final winners of this year’s Americana Honors & Awards will be announced on September 22 in a celebration at the historic Ryman Auditorium in Nashville. Congratulations to all! Here are the BMI nominees: Album of the Year: Cuttin’ Grass - Vol. 1 (Butcher… Read more...
Most of the writers who attend my songwriting workshops already know how to write perfectly crafted songs. My job is to help them write the kinds of songs that a music publisher, record label executive, record producer, or recording artist will feel compelled to choose over the competition. One of… Read more...
Sometimes, playing it safe is the most dangerous thing we can do. This is especially applicable when our goal is to write songs that rise above the competition; songs that become artists’ signature songs; and songs that impact audiences and propel artists to a next level. We need to find… Read more...
What do the songs in the list below have in common? “The Twelve Days of Christmas” (traditional) “Achy Breaky Heart” (recorded by Billy Ray Cyrus, written by Don Von Tress) Sting’s “If I Ever Lose My Faith” (written by Sting) Carrie Underwood’s “ Read more...
When I worked in the A & R Department at a major record label, and later, as production coordinator for albums by hit artists, in many cases, my ears were the first barrier that had to be crossed when a song was submitted for those acts. Almost all the songs… Read more...
The Ryman Auditorium in Nashville was the place to be last night for the Americana Music Honors & Awards Show. Again this year, BMI songwriters were at the top of the list of wins with Jason Isbell taking a notable three awards for Album of the Year for The Nashville… Read more...
BMI will set up camp on the beach for the sixth consecutive year with its next wave of top-notch breaking acts at Hangout Music Festival in Gulf Shores, Alabama, May 18-20. The three-day beach party is sure to be packed with sun, sand and song, as BMI continues… Read more...
“Show—Don’t Tell” is one of the basic tenets taught in almost every songwriting class. Writing cinematic lyrics—lyrics that incorporate visual imagery that listeners can envision like a movie in their minds—is often thought of as one of the most effective ways to connect with audiences. Cinematic lyrics do not spell… Read more...
The 60th GRAMMY Awards returned to New York City, last night, for the first time since 2003, for a special anniversary celebration on the hallowed stage of Madison Square Garden. BMI songwriters from across the genre spectrum were on hand to claim their well-earned accolades for some of the year’s… Read more...
Captured at 2015 BMI Country Awards
