News Archive
BMI proudly honoured the top UK and European songwriters, composers and music publishers of the most-performed songs of the previous year at the 2021 BMI London Awards. Rising star Arlo Parks received the BMI Impact Award, a recognition given for groundbreaking artistry, creative vision and impact on the future of…
BMI Congratulates its 2020 Songwriters Hall of Fame Inductees
The Songwriters Hall of Fame unveiled its list of inductees for 2020, and once again, BMI is very proud to count members of this august class of music creators as its own. Initially conceived to honor and celebrate the work of songwriters, composers and lyricists responsible for the world’s most…
What You Can Learn From Cover Songs
Cover songs come in a variety of flavors, from radical reinterpretations with little resemblance to the original, to letter-perfect copies featuring nearly identical backing tracks (some even using the same make/model instruments and recording gear as on the original). While there are those who believe that a cover isn’t really…
BMI Songwriters Chart Big on Billboard Hot 100’s First 1,000 No. 1s
In 1958, Billboard magazine created the “Hot 100,” a listing showing the top songs being purchased and aired in the U.S. week after week. Decade after decade, BMI songwriters have dominated the chart with some of the greatest hits ever written, from “Lonely Boy,” “Stop in the Name of Love,”…
‘We Will Rock You’ Is Top Sports Song Again, But NHL and MLB Teams Differ
“We Will Rock You” again is the most-played BMI song at NFL games, but professional baseball and hockey teams have different favorites. NHL teams play “Twilight Zone” more often, while MLB teams like “Car Wash.” Songs at NFL, NHL, and MLB events are tracked each year for BMI’s 475,000 songwriters,…
ELO Frontman Jeff Lynne Receives Million-Air Certificates
Songwriter and Electric Light Orchestra frontman Jeff Lynne was awarded Million-Air certificates for “Turn To Stone, “ which has earned over one million airplays, and “Don’t Bring Me Down,” for having over two million airplays. BMI’s Linda Livingston and Phil Graham presented Lynne the certificates at a recent visit to…
Award-Winning Songwriter/Producer Norman Whitfield Dead at 68
Norman Whitfield, renowned BMI songwriter, producer and arranger of many Motown Records hits, including “I Heard It Through The Grapevine” and “Papa Was A Rollin’ Stone,” died September 16. He was 68. The cause of death was heart and kidney failure due to diabetes. Born in Harlem, NY on May…