News Archive
While other kids watched Saturday morning cartoons, Contradash was watching music videos on VH1. An only child in mythical Southern California, he spent his days deep in the land of YouTube tutorials learning the details of graphic design and music production. Designing album art introduced him to the recording industry…
BMI Songwriters Take Center Stage at 2020 Billboard Music Awards
BMI is once again exceptionally proud of its songwriters who were recognized for their creative work at last night’s 2020 Billboard Music Awards. Held without an audience due to COVID-19 restrictions at the Dolby Theater in Los Angeles, the ceremony was nonetheless a star-studded event filled with stirring moments and…
BMI Congratulates its 2020 GRAMMY Winners
During a star-studded celebration of the most popular and impactful music from the past year, many BMI affiliates were singled out for their achievements at the Recording Academy’s 62nd GRAMMY Awards, held last night at the Staples Center in Los Angeles. Among the multiple-award winners came Lizzo, who, after opening…
5 Things to Do in the First 30 Seconds of Your Song
During a recent song critique, I turned off the recording after listening to the first verse and chorus. The writer protested, “But you’ve got to keep listening. It all comes together in the bridge and then the last chorus explodes!” That might have been the case, but the chances are…
BMI Congratulates its 2016 Songwriters Hall of Fame Inductees and Honorees
BMI is proud to congratulate Nile Rodgers and Chip Taylor, who led this year’s class of inductions into the Songwriters Hall of Fame, as well as BMI affiliates Seymour Stein, who was presented with the Howie Richmond Hitmaker Award, and Nick Jonas, who received the Hal David Starlight…
BMI Luminaries Nile Rodgers and Chip Taylor to be Inducted in Songwriters Hall of Fame
BMI congratulates its affiliates Nile Rodgers, Chip Taylor, Seymour Stein and Nick Jonas, who are being celebrated at this year’s induction ceremony for the Songwriters Hall of Fame. Established in 1969, the Songwriters Hall of Fame serves as the bridge between music’s past and present, honoring the contributions…
Michael Woodard Wins on Series Finale of Popular Reality Singing Show ‘Majors and Minors’
14-year-old up-and-coming BMI writer wows fans and industry judges Last night, on the highly anticipated season finale of the popular reality singing show Majors and Minors, 14-year-old BMI writer and singer Michael Woodard took home the top prize of a music publishing deal and a record deal with RCA Records.…
BMI Partners with Boardwalk Entertainment for ‘Majors & Minors’ Reality Series
The Boardwalk Entertainment Group, in partnership with BMI and Sony Music Entertainment’s RCA /JIVE Label Group, has announced the launch of nationwide casting search for kids to be mentored by the biggest and most established artists in the music industry in a groundbreaking new reality series. Called “Majors & Minors,”…
Stillwater Runs Deep: Marti Frederiksen and the Next Great Song
Like David Foster, Diane Warren, Timbaland and other multi-platinum writer/producers before him, Marti Frederiksen has earned an enviable reputation for being one of the industry’s most reliable “go-to” composers. Over the course of a still flourishing career, Frederiksen has penned tunes for a veritable gallery of superstars, including Mick Jagger,…
More Than Half of 2008’s International Top Sellers Feature BMI Songwriters
International record company trade association IFPI recently released its year-end list of the world’s best-selling albums, and BMI songwriters and composers contributed music to 66 percent of the top 50 ranking releases. Mama Mia’s Abba-inspired soundtrack, Duffy’s (PRS) debut Rockferry, Leona Lewis’s (PRS) Spirit, Amy Winehouse’s Back to Black, the…