The CMA nods are out with BMI affiliates taking center stage in nearly every category. Miranda Lambert leads the pack with an incredible seven nominations, including her fourth for Entertainer of the Year. Carrie Underwood, who is up for two awards, was also nominated for Entertainer of the Year, making… 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...
Local radio broadcasters Cox Media Group (CMG), Alpha Media, Beasley Media Group, Hubbard Radio, Neuhoff Media and Townsquare Media announced today that they will join BMI and some of country music’s top songwriters for a radio concert to benefit the MusiCares COVID-19 Relief fund. “A Salute to the Songwriters,” presented… Read more...
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… Read more...
Jody Williams, BMI’s Vice President of Creative in Nashville since 2006, announced today that he will leave the company at the end of this year. Williams will continue to serve as a consultant for BMI throughout 2020 and plans to also return to the world of music publishing, forming a… Read more...
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… Read more...
What constitutes a hook? Any element of a song that grabs a listener’s attention and “hooks” them in. With there being so much competition for our listeners’ attention, including multiple hooks throughout our songs has become more important than ever. According to an article in The Atlantic magazine, “A short-attention-span… Read more...
BMI proudly presented its 2017 BMI Country Awards last night, honoring the prolific songwriting career of BMI Icon Award recipient Bob DiPiero, as well as the Country Songwriter, Song and Publisher of the Year. The 65th annual event, which is the genre’s oldest awards ceremony, also celebrated the songwriters and… Read more...
BMI team members, along with artist Justin Moore, celebrated BMI songwriters Natalie Hemby and Rodney Clawson, as well as Matt Dragsteam, who together penned the #1 song, “You Look Like I Need A Drink.” The track is the 6th number one for Moore as an artist, and the 6th and… Read more...
To grab our listeners’ attention we need to separate our songs from the competition, and one way to accomplish this is by including an unexpected twist—an element of surprise. This article examines various ways to incorporate twists into lyrics and melodies. Story Songs With Surprise Endings “Ol’ Red” (written by… Read more...
Captured at How I Wrote That Song 2015
