During a recent workshop I was asked if I could identify the most important trait or skill for songwriters to possess. Was it an innate talent to craft a fresh, memorable melody? Was it the ability to craft a lyric that touched millions of hearts? Or was it something else?… Read more...
BMI is saddened by the passing of three Outlaw-Country pioneers, Billy Joe Shaver, Jerry Jeff Walker and Johnny Bush. Shaver was the writer of some of country music’s greatest songs, including “Honky Tonk Heroes,” “Georgia on a Fast Train,” “Old Five and Dimers Like Me,” and “Live Forever.” Along with… Read more...
Nashville is a fabled destination for many aspiring singer-songwriters, and those who’ve made the trek will tell you that it’s rarely an easy road to get there. But if there’s a prize for the most frequent flyer miles earned on the path to Music City, it might go to Morgan… Read more...
BMI hosted an assembly of Music Row’s elite Monday, November 24 for a celebration of one already esteemed writer’s triumphant transformation into song writer. Holly Gleason co-penned Kenny Chesney’s no. 1 hit “Better as a Memory” under the pseudonym Lady Goodman, prompting industry-wide speculation as to the true identity of… Read more...
The Library of Congress has announced the fourth annual selection of 50 sound recordings to be preserved in the National Recording Registry. The news conference, held April 11 in Washington, D.C., featured a wide variety of outstanding spoken and musical recordings that span the years 1903… Read more...
With the August release of their self-titled debut CD, new Dreamworks duo Hanna-McEuen is carrying on a family tradition. Jonathan McEuen is the son of acclaimed multi-instrumentalist John McEuen, and Jaime Hanna is the offspring of songwriter/vocalist Jeff Hanna, both founding members of the… Read more...
Rascal Flatts and BMI Award-winning songwriters Bobby E. Boyd and Marcus Hummon were center stage during a party hosted by BMI in honor of their #1 hit, "Bless the Broken Road." Nitty Gritty Dirt Band member Jeff Hanna,… Read more...
Doyle Lawson & Quicksilver were triple winners at the recent 14th Annual International Bluegrass Music Association (IBMA) Awards, an evening capped by Entertainer of the Year honors for the Del McCoury Band and a surprise invitation. Upon accepting his eighth top Entertainer prize (1994-2000, 2002), McCoury was… Read more...
The list of final nominees for the 14th Annual International Bluegrass Music Awards was recently announced at the Country Music Hall of Fame & Museum in Nashville. BMI affiliates dominated most award categories, including all on the Entertainer, Vocal Group and Female Vocalist lists. The event, hosted by… Read more...
BMI songwriter/artists Sheryl Crow, Eminem and Norah Jones lead the list of nominees for this year's Grammy Awards with five nods each. Nominees were announced today (1/7) at a press conference at New York's Madison Square Garden. The 45th Grammy Awards will be held on… Read more...
