News Archive
BMI is saddened by the news that singer-songwriter Jamie O’Hara passed away yesterday. Highly decorated for the GRAMMY-winning megahit “Grandpa (Tell Me ‘Bout the Good Old Days),” which was recorded by The Judds in 1986, O’Hara was also the scribe behind Ronnie McDowell’s smashes “Wandering Eyes” and “Older Women.” Early…
BMI Congratulates CMHoF Inductees Hank Williams Jr., Marty Stuart and Dean Dillon
BMI is proud to announce that our legendary songwriters, Hank Williams Jr., Marty Stuart and Dean Dillon, make up this year’s class of inductees into the Country Music Hall of Fame, bringing the total number of honorees to 142. Dean Dillon, who was named a BMI Icon in 2013, earns…
SXSW Indie Spotlight: Logan Ledger
An avid roots musician, Logan Ledger was already immersed in music from other eras when he first picked up a guitar at age 12. Though a child of the 90’s in San Francisco, Ledger’s grandmother introduced him to the sounds of Elvis Presley, Roy Orbison and the timeless doo-wop records…
How to Use the “List Technique” in Your Song
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 “
Hit BMI Songwriter Brings Stories and Songs to Michigan Restaurant Association Retreat
BMI partnered with the Michigan Restaurant Association (07/30) to provide the musical entertainment at their annual summer board retreat held at the Inn at Bay Harbor in Bay Harbor, MI. Hit BMI songwriter Kent Blazy performed for the group of Michigan hotel, bar and restaurant owners, playing songs he has…
BMI Partners with Ohio Restaurant Association Chair to Bring Songwriters to White Castle Meeting
BMI partnered with the outgoing Board Chair of the Ohio Restaurant Association to create a special day for his colleagues at White Castle during their annual company meeting held recently (6/21/18) in Nashville. Lending their expertise were award-winning BMI songwriters Greg Bates and George Ducas, who enthusiastically led a songwriting…
BMI Songwriter Brings Stories and Songs to Colorado Bar & Restaurant Expo
BMI partnered with the Tavern League of Colorado recently (4/29) to provide the musical entertainment at the trade association’s annual Bar & Restaurant Expo. The event, which was held at the Cowboy Lounge in Denver, is designed to connect vendors and sponsors with the decision makers from locally owned bars,…
John Frizzell Tackles an Animated Version of Three Chords and the Truth in “Tales From the Tour Bus”
Every country music fan knows that there are more than a few tales about country stars that sound almost too unbelievable to be true. These stories work extremely well with the film genre of animated documentary, which is exactly what it sounds like: an animated version of the truth. What…
How to Write Song Hooks That “Hook” You in
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…
When Clever is Too Clever in Songwriting
Before addressing what might constitute being “too clever” in lyrics, I’ll begin by defining what I mean by “clever” lyrics. For the purposes of this article I’m referring to songs with lyrics that are witty, tongue-in-cheek, humorous, or amusing. These are in contrast to those that fall into the category…