News Archive
In this special rewind edition of the Indie Spotlight, we’re looking back at twelve incredible artists, bands, and duos who we’ve featured throughout the last decade. At BMI, our finger is always on the pulse of what’s happening in new music, and we’re proud to have highlighted so many groundbreaking…
Indie Spotlight Decade Rewind: Macklemore & Ryan Lewis
Macklemore & Ryan Lewis are a rapping and producing pair who first appeared in the BMI Indie Spotlight in 2011. At the time, they had just gotten together to work on Macklemore’s The Vs. projects, which began a journey that led them straight to the top of the charts.…
10 Ways to Push the Creative Envelope With Your Songs
Sometimes, playing it safe is the most dangerous thing we can do. This is especially applicable when our goal is to write songs that rise above the competition; songs that become artists’ signature songs; and songs that impact audiences and propel artists to a next level. We need to find…
Breakthrough Hits and Signature Songs: What Can They Teach Us?
Although it was more than sixteen years ago, I still recall chatting with a twenty-something guy who stood in front of me in line as we waited to attend the taping of the David Letterman Show. The guy was excited because his brother Adam would be performing on the show,…
BMI Singer-Songwriter Saint Claire Performs at Washington Hospitality Association VIP Reception
Hospitality professionals from across the state came together to celebrate and share best practices within the industry at the Washington Hospitality Association (WHA) annual conference, held recently (11/13) at the Hyatt Regency Lake Washington. This year, the WHA included a VIP reception with BMI singer-songwriter Sainte Claire as the featured…
How to Write Songs That Are Both Personal and Universal
Most of us who are in the business of creating songs are aware of the importance of writing lyrics that have universal appeal, lyrics that connect with millions of hearts. We have also heard about the importance of writing songs that emanate from our hearts, from personal experience. On the…
Tips for Supporting Your Song Title
Supporting our titles is one of the most effective tools we can employ to craft strong lyrics. In many songs, the title is the heart of the lyric, encapsulating the meaning and the essence of the song into a word or phrase. In songs that include choruses, the title is…
BMI Honors Toni Braxton With President’s Award at 2016 BMI R&B/Hip-Hop Awards
Last night BMI proudly celebrated the songwriters and publishers of the year’s most-performed R&B/hip-hop songs during the 2016 BMI R&B/Hip-Hop Awards, held at the Woodruff Arts Center’s Symphony Hall in Atlanta. Multiple Grammy Award-winning singer-songwriter Toni Braxton took home the night’s highest honor when she was presented with the BMI…
BMI Congratulates its 2015 American Music Award Winners
Los Angeles’ Microsoft Theater was buzzing last night with fan-voted American Music Award wins for many BMI affiliates. Leading the pack with multiple trophies was Taylor Swift, who swept three awards, Song of the Year for “Blank Space,” Favorite Album – Pop/Rock for 1989, and Favorite Artist – Adult Contemporary;…
Indie Bands Bring Big Sounds to SXSW
The annual BMI showcase at SXSW in Austin, Texas, is a highly anticipated event, having launched the careers of some of the hottest acts, from Imagine Dragons to Macklemore & Ryan Lewis to Wild Cub. This year’s show features some of the top bands from around the nation, showcasing their…