BMI, Rams Head Presents and Visit Annapolis & Anne Arundel County are proud to announce the 2nd annual Annapolis Songwriters Festival (ASF) lineup. The stages are set for showcases and concerts that unify the city in music-discovery featuring major songwriters and the industry’s biggest hitmakers. The excitement is building throughout… Read more...
A few weeks ago, a talented writer/artist asked me to write a song with her to fill a specific niche missing from her repertoire. She wanted a lyric that would convey strength and resolve; words that would empower listeners. She hoped we would write a melody that would showcase the… Read more...
Imagine that you have entered a competition. The grand prize will be awarded to the songwriter who writes the most memorable, freshest melody—the melody that will jump out of the pile and convince a panel of music industry pros that they are listening to a future smash hit. The deadline… Read more...
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… 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...
BMI is pleased to sponsor the fifth annual Island Hopper Songwriters Festival, presented by the Lee County Visitor & Convention Bureau and co-sponsored by iHeartMedia. The ten-day festival spanning across Captiva Island, Fort Myers Beach and Downtown Fort Myers from Friday, September 21 to Sunday, September 30 will support local… Read more...
From August 10-21, BMI proudly partnered with the Ohio Craft Brewers Association on a tour that brought six Nashville songwriters to breweries in 11 cities and towns across the Buckeye state. The purpose of the tour was to give back to the many breweries in Ohio that support BMI songwriters… Read more...
BMI helped host two VIP receptions for licensing customers and association partners who traveled to the southernmost point in the continental U.S. to enjoy the 2018 Key West Songwriters Festival, held May 9-13. The first event was held in partnership with the Florida Restaurant & Lodging Association at the Southernmost… 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...
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… Read more...
