News Archive
BMI honored legendary singer/songwriter John Fogerty at the 73rd Annual BMI/NAB Dinner held last night at Wynn Las Vegas. The rock and roll legend received the BMI Board of Directors Award celebrating the impact he’s made on contemporary music over his illustrious career spanning more than five decades. Caroline Beasley,…
What Makes a Song Iconic?
“Great means incredibly well crafted, easily memorable, with a universally relatable sentiment and a sense of authenticity—“from the heart” as they say. Iconic means touching a cultural nerve, standing the test of time and instantly recognizable by many people - that holds true even if it’s not widely considered…
Songwriting Legends Carole Bayer Sager and Mike Stoller To Be Honored as BMI Icons at 70th Annual BMI Pop Awards
BMI is thrilled to celebrate the best in songwriting at the 70TH Annual BMI Pop Awards. Legendary music creators Carole Bayer Sager and Mike Stoller will be honored as BMI Icons, celebrating their indelible and timeless contributions to the art of songwriting. BMI’s Pop Song of the Year, Songwriter of…
5 Tips to Rebound, Reset, and Reinvigorate Your Songwriting
For most of us, 2020 will rank as one of the most tumultuous years of our lifetime. The restrictions, losses, and fears caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, coupled with the emotions stirred up in the political and social arenas, touched virtually everyone—and creative people were hit extra hard. Songwriters, musicians,…
“Amazed” Songwriter Aimee Mayo Shares Her Unexpected Journey to Hitmaker
Aimee Mayo’s life story sounds like a movie plot. She endured a volatile childhood growing up in Gadsden, Alabama, changing schools 11 times before fourth grade. Her father shot himself when she was 8 years old; he survived, and after Mayo’s parents divorced, her mother married an abusive man. She…
Not Enough Time Shows We Can’t Get Enough of Dave Grusin’s Music
Legendary pianist, producer and composer Dave Grusin has been nominated for 38 GRAMMYS (winning 10), one Emmy award and four Golden Globe awards. Of his 8 Academy Award nominations, he took home the Oscar for Best Original Score for The Milagro Beanfield War. He has worked with a boundless list…
5 Things to Do in the First 30 Seconds of Your Song
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…
BMI’s Jazz Composers Workshop Presents 31st Annual Summer Showcase
The BMI Jazz Composers Workshop, a prestigious creative forum for musical creation and development, will present the best new big band and jazz orchestra compositions produced during the past year at the 31st annual summer showcase. The BMI/New York Jazz Orchestra, a modern repertory ensemble made up of leading New…
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 “
How to Write Non-Visual Lyrics That Engage Listeners
“Show—Don’t Tell” is one of the basic tenets taught in almost every songwriting class. Writing cinematic lyrics—lyrics that incorporate visual imagery that listeners can envision like a movie in their minds—is often thought of as one of the most effective ways to connect with audiences. Cinematic lyrics do not spell…
Barry Mann and Cynthia Weil: Barry Mann & Cynthia Weil Interview - The 2005 BMI Pop Awards - Pt. 1
Captured at BMI Pop Awards 2005