News Archive
BMI is saddened by the loss of one of our most talented recording engineers, Al Schmitt, who passed away Monday at the age of 91. During his long and continuously impressive career, Schmitt, who joined BMI in 1971, won a record-breaking 20 GRAMMYS for his creative recording talents on more…
BMI Songwriter Lukas Nelson Helps Raise Money for Texas Restaurant Relief Fund
BMI and the Texas Restaurant Association teamed up recently (4/20) on a virtual benefit concert to raise money for the Texas Restaurant Relief Fund that featured a headlining performance from BMI songwriter Lukas Nelson. Nelson is best known for fronting the band Lukas Nelson and Promise of the Real, as…
Change That Tune – The Art of Re-Arranging Your Songs
One of the most challenging aspects of writing and recording is the ability to remain flexible. In years past, I’d typically consider a song to be set in stone from demo one, and therefore kept basic arrangement, instruments, rhythm and such pretty much intact from start to finish. Not that…
Getting to Know Hit Writer Jamie Scott
32-year-old U.K. native Jamie Scott has lived many lives in his career: early gigs in London; writing and producing under the name J.S. Baylin; playing in the band Jamie Scott & The Town; and then joining the duo Graffitti6, which got placements on TV shows including Grey’s Anatomy. It’s his…
What You Can Learn From Cover Songs
Cover songs come in a variety of flavors, from radical reinterpretations with little resemblance to the original, to letter-perfect copies featuring nearly identical backing tracks (some even using the same make/model instruments and recording gear as on the original). While there are those who believe that a cover isn’t really…
BMI Icon Willie Nelson Honored By Library of Congress With Gershwin Prize for Popular Song
Willie Nelson, legendary BMI Icon and writer of Patsy Cline’s unforgettable signature hit, “Crazy,” among many other incomparable works, was the 2015 recipient of the Library of Congress’ Gershwin Prize for Popular Song in Washington, D.C. last night. Nelson, who’s 60-year career includes seven GRAMMY Awards as well as the…
Indie Spotlight: Leighton Meester
A well-known actress with projects such as Gossip Girl, Country Strong and the newest iteration of Broadway’s Of Mice and Men, Leighton Meester is a force to be reckoned with. She is now revealing her skills as a singer-songwriter with her debut LP, Heartstrings, released via Hotly Wanting Records with…