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...
At my BMI Nashville Songwriters’ Workshops, I screen and critique songs from each attendee. When I find songs that I believe are competitive with those being written by today’s top hitmakers, I forward them to ten music publishers who have agreed to listen. After the last BMI Workshop, I forwarded… Read more...
When a recent ad campaign by Citi featured “Into the Wild,” an aptly scaled blast of indie-pop fronted by the sweeping vocals of singer/songwriter LP, it sparked a national singalong that she, for one, did not expect. That’s probably because “Into the Wild” is but one of countless… Read more...
Lady Antebellum will bring a host of Grammy gold home to Nashville: With five wins, the crossover trio led the BMI charge at the 53rd Annual Grammy Awards, held last night in Los Angeles. Lady A’s “Need You Now,” co-written by members and BMI songwriters Dave Haywood and Charles Kelley,… Read more...
Read BMI’s 2011 Grammy nominees news story from December 2, 2010. Name, Number of Nominations Eminem, 10 Lady Gaga, 6 John Legend, 5 Rihanna, 5 The Roots, 5 B.o.B, 4 Drake (socan), 4 Cee Lo Green, 4 Lady Antebellum,… Read more...
The Kicks are salted with the South but still pop like soda. Go ahead and slap a MySpace tag on them like rock/indie/alternative. They’ll only peel it off and reinvent the genre. For full-length debut The Rise of King Richie, the band called upon Grammy-winning producers Mitch Dane (Jars of… Read more...
When Minus the Bear’s contract with indie rock label Suicide Squeeze expired, the Seattle-based five-some had two options: find a new home and record the project the label wanted, or create their dream project, then find a label as excited about it as they were. Not surprisingly, they chose the… Read more...
The Kicks are salted with the South but still pop like soda. Go ahead and slap a MySpace tag on them like rock/indie/alternative. They’ll only peel it off and reinvent the genre. For full-length debutThe Rise of King Richie, the band called upon Grammy-winning producers Mitch Dane (Jars of Clay)… Read more...
Ed Macfarlane, Edd Gibson and Jack Savidge make up the Friendly Fires, born of commuter belt boredom, and now, recognized as one of the most exciting new bands in the United Kingdom. Last year, a super limited seven-inch, Paris, was named the single of the week in both the The… Read more...
Lux Interior, co-founder and front man of inimitable punk-rockabilly band the Cramps, died Wednesday, February 4 in California. He was 62 years old and is survived by his wife, Poison Ivy. Along with guitarist Poison Ivy (born Kristy Wallace), Lux Interior (born Erick Purkhiser) started the Cramps in New York… Read more...
