BMI Educates and Entertains Craft Brewers Conference Attendees

BMI had a large presence at this year’s Craft Brewers Conference held for multiple days in May at the Music City Center and other venues throughout Nashville, TN.

Before the conference officially started, the Brewers Association held a World Beer Cup Judges Reception at the Country Music Hall of Fame (May 4) to say thanks to all the 2023 World Beer Cup Judges. The BMI affiliated Jerome Degey Trio was the featured entertainment at the reception. The trio is comprised of Jerome Degey, Willie Barthel III and Jay White.

BMI partnered with the New York State Brewers Association by providing the featured entertainment at their reception which took place Tuesday, May 9 at the Tin Roof Broadway. BMI singer-songwriter Paul McDonald performed at the private reception to over 200 craft brewery owners and operators from across the state of New York.

At the final day of the convention, BMI’s Dan Spears conducted a Music Licensing 101 / What Your Brewery Needs To Know session. Joining Dan at the session were President and co-founder of Land-Grant Brewing Company Adam Benner, and BMI Award-Winning Songwriter Tim James. Session attendees learned about the current music licensing landscape and how BMI ensures songwriters are paid when their music is publicly performed. They also heard first-hand from Adam on how his brewery sees live music as a key driver of customers to his taproom, and they heard from Tim James on how important the licensing fees that BMI collects are for songwriters to make a living.

The Brewers Association (BA) is a not-for-profit trade association dedicated to small and independent American brewers, their beers, and the community of brewing enthusiasts. The BA represents nearly 6,000 U.S. brewery members. BMI and the Brewers Association have been business partners since 2017.