BMI has prevailed in its motion to prevent the Radio Music Licensing Committee (RMLC) from relying on a mischaracterization of the Music Modernization Act (MMA) to commence a joint rate court proceeding against BMI and ASCAP before a single Judge. On Friday, May 26, the Hon. Louis L. Stanton (Southern… Read more...
As a lyricist, I’m always on the lookout in my own writing for what I would call “lazy language.” What I mean by this is a part of a lyric that feels clichéd. The problem, specifically, is that we’re only given a certain number of lines of lyric to convey… Read more...
When I started teaching workshops for aspiring recording artists and songwriters more than 30 years ago, signing with a major record label was the only way for artists to reach a wide audience. Without a major label to provide distribution to record stores, radio promotion, and financing for videos, most… Read more...
In a decision that ends decades of below-market rates for songwriters, composers and publishers in the live concert industry, the Honorable Louis L. Stanton of the Southern District of New York today issued a decision in favor of BMI in its rate court dispute with Live Nation, AEG and the… Read more...
Bobby Rush won his first GRAMMY in 2017 at the age of 83. For the living blues legend, born Emmett Ellis, Jr. in Homer, LA, winning Best Traditional Blues Album for Porcupine Meat may seem like a long time coming, but the tireless artist takes it all in stride. “I… Read more...
When I critique songs at my workshops, I always begin by asking the writers to share their intention for their song. For example, a song might be intended solely for self-expression or catharsis. Another song might be written by a performing songwriter to include on their own recording project, while… Read more...
In this issue: Jason Blume Shares How to Stretch Yourself Melodically Dave Simons Explains the Benefits of Using a Condenser Mic BMI Honors Toby Keith at the 2022 BMI Country Awards BMI Presents “El Camp: Los Compositoras Edition” with Amazon and Erika… Read more...
Like most of my engineering peers, early on I endeavored to fill my home studio with as many different types of microphones as my budget would allow, from lovely old Sennheisers to the more workmanlike family of Shure dynamics. Eventually my insatiable appetite for guitars meant selling off many of… Read more...
When I critique songs in my BMI Songwriting Workshops, I often hear melodies with a range (the interval between its lowest and the highest notes) limited to one octave or less. When I ask the writers to share their intentions for these songs, they sometimes respond, “My goal is to… Read more...
If you’re looking to take a break from the studio routine, you might consider bringing your songs and recording equipment to a suitable music venue in order to capture the spontaneous energy of a live gig. Naturally, there are all kinds of challenges when attempting to cut band tracks in… Read more...
