"We had our growing pains," says Bunton, who is based in Los Angeles. "It was not easy, but we stayed committed to each other and our vision and each day, week, year, we got better at our craft."

Before joining The Movement, Bunton was under the tutelage of industry stalwarts Mark and Chris "Tricky" Stewart, the latter being one of the brains behind "Umbrella," Rihanna's definitive hit. While working for the brothers Stewart, Bunton watched firsthand as "Tricky" crafted songs and Mark navigated through the music business, and doors began to open for him.

"It was through that experience where I was able to watch and learn from some of the best producers and songwriters in the game," Bunton says, "from Laney Stewart, The Dream, Kevin "KD" Davis, Kuk Harrell, Tab Nkhereanye, Robin Thicke and Sean Hall."

In 2000, Bunton partnered with Cole, and they officially formed The Movement the following year. They got their first break doing work for Cudda Love, a music veteran and CEO of Fo' Reel Entertainment, whose roster has included such artists as Nelly and Teairra Mari. That partnership led The Movement to produce Ma$e’s 2004 comeback song "Welcome Back," and work on more songs followed, including Lloyd's "Hey Young Girl," "Cloud 9" by Olivia and 50 Cent, and Prima J's "Rockstar."

Bunton says his "ultimate break" came when The Movement reconnected with the Stewart brothers' company, Red Zone, which led to their writing and co- producing the smash "Leavin" for pop singer Jesse McCartney. One of the biggest hits in the history of Hollywood Records, "Leavin" recently reached the #1 slot at Top 40 Radio. The hit has also climbed as high as #10 on the Billboard Hot 100, and it has been on that chart for 18 weeks.

Armed with experienced mentors and an impressive resume, Bunton and Cole are spreading their wings. Look for their work on upcoming songs by Lionel Ritchie, Pretty Ricky's former lead singer Pleasure P, Colby O'Donis, Velvet Angels, and more.

S O S
Evan Bogart
Edward Cobb
Jonathan "JR" Rotem
Embassy Music Corporation
Here's Lookin' At You Kidd Music
Jonathan Rotem Music
Reach Global Songs
Southside Independent Music Publishing LLC
Rihanna
SRP/Def Jam/IDJMG

SAVIN' ME
Daniel Adair (SOCAN)
Chad Kroeger (SOCAN)
Mike Kroeger (SOCAN)
Ryan Peake (SOCAN)
Warner-Tamerlane Publishing Corp.
Nickelback
Roadrunner/IDJMG Records

SHAKE IT OFF
Mariah Carey
Rye Songs
Songs of Universal, Inc.
Mariah Carey
Island Records

SHE SAYS
Howie Day
HKD Music
Howie Day
Epic Records

SO SICK
Ne-Yo
Super Sayin' Publishing
Zomba Songs
Ne-Yo
Def Jam/IDJMG

SOUL SURVIVOR
Young Jeezy
EMI-Blackwood Music, Inc.
Young Jeezy Music
Young Jeezy featuring Akon
Corporate Thugs/Def Jam Records

STICKWITU
Franne Golde
Kasia Livingston
Robert Palmer
Franne Gee Music
Myia’s Koala Bear Music Publishing
Notting Hill Music, Inc.
Parchi Music
Sony/ATV Songs LLC
Pussycat Dolls
A & M Records

SUGAR (GIMME SOME)
David Byrne
Trick Daddy
First and Gold Publishing
Warner-Tamerlane Publishing Corp.
Trick Daddy featuring Ludacris & Cee-Lo
Slip-N-Slide/Atlantic

SUGAR, WE'RE GOIN' DOWN
Andrew Hurley
Patrick Stump
Joe Trohman
Pete Wentz
Chicago X Softcore Songs
Sony/ATV Songs LLC
Fall Out Boy
IDJMG/Fueled By Ramen/Island

TALK
Karl Bartos (GEMA)
Warner-Tamerlane Publishing Corp.
Coldplay
Capitol Music Group

UNFAITHFUL
Ne-Yo
Super Sayin' Publishing
Zomba Songs
Rihanna
SRP/Def Jam/IDJMG

UNWRITTEN
Natasha Bedingfield (PRS)
Danielle Brisebois
EMI-Blackwood Music, Inc.
Gator Baby
Natasha Bedingfield
Epic Records

WALK AWAY
Kara DioGuardi
K'Stuff Publishing
Kelly Clarkson
RCA/RMG

WHAT HURTS THE MOST
Jeffrey Steele
Gottahaveable Music
Songs of Windswept Pacific
Rascal Flatts
Lyric Street

WHEN THE STARS GO BLUE
Ryan Adams
Barland Music
Tim McGraw
Curb Records

WHERE'D YOU GO
Mike Shinoda
Kenji Kobayashi Music
Zomba Songs
Fort Minor featuring Holly Brook & Jonah Matranga
Machine Shop/WB

YOU AND ME (2nd Award)
Jude Cole
Jason Wade
Dimensional Songs of the Knoll
G-Chills Music
Jude Cole Music
Warner-Tamerlane Publishing Corp.
Lifehouse
Geffen Records

YOU 'RE BEAUTIFUL
James Blunt (PRS)
Amanda Ghost (PRS)
Sacha Skarbek
David Platz Music, Inc.
EMI-Blackwood Music, Inc.
Universal-Songs of PolyGram International, Inc.
James Blunt
Atlantic Records

YOUR BODY
Bigg D
Marcus "Pleasure" Cooper
Jim Jonsin
Corey "Slick' Em" Mathis
Diamond "Baby Blue" Smith
Joseph "Blue" Smith
Spectacular Smith
Black Boy Hatchet Music
EMI-Blackwood Music, Inc.
Warner-Tamerlane Publishing Corp.
Pretty Ricky
Atlantic Records

	BMI Urban Awards Photo Slideshow
	BMI Urban Awards Song List
	Billboard No. 1s

Mariah Carey took home two of the night's top honors, including Song of the Year for her smash "We Belong Together" and Songwriter of the Year, which she shared with Miami-based producers Bigg D and Jim Jonsin. A highlight of the gala event was a special presentation to prolific songwriting and production team Kenneth "Babyface" Edmonds and Antonio "L.A." Reid, who were named BMI Icons for their "enduring influence on generations of music makers."

Mariah Carey	Babyface	L.A. Reid

Other big winners included rapper Kanye West, who earned the Producer of the Year title for the second consecutive year; Warner/Chappell Music Group, named Urban Publisher of the Year; and Jazze Pha's "1, 2 Step," which nabbed the BMI Urban Ringtone Award. Executives from music trade magazine Billboard were also on hand to give out No. 1 Awards to the BMI songs that reached the top spot on its urban music charts.

Bigg D	Jim Jonsin

Song of the Year "We Belong Together," which Carey co-wrote, ruled the top of multiple charts for months after its release in 2005, relaunching the five-octave singer's career back into superstardom. BMI writers Darnell Bristol, Sid "Uncle Jamz" Johnson, Patrick Moten, Sandra Sully, Bobby Womack and BMI Icon Babyface were also recognized with the Urban Awards' top song prize, as were the song's publishers - ABKCO, Ballads by Design, Hip Chic Music, Mister Johnson's Jams Music, Rye Songs, Songs of Universal, Sony/ATV and Warner-Tamerlane.

Kanye West	Jazze Pha

As the best-selling female performer of the 1990s, Carey stood apart by composing all her own material, and was twice before named Songwriter of the Year (1993 and 1999). She takes the top songwriter prize for the third time this year by placing three of her own hits on the most-performed list - "Don't Forget About Us," "Shake It Off" and "We Belong Together" - all from last year's comeback release, The Emancipation of Mimi. Carey, who also wrote 1992's Pop Song of the Year, "Love Takes Time," has a total of 23 BMI Awards and 15 "Million-Air" songs that have had one million or more broadcast performances.

Sharing the Urban Songwriter of the Year spotlight were producers Bigg D and Jim Jonsin, who also had three songs on the most-played list with the co-writes "Let's Go" by Trick Daddy (featuring Lil Jon & Twista), and Pretty Ricky's "Grind With Me" and "Your Body." Formerly known as the Unusual Suspects, this Dirty South production duo has been cranking out the hits, LPs, soundtracks and re-mixes for such heavy-hitters as Trick Daddy, Pretty Ricky, Trina, Jacki-O, Cee-Lo and Pitbull since 2000.

Multiple Grammy Award-winning songwriter/producers Babyface and L.A. Reid then took the stage to accept their BMI Icon honors. As co-founders of LaFace, the record label they started in 1989, the longtime writing partners are responsible for launching the careers of such multi-platinum artists as Toni Braxton, TLC, Usher and Pink. With a vast catalog of hits recorded by such A-listers as Madonna, Mary J. Blige, Celine Dion, Eric Clapton, Boyz II Men, Michael Jackson, Whitney Houston, Outkast, Dido, Ciara, Jay-Z and Songwriter of the Year Mariah Carey, songs penned by Babyface and L.A. have accumulated more than 40 million airplays on American radio and television.

In addition to his behind-the-scenes talent, Babyface has enjoyed his own success as a recording artist, with 11 albums that have produced more than 15 Top 10 hits. He has been named BMI Songwriter of the Year a record seven times (90, 91, 92, 95, 96, 97, 98), more than any other pop writer in the history of the company. They add to the more than 50 BMI Awards displayed on his trophy shelf, which now features his first Urban Award and his third Song of the Year Crystal received tonight as co-writer of "We Belong Together." His other Song of the Year awards include Toni Braxton's "Breathe Again" (1995) and Boyz II Men's "I'll Make Love to You" (1996). This year's top song win ties him with the Bee Gees as writer of the most Pop Songs of the Year.

With his exceptional ability to spot and develop new talent, L.A. Reid is currently Chairman of the Island Def Jam Music Group. He also served as President & CEO of Arista Records from 2000 to 2004, and is president of his own publishing company, Hitco Music, which tonight earned a pair of BMI Urban Awards for the Chris Brown smash "Run It!" and Fantasia's No. 1 hit "Truth Is." The 18-time BMI Award-winning hitmaker, who in 1990 shared the Pop Songwriter of the Year spotlight with fellow BMI Icon Babyface, most recently guided the release of Mariah Carey's Mimi CD, the mega-selling album that spawned this year's Song of the Year.

BMI Producer of the Year honors went to Kanye West for the second year in a row for logging the most producer credits on charting songs. The BMI Top Urban Producers list also included Mr. Collipark, Pharrell Williams, Lil Jon, R. Kelly, Sean Garrett, Jazze Pha, Cool & Dre, Rodney Jerkins, and Songwriters of the Year Bigg D and Jim Jonsin.

Top producers Sean Garrett, Lil Jon and Andre "Dre" Lyon also made the list of double winners, picking up two BMI Urban Awards apiece, as did The Game and Pretty Ricky members Marcus "Pleasure" Cooper, Corey "Slick'Em" Mathis, Diamond "Baby Blue" Smith, Joseph "Blue" Smith and Spectacular Smith.

Warner/Chappell Music Group was named BMI Urban Publisher of the Year by scoring the highest percentage of copyright ownership in award songs (through its companies Unichappell Music, Inc. and Warner-Tamerlane Publishing Corp.). This is the twelfth BMI Publisher Crystal for Warner/Chappell, which boasted eight songs on the most-performed list, including Song of the Year "We Belong Together" and Ringtone Award winner "1, 2 Step."

Other publishers recognized for multiple award-winning songs were Black Boy Hatchet Music, Dade Co. Project Music, Inc., Dimensional Songs of the Knoll, EMI-Blackwood Music, Inc., Ensign Music LLC, Hitco Music, Jimi Mac Music/OG Music, Rye Songs, Songs of TVT, Sony/ATV Songs LLC, Universal Music Publishing (Irving Music/Songs of Universal, Inc.) and Zomba Songs.

"1, 2 Step," written by BMI Top 10 Urban Producer Jazze Pha and published by Bubba Gee Music, Noontime Tunes and Warner-Tamerlane Publishing Corp., received the BMI Urban Ringtone Award for tallying the most downloads during the award period. The Ciara hit was also named BMI's very first Internet Song of the Year at the 2006 Pop Awards.

In addition to the BMI performance awards, Billboard recognized the BMI-affiliated writers whose songs reached No. 1 on the R&B/Hip-Hop Songs, Hot Rap Tracks, Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Airplay and Hot 100 charts during the past year. Kanye West's "Gold Digger," featuring Jamie Foxx and writing credits by Renald Richard and the late Ray Charles, topped all four charts.]]> 2006-08-30T05:00:00-05:00 http://www.bmi.com/musicworld/entry/334711 Artists, Lil Jon, Pretty Ricky, Trick Daddy, Musical Styles, Urban, Musicworld, Hitmaker Pretty Ricky gives an entirely new meaning to the phrase “band of brothers.” Under the direction of their disciplinarian dad, the four siblings began as dancers clad in sparkling outfits. Visual and physical antics propelled them into local stardom, and the boys began wondering if they had a shot at the big time.

They did.

After aggressively promoting themselves throughout the southeast since 1997, the Miami natives saw their first breakthrough in 2002. That was the year Pretty Ricky — composed of rappers Slick ’Em, Baby Blue and Spectacular plus singer Pleasure — stormed Miami’s Power 96 with their single “Flossin.” Almost overnight, a female fan base developed, feverishly requesting their song.

In 2004, Pretty Ricky struck again with “Grind with Me,” a woozy, sexually-charged slow jam featuring lightning-fast raps. “We want to be trendsetters,” says Baby Blue. “Everything somebody is doing, we try and go against the grain and do something else just to be different.” Their uniqueness worked: Again, women phoned Power 96 demanding the song and it became the most requested song in the station’s history.

Pretty Ricky’s fate was sealed that December when Atlantic Records Co-Chairman/COO Craig Kallman was in Miami. He saw hysteria erupt at their live show, and hosted an impromptu hotel room audition. Their dad’s work paid off: “They shook on it right there,” Spectacular says.

Pretty Ricky has opened for Run-DMC and Lil Jon, as well as Miami neighbors Trick Daddy, Trina and Pitbull. Their debut album, Bluestars, is a signature blend of crooning and spit-fire raps, and saw two singles, “Grind With Me” and “Your Body,” hit the Top 50 on the Billboard pop chart. The group also snagged an American Music Awards nomination for Favorite R&B/Soul Band Duo or Group.
Already the South’s hottest new sensation, they’re likely a hit at the family reunion too.]]> 2006-03-09T17:00:00-05:00 http://www.bmi.com/musicworld/entry/533084 Artists, Lil Jon, Pretty Ricky, Trick Daddy, Musical Styles, Urban, Musicworld, Hitmaker Pretty Ricky gives an entirely new meaning to the phrase “band of brothers.” Under the direction of their disciplinarian dad, the four siblings began as dancers clad in sparkling outfits. Visual and physical antics propelled them into local stardom, and the boys began wondering if they had a shot at the big time.

They did.

After aggressively promoting themselves throughout the southeast since 1997, the Miami natives saw their first breakthrough in 2002. That was the year Pretty Ricky — composed of rappers Slick ’Em, Baby Blue and Spectacular plus singer Pleasure — stormed Miami’s Power 96 with their single “Flossin.” Almost overnight, a female fan base developed, feverishly requesting their song.

In 2004, Pretty Ricky struck again with “Grind with Me,” a woozy, sexually-charged slow jam featuring lightning-fast raps. “We want to be trendsetters,” says Baby Blue. “Everything somebody is doing, we try and go against the grain and do something else just to be different.” Their uniqueness worked: Again, women phoned Power 96 demanding the song and it became the most requested song in the station’s history.

Pretty Ricky’s fate was sealed that December when Atlantic Records Co-Chairman/COO Craig Kallman was in Miami. He saw hysteria erupt at their Live show, and hosted an impromptu hotel room audition. Their dad’s work paid off: “They shook on it right there,” Spectacular says.

Pretty Ricky has opened for Run-DMC and Lil Jon, as well as Miami neighbors Trick Daddy, Trina and Pitbull. Their debut album, Bluestars, is a signature blend of crooning and spit-fire raps, and saw two singles, “Grind With Me” and “Your Body,” hit the Top 50 on the Billboard pop chart. The group also snagged an American Music Awards nomination for Favorite R&B/Soul Band Duo or Group.

Already the South’s hottest new sensation, they’re likely a hit at the family reunion too.

Mariah Carey	Black Eyed Peas

Among the artists earning two AMA nominations were hip-hop/funk group the Black Eyed Peas, rapper Eminem and country superstars Toby Keith and Tim McGraw.

Toby Keith	Tim McGraw	John Legend

The Peas, up for Favorite Band in the rap/hip-hop genre, will compete against BMI rockers 3 Doors Down for Favorite Pop/Rock Band. Eminem's double mentions included Favorite Artist and Favorite Album for Encore, and Keith and McGraw will vie for country's Favorite Male Artist and Album trophies.

3 Doors Down	Shakira

Other BMI nominees included neo-soul artist John Legend, Latin diva Shakira, crunk rappers Lil Jon & the East Side Boyz and Christian music group Casting Crowns.

Lil Jon	Casting Crowns

Nominations for the American Music Awards are based on sales figures and radio play, and winners are selected by a survey of about 20,000 listeners. The 2005 American Music Awards will take place on November 22 at the Shrine Auditorium in Los Angles; the show will be televised live by ABC.

BMI's 2005 AMA Nominees:

POP/ROCK
Favorite Female Artist
Mariah Carey

Favorite Band, Duo or Group
The Black Eyed Peas
3 Doors Down

Favorite Album
The Emancipation of Mimi
Mariah Carey

SOUL/R&B
Favorite Male Artist
R. Kelly
John Legend

Favorite Female Artist
Mariah Carey

Favorite Band, Duo or Group
112
Pretty Ricky

Favorite Album
The Emancipation of Mimi
Mariah Carey

COUNTRY
Favorite Male Artist
Toby Keith
Tim McGraw

Favorite Female Artist
Martina McBride
LeAnn Rimes

Favorite Band, Duo or Group
Big & Rich
Brooks & Dunn
Rascal Flatts

Favorite Album
Honkytonk University
Toby Keith
Live Like You Were Dying
Tim McGraw

RAP/HIP-HOP
Favorite Male Artist
Eminem

Favorite Female Artist
Lil' Kim
Trina

Favorite Band, Duo or Group
The Black Eyed Peas
Lil Jon & the Eastside Boyz
Ying Yang Twins

Favorite Album
Encore
Eminem
Urban Legend
T.I.

ADULT CONTEMPORARY
Favorite Artist
Maroon 5

LATIN MUSIC
Favorite Artist
Luis Miguel
Shakira

ALTERNATIVE MUSIC
Favorite Artist
System of a Down

CONTEMPORARY INSPIRATIONAL
Favorite Artist
Casting Crowns
Jars of Clay

BREAKTHROUGH
Favorite New Artist (all genres)
Sugarland