About the panelists:

KC Porter - This Grammy Award-winning producer, arranger and composer has chart-topping works with such Latin superstars as Carlos Santana, Ricky Martin, Luis Miguel, Los Fabulosos Cadillacs, Ana Gabriel, and the late Selena. Porter has also worked his magic with English-language stars, including Lara Fabian, Bon Jovi, Janet Jackson, Chaka Khan, 98 Degrees, Brian McKnight, Toni Braxton and Boyz II Men, crossing their hits over to Spanish-speaking and international audiences. One of his latest projects was co-writing and producing Ozomatli’s latest album, Don’t Mess with the Dragon.

Rafa Sardina – Sardina, a Los Angeles based, ten-time Grammy Award-winning mixer/engineer has built an eclectic and impressive client list in the recent years: Macy Gray, Stevie Wonder, Dr Dre, Dru Hill, Jessy Moss, Mariah Carey, Luis Miguel, Sheryl Crow, Soul Coughing, Marc Antoine, Angie Stone and Alejandro Sanz, among others. He has worked with numerous high-profile artists and producers, including Dr Dre, Camara Kambon, Lulu Perez, Babyface, Scott Litt and David Foster. Most recently, Sardina has launched a production company focusing on developing new talent in his state-of-the art studio, open since 2006.

Mark Portman - This Los Angeles-based, Grammy Award-nominated producer/songwriter/musician has worked on over 130 albums, several movies and TV shows. His roster of Latin stars includes Luis Miguel, Julio Iglesias, Alejandro Sanz, Jaci Velasquez, Cristian Castro, Luis Fonsi, Olga Tanon, Pedro Fernandez, Reik, Ednita Nazario, and Los Temerarios. He has collaborated and worked with renowned producers including David Foster, Phil Ramone, Quincy Jones, Teddy Riley and Latin producer Rudy Perez. Among his other roster of superstars are Barbra Streisand, Carole King, Carole Bayer Sager, Blackstreet, Diana Ross, Christina Aguilera, Brenda Russell, Dave Koz and others.

Sebastian Krys - Based in South Florida, this multiple Grammy Award-winning producer has over 20 top ten Billboard Latin Hits, including 9 No. 1 singles and albums. Krys has worked with artists including Marc Anthony, Carlos Vives, Sandy & Junior, Shakira, Mana, JD Natasha, Jeremias, Long Beach Dub All Stars w/Black Eyed Peas, Aterciopelados, Ricky Martin, Will Smith, Obie Bermudez, Gian Marco, Luis Fonsi, Gloria Estefan, Soraya, Mandy Moore, Jennifer Lopez, and more.

Homero Patrón – This Grammy Award-winning musician, director and composer has worked with artists such as José José, Emmanuel, Marco Antonio Muñiz, Rocío Durcal, Ray Conniff, Barry White, Tom Jones, Nana Moskoury, Raphael, Nelson Ned, Juan Gabriel, Manoella Torres, Vicky Carr, Gualberto Castro, Angélica María, César Costa, Alberto Vazquez, Charles Aznavour, and Jose Luis Rodríguez “El Puma,” to name just a few. Patrón has also produced albums for such superstars as Juan Gabriel, Lucha Villa, Javier Solís, Angeles Ochoa, Ana Gabriel, Yuri, Pedro Fernandez, Vicky Carr, Olga Tañon, Vicente and Alejandro Fernández, Pepe Aguilar, Lucero, Alicia Villarreal, Pablo Montero, Ana Bárbara, Laura Flores, Nana Mouskouri and Marco Antonio Solís.

Kiko Cibrian - Multi-talented producer, musician and vocal producer who has worked with Luis Miguel, Christian Castro, and up-and-coming artists Innis, Jesse & Joy, Patricia Manterola, Souljahz, and Frankie J, Reik, along with projects such at Billboard’s Latin Series: Best of 1997, Billboard’s Latin Series: Best of Pop 1996, along with the Sinatra Duets.

Marco Flores - Flores has produced and written over 400 songs, four of which placed number one on Billboard's charts in the same year (2000), and has achieved an impressive 14 platinum albums and 22 gold albums. His roster includes works with Richard Marx, Luther Vandross, Selena, Barrio Boyzz, Donna Summer, Toni Braxton, Bonnie Raitt, Thalia, Gloria Estefan, Carlos Ponce, Jordi, Ricky Martin, Jose Feliciano, and many more.

Preceding the gala, honorees will also be recognized at receptions at the White House and State Department.

Brian Wilson, a founding member of the Beach Boys, penned lyrics for such tunes as “Good Vibrations,” “Surfer Girl”, and “Fun, Fun, Fun,” among many others. Diana Ross, one-third of the Supremes, also scored success as a solo artist and actress.

Additional honorees include comedic actor Steve Martin, film director Martin Scorsese and pianist/conductor Leon Fleisher.

The John F. Kennedy Center annually honors contributors to American culture through the performing arts, including dance, music, theater, opera and motion pictures. Recipients are selected by the Kennedy Center’s Board of Trustees.

BMI artists shined at this year’s awards, with winners including Gnarls Barkley, Best Group; Ne-Yo, Best Male R&B; Kirk Franklin, Best Gospel Artist; Birdman & Lil’Wayne’s "Stuntin' Like My Daddy," Viewers Choice Award.

The late Gerald Levert won in the BETJ Cool Like That category. One of the highlights of the evening was the all-star performance of “Wind Beneath My Wings” performed by his father, Eddie Levert, Gladys Knight, Patti LaBelle and Yolanda Adams.

Hosted by actress/comedian Mo'Nique, the BET Awards also bestowed the coveted Lifetime Achievement Award to legendary songstress Diana Ross, and the Humanitarian Award to award-winning actor and activist Don Cheadle.

During a career that spanned more than 35 years, Ms. Baird had become a well-known music business executive, media relations professional and journalist in the music industry, befriended by dozens of noted authors, artists, music producers and executives.

She began her career as a publicist for prominent music producer Jimmy Ienner, helping to launch the careers of emerging talent such as Isaac Hayes, Donny Hathaway, Three Dog Night, Blood, Sweat & Tears, and Grand Funk Railroad. In 1974 she joined industry trade publication Record World as Assistant Editor where she authored an influential column devoted to music publishing, and developed a broad network of contacts among executives in the publishing industry. In 1981 she became East Coast Professional Manager at Arista/Interworld Music Publishing Group, with responsibility for signing writers and managing the company's New York office. Later, as head of her own media relations consultancy, she represented artists and projects associated with Atlantic Records, Elektra Records and MTV Networks. In 1984 she was hired by RCA Records where she was Director of National Publicity, working with artists including Lou Reed, the Eurythmics, Diana Ross, Starship, John Denver and Hall & Oates.

She joined BMI in 1987, heading up its Media Relations department, and was promoted to Assistant Vice President in 1993. She built a national media relations team for BMI with staff in New York, Nashville and Los Angeles. She also served as Senior Editor of BMI's MusicWorld magazine, the largest circulation magazine for music professionals in the United States. As a writer, reviewer and journalist, she made frequent contributions to music publications and was a sought-after music industry collaborator for television producers and authors, contributing to biographies of Johnny Ace, Tim and Jeff Buckley, and Brian Wilson, among others. She was the awards coordinator for the Ralph J. Gleason Music Book Awards and a frequent consultant for the BBC.

Over the years, she served as Media Chair on the committees for major music industry charitable organizations, including the Rhythm & Blues Foundation, the City of Hope, the T.J. Martell Foundation, and the Mr. Holland's Opus Foundation. She served as a governor of the New York chapter of the Recording Academy, and was a member of the Country Music Association, Gospel Music Association, Songwriters Hall of Fame, and the Television Academy.

She is survived by cousins Patricia Casey of Marlton, N.J., Richard Casey of Darien, Conn., and Joanmarie McMahon of Princeton, N.J.; a niece, Shannon Winkler of Voorhees, N.J.; a nephew, Blake Fadem, of Richardson, Texas; and a great-niece, Eve Winkler of Voorhees, N.J. The family plans a private interment ceremony and has requested that in lieu of flowers, donations in her honor be made to the T.J. Martell Foundation for Leukemia, Cancer and Aids Research. A celebration in her memory for her family and her many friends and colleagues in the industry is being planned for early fall in Manhattan.

The T.J. Martell Foundation may be reached at 212-833-5444.]]> 2006-08-22T05:00:00-05:00 http://www.bmi.com/news/entry/334907 Artists, Gibb, Robin, Ross, Diana By Robbin Gibb

A few weeks ago, I found myself in the unusual position of speaking to the European Commission in Brussels. As a member of the British Academy of Composers and Songwriters, I was there to speak in the name of CISAC, the international body representing authors' societies. The commission is conducting a review of the licensing of creators' rights, which directly affects the income of millions of creators worldwide. It was therefore our job to explain the vital role that collection societies play in enabling us, the creators, to collect revenue that is rightfully ours.

Collection societies frequently get bad press as abusive faceless monopolies acting against consumers and, indeed, authors' interests. Nothing could be further from the truth. European collection societies were set up by authors as nonprofit organizations and are run by the authors, composers and publishers who are their members to administer their rights. Of course, the societies have never been popular with the big multinational commercial broadcasters and other music users who are constantly trying to cut their own "costs" at our expense. At the hearing in Brussels, it was perfectly clear that they wished to devalue copyright in order to benefit their shareholders. It was less clear where the consumer or any author would benefit.

Crucial to societies - and the 23 million creators whom they represent - are the reciprocal agreements between them, which make up the network that enables each society to offer in its own territory the entire world's music repertoire. This system has benefited me and my fellow creators in at least two ways.

This network is central to my work as a songwriter, not a performer. I have co-written many songs with my brothers over the years such as "Chain Reaction" for Diana Ross and "Heartbreaker" for Dionne Warwick. Without this system there is no way that we would have been able to receive a fair reward in all countries for our work as writers.

Secondly, in these days of multinational copyright users, the network creates collective bargaining power, which affords authors less well-known than me some chance to receive an equitable reward for their works. With increased threats to the creative community, the agreements between collection societies, which underpin the network, are more essential than ever.

A ludicrous idea voiced at the hearing was that competition between authors' societies in the grant of licenses to users would somehow benefit creators. If a user were able to obtain clearance rights for my song "Night Fever" from 24 competing organizations, which organization do you think the user would choose? The user would, of course, choose the organization offering the cheapest possible price. What interest would I have in such a scenario? I might be in a strong enough position to personally fight this reduction in value by withdrawing my rights from societies that undercut each other, but other creators less well-known would be stuck.

Royalty devaluation will also inevitably lead to cultural devaluation. As a creator who has benefited from the strength of the Anglo-American repertoire, I have no doubt that my genre of music would survive competition - albeit financially decimated. But have a thought for Europe's cultural diversity that would be seriously jeopardized if the current system of collective management of creators' rights were destroyed.

The commission is currently threatening to fine collection societies for infringement of competition laws as if they were another Microsoft. In reality, they are nonprofit-making organizations and fining them is fining every creator throughout Europe. Most artists are dependent on royalties and it is desperately unfair to have their livelihoods threatened by an external party claiming to champion their cause.

I sincerely hope that the European Commission understood my message and will continue to listen to the voice of creators before taking any decision. It is above all a question of avoiding the erosion of the authors' negotiating position in the sole interest of a small band of very powerful broadcasters.]]> 2006-07-19T18:00:00-05:00 http://www.bmi.com/news/entry/334870 Artists, Bryant, Del, Franklin, Aretha, Hall & Oates, Jones, Norah, Mardin, Arif, Nelson, Willie, Prine, John, Ross, Diana Internationally renowned producer/arranger and BMI songwriter Arif Mardin passed away June 25 from pancreatic cancer. He was 74.

In a career that lasted more than four decades, Mardin collected numerous awards, including 12 Grammys, and his many recordings earned him more than 40 gold and platinum albums. Honored by the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences (NARAS) with a Trustee Award for Lifetime Achievement in 2001, he played a vital role in the careers of such diverse artists as Aretha Franklin, the Bee Gees, Willie Nelson, Dusty Springfield and Norah Jones.

We are deeply saddened by the news of Arif's passing," said BMI President & CEO Del Bryant. "A member of the BMI family for more than 40 years, he made an indelible mark on our industry, crafting countless hits across virtually every musical genre. He will be remembered as one of the true giants in the history of recorded music."

Arif Mardin was born on March 15, 1932, in Istanbul, Turkey. Trained in economics but also a composer, arranger and orchestrator, Mardin's life changed in 1956 when he met Dizzy Gillespie and Quincy Jones at a Turkish concert. So impressed were they by his compositions, Jones recommended Mardin for a scholarship to the prestigious Berklee School of Music in Boston, Mass., where Mardin studied from 1958 to 1961.

Mardin joined Atlantic Records in 1963 as an assistant to Neshui Ertegun, who supervised the jazz division. When music legend and Atlantic label head Jerry Wexler heard some of Mardin's arrangements for King Curtis at a BMI Awards event, he recognized an untapped in-house talent. He quickly became, in Wexler's words, a "super pro" and "soulful Turkish eminence."

During his association with Atlantic, Mardin arranged and helped to produce such outstanding artists as the Young Rascals, Hall & Oates, Bette Midler, Robert Flack, John Prine, Donnie Hathaway and the Average White Band. He was made a Vice President of the label in 1969 and retired in 2001.

Later successes followed with albums by Chaka Khan, Rod Stewart, Barbara Streisand and Diana Ross, among many others. One of his last major achievements was the breakthrough release by Norah Jones in 2003.

Of his associate, Atlantic founder Ahmet Ertegun said, "In a business driven by trend and fashion, Arif has remained a true artist, a man of incredible musical talent."

Mardin is survived by his wife, Latife, a novelist and playwright; his son, Joe, a producer and arranger; and two daughters, Julie and Nazan Joffre.]]> 2006-06-26T18:00:00-05:00 http://www.bmi.com/musicworld/entry/234546 Artists, Aguilera, Christina, Rihanna, Ross, Diana, Musical Styles, Dance, Pop, Urban, Musicworld, Hitmaker With her feline good looks, girl-next-door appeal and soulful songs, teen sensation Rihanna has arrived on the global music scene like a raging musical storm. Her debut single, "Pon De Replay," was the #1 most added single upon its release and the most downloaded tune in the U.S. for two weeks in a row.

But Rihanna is much more than a dance-floor diva, as her Def Jam Records debut album, Music of the Sun, attests. Tracks like "The Last Time," " Here I Go Again" and "Now I Know" showcase an agile voice that's grounded in pop, soul, gospel and Caribbean traditions.

Like Diana Ross and Beyoncé before her, the Rihanna saga is a Cinderella story with an urban twist. A native of the Barbados parish of St. Michael, Rihanna lived a somewhat simple life where she attended high school and performed for fun with friends. One day, the singer was introduced by a mutual friend to New York City music producer Evan Rogers (Rogers and his songwriter collaborator, Carl Sturken, have produced hits for Christina Aguilera, Ruben Studdard and Kelly Clarkson). After an impromptu "audition," Rogers invited Rihanna to the Big Apple to record some tracks.

Rihanna, Rogers and Sturken holed up in a New York studio and composed close to a dozen songs. "(It's) mostly Caribbean beats mixed with r&b" Rihanna says of her music. "I don't want to be pigeon-holed into being just a dance artist because I can sing too. I have ballads on the album as well as upbeat tracks."

Shawn "Jay-Z" Carter, President and CEO of Def Jam Recordings, signed Rihanna to lucrative contract within minutes of hearing and seeing her. Her debut album is one of the most anticipated pop recordings of 2005. Judging from its impressive mix of Caribbean dance jams, funk rumpshakers and soul ballads, Music of the Sun is the auspicious beginning of a high-flying career.

 

Holland-Dozier-Holland, long revered as the architects of the Motown Sound, wrote such timeless classics as "You Can't Hurry Love," "Reach Out I'll Be There," "How Sweet It Is To Be Loved By You," "You Keep Me Hanging On," and "Stop! In The Name of Love" among numerous others. They have composed more than 200 songs, 130 of which have scored on the Pop charts, with more than 70 Top Ten hits and more than 20 songs reaching the #1 chart position.

Such artists as Diana Ross & The Supremes, Marvin Gaye, the Four Tops, the Isley Brothers, Kim Weston, Martha Reeves & The Vandellas have recorded their songs while Holland-Dozier-Holland were at Motown, while artists such as Rod Stewart, James Taylor, Charlotte Church and The Dixie Chicks are covering their songs today. Their catalog adds up to nearly 100 million radio and television airplays.

Hollywood's RockWalk is a sidewalk gallery on Sunset Blvd that pays homage to those musicians and innovators who have made a significant and lasting impact to the Rock 'n Roll art form. RockWalk features the most extensive collection of handprints and signatures of the greatest musical talent ever known. Artists to be inducted into RockWalk are chosen by an exclusive panel of judges comprised of the RockWalk Industry Advisory committee (Industry) and the RockWalk Executive committee (RockWalk inductees). RockWalk is dedicated to honoring those musical visionaries who have made an important and timeless contribution to art form of music.]]> 2003-05-08T18:00:00-05:00 http://www.bmi.com/news/entry/233693 Anderson, Bill, Berry, Chuck, Brown, James, Diddley, Bo, Dixie Chicks, Dozier, Lamont, Four Tops, The, Holland, Brian, Holland, Edward, Holland-Dozier-Holland, Little Richard, Ross, Diana, Supremes, The, Pop, Rock, BMI Pop Awards Brian Holland, Lamont Dozier and Edward Holland, the legendary songwriting trio and principal creators of the early Motown sound, will be honored as the 2003 BMI ICON recipients, it was announced today. They will receive their awards at the 51st annual BMI Pop Awards dinner on May 13 at the Regent Beverly Wilshire Hotel in Beverly Hills. BMI President & CEO Frances W. Preston will present the honor at the black-tie affair.

The BMI ICON award is given to songwriters who have been unique and indelible influences on generations of music makers. First awarded last year, the initial honorees were Bill Anderson, Chuck Berry, James Brown, Bo Diddley and Little Richard. As part of the Pop Awards ceremony, a musical salute will be performed for Holland-Dozier-Holland.

Brian Holland, Lamont Dozier and Eddie Holland are revered as the architects of the 'Sound of Young America' or 'Motown Sound.' Having created the songs that turned a fledgling Detroit record company into an industry groundbreaker and powerhouse, the trio wrote "You Can't Hurry Love," "Reach Out I'll Be There," "How Sweet It Is To Be Loved By You," "You Keep Me Hanging On," "Stop! In The Name of Love" and many more. Such artists as Diana Ross & The Supremes, Marvin Gaye, the Four Tops, the Isley Brothers, Kim Weston, and Martha Reeves & the Vandellas recorded their songs while the three were at Motown, with artists such as Rod Stewart, James Taylor, Charlotte Church and the Dixie Chicks covering their songs today. Their catalog, represented for performing rights by BMI, adds up to nearly 100 million radio and television airplays.

Longtime BMI songwriters, Brian Holland affiliated with the performing rights organization in 1960, followed by Lamont Dozier in 1961 and Eddie Holland in 1963. They were inducted to the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 1988 and the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1990, and received the National Association of Recording Arts and Sciences (NARAS) Trustees Award in 1998. They have won countless BMI Awards in the past, including BMI Pop Awards and Million-Air citations.

The annual BMI Pop Awards is an invitation-only event that recognizes the most performed songs of the past year. Preston, along with Barbara Cane, Vice President & General Manager, Writer/Publisher Relations, Los Angeles, will present BMI Citations of Achievement to the writers and publishers of the 50 top songs.

The BMI producer/songwriter has been nominated for an impressive 42 Grammy Awards, taking home an astounding 14 trophies (including three for Producer of the Year). He also won a Golden Globe Award in 1999 for co-writing (with Carole Bayer Sager) and producing the hit song "The Prayer" from the animated film Quest for Camelot, was named Billboard's "Top Singles Producer" and "Top R&B Producer" in 1993, and has received three Academy Award nominations.

The list of musicians Foster has worked with during his career is a who's-who of talent, and includes John Lennon, Celine Dion, Barbra Streisand, Whitney Houston, Michael Jackson, Madonna and Diana Ross. Small wonder, then, that he was named the "Person of the Year" at the 2001 edition of Midem in Cannes, France.

In addition, Foster is also connected to the reality show "Popstars," overseeing the formation of the group Eden's Crush and producing their first album on his own 143 Records, a joint venture with the Warner Music Group whose roster includes international sensation The Corrs (20 million albums sold worldwide) and Christian pop group Plus One. He has been the label's chairman since its inception in 1993.

Such a list of accomplishments, and the fact that his career dates back to 1973, has understandably left Foster feeling a bit fatigued. "I'm not sick of it, but I'm tired," he told the Vancouver Sun in January. "It's a little hard to get up in the morning, go to the studio and try to create music that's going to hit and sell. But I don't hate the industry at all."

Foster has even been flirting with the idea of running for Prime Minister of his native British Columbia, and told the Sun that he plans to spend the next four to five years learning about the job.

In the meantime, he is keeping plenty busy with other, non-music related projects. An avid advocate for children's rights, he has established the David Foster Foundation to assist families of children who need organ transplants, and in 1999 formed tonos.com with Sager and producer/artist Kenneth "Babyface" Edmonds. The web site provides career advice and job listings for new songwriters and musicians.

Whether his future includes politics or not, Foster is secure in the feeling that he will do the right thing. "The worst thing for my musical career would be struggling, not having hits, not getting the right phone calls and still trying to be a record producer/songwriter," he told the Sun. "True champions try to go out on top or near the top."