BMI songwriters dominate the selections, representing 58% of the individuals and groups. The variety and superiority of the material attests not only to the wide-ranging talents of BMI songwriters but also the consistency of BMI’s involvement with all eralms of music throughout the course of its history. The diversity of styles and genres included is remarkable, ranging from folk (Woody Guthrie) to rap (Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five), jazz (Miles Davis) to punk (Sex Pistols), blues (Howlin’ Wolf) to country (Hank Williams), rhythm & blues (Sam Cooke) to soul (Aretha Franklin), disco (Chic) to folk-rock (Fairport Convention), the over-the-top (Velvet Underground & Nico) to the indefinable (Captain Beefheart and his Magic Band).

As with any list, arguments are invited and disagreements encouraged. The following are BMI’s representatives in Mojo’s decisions, including their number in the final grouping.

For the complete list, consult mojo4music.com or rocklistmusic.co.uk/mojo.html.

BMI Songwriters on the MOJO List:

Animals: “The House of the Rising Sun” [#86]
Anthology of American Folk Music [#8]
Beach Boys: Pet Sounds [#21]
The Beatles: “I Want To Hold Your Hand” [#2]
                       Revolver [#40]
                      Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band [#16]
Captain Beefheart & His Magic Band: Trout Mask Replica [#51]
Chuck Berry: “Johnny B. Goode” [#12]
Big Youth: Screaming Target [#76]
David Bowie: The Rise and Fall Of Ziggy Stardust And the Spiders From Mars [#31]
                       Low [#64]
James Brown: “Papa’s Got A Brand New Bag” [#15]
Jeff Buckley: Grace [#37]
The Byrds: Sweetheart of the Rodeo [#57]
Ray Charles: “What’d I Say” [#9]
Chic: “Good Times” [#54]
John Coltrane: My Favorite Things [#60]
Sam Cooke: “You Send Me” [#47]
Miles Davis: Kind of Blue [#43]
Lonnie Donegan: “Rock Island Line” [#38]
Nick Drake: Five Leaves Left [#78]
Brian Eno: Discreet Music [#68]
Fairport Convention: Liege & Lief [#58]
Aretha Franklin: “I Never Loved A Man The Way I Love You” [#18]
Gang Of Four: Entertainment [#77]
Gnarls Barkley: “Crazy” [#100]
Davy Graham with Alexis Korner: 3/4AD [#35]
Grandmaster Flash & the Furious Five: “The Message” [#29]
Woody Guthrie: Dust Bowl Ballads [#13]
Billie Holiday : “Strange Fruit” [#67]
Buddy Holly: “That’ll Be The Day” [#52]
Howlin’ Wolf: The Rocking Chair Album [#23]
Michael Jackson: Thriller [#33]
Carole King: Tapestry [#74]
John Lennon: Plastic Ono Band [#55]
The Libertines: Up The Bracket [#94]
Little Richard: “Tutti Frutti” [# 1]
Love [#66]
MC5: Kick Out The Jams [#69]
New York Dolls [#39]
Nirvana: “Smells Like Teen Spirit” [#27]
Nuggets [#42]
N.W.A.: Straight Outta Compton [#61]
Oasis: Definitely Maybe [#89]
Charlie Parker: “Koko” [#26]
Pixies: Surfer Rosa [#79]
Elvis Presley: “Heartbreak Hotel” {#3]
R.E.M.: Murmur [#75]
Rolling Stones: “(I Can’t Get No) Satisfaction” [#19]
                          “Sympathy For The Devil:” [#48]
Ronettes: “Be My Baby” [#45]
Sex Pistols: “God Save the Queen” [#10]
The Shadows: “Apache” [#84]
The Smiths: This Charming Man [#80]
Sonic Youth: EVOL [#85]
The Stone Roses [#99]
The Stooges: Funhouse [#36]
Television: Marquee Moon [#97]
Upsetters: Blackboard Jungle Dub [#59]
The Velvet Underground & Nico [#7]
The Who: “My Generation” [#44]
Hank Williams: “Move It On Over” [#30]
Link Wray: “Rumble” [#41]

Pictured after the show are BMI's Myles Lewis, Tracie Verlinde and Joe Maggini, performer Peter Walker and drummer Chris Reynolds

Singer/songwriter Peter Walker follows on the success of his Landed album with a nice alternative pop rocker in Young Gravity. A mish-mash of Pete Yorn's melodies, Eel's vocals and Sean Lennon's sensibility, Young Gravity (Dangerbird Records) is a great pop album riff with hooks and catchy lyrics. For his new batch of tunes, Walker hit the studio with Jim Fairchild (Grandaddy) and Aaron Espinoza (Earlimart) to record a collection of songs that have a real lived-in charm and exquisite songcraft. His throaty vocals add an element of honesty to themes of love and despair. While his material has much lyrical depth, he packages them up in great pop-rock arrangements. Fans of Neil Young, the Jayhawks and Wilco should keep Walker on their radar.

BMI's Joe Maggini and Tracie Verlinde, We Are Lions members Reza, Q, Matt and Atom, and BMI's Myles Lewis

An easy comparison for the co-ed San Francisco five-piece called Minipop would be to Texas siblings Eisley. With their lush textures and graceful harmonies, the two bands share more than a passing sonic resemblance. Their five-song EP, The Precious, shows that while Minipop can sound as sweet and endearing as sprites, they are also not afraid of a mighty racket. With an evocative songstress like Tricia Kanne and a melody described best as "marshmallows on morphine," it is only a matter of time before this band's brilliance is discovered. They are very poppy; their sound is anything but mini.

Atom Whitman, Matt Matawaran, Reza Rasoli and Matt Quarnstrom (a.k.a. "Q") formed We Are Lions sometime around 2001, but they got their official name upon watching the 2004 "epic" film Troy. The pop-rock quartet recently released their debut record Eight Arms Made This on the new indie upstart At One Records. Their influences range from U2 and the Smiths, to current favorites like French Kicks and Brand New. But make no mistake, their sound is all their own, and is, in their own words, "Not quite emo, not quite post-punk, not synth-pop."

Los Angeles-based Sidestory began as a few scattered writing sessions on the campus of UCLA in January 2006. Only a year later, the band has excellently crafted their unique sound - think Keane meets Maroon 5 - and live performances into a fiery act that has attracted the interest of both major and indie labels alike. The rock outfit is on the fast track so check out the tunes "Better Than" and "So Much More."

Writing complex, quality pop songs void of gimmicks and clichés, their sound is a balance of high energy and melancholy atmosphere.

Wintergreen recently teamed up with producer/mixer Niko Bolas (Neil Young, Keith Richards, My Morning Jacket, Fiona Apple, Travis), to put the final touches on their debut EP. With their first release, “The Extended Play,” Wintergreen showcase refreshingly elaborate guitar work that puts them in the same league as Television and the Smiths. The vocals conjure sounds reminiscent of Elliot Smith and the Beatles, and are backed by a powerful rhythm section influenced by early 90s rockers like the Pixies and Fugazi. With a heartfelt sound that is truly timeless, original yet subtly familiar, every note is played with a passion that shakes listeners to their core.

The taste and talent demonstrated by this hard-working and humble band is giving people reasons to remain in love with music. Give it one listen and you’ll be hooked.

http://www.wintergreenmusic.com/

The man's famously dour demeanor – cemented by such Smiths titles as "Unloveable" and "Heaven Knows I'm Miserable Now," not to mention such solo tracks as "I Don't Mind If You Forget Me" and "Sorrow Will Come in the End" - was belied by his sweet lead vocals and sometimes Wildean wit. Nevertheless, when asked last year by the Sydney Morning Herald if making music makes him happy, he replied, "Well, yes, because if you're not making music then what are you? I mean what am I, anyway? I don't know what I am. I've been trying for 30 years." He concluded with a chuckle, "I feel undefinable, actually."

Born Steven Patrick Morrissey in Manchester 45 years ago, the singer's hooking up with guitarist/songwriter Johnny Marr was a life-altering act, resulting in three solid albums and one - 1986's The Queen is Dead - a near-masterpiece of '80s alternative rock. A year later, Marr left, and the group was over.

A stream of solo albums followed, with highlights including his 1988 solo debut Viva Hate and 1992's Your Arsenal - the latter muscularly produced by guitar legend Mick Ronson - and You Are the Quarry takes its rightful place among those efforts. Swinging from catchy pop gems like "First of the Gang to Die" and the purposeful statement song "America Is Not the World" (the always-controversial singer broke the news of Ronald Reagan's death to a Dublin audience by saying he'd have preferred the White House's current occupant to have died) to the sweet, complex "I Have Forgiven Jesus" and "Let Me Kiss You" (a highlight of Nancy Sinatra's recent, otherwise forgettable self-titled album), Quarry represents a smashing return to form.

Just how long the mercurial artist's return to the spotlight will last is anyone's guess, however, as Morrissey has hinted in the press that another seven-year absence wouldn't be out of the question. For now, fans can tide themselves over with a re-released version of Quarry , featuring a DVD of the album's videos and a handful of TV appearances.

"Despite massive discouragement, I remain myself," he told the Morning Herald. "Somebody has to be me so it might as well be me."

Coldplay's insinuating sounds are slowly conquering the world. Based on the chart-topping performance of Parachutes, Coldplay was named Band of the Year 2000 in many British music polls. Now the hoopla has reached the U.S., with the band earning critical kudos and impressive stateside album sales. On the singular strength of their debut album, Coldplay has rocketed into the U.K. pop pantheon inhabited by Radiohead, Oasis, Blur and Travis.

The members of Coldplay - singer Chris Martin, bassist Guy Berryman, guitarist Jon Buckland and drummer Will Champion - met at University College in London. The quartet printed 500 copies of an independently produced EP called Safety, and released the single "Brothers and Sisters" on a small U.K. label called Fierce Panda. In 1999, the band inked a deal with England's Parlophone Records, which resulted in the release of another EP, The Blue Room, followed by the single "Shiver".

The single and EPs created such a buzz that Parachutes debuted at number one in the U.K. Coldplay was nominated for an esteemed Mercury Music Prize, received the Q Award for Best Album, signed to Nettwerk America/Capitol and endeared themselves to stateside rock fans. The band's 2001 American tour will undoubtedly be a standing room only affair.

The group’s latest Epic Records album, The Man Who, was certified double-platinum in the U.K., where it has remained in the Top 20 since May. Far removed from the bombast sounds of American alterna-rock, , The Man Whois a soulful, dreamy recording reminiscent of Pink Floyd and The Smiths. The disc has catapulted Travis into the pantheon of contemporary U.K. rock icons that includes Oasis, Radiohead and Blur.

Now pundits are wondering if Travis can replicate their U.K. success in America. Epic Records has bumped the stateside release of The Man Who to April 2000, reportedly to give the band and the label more time to prepare a promotional blitz.

If advance critical response is any indication, then , The Man Who stands a good chance of being a breakthrough recording. In its Jan./Feb. issue, Gear magazine named the album “Record of the Month,” describing the band as “the last lonely romantics in town.” The magazine went on to praise singer Fran Healy and his “warming, seductive songwriting and vocals.”

Healy, guitarist Andy Dunlop and bassist Dougie Payne formed around Glasgow’s Horseshoe Bar, where drummer Neil Primrose worked and the others drank. The quartet scored a publishing deal with Sony in 1996 and relocated south of London. The band’s 1997 debut album, Good Feeling, shot straight to the U.K. Top 10, resulting opening tour slots for Oasis and Catatonia.

Though the band recently performed benefits for the Kosovo relief effort and the U.K.-based Campaign for a Living Wage, Travis show no interest in becoming proselytizing rock stars. “Selling 100,000 records, in my opinion, gives you a very small soapbox to stand on,” Healy told England’s Melody Maker magazine. “To be honest, when bands start talking about issues I always feel patronized. I don’t want to patronize anyone.”