The "See It Hear First" podcast, available at bmi.com/podcast, has become an important tool for exposing new BMI songwriters and artists to key industry professionals and fans alike. Since its release in May 2005, millions of listeners from around the world have tuned in to discover new music from a broad range of genres and regions.

In addition to hearing great music from an array of new talent like this month's four rising Latin stars, podcast listeners can also vote for their favorite artist to help them win a CD duplication package from Disc Makers, the leading CD manufacturer for the independent musician. Winners get 1,000 discs, a prize with a promotional value of more than $10,000.

Past 'cast artists like singer/songwriter Brendan James, rockers somedaynew, Latin hip-hop artist Cosculluela, Canadian crossover band Soul Kid #1 and country-pop combo the Zac Brown Band have all grabbed the industry's attention through the BMI podcast, with some landing major recording and publishing deals and others on the verge of being signed.

Tune in to bmi.com/podcast to hear all 15 editions of BMI's "See It Hear First" podcast series, the first in the music industry to be listed in Apple's podcast directory. BMI's podcast is also available from iTunes at bmi.com/itunes, from Yahoo! at podcasts.yahoo.com, or though Pod2Mob.com.

Podcast #15 Featured Artists

Twenty-two-year-old Nashville native Alejandra Alberti contributes "Quiero" to this month's podcast, showcasing a fusion of pop, rock and r&b-influenced vocals that draw on all of her experiences of growing up in the U.S., while keeping strong ties to her Cuban/Mexican-mixed heritage.

Latin Grammy-nominated singer/songwriter Elsten "Fulano" Torres is a contemporary bilingual artist recognized for his original musical style. The Cuban-born, New York-bred performer stands out with his eclectic pop-rock Latin songs and their sundry worldly grooves, Cuban-meets-British melodies, and heartfelt lyrics. Hear it first on "La Noche Entera."

From a young boy who was never supposed to be able to speak, to a man with a golden voice, American Idol finalist Anthony Fedorov has truly beaten all the odds. Hailing from the Ukraine and singing in English, Italian and Spanish, the 21-year-old crooner overcame a childhood illness that left him mute to become a fan-favorite during Idol's fourth season. Find out why with "Culpame."

Traveling on a musical journey that fuses r&b, soul, salsa, rock, hip-hop and Latin rhythms together into sweet pop ballads is Taxi Amarillo (yellow cab). Made up of Latin pop singer Cruzmonty and writer/producer Chris Hierro, Taxi Amarillo's lyrics will move you, their voices will elevate you, and their style will blow you away. Enjoy the ride with "Plan B."]]> 2006-10-31T04:00:00-05:00 http://www.bmi.com/musicworld/entry/533609 Artists, Fulano, Musicworld, On The Scene Latin Grammy nominated singer/songwriter Elsten “Fulano” Torres is a contemporary bilingual artist recognized for his uniquely original musical style. This successful performer stands out as an individual, with his eclectic pop-rock Latin songs and their sundry worldly grooves, Cuban-meets-British melodies, and starry-eyed, heart-felt lyrics.

Born in Havana, Cuba, and raised in New York City, this travelling troubadour represents a new generation of bilingual singer/songwriters. He has left his artistic imprint throughout the Latin music world and his musical journey has taken him to various corners of the globe. His powerful artistic presence has reached all over the U.S., Mexico, Canada, Europe and the Caribbean.

His fourth and latest production, Individual, arrives with a burst of sonic fresh air. Inspired by his recent travels to Eastern and Western Europe, Fulano experiments with an assortment of acoustic and electronic elements not used on previous projects. On this 12-song collection, Fulano demonstrates his diverse lyrical and musical sensibilities, crafting little masterpieces in both his native tongues. Individual elevates his musical status to a brand-new captivating level. Earlier works like Etc, Normal and Revolución have become classics of the Latin-pop industry, placing him among the most important musical revelations of today’s Latin scene.

In 2005, Fulano’s career reached an important milestone: His song, “Todo el Año” ("All Year” recorded by Obie Bermudez), received a Latin Grammy nomination for Song of the Year, its success coming from a five-week consecutive run at No. 1 on the Billboard charts.

To further manifest his undeniable gift as a passionate and successful songwriter, he won a 2004 BMI Latin Award for the song “Los Demás” (“The Others” recorded by Julio Iglesias Jr.), which also landed in the Top 10. Other big hits include “Caramelo” (Alejandra Guzman), “Tanto” and “Tatuaje”(J.D. Natasha), and “Por Una Mujer” (Luis Fonsi).

An uncompromising and tireless pioneer, Fulano continues to exert the very best of his abilities, thus maintaining his characteristically high musical quality. The positive musical energy that surrounds Fulano is what undoubtedly places him in the category of a true visionary individual artist.

http://www.fulanomusic.com

Shown after the performance are (front row): BMI's Maria Elena Perez, Angelica Mejia, Raymond Rodriguez, Barbara Cane and Delia Orjuela, BMI songwriter Fulano, and BMI's Tracie Verlinde and Myles Lewis; (back row): BMI's Claudia Billen, guitarist Josh Sonntag, and BMI's Noelle Michon, Ray Yee and Joe Maggini. Photo by Hanna Pantle

Born in Havana, Cuba, and raised in New York City, this traveling troubadour represents a new generation of bilingual singer/songwriters. In 2005, Fulano's career reached an important milestone: His song, "Todo el Año" ("All Year" recorded by Obie Bermudez), received a Latin Grammy nomination for Song of the Year, its success coming from a five-week consecutive run at No. 1 on the Billboard charts. The beautiful ballad also earned Fulano a 2006 BMI Latin Award.