Walker, who serves as managing partner of Walker and Associates, LLP, has a practice that includes litigation, intellectual property, business and corporate law. He has represented Academy Award-winning actor/recording artist Jamie Foxx; BET star/host Dr. Bobby Jones; Grammy Award winner Yolanda Adams; film director Bill Duke; The Source Magazine; and been an active participant in many BMI-sponsored music business panels.

BMI will pair with the Los Angeles Times to present the second annual “How I Wrote the Song” panel Saturday, February 9, from 1p.m. until 3p.m., at the Key Club in L.A. Mirroring the format of 2007’s sold-out forum, another elite cross-section of established hitmakers, including Rodney Jerkins, Chris Daughtry, Mos Def, Ben Moody of Evanescence, Polow Da Don, Anthony Hamilton and Brian Howes will discuss their work, the raw ideas and the occasionally idiosyncratic processes pooled into composing songs that resonate with a broad spectrum of listeners. Moderated by BMI’s Vice President, Writer Publisher Relations Catherine Brewton and Los Angeles Times Music Critic Ann Powers, the event is open to the public. Advance tickets are available now for $10 through Ticketmaster at www.keyclub.com or the Key Club box office; day-of admission at the door will be $20.

Grammy Award-winner Rodney Jerkins’s creative dexterity materializes in distinct but diverse musical triumphs. The pen behind take-charge smashes including Destiny Child’s “Say My Name,” Brandy & Monica’s duet “The Boy is Mine” and Beyoncé’s “Déjà Vu,” Jerkins has also produced work by contemporary superstars including Mary J. Blige, Whitney Houston, Michael Jackson, Britney Spears, Jennifer Lopez and Destiny’s Child. His unerring ear led to a vice president of a&r position with Island Def Jam, while Janet Jackson’s forthcoming project Discipline features his signature production.

American Idol alum Chris Daughtry has brazenly staked a record-breaking place in contemporary music, confidently fronting the aptly titled rock band Daughtry. The Grammy-nominated singer/songwriter signed with RCA and management powerhouse 19 Entertainment after his fan-propelled success on American Idol, and his band’s eponymous debut sold more than 1 million copies in only five weeks. The projectile success of the album, featuring songs “It’s Not Over,” “Home” and “Over You,” resulted in the fastest-selling debut in the history of SoundScan.

Rapper, actor, musician and activist, Mos Def’s sheer versatility places him amongst contemporary pop culture’s premier creators. Musically, his work includes blithe collaborations with legendary group De La Soul and artist Talib Kweli. Def’s partnership with Kweli, the duet album Black Star, resulted in underground frenzy and glowing critical praise. His subsequent solo album, Black on Both Sides, produced more of the same. Nominated for two Grammys, Def also boasts Golden Globe, Emmy and Source award nods.

Serial hitmaker Ben Moody first gained recognition as guitarist and co-founder of the Grammy Award-winning group Evanescence. His output during and after the band has further exposed an adroit singer/songwriter capable of powerful hooks and lush layers; songs including Evanescence’s “Bring Me To Life” and “My Immortal,” along with Kelly Clarkson’s “Because of You,” sprang from Moody’s id. Collaborations as a producer with Clarkson, Celine Dion, Bo Bice and Lindsey Lohan further emphasize his seemingly limitless versatility.

Super producer and innovative songwriter Polow Da Don’s quintessential hip factor springs from authentic skill. His innate musical savvy has finessed infectious hits including Fergie’s “Glamorous,” the Pussy Cat Dolls’ “Buttons,” Ciara’s “Promise” and Jamie Foxx’s “DJ Play a Love Song.” Fergie’s enthusiastic shout out, “Polow!” on her smash “London Bridge,” made Da Don’s fluid alias a pop culture catch phrase, adding household recognition to the power player’s growing reputation.

Singer/songwriter Anthony Hamilton’s blend of old-school soul and cool contemporary grit is artist’s art in the best sense of the phrase: Members of the neo-soul and poetic hip hop elite including D’Angelo, Tupac Shakur and Eve have looked to Hamilton for backup harmonies, while the North Carolina native’s critically-acclaimed solo work has landed on arguably avant-garde projects including the American Gangster film soundtrack. His 2007 effort, Southern Comfort, features eleven new songs all written by Hamilton.

Brian Howes' life in music did not come as a surprise with a great-great grandfather who was a baritone opera singer, a grandmother who was a songwriter, and a grandfather who played alto sax for swing band greats Benny Goodman and Louis Prima, his career choice was practically predetermined. As part of punk-ska-rap band DDT early on in his career, Brian toured with bands such as Public Enemy, Kid Rock, Alice Cooper, The Scorpion and DOA. Post DDT, he penned hits and earned placements in several movies all while maintaining number 1 and top 10 international hits. Brian then added production to is arsenal and has had success by writing and producing with Grammy-nominated Atlantic band Skillet amongst others. Brian’s recent success has included collaborations with Kara Dioguardi, Shelly Piken, Chad Kroeger, Hinder and Chris Daughtry of American Idol fame for his RCA Records Album.

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

Emerging as the next hot super-producer, Polow began racking up credits in 2004, working on tracks by Mya and Will Smith. In 2005 he produced “DJ Play a Love Song” by Jamie Foxx and that same year, Ludacris’ “Pimpin’ All Over the World.” But 2006 shaped up to be his breakout year: When Black Eyed Peas star Fergie shouted “Polow!” on her single “London Bridge,” Polow graduated from a “who?” to a “who’s who.” Polow’s beats are sometimes just as left-field as his nom de plume; innovative songs to his credit include Kelis’s loopy, alarm-based jam “Blindfold Me,” and Ciara’s ’80s-inspired smash ”Promise.”

Based in Atlanta, Polow attended Morehouse College for a spell but left in his freshman year to join the rap group Jim Crow, which inked a deal with Sony and released two albums under the label, 1999’s Crow’s Nest and Right Quick in 2001.

Polow actually found himself in a bit of music-geek controversy in late 2005, when Fergie’s song “Glamorous” lifted several elements from a remix of Gwen Stefani’s “Luxurious.” Polow produced both tracks, yet his remix was never officially released, and when Fergie’s track surfaced it seemed like she was really, really “borrowing” from Gwen. Polow nonetheless escaped the brouhaha unscathed and went on to create more hits, including “Throw Some D’s” by Rich Boy.

A bit of an enigma (his minimalist MySpace page reads, “Don’t need to meet anyone, everyone wants to meet me”), Polow has created his own label, Zone 4 Inc. While the behind-the-scenes track master might maintain anonymity for a little while longer, another year like this one will no doubt turn Polow into a household name.

R&B singer Chris Brown, neo-soul artist John Legend, "Crazy" duo Gnarls Barkley, Grammy-nominated singer/songwriter Ne-Yo and rapper Yung Joc came in with two nominations apiece, with Legend, Brown and Ne-Yo vying for the Best R&B/Soul Single trophy.

Gnarls Barkley, whose release St. Elsewhere is up for Best R&B/Soul Album, Group, Band or Duo, will compete against the Pussycat Dolls for Best R&B/Soul Single, Group, Band or Duo.

Harlem rappers Webstar & Young B hope to collect the Best R&B/Soul or Rap Dance Cut award with their breakout single, "Chicken Noodle Soup," while gospel giant Kirk Franklin's Songs from the Storm, Volume I looks to beat Youth for Christ's The Struggle is Over for Best Gospel Album.

BMI's 2007 Soul Train Music Award nominees:

Best R&B/Soul Single, Male
Avant
"4 Minutes"
Chris Brown
"Yo (Excuse Me Miss)"
John Legend
"Save Room"
Ne-Yo
"Sexy Love"

Best R&B/Soul Single, Group, Band or Duo
Gnarls Barkley
"Crazy"
The Pussycat Dolls featuring Avant
"Stickwitu"

Best R&B/Soul Album, Male
Chris Brown
Chris Brown
Jamie Foxx
Unpredictable
John Legend
Once Again

Best R&B/Soul Album, Group, Band or Duo
Gnarls Barkley
St. Elsewhere

Best R&B/Soul or Rap New Artist
Lupe Fiasco
"Gotcha"
Ne-Yo
"Sexy Love"
Rick Ross
"Hustlin'"
Yung Joc
"It's Goin' Down"

The Michael Jackson Award for Best R&B/Soul or Rap Music Video
Busta Rhymes Featuring will.i.am & Kelis
"I Love My Chick"
Jim Jones
"We Fly High"

Best R&B/Soul or Rap Dance Cut
Webstar & Young B featuring The Voice of Harlem
"Chicken Noodle Soup"
Yung Joc
"It's Goin' Down"

Best Gospel Album
Kirk Franklin
Songs from the Storm, Volume I
Youth for Christ
The Struggle is Over

Red Hot Chili Peppers	James Blunt	Chris Brown

Nods for the California-based foursome include Album of the Year and Best Rock Album for their Stadium Arcadium set, along with Best Rock Song and Best Rock Performance for the single "Dani California."

Corinne Bailey Rae	Carrie Underwood	Dixie Chicks

Also topping the BMI nominee list was James Blunt (PRS), who is up for five Grammys including Record and Song of the Year for his smash "You're Beautiful." The angel-voiced singer also hopes to add a Best New Artist Grammy to his growing list of awards and faces other BMI newcomers Chris Brown, Corinne Bailey Rae and Carrie Underwood.

will.i.am	John Williams	Gnarls Barkley

Israel Houghton	T.I.

Country trio the Dixie Chicks and Black Eyed Peas member will.i.am also took home five nominations each, with mentions in the Best Country Album and Producer of the Year categories, respectively. The in-demand producer's handful of potential Grammys includes two for himself and two with BEP, as well as one as part of the Jawbreaker production team that worked on Justin Timberlake's Album of Year entry, FutureSex/LoveSounds.

Gnarls Barkley, whose hit "Crazy" will battle for the coveted Record of the Year title, earned a total of four mentions, as did gospel giant Israel Houghton and Atlanta rapper T.I., who will vie for the Best Rap Song ("What You Know") and Best Rap Album (King) trophies. Celebrated film composer John Williams was also a four-time nominee and will compete against himself in both the movie score and instrumental composition categories.

Other big BMI names on the Grammy nominees list were Christina Aguilera, The Racontuers, Jamie Foxx, Calle 13, Jim McNeely, Death Cab for Cutie, Mos Def, Rascal Flatts, Donald Lawrence, Julieta Venegas (SGAE), Harry Gregson-Williams and Rosanne Cash.

Click here for a complete list of BMI Grammy nominees.

Black Eyed Peas	Toby Keith	Rascal Flatts

BMI songwriter/artists swept the country category, winning all four AMAs including a Favorite Male Artist title for Toby Keith and the Favorite Band, Duo or Group win for Rascal Flatts.

Red Hot Chili Peppers	Shakira	Carrie Underwood

Other big winners at the ceremony -- handed out by surprise presenter Britney Spears -- included the Red Hot Chili Peppers, who were named Favorite Alternative Artist in the adult contemporary category and Favorite Band in the pop/rock category.

Newly crowned Latin Grammy queen Shakira was named Favorite Latin Artist and American Idol alumna Carrie Underwood took home the coveted Breakthrough Artist trophy.

BMI's 2006 American Music Awards winners:

POP/ROCK
Band, Duo or Group
Red Hot Chili Peppers

Album
Nickelback
All the Right Reasons

COUNTRY
Male Artist
Toby Keith

Female Artist
Faith Hill

Band, Duo or Group
Rascal Flatts

Album
Tim McGraw
Greatest Hits Volume 2

SOUL/RHYTHM AND BLUES
Male Artist
Jamie Foxx

Band, Duo or Group
The Black Eyed Peas

RAP/HIP-HOP
Male Artist
Eminem

Band, Duo or Group
The Black Eyed Peas

Album
The Black Eyed Peas
Monkey Business

ALTERNATIVE
Artist
Red Hot Chili Peppers

LATIN
Artist
Shakira

CONTEMPORARY INSPIRATIONAL
Artist
Kirk Franklin

BREAKTHROUGH ARTIST
New Artist
Carrie Underwood]]> 2006-11-22T03:00:00-05:00 http://www.bmi.com/musicworld/entry/335015 Artists, Foxx, Jamie, Lil Jon, Mr. Collipark, Ying Yang Twins, Musical Styles, Urban, Musicworld, Hitmaker Mr. Collipark is one of the most promising young entrepreneurs to have emerged out of the hip-hop industry. He’s not only a multi-platinum producer for artists such as the Ying Yang Twins, Mike Jones and Jamie Foxx, but he’s also a successful solo artist.

Michael Crooms, Collipark’s real name, moved to Atlanta at the age of five and grew up to become one of the most popular DJs in that city, using the pseudonym DJ Smurf.

When Collipark began producing, it was during a time when a type of hip-hop known as “Miami bass” was popular.

However Mr. Collipark, who was now going by yet another pseudonym, Beat-in-Azz, began noticing the popularity of another type of hip-hop sound growing rapidly in the South. Changing his name once again to the more professional sounding Mr. Collipark, he and rapper Lil Jon began to shape this new genre known as “crunk.”
The hit-making producer penned the now infamous “to the windows, to the walls” lyrics from Lil Jon’s smash hit “Get Low,” as well as “Whistle While You Twurk” and “The Whisper Song,” both by the Ying Yang Twins. This forged a Ying Yang/Collipark collaboration that has become a strong force in hip-hop culture.

The trance-like beats Collipark is known for, coupled with the talented artists he works with, has become a formula for making successful tracks. His firm stance against making music that sounds like everyone else’s and his belief in taking creative risks is what really pays off, ensuring Mr. Collipark’s long-term success.]]> 2006-10-15T18:00:00-05:00 http://www.bmi.com/news/entry/334981 Busta Rhymes, Carey, Mariah, Foxx, Jamie, Jeezy, Young, West, Kanye, Urban Urban Songwriter of the Year Mariah Carey was the big winner at the 2006 Billboard R&B/Hip-Hop Awards, held recently in Atlanta. Carey's five wins included R&B/Hip-Hop Artist in both the overall and female categories, as well as Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs Artist, Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums Artist and Top R&B/Hip-Hop Album for her multi-platinum set, The Emancipation of Mimi.

Mariah Carey	Kanye West

2006 BMI Urban Producer of the Year Kanye West took home Top Rap Album for Late Registration and also won Hot Rap Track for "Gold Digger" featuring Jamie Foxx. Foxx himself took home Top R&B/Hip-Hop Artist in the male category, while Young Jeezy won the same award as a new artist.

Jamie Foxx	Young Jeezy

Rap pioneers Public Enemy received the 2006 Hip-Hop Founders Award in recognition of their long-standing influence on hip-hop.

The awards ceremony took place during the 7th Annual Billboard R&B/Hip-Hop Conference, the premiere event for the industry's who's who to network, share knowledge and discover new talent.

BMI's 2006 Billboard R&B/Hip-Hop Award recipients:

Top R&B/Hip-Hop Album
Mariah Carey
The Emancipation of Mimi

Top R&B/Hip-Hop Artist
Mariah Carey

Top R&B/Hip-Hop Artist - Male
Jamie Foxx

Top R&B/Hip-Hop Artist - Female
Mariah Carey

Top R&B/Hip-Hop Artist - New
Young Jeezy

Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs Artist
Mariah Carey

Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Albums Artist
Mariah Carey

Top Rap Album
Kanye West
Late Registration

Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs Sales
Busta Rhymes -- featured artist
"Don't Cha"

Hot Rap Track
Kanye West featuring Jamie Foxx
"Gold Digger"
]]> 2006-09-13T05:00:00-05:00