Shown are (l-r): (Seated) Kylie Sackley, Tina Shafer (creator/owner of Songwriter’s Circle), Jeff Cohen, John Oates. (Standing) Rickie Trudeau, Shai Navon (Songwriter’s Circle), guest , Hugh Prestwood, and BMI’s Charlie Feldman.

Oates, one-half of the chart-topping pop duo Daryl Hall & John Oates, performed hook-laden new songs, showcasing his songwriting prowess; Sackley, scribe of Top Five singles for Leann Rimes (“Nothin’ ‘Bout Love Makes Sense”) and Faith Hill (“Sunshine and Summertime”), wowed the audience with her sentimental tunes and Australian flare; Cohen, creator of radio and television hits heard on Dawson’s Creek and Party of Five, delivered a witty performance stacked with anecdotes; and Prestwood, a Nashville Songwriters Hall of Famer, performed a rousing interpretation of “Ghost In This House,” a song he penned for Shenandoah.

Shown performing are (l-r): Kylie Sackley, Hugh Prestwood, Jeff Cohen, and John Oates.

For 18 years, The New York Songwriters Circle has been the premiere spot in NYC to feature the best up-and-coming as well as many legendary songwriters in an intimate and cozy atmosphere.

The showcase will also feature Kylie Sackley, Jeff Cohen, and Hugh Prestwood.

Cost: $15.00

A founding sponsor, BMI has helped the festival evolve into a highly anticipated destination for Nashville hit makers. The event’s emphasis on the songs and camaraderie of minds that create them has attracted a diverse collection of new participants each year. First-time attendees this year include hit songwriters Keith Follese, Marty Dodson and Bobby Pinson, auspicious singer/songwriters Luke Laird, Jimmy Stewart and Brandon Jane, up-and-comers Courtney Dashe and Jennifer Stegall, and alt-country heroines Suzi Ragsdale and Kate York.

The list of BMI artists and songwriters slated to attend this year features a jaw-dropping array of talent. Performers include Hugh Prestwood, Keith Stegall, Jamey Johnson, Scotty Emerick, Vicky McGehee, Wendell Mobley, Bart Allmand, Randy Houser, Wayd Battle, Chuck Cannon, Kent Blazy, Lee Brice, Morgane Hayes, D. Vincent Williams, Kylie Sackley, Phillip White, Amber White, Arlis Albritton, Billy Joe Walker, Jr. , Sherrié Austin, Christi Bauerlee, Christina Bell, Kris Bergsnes, Craig Boyd, Richie Brown, John Stone, Deanna Bryant, Lisa Carver, Stephanie Chapman, James Slater, Cliff Cody, Doug Colton, Dallas Davidson, Brian Davis, Fred Wilhelm, Dillon Dixon, Rob Hatch, Pete Sallis, James Dean Hicks, Aleysha Hoffman, Natalie Howard, Kyle Jacobs, Tim James, Ken Johnson, Chuck Jones, David Lee, Levi Simms, Cole Lee, Lauren Lucas, John Mabe, Will Rambeaux, Jason Matthews, Lila McCann, Chas Sandford, Jim McCormick, Jimmy Melton, Sally Mudd, Danny Myrick, Anna Owens, Melissa Pierce, Leslie Satcher, Jen Schott, Elisa Vazzana, Bruce Wallace, Emily West, Melinda Williams, Blake Wise and trio Rhiannon.

For the complete festival schedule, ticket information, performer profiles and line-up, please visit www.kwswf.com or call 305.296.4222.

BMI Performer Schedule at 2007 Key West Songwriters’ Festival

Wednesday, May 2, 2007

6-8pm - Kick-Off show @ The Top (La Concha Hotel on Duval)
7-7:45pm - James Slater

8pm -  Rum Barrel
8pm -  Randy Houser, Brian Davis & Jon Stone
9:30pm - Southland

10pm -  Conch Republic
10pm -  Jamey Johnson, Bobby Pinson & David Lee
10:45pm -  Scotty Emerick
11:30pm -  D. Vincent Williams & Chuck Jones

10pm-2am -  Hog/BMI Stage
The Massacoustics

Thursday, May 3, 2007

1-8pm - Hog/BMI Stage
1-3pm - Cliff Cody & Arlis Albritton
3-4pm - Christina Bell & Mike Loudermilk
4-5pm - Natalie Howard & Katy Kiefer
5-6pm - Sally Mudd & Christi Bauerlee
6-8pm - Pete Sallis & Jim McCormick

4pm - Blue Heaven
4pm - Phillip & Amber White, Cory Heydon, Suzi Ragsdale
4:45pm - Lauren Lucas, Stephanie Chapm - an, Kate York, Misty Loggins
5:30pm - Leslie Satcher, Kent Blazy, Jason Matthews, Courtney Dashe

8pm - Pier House Beach Show hosted by Scott Kirby
8pm - Lila McCann, Jen Schott, Melissa Pierce, Lisa Carver
8:45pm - Keith Stegall & Jen Stegall
9:15pm - Kylie Sackley & Lee Brice
10pm -  Brandon Jane, Luke Laird, Sherrié Austin, Jimmy Stewart

10pm -  Cowboy Bill’s
10pm -  Jon Mabe, Billy Joe Walker, Jr., Anna Owens, Blake Wise
11pm -  Tim James, Fred Wilhelm, Bruce Wallace & Jimmy Melton
12am Wayd Battle, Ritchie Brown, Dallas Davidson, Chas Sandford

10pm-2am - Hog/BMI Stage
The Massacoustics

Friday, May 4, 2007

1-8pm - Hog/BMI Stage
1-2pm - Southland
2-3pm - Ken Johnson & Ben Margulies
3-4pm - Rhiannon
4-5pm - Doug Colton & Aleysha Hoffman
5-6pm - Jon Mabe & Friends
6-7pm - Pat McLaughlin
7-8pm - Fred Wilhelm & Friends

4pm - Sloppy Joes
4pm - Willie Mack, Tim James, Deanna Bryant, Sherrié Austin
5pm - Kyle Jacobs, Blake Wise, Bart Allmand, Danny Myrick

5:30pm - Green Parrot “Sound Check”
5:30-6:45pm -    Southland

6pm - Fury Sunset Sail
Lee Brice & Kylie Sackley

6pm - Piano Show @ Doubletree
6pm -   Christina Bell & Mike Loudermilk
6:30pm - Chris Tompkins
7pm - James Slater & Dallas Davidson

8pm - Hog’s Breath Upstairs Writers Room
8pm - James Dean Hicks
8:30pm - Hugh Prestwood & Don Schlitz
9:15pm - Scotty Emerick
10pm -  Brett James, Hillary Lindsey & Luke Laird

8pm - Tropic Cinema
8pm - Dave Berg, Walt Aldridge, Wendell Mobley & Marty Dodson
9pm - Phillip & Amber White
9:45pm - Chuck Cannon & Chuck Jones

10pm -  Green Parrot
Dillon Dixon, James Dean Hicks & D. Vincent Williams

10pm - -2am Hog/BMI Stage
The Massacoustics

Saturday, May 5, 2007

1-5pm - Hog/BMI Stage
1-3pm - Pete Sallis & Jim McCormick
3-4pm - Jason Matthews
4-5pm - Kent Blazy

1pm - Southernmost Cinco De Mayo Pool Party
1-2pm - Rob Hatch, Cliff Cody, Dillon Dixon
2-3pm - Randy Houser, Brian Davis, Jon Stone

5pm - Cinco De Mayo Bash at Hog’s Breath

6pm - Fury Sunset Sail
Dillon Dixon & James Dean Hicks

8pm - Hog’s Breath Upstairs Writers Room
8pm - Bobby Pinson & Leslie Satcher
8:45pm - D. Vincent Williams & Wendell Mobley
9:30pm - Chuck Cannon & Chuck Jones

8pm - Tropic Cinema
8pm - Courtney Dashe, Misty Loggins, Kyle Jacobs & Jen Schott
9pm - Byron Hill, Hugh Prestwood, Pat McLaughlin, Keith Follese
10pm - Scotty Emerick

10pm - Buck’s Bottle Cap
10pm - Natalie Howard, Chas Sandford & David Lee
10:45pm - Phillip & Amber White
11:15pm - Jamey Johnson, Jon Stone, Wayd Battle

10pm - 2am Hog/BMI Stage
The Massacoustics

Sunday, May 6, 2007

1-5pm - Hog/BMI Stage
1-2pm - Christina Bell & Mike Loudermilk
2-3pm - Deanna Bryant
3-4pm - Suzi Ragsdale
4-5pm - Kate York

6pm - Sunset Show @ Westin
Christina Bell, Mike Loudermilk,  Natalie Howard, Katy Kiefer,  Billy Joe Walker, Jr., Anna Owens, Jon  Mabe, Chuck Jones, Chuck Cannon, Lisa Carver and many more.

New Hall of Famers and BMI songwriters Hugh Prestwood and Jimmy Buffett (center) celebrate their induction with Nashville Songwriters Foundation Chairman and Hall of Fame songwriter Roger Murrah, and BMI's Jody Williams, Del Bryant and Phil Graham.

Buffett's ascension from Nashville hopeful to beloved cultural phenomenon is well-known. Staples like "Margaritaville," "Son of a Son of a Sailor" and "Come Monday" skim the surface of not simply an extensive song catalog, but a way of life. This marks Jimmy Buffett's first induction into a hall of fame of any kind, but most certainly not the last.

Posing for a BMI family portrait are (l-r): songwriter and publisher Roger Murrah, Big & Rich's Big Kenny, hit songwriter and NSAI Board of Directors President Steve Bogard, BMI's Del Bryant, BMI hit songwriter Gary Hannan, NSAI Executive Director Bart Herbison, Hall of Fame inductee Jimmy Buffett, BMI's Phil Graham, hit songwriters Tammi Kidd and George Teren, Hall of Fame inductee Hugh Prestwood, singer Michael Johnson, BMI's Jody Williams, and American Idol finalist George Huff.

Elder statesman Hugh Prestwood's contributions include nuggets like Randy Travis' "Hard Rock Bottom of Your Heart," Trisha Yearwood's "The Song Remembers When" and Shenandoah's "Ghost In This House." Prestwood's soliloquies mine the depths of human experience to heartbreaking perfection.

The NSAI also named BMI's Jeffrey Steele 2006's Songwriter of the Year. The unstoppable Steele, also dubbed Music Row's 2006 Songwriter of the Year, composes hits at a mind-numbing pace; Rascal Flatts' "What Hurts the Most" and Steve Holy's "Brand New Girlfriend" are his most recent chart-toppers.

Country superstar Toby Keith was named 2006 Songwriter/Artist of the Year, adding another songwriting honor to his impressive collection. "As Good As I Once Was," "Honky Tonk U" and "A Little Too Late" number among the latest hits written or co-written by Keith.

Songwriters also voted on their peers' Top Ten contributions to country music in the "10 Songs I Wish I'd Written" category. BMI winners were well-represented, thanks to "Believe," co-written by Ronnie Dunn, "Probably Wouldn't Be This Way," co-written by Tammi Kidd, Joe South's classic "Rose Garden," "Skin (Sarabeth)" co-written by Doug Johnson, John Wiggins' and Gary Hannan's "Tequila Makes Her Clothes Fall Off," "What Hurts the Most" co-written by Jeffrey Steele, and "When I Get Where I'm Going," co-written by George Teren.

The NSAI's 2006 President's Award was posthumously bestowed on SunTrust's Brian Williams, Music Row friend and new breed of banker, for his unrelenting dedication to and fostering of Nashville's songwriting community.

Photos: Krista Lee for Krista Lee Photography]]> 2006-10-26T05:00:00-05:00 http://www.bmi.com/news/entry/334951 Artists, Alexander, Arthur, Buffett, Jimmy, Cale, J.J., Henley, Larry, Hiatt, John, James, Mark, Prestwood, Hugh, Schuyler, Thom, Sherrill, John Scott, White, Tony Joe, Musical Styles, Country Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame - 10 of the 15 call BMI home. The nods honor elite members of the songwriting community whose contributions to popular music span genres and decades.

Pictured at the news conference announcing the NSHOF nominees are BMI songwriters Thom Schuyler, John Scott Sherrill, Nashville Songwriters Foundation Chairman Roger Murrah, BMI songwriter Tony Joe White, Nashville Mayor Bill Purcell and BMI songwriter Hugh Prestwood. Photo by Krista Lee for Krista Lee Photography

BMI affiliates nominated for induction in the songwriter category are Larry Henley ("The Wind Beneath My Wings," "Lizzie and the Rainman"), Mark James ("Always On My Mind," "Suspicious Minds"), Hugh Prestwood ("Hard Rock Bottom of Your Heart," "Ghost In This House"), Thom Schuyler ("Love Will Turn You Around," "I Fell In Love Again Last Night") and John Scott Sherrill ("Some Fools Never Learn," "How Long Gone.")

BMI writers constitute the entire list of the nominees in the songwriter/artist division. Arthur Alexander ("Anna [Go To Him]," "Every Day I Have to Cry"), Jimmy Buffett ("Come Monday," "Margaritaville"), J.J. Cale ("After Midnight," "Cocaine"), John Hiatt ("Have A Little Faith In Me," "She Don't Love Nobody"), and Tony Joe White ("Rainy Night In Georgia," "I've Got A Thing About You Baby") received recognition for their work.

The unveiling of inductees will take place at the 37th annual Nashville Songwriters Association International/Nashville Songwriters Foundation Awards ceremony on Sunday, Oct. 22 at the Renaissance Nashville Hotel.]]> 2006-08-17T18:00:00-05:00 http://www.bmi.com/news/entry/334823 Artists, Collins, Jim, Davis, Patrick, Hicks, James Dean, Hutchings, Melinda, James, Brett, Jones, Chuck, McGehee, Vicki, Mobley, Wendell, Myers, Frank, Nichols, Tim, Otto, James, Prestwood, Hugh, Sackley, Kylie, Steele, Jeffrey, Williams, D. Vincent 11th annual Key West Songwriter Festival exceeded expectations and cemented its status May 3-7 as a must-attend event for Nashville songwriters. Sixty BMI songwriters and artists performed and mingled during a week's worth of intimate performances and group activities. Hit songwriter Wendell Mobley took advantage of the week's ample pleasures and views the festival as therapy: "The new AA... Advil and Aloe Vera," Mobley joked.

The group arrives in Key West. Pictured are: Front row (l to r): Wendell Mobley, Kylie Sackley, Virginia Davis, Jenn Schott, Melissa Pierce, Frank Myers, Vickie McGehee, Amber White, BMI's Bradley Collins, Cliff Cody; Back row (l to r): BMI's Mark Mason, Philip White, Fred Wilhelm, James Dean Hicks, Natalie Howard, Patrick Davis, Lee Brice, Brian Davis, BMI's Charlie Feldman and Eddy Raven. (Photo by Alan Mayor)

The festival also saw its first wedding this year, as songwriters D. Vincent Williams and Melinda Hutchings tied the knot while friends and peers looked on and wished them well.

The Key West Songwriter Festival is the brain child of Hog's Breath Saloon general manager Charlie Baur, and has grown from a weekend's worth of shows for the locals into a week-long extravaganza featuring many of the hottest writers in the country. BMI's inaugural role began in the festival's infancy and has ripened into that of devoted supporter and sponsor. The number of BMI affiliates in attendance continues to grow each year as coveted slots multiply through the addition of nearby venues. "This has become a vital event for Music Row," BMI's Mark Mason reflected. "Really, it has the feel and significance of a SXSW for songwriters."

Hog's Breath Saloon's recently opened listening room hosted various combinations of songwriters throughout the festival. Pictured are: (l to r): Jim Collins and Wendell Mobley. (Photo by Alan Mayor)

Songwriting elder statesman Hugh Prestwood attended the Key West festivities for the first time this year. "This was my first time at the festival. It was one of the most delightful experiences of my musical life -- a whirlwind immersion in a tropical Oz populated with amazing, hard-partying songwriters," he mused. "I came away inspired, rejuvenated and a bit hung-over. If good fortune allows, I am determined to be there every year."

Songwriting luminary Hugh Prestwood wowed fellow songwriters and audiences alike. (Photo by Alan Mayor)

One is hard-pressed to find views that rival Key West's panorama. (Photo by Alan Mayor)

Following their In-The-Round performance at the Key West Tropic Theatre are Tim Nichols, Marc Beeson, Craig Wiseman, Kendall Marvel, Jeffrey Steele and BMI's Shelby Kennedy. (Photo by Alan Mayor)

A cruise ship docks in Key West. (Photo by Alan Mayor)

BMI writers Melinda Hutchings and D.Vincent Williams tie the knot poolside at the Mango Tree Inn in Key West.

Festival organizers were presented with hand-painted mini ukuleles from their appreciative friends at BMI. Pictured are (l to r): BMI's Mark Mason, Hog's Breath owner and festival chairman Charlie Bauer, Mango Tree Inn owners Peggy and Johnny Newberry, "We've Got the Keys" event manager Nadene Grossman.

BMI's Mary Loving and writer Vickie McGehee grab some shade at the Cinco de Mayo pool party, which featured acoustic performances by Detox & the Redneck Rock Stars, Brian Davis and James Otto. (Photo by Alan Mayor)

Some of the guys hang out during some down time. Pictured are (l to r): BMI's Mark Mason and songwriters Brett James, D. Vincent Williams, Chuck Jones and Jeffrey Steele. (Photo by Alan Mayor)

Jeffrey Steele	Scotty Emerick	Tim Nichols

Each spring, top Music City tunesmiths, emerging talent and country fans from all over the globe gather to enjoy the event's intimate performance settings and soak up the sun. Shows offer listeners a unique glimpse into the stories behind hit songs and the minds that create them, thrusting the often unsung heroes of the hits into a well-deserved spotlight. Numerous neighborhood venues, all within walking distance of the Hog’s Breath, host performances daily. Easy bike rides and casual strolls to and from shows integrate participants warmly into the community.

Jedd Hughes	Vicki McGehee

The eleventh year of the festival boasts yet another stellar line-up. Nearly 50 BMI songwriters are scheduled to perform, featuring today's hit songs and over two decades' worth of favorites. "The people in Key West are what make this festival special," says BMI's Mark Mason. "The entire community adopted the event, and it has catapulted from under the radar to one of the most highly anticipated annual festivals. Tons of hit songs have actually been written in Key West-it's a hotbed for creativity. Our writers simply love to attend."

BMI songwriters and artists scheduled to perform this year include Eddy Raven, Cliff Cody, Chuck Cannon, Jeffrey Steele, James Dean Hicks, Vicky McGehee, Wendell Mobley, Hugh Prestwood, Andi Zack, Kris Bergsnes, Phillip White, D. Vincent Williams, Randy Houser, Robert Lee Castleman, Jim Collins, Tim Nichols, Frank Myers, Keith Stegall, Cory Morrow, Scotty Emerick, Max T. Barnes, Arliss Albritton, Wayd Battle, Dallas Davidson, Brian Davis, Rob Hatch, Chuck Jones, Tammi Kidd, Scott Kirby, David Lee, Jim McCormick, Steve McEwan, Jon McElroy, Shane Minor, Jerrod Niemann, James Slater, D. Tox, Billy Joe Walker Jr., Chad Warrix, Fred Wilhelm, Patrick Davis, Jenn Schott, Lee Brice, Dillon Dixon, Kylie Sackley, Amber White, Jason Michael Carroll, Jedd Hughes and Kendell Marvel.

Tickets are on sale for the Friday and Saturday night concerts in the Hog's Breath Writers Room. Advance tickets are $25.00 per person, per night; prices rise to $30.00 per person each night at the door. Please call 305.296.4222, Monday through Friday between 10:00am and 3:00pm to purchase tickets in advance. An official $5.00 Festival Pass entitles participants to discounts on Budweiser and Bacardi brand beverages and more throughout the week.

For the complete festival schedule, ticket information, performer profiles and line-up, please visit www.kwswf.com or call 305.296.4222.

Hit songs written by BMI songwriters performing at the 11th Annual Key West Songwriters' Festival:

Chuck Cannon
"Dreamwalkin'"
"How Do You Like Me Now"

Jeffrey Steele
"The Cowboy in Me"
"Hell Yeah"

Scotty Emerick
"Beer
for My Horses"
"As Good As I Once Was"

James Dean Hicks
"National Working Woman's Holiday"
"Goodbye Time"

Vicki McGehee
"When I Think About Cheatin'"
"All Jacked Up"

Wendell Mobley
"Fast Cars and
Freedom"
"How Forever Feels"

Hugh Prestwood
"Hard Rock Bottom of Your Heart"
"Ghost in This House"

Robert Lee Castleman
"The Lucky One"
"Restless"

Jim Collins
"The Good Stuff"
"She Thinks My Tractor's Sexy"

Tim Nichols
"Live Like You Were Dying"
"I'll Think of a Reason Later"

Frank Myers
"I'm Already There"
"My Front Porch Looking In"

Keith Stegall
"Dallas"
"I Hate Everything"

Hugh Prestwood, Jeffrey Steele, Dennis Morgan

In addition to the Hall of Fame inductions, the Nashville Songwriters Association International (NSAI) conferred a series of Songwriter Achievement Awards, with the top prizes won by BMI affiliates. BMI Award-winning writer Jeffrey Steele earned his second NSAI Songwriter of the Year title, honored this year for his compositions "Gone," recorded by Montgomery Gentry, and "Help Somebody," recorded by Van Zant. NSAI's Song of the Year honors went to "Bless the Broken Road," written by Bobby Boyd, Jeff Hanna and Marcus Hummon. The song, previously recorded by Hummon, was a recent hit for Rascal Flatts.

Del Bryant, Patty Loveless

Longtime friend and fellow Hall of Famer Rodney Crowell gave a poignant introduction speech for Vince Gill, followed by a stunning performance of "Whenever You Come Around" by Gill's wife, Amy Grant. Patty Loveless brought the house down with her rendering of Gill's "Go Rest High on That Mountain," backed by John Hobbs and Al Anderson, who also paid tribute to Gill by treating the audience to a sampling of his other signature songs, including "When I Call Your Name," "Never Knew Lonely," "Pocket Full of Gold," "Don't Let Our Love Start Slipping Away," "I Still Believe in You," "Look at Us," "Whenever You Come Around," and "Which Bridge To Cross (Which Bridge To Burn)."

NSAI's Mark Alan Springer, Phillip White, Roger Murrah, Jeff Hanna, Bobby Boyd, Vince Gill, Jeffrey Steele, Del Bryant, James Dean Hicks

Blake Shelton and BMI's Thomas Cain saluted Murrah, whose hits include "Goodbye Time," "Don't Rock the Jukebox," "High Cotton," "I'm in a Hurry (and Don't Know Why)," "We're in This Love Together," "Ozark Mountain Jubilee," "It Takes a Little Rain (To Make Love Grow)," "Life's Highway," "It's a Little Too Late" and "National Working Woman's Holiday." Murrah's induction speech was provided by Hall of Fame member Bobby Braddock.

Billy Montana, Del Bryant	Jeffrey Steele

Steve Wariner joined Jeffrey Steele, Reed band member Mark Thornton and guitarist John Knowles to celebrate Reed, whose classics include "East Bound and Down," "Amos Moses," "When You're Hot, You're Hot," "A Thing Called Love," "Guitar Man," "The Claw," "Crazy Legs," "Misery Loves Company," "Talk About the Good Times" and "Tupelo Mississippi Flash." Longtime friend Bobby Bare provided the induction speech.

Besides honoring the Song, Songwriter and Songwriter/Artist of the Year, the writers of NSAI's Professional Songwriters Division also singled out 13 songs and their writers for its 2005 Achievement Awards (informally dubbed "The Songs I Wish I'd Written").

BMI recipients were Bobby Boyd, Jeff Hanna and Marcus Hummon for "Bless The Broken Road," Bart Butler and Bobby Pinson for "Don't Ask Me How I Know," James Dean Hicks and Roger Murrah for "Goodbye Time," Phillip White for "He Gets That from Me," Hank Williams, Sr. for "Hey, Good Lookin'," Joe Diffie, Tony Martin and Tom Shapiro for "My Give a Damn's Busted," Billy Montana for "Suds in the Bucket," Ed Hill, Karyn Rochelle for "Georgia Rain" and Paul Overstreet for "Some Beach." "Bless The Broken Road" was the top choice of the NSAI Pro writers.]]> 2005-10-17T05:00:00-05:00 http://www.bmi.com/news/entry/234015 Artists, Austin, Dallas, Lauper, Cyndi, Lilly, Harold, Myers, Frank, Prestwood, Hugh, Walker, Butch, Musical Styles, Country, Dance, Pop, Rock, Musicworld, Feature The 2004 Kauai Music Festival, co-sponsored by BMI, is a four-day celebration of the art of songwriting being held at the Hyatt Regency Kauai May 26-29. The Festival will provide an opportunity for aspiring songwriters to learn and improve their craft under the tutelage of some of the best songwriters in the world. This multi-faceted event features seminar-style instruction for small groups in a variety of settings on the island of Kauai to promote the creative spirit. In addition to the seminars, the Festival will feature lectures and panel discussions by music publishers, music attorneys, producers, and other industry professionals. Attendance for the workshops is limited to 200 people.

BMI has received commitments from some of its top songwriters and other music professionals that will make up the majority of the songwriting staff, including Cyndi Lauper, Dallas Austin, Harold Lilly, Butch Walker, Hugh Prestwood, Frank Myers, Russ Titelman, David Tickle, Shelley Peiken, Adam Gorgoni, Keith Olsen, Mark Levinsohn and Suzan Koc.

Instruction will be relevant to all genres of music from rock to urban to country to pop to Hawaiian. Each night will provide opportunities for students to perform their own music via open mike sessions. Nightly "guitar pulls" will also be staged where students can join in with the professional staff in playing music and creating new songs. Throughout the four-day event, selected students will be invited to make demo recordings with the assistance of the professional staff. Students who are not making the demo recordings will be invited to attend the sessions as an educational experience.

KMF Songwriting Competition
The Kauai Music Festival will also feature the KMF Songwriting Competition. Each attendee is allowed to submit one song. The finalists will perform in the songwriting competition concert on the second night of the Festival. The top five winners will receive prizes donated by Festival sponsors. The first place winner will receive a guaranteed spot in a BMI showcase in New York City, Los Angeles, or another BMI location. Other prizes include free memberships to TAXI, premium Tannoy speakers, and other home studio equipment. Additional prizes will be announced soon.]]> 2004-03-30T17:00:00-05:00 http://www.bmi.com/news/entry/233743 Artists, Cohen, Jeff, DioGuardi, Kara, Dozier, Lamont, Harris, Jesse, Cruz, John, Loeb, Lisa, Myers, Frank, Prestwood, Hugh, Zizzo, Peter, Musical Styles, Dance

Jeff Cohen, Hugh Prestwood, BMI's Charlie Feldman, Jesse Harris, Lisa Loeb, Lamont Dozier, BMI's J.W. Johnson, Peter Zizzo, Rich McSheehy (President of the Kauai Music Fest), (kneeling) Dweezil Zappa, and Russ Titelman

Some of BMI's hottest songwriters attended this unique event, including Lamont Dozier, Hugh Prestwood, Frank Myers, Lisa Loeb, Jesse Harris, Jeff Cohen, Kara DioGuardi, John Cruz and Peter Zizzo. Others in attendance included producers Russ Titelman, David Tickle, Dweezil Zappa, attorney Nick Ferrara, and Stephen Finfer of TVT Music Publishing. Dates for next years event will be announced soon.

Stephen Finfer, Russ Titelman, and Lamont Dozier

Peter Zizzo, Kara DioGuardi

Kara DioGuardi, and Jeff Cohen

Dweezil Zappa, Stephen Finfer, and Lisa Loeb

Kara DioGuardi, Lamont Dozier

BMI's Charlie Feldman, Kara DioGuardi, and Russ Titelman

]]> 2003-06-16T18:00:00-05:00