Recent News
The New Regional Mexican Music: Authentic, Modern and Here to Stay

Mexico definitely boasts a rich musical landscape, with a never-ending array of genres ranging from rock to rap, rancheras to cumbia pop, ska and more. Recently, however, the regional music of Mexico has enjoyed a significant surge in popularity via names like Larry Hernandez, Espinoza Paz, Los Pikadientes de Caborca, La Nueva Rebelión, La Arrolladora Banda El Limón, Roberto Tapia, and…
Taylor Swift Wins Entertainer of the Year and More at 2009 CMA Awards

The night after she took home her second consecutive BMI Song of the Year crystal, Taylor Swift swept the 43rd Annual CMA Awards, winning Entertainer, Female Vocalist, Album and Video of the Year honors. The youngest performer to ever earn the Entertainer of the Year crown, Swift is also the first female to capture the coveted prize since Shania Twain in 1999. The Album…
Latin Grammy Nominees Dazzle at BMI Co-Hosted Latin Grammy Pre-Party

Luz Rios, Espinoza Paz, Jorge Villamizar, Jimena Angel, Darey Castro of Dareyes de la Sierra, Cucu Diamantes and Special Guest Alex Cuba Perform BMI, House of Blues, Recording Academy Los Angeles, NocheLatina.com and SunTrust Bank played host to an evening of rich Latin sounds on Wednesday, November 4 at House of Blues…
Kris Kristofferson, Taylor Swift, Bobby Pinson, and More Honored at 2009 BMI Country Awards

The 57th Annual BMI Country Awards celebrated the genre’s top hit-makers tonight in Nashville. In addition to toasting the writers and publishers of the past year’s 50 most-performed country songs from the BMI repertoire, the ceremony honored Kris Kristofferson as a BMI Icon; named Taylor Swift’s “Love Story” Song of the Year, Bobby Pinson Songwriter of the Year, and Sony/ATV Music Publishing Publisher of…
BMI Launches Indie Music Page

BMI represents scores of the world’s top-flight independent singers and songwriters. Now, BMI is proud to extend that representation to an online home for all things indie. From photos capturing industry showcases and sold-out gigs, band profiles and links to the indie community’s blogosphere, to event listings, featured albums, and a monthly spotlight highlighting a business innovator, BMI's Indie Music page will constantly monitor the rapidly changing and always…
Indie Spotlight: Sam Stewart

Taking a sabbatical from his London-based band Blondelle, Samuel Stewart moved to Los Angeles to re-imagine himself as an artist and quickly began writing and recording his own songs. On stage, this studio recluse explodes into a state of unabashed child-like enthusiasm, yet his lyrics explore mature subject matter that betray the years on his passport. Stewart’s music is marked by lush arrangements, deeply personal lyrics, and…
Indie Spotlight: Rumspringa

Rumspringa (n): an Amish rite of passage; the practice of releasing teenagers to explore the outside world, its sins and pleasures. A half-century ago, baby boomer teenagers wiggled from their parents’ grips to gyrate naughtily to the sonic rebellion that was captivating America—a thrilling, liberating sound that would eventually be tagged Rock n’ Roll. It is with this spirit that Los Angeles-based Joey Stevens and Itaru de…
Indie Spotlight: Mike Del Rio

Michael Francis Del Rio is a 22-year-old singer/songwriter and multi-instrumentalist from New York City. His self-produced independent 2007 release, “Blooming Under Pressure,” an eclectic take on pop-rock, generated critical acclaim from outlets including Billboard magazine, who hailed Del Rio as one of the Top Unsigned talents in the industry as part of the Billboard Underground Series. With numerous sold-out shows under his belt and a full band…
Indie Spotlight: Intricate Machines

With their experimental approach to indie-pop music, Intricate Machines have excited the ears of music industry pros and audiences alike. Bringing together the worlds of indie-rock, electronic music, and hip-hop, the band has created a sound all their own and carved out a place in the L.A. music scene. Intricate Machines are currently in the studio finishing their first full length album, slated to come out in…
Indie Spotlight: Imagine Dragons

Since the band’s earliest configuration in late 2008, Las Vegas’s Imagine Dragons has managed to win back-to-back battles of the bands, open for multiplatinum recording artists in front of 10,000+ crowds, and earn the respect of dedicated fans across the country. Fusing synth-laden Arcade Fire-style rock with the pop sensibilities of Coldplay, the band offers a live show worthy of their hometown, prompting the…
Indie Spotlight: DJ Skeet Skeet

A country kid from Iowa, DJ Skeet Skeet rolled into LA known simply as Trevor McFedries. However, he started doing DIY parties in Hollywood with other up-and-coming DJs like Royal Rumble, LA Riots and Young Americans (now Classixx). Soon, "Skeet" was spinnin' all over the the place: celebrity hot spots like Hyde, hipster hang-outs like Studio B, and big baller clubs in the Vegas, Atlantic City scene.…
Indie Spotlight: Daniel Tashian

There was never any doubt that alt-pop singer/songwriter Daniel Tashian would be a musician. The son of Holly and Barry Tashian, frontman of Barry and The Remains, Tashian fronts Nashville favorites The Silver Seas and is immersed in the town’s bustling indie pop/rock scene, frequently hosting editions of BMI’s weekly 8 off 8th showcase at the Mercy Lounge. He’s also a killer songwriter, who…
Indie Spotlight: Awesome New Republic

A two-piece band from Miami, Florida, comprising Michael John Hancock and Brian Robertson, Awesome New Republic (ANR) has been making music together for the past five years. After generating critical acclaim with their first self-released album, ANR So Far, in 2005, ANR claimed spots at CMJ, Pop Montreal, and supporting Animal Collective, Girl Talk, Mike Gordon, and others. Their latest full length album, Hearts, was released via…
Indie Spotlight: Crush Club

Crush Club is a pop/rap group established in Boston. Albums by Kanye West, Gym Class Heroes, John Legend, and Brother Ali are just a few influences that emerge in the band’s ever-expanding, original sound. Members Nicholas Shanholtz and Bryce Ross-Johnson are currently students at Berklee College of Music, and now, with Nick's imaginative beats and flows, Bryce's catchy vocal and writing…
Indie Spotlight: Avi Buffalo

Avi Buffalo started recording songs as a high school sophomore, assembled a full band as a junior, and hasn’t looked back. Outsider Folk dug the band’s classic rock-infused indie jams and recruited Avi Buffalo for a show in Long Beach, introducing the group to the Los Angeles market they now claim. Fresh of their first tour in June 2009, Avi Buffalo is currently hard at work on…
Indie Spotlight: Anni Rossi

From Minnesota via Los Angeles and now based in Chicago, 23-year-old Anni is an exciting prospect. Classically trained since age three, Anni is an accomplished multi-instrumentalist and has been performing as a solo artist for the past few years. She released her full-length album, Rockwell, in March 2009, and happily, the energy, depth and eccentricities of her live show have all been successfully translated onto record. With a viola in…
BMI’s Catherine Brewton Honored by Law Organization

The Black Women in Entertainment Law Foundation (BWEL), a non-profit organization that provides a support network for women of color in entertainment law, honored BMI Vice President, Writer/Publisher Relations Catherine Brewton on November 2 in Atlanta. The event, held at the Mason Murer Gallery, also served as BWEL’s 2nd annual scholarship fundraiser. Ms. Brewton, who directs all writer/publisher relations activities for BMI’s Urban Music Department, was feted…
Saint Motel’s Melody and Melodrama

If anyone is claiming that the music video is dead, it certainly isn’t Saint Motel. Their 6-song EP ForPlay speaks for itself with its swaggering rock and haughty attitude, but if that’s not enough to convince you that the LA-based band means business, they’ve included some visual evidence of their sonic chops to boot on this, their debut record. The quintet, which formed while members A/J Jackson,…
NO ID: Godfather of Chicago R&B Still On Top

He possesses what may be the most ironic name in contemporary pop. Over the course of a career spanning nearly 20 years, producer No I.D. has collaborated with some of the biggest names in hip-hop and R&B, including Janet Jackson, Alicia Keys, John Legend, Jamie Foxx and more. Dubbed “The Godfather of Chicago R&B”—a reference to his pioneering early work with…
BMI Foundation Opens 22nd Annual Pete Carpenter Fellowship for Aspiring Film Composers
The BMI Foundation has announced the opening of the 22nd annual Pete Carpenter Fellowship for aspiring film composers under the age of 35. The Fellowship was established by the BMI Foundation and Pete Carpenter’s family, colleagues, and friends to honor the late co-composer of television themes and scores including The A-Team, Magnum P.I., The Rockford Files, Hardcastle and McCormick, Hunter and Riptide. The successful candidate will have an opportunity to…
