BMI Bulletin Board: Vol. 15, 9.12

Workshops, festival, conference and contest opportunities for songwriters and composers

WORKSHOPS

BMI 101 Workshop: New York
BMI 101 is a one-hour introductory workshop for writers and publishers, covering the history of performing rights, the origins of BMI, and the current role that BMI plays in the music business.
When: October 25, 2012
Where: BMI’s New York headquarters (7 World Trade Center, 250 Greenwich Street, 30th floor)
Who: Songwriters and publishers
Application deadline: No application necessary, but registration is required. E-mail your RSVP (including total number of guests) to Haley Hard at hhard [at] bmi.com.
Fee: Free to all participants

BMI 101 Workshop: Los Angeles
BMI 101 is a one-hour introductory workshop for writers and publishers, covering the history of performing rights, the origins of BMI, and the current role that BMI plays in the music business.
When: October 30, 2012, 4 – 5 p.m.
Where: BMI’s Los Angeles office (8730 Sunset Blvd., 3rd Floor West)
Who: Aspiring songwriters, composers and music publishers.
Application deadline: No application necessary, but registration is required. Please RSVP by email to: BMI101@bmi.com.
Fee: Free to all participants

Jason Blume Songwriting Workshop: Nashville
BMI’s popular Songwriters’ Workshop Series in Nashville is held monthly under the tutelage of hit songwriter and best-selling author Jason Blume. December’s topic is “How to Write Great Lyrics.”
When: December 4, 2012, 12:30-4:30 p.m.
Where: BMI’s Nashville offices (10 Music Square East, Nashville, TN)
Who: Aspiring songwriters
Application deadline: No application necessary, but registration is required. Registration opens November 14 at 3 p.m. CST.
Fee: Free to all participants

CONFERENCES

SF MusicTech Summit
The SF MusicTech Summit brings together visionaries in the evolving music/business/technology ecosystem, along with the best and brightest developers, entrepreneurs, investors, service providers, journalists, musicians, and organizations who work with them at the convergence of culture and commerce.
When: October 9, 2012
Where: San Francisco, at Hotel Kabuki (1625 Post Street)
Who: Songwriters, composers, music publishers and business executives. BMI’s Michael Drexler, Executive Director, Business Development, New Media & Strategic Development, will participate in a panel addressing concerns of the creative community.
Application deadline: No application necessary, but registration is required. Register now.
Fee: $399.69 in advance, $799.00 day-of.

Digital Hollywood Fall
Digital Hollywood debuted in 1990 and has from its start been among the leading trade conferences in its field with over 15,000 top executives in the film, television, music, home video, cable, telecommunications and computer industries attending the various events each year.
When: October 15-18, 2012
Where: Los Angeles, at the Ritz Carlton Hotel, Marina del Rey, California
Who: Songwriters, composers, music publishers, start-ups and other business executives. BMI’s Michael Drexler, Executive Director, Business Development, New Media & Strategic Development, will participate in a panel entitled “Protecting the Product: Content Rights and Technology Solutions in Media and Entertainment: Implementation of Technology Strategies.”
Application deadline: No application necessary, but registration is required. Register now.
Fee: Registration rates range from $350 for a single-day pass to $785 for full event admission.

Entertainment & Technology Law Conference presented by NARM and digitalmusic.org
The Entertainment & Technology Law Conference Series was created to merge entertainment law issues with insight on the new technology and media concerns that are at the forefront of the entertainment and technology industries in an attempt to foster lively discussions and debates amongst these communities. This is a continuing legal education (CLE) event.
When: October 25, 2012, 1:00 p.m. - 5:30 p.m.
Where: Los Angeles, at the Office of Greenberg Traurig (1840 Century Park East #1900)
Who: Anyone interested in learning more about legal challenges facing the entertainment industry
Application deadline: No application necessary, but registration is required. Register now.
Fee: BMI songwriters, composers and music publishers should use discount code CLE-BMI50 to get $50 off of the registration fee.

Billboard/Hollywood Reporter Film/TV Conference
Billboard and the Hollywood Reporter partner to present one of the film and television music industry’s must-attend conferences.
When: October 24 and 25, 2012
Where: The W Hollywood in Hollywood, CA (6250 Hollywood Blvd)
Who: Film, television and video game composers, as well as agents, music supervisors and other key industry executives. Join BMI’s VP Film/TV Doreen Ringer Ross as she moderates the BMI panel, “Surviving as a Composer” from 2:45–3:45 p.m.
Application deadline: No application necessary, but registration is required. Register now.
Fee: $499 until October 23; after October 23, rates rise to $549.

FESTIVALS

Folk Alliance 2013
Each year the Folk Alliance selects artists to showcase during the International Folk Alliance Conference. Last year, Folk Alliance selected 200 artists from all over the world.
Application deadline: Oct. 24, 2012

CONTESTS

American Songwriter Lyric Contest
The American Songwriter Amateur Lyric Contest takes place six (6) times per year in conjunction with each issue of American Songwriter published.
Fee: $12 per lyric
Who: Contest is open to entrants in all countries.
Prize: First place winner receives a Gibson Hummingbird Guitar (MSRP $3784) and a Shure SM58 Microphone.

John Lennon Songwriting Contest
The John Lennon Songwriting Contest is an international songwriting contest launched in 1997.
Fee: $30 per song
Who: Contest is open to amateur and professional songwriters in any one of 12 categories.
Prize: Prizes are awarded for different levels of achievement, such as Finalist, Grand Prize, Lennon Award and Song of the Year. See the full list.

International Songwriting Competition
The International Songwriting Competition (ISC) is an annual song contest that calls upon leading songwriters, artists and musicians to select 68 winners.
Fee: Early Bird entry fee of $30 (US) for the first entry and $22 for each additional entry (ends July 18). After July 18, the entry fee is $30 per entry with no discount for additional entries. After September 20, the entry fee is $35 per entry.
Who: Amateur and professional songwriters and musicians are invited to participate.
Prize: Grand Prize is $25,000, with additional awards for 1st, 2nd and 3rd place, along with People’s Choice. See the full list.

OTHER IMPORTANT DEADLINES

December 31, 2012 BMI Live: Deadline to enter performances between April 1, 2012 and September 30, 2012 for payment in March 2013.