The BMI Stage at Lolla: A Retrospective

Posted in News on August 1, 2019

“I will always remember performing on the BMI stage at Lollapalooza. The energy was electric, so much fun and it was an amazing opportunity for me – it was my first festival performance as a solo artist!” – Bebe Rexha

For fourteen years, BMI has been showcasing stellar lineups of promising singers, songwriters and bands from across the stylistic spectrum on the BMI Stage at Lollapalooza. Through BMI’s long-standing partnership with festival organizers C3, the ever-eclectic BMI stage has served as a time-tested launch pad to success, vaulting several of our best and brightest boundary-pushers both up the charts and to bigger venues, including the main stages of Lollapalooza.

“The star power that has graced the BMI Stage is unparalleled,” says Samantha Cox, BMI Vice President, Creative, NY. “We have established a history of curating incredible new music experiences and giving audiences a first look at tomorrow’s headliners.” Alumni from the BMI Stage at Lollapalooza include Lady Gaga, Bebe Rexha, Halsey, Justin Tranter’s Semi Precious Weapons, Elle King, MAX, Cage the Elephant and many more.

The BMI Stage at Lollapalooza is just one of the performing rights organization’s initiatives to highlight the incomparable music of its songwriters. The BMI Stage is the pinnacle for music discovery, offering unforgettable performances, opportunities and experiences for performers and music-loving attendees alike.

“The opportunity to play the BMI Stage cemented me in the music business in a very real way,” says pop hitmaker Justin Tranter. “Even before me or the fans knew [Lady] GaGa was going to stage dive with me for the finale, there were thousands of people there to see my little glam punk band do our thing. And afterwards we ended up in every single magazine, blog and social media feed in the world. To this day it still shows up [as one of the] ‘best festival moments ever.’ That performance on that BMI stage opened more doors for me than I ever imagined.”

While established names will headline the festival’s main stage, it’s the individuals plugging in, treading the boards and giving it their all on the BMI Stage that are forging the path forward and defining the trends for what’s to come. Catch tomorrow’s musical idols, rebels, and icons today on the BMI Stage at Lollapalooza.

SOURCENews TAGS Chicago Partnerships Lollapalooza Cage the Elephant Halsey Elle King Lady Gaga Lukas Nelson Bebe Rexha Semi Precious Weapons Justin Tranter