September 8, 2014

Broadcast Music, Inc. to Name Sir Tim Rice as BMI Icon at 2014 BMI London Awards

Press Release

Broadcast Music, Inc.®(BMI®), the global leader in music rights management, will name internationally-celebrated lyricist Sir Tim Rice a BMI Icon at its annual BMI London Awards. The gala will be held on Monday October 13 at London’s Dorchester Hotel, Park Lane.

The BMI Icon designation is given to songwriters who have had “a unique and indelible influence on generations of music makers.” Sir Tim joins an exclusive list of past honorees that include last year’s winner music legend John Lydon as well as Queen, Ray Davies, Van Morrison and Bryan Ferry.

“Sir Tim Rice’s extraordinary creativity has given the world some of the most beloved songs of the past 50 years, sheer musical poetry that has thrilled audiences in films, musical theater and on chart-topping recordings” said BMI President and CEO Michael O’Neill. “He is one of our era’s most admired and respected lyricists, a leading author and sough-after commentator. We are immensely proud to honor him as a BMI ICON.”

Sir Tim Rice has had a colossal impact on record, stage and screen since 1965 when he met Andrew Lloyd Webber, a fellow struggling songwriter. Rather than pursue Tim’s ambitions to write rock or pop songs they turned their attention to Andrew’s obsession – musical theatre. Their first collaboration (lyrics by Tim, music by Andrew) was an unsuccessful show based on the life of Dr.Barnardo, the Victorian philanthropist, The Likes Of Us. Their next three works together were much more successful – Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, Jesus Christ Superstar and Evita. Tim has also worked with other distinguished popular composers such as Elton John (The Lion King, Aida), Alan Menken (Aladdin, King David, Beauty and the Beast), Bjorn Ulvaeus and Benny Andersson (Chess) and most recently, Stuart Brayson (From Here To Eternity).

He has won many awards, often, he says “ for the wrong thing or for simply turning up.” Among them: three Best Song Oscars for “A Whole New World” (with Alan Menken) “Can You Feel The Love Tonight” (with Elton John) and “You Must Love Me” (with Andrew Lloyd Webber.  He has won Grammys, Golden Globes and 13 Ivor Novello Awards. He has been inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame and has a BASCA Fellowship, plus a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. He has been fortunate enough to see (and hear) his songs recorded by a galaxy of notable artists ranging from Elvis Presley to Mike Tyson.

“I owe it all,” said Sir Tim, “to Tommy Steele, Lonnie Donegan, Billy Fury, Marty Wilde, Cliff Richard and Joe Brown.”

Hosted by BMI President and CEO Michael O’Neill; BMI Senior Vice President, Writer/Publisher Relations Phil Graham and BMI Executive Director, Writer/Publisher Relations, Europe and Asia Brandon Bakshi, the BMI London Awards recognizes the U.K. and European songwriters and publishers of the past year’s most-performed songs on radio and television in the United States.

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About BMI
Celebrating 75 years of service to songwriters, composers, music publishers and businesses, Broadcast Music, Inc.® (BMI®) is a global leader in music rights management, serving as an advocate for the value of music. BMI represents the public performance rights in more than 8.5 million musical works created and owned by more than 600,000 songwriters, composers, and music publishers. The Company negotiates music license agreements and distributes the fees it generates as royalties to its affiliated writers and publishers when their songs are performed in public. In 1939, BMI created a groundbreaking open-door policy becoming the only performing rights organization to welcome and represent the creators of blues, jazz, country, and American roots music. Today, the musical compositions in BMI’s repertoire, from chart toppers to perennial favorites, span all genres of music and are consistently among the most-performed hits of the year. For additional information and the latest BMI news, visit http://www.bmi.com, follow us on Twitter @BMI or stay connected through Broadcast Music, Inc.’s Facebook page.

Contacts:
Jamil Walker – BMI - 212-220-3143 – .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
Lisa Birch - DawBell - 0203 327 7165 - .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
Maria Barham - DawBell - 0203 327 7111 - .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
Richard Dawes - DawBell - 0203 327 7111 - .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
Amelia O’Shea - DawBell - 0203 327 7158 - .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)