BMI "How I Wrote That Song" L.A. Industry Panel With Cee-Lo Green, Chad Hugo & More

via BMI

BMI staged the annual Grammy-infused installment of its popular “How I Wrote That Song” panel on Saturday, February 12 at the Key Club (9039 West Sunset Boulevard, West Hollywood, CA 90069) in Los Angeles. Panelists included multiple Grammy-winning rapper/singer/songwriter/producer Cee Lo Green; multiple Grammy-winning singer/songwriter Seal; Grammy award-winning songwriter/producer Chad Hugo (of the Neptunes) ; Grammy-nominated singer/songwriter Claude Kelly; hit songwriter Bonnie McKee; and hit songwriter BC Jean.

BMI’s “How I Wrote That Song” participants discussed their roles in composing a jaw-dropping collection of contemporary smashes, including Beyoncé’s “If I Were A Boy” (BC Jean); Katy Perry’s “California Gurls” and “Teenage Dream,” Britney Spears’ “Hold It Against Me,” and Taio Cruz’s “Dynamite” (Bonnie McKee); Bruno Mars’ “Grenade,” Kelly Clarkson’s “My Life Would Suck Without You,” Britney Spears’ “Circus,” Fantasia’s “Bittersweet,” Chrisette Michele’s “Blame It On Me,” and Miley Cyrus’ “Party In the USA” (Claude Kelly); Goodie Mob's“Cell Therapy,” Gnarls Barkley’s “Crazy,” and Cee Lo Green’s “F**k You” aka “Forget You” (Cee Lo Green); Snoop Dogg’s “Drop It Like It’s Hot,” Jay Z’s “Excuse Me Miss” and “I Just Wanna Love you (Give It 2 Me),” Ludacris’ “Money Maker,” Robin Thicke’s “Wanna Love You Girl” and Gwen Stefani’s “Holla Back” (Chad Hugo); and “Krazy,” “Love’s Divine,” and “Kiss From a Rose” (Seal).

Catherine Brewton, BMI Vice President, Writer/Publisher Relations, Atlanta, moderated the conversation, while Grammy-winning producer Dallas Austin served as co-host. BMI’s “How I Wrote That Song” was sponsored by TW Steel.

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Kevin Cossum And Nate 'Danja' Hills Interview At BMI NYC Showcase

Hip Hop World was on hand for the BMI 'Know Them Now' showcase held earlier this month in NYC as they caught a word with producer Nate 'Danja' Hills and his protege Kevin Cossum.

Zaytoven: From Humble Beginnings To #1 Record Explained At BMI Industry Event

Zaytoven's first BMI check $25,000.

about the event via BMI

BMI presented Music 101- Building the Beat workshop with producer Zaytoven at Patchwerk Recording Studios on Tuesday, March 23. 15 producers were selected from over 200 submissions to be a part of the workshop in which Zaytoven discussed his climb in the music business, his production process and the inspiration behind several of his records. Out of the 15 producers at the workshop, the one with the most complete sound and best beat was chosen to go to dinner with Zaytoven and BMI’s Atlanta staff.

Makeba Riddick: The Songwriter Behind Rihanna's Number 1 Hit 'Rude Boy'

via US Magazine

UsMagazine.com: How did you get your industry start?

Makeba Riddick: When I finished Berklee, I moved to New York and I was interning for Columbia Records and Def Jam and working with every producer in the tri-state area because I always wrote songs just as a hobby. My demo got to Francesca Spiro, the head of publishing at Bad Boy at the time, and I signed my first deal when I was 21. I had my first No. 1 record when I was 22 -- Jennifer Lopez and LL Cool J’s "All I Have." And the following year Sean Combs signed me for his Bad Boy publishing through EMI and then from there it's just been off to the races.

Us: Do you have a favorite song/album that you have worked on?

MR: 'Live your Life' was probably my favorite. It was No. 1 in 2009 with T.I. and Rihanna off of T.I.'s Paper Trail album. We recorded the record in Italy so I got to go to Milan and Venice and we had a blast recording it. T.I. is one of my favorite artists so to be able to work with him was also a plus. That song is my biggest record that I've co-written to date -- it was No. 1 on the Hot 100 chart for 10 weeks.

Us: You have worked on all four of Rihanna's albums. What is it like working with her?

MR: I was there from the beginning from the week she got signed before she even had a record deal. I was one of the first people she went into the studio with. It is always a wild adventure with her. Rihanna travels a lot and she loves to have her people with her. We listen to music, we watch videos, we drink champagne, it's literally a party in the studio with her all of the time and it's fun.

Us: So you party inside and outside of the studio?

MR: We go to different clubs in different countries and cities and then in the studio our whole team will be there and we just we have a ball. We listen to music, we watch videos, we drink champagne, it's literally a party in the studio with her all of the time and it's fun.

Us: Rihanna seems to have a great sense of humor.

MR: She's very witty and definitely an easy person to work with. Although she's an international superstar, we've had a relationship for so many years now that it's like going in the studio with a cousin. It doesn't feel like work at all.

Us: Do you have a couple of fun anecdotes from working with her that stand out to you?

MR: We were in Hawaii last year and we were on these paddle-boards. Everyone we were with was falling into the water and it was hilarious, but Rihanna was the only one that was able to keep her balance. We're all soaking wet, drenched with water, hair all over the place and that really stood out to me because that was so much fun. Another time we were in London working on the Rated R album and there was a sushi spot we love that they shut down for us. Jay-Z and all his Rock Nation people were there and we turned that place into a club. It always just feels like family with her and her people.

Us: What's the inspiration behind the song "Rude Boy"?

MR: Rihanna and I both work with Stargate a lot -- the production duo from Norway -- and they had the track and started the idea with another writer Esther Dean. She actually came up with that concept but the song wasn’t done and there were things Rihanna wanted to change, so they brought it to me to finish. I was listening to the words and me and Ri and we were just laughing and talking about so many situations that have happened in the past and that happen to women everywhere. By the time we were done of course, we were laughing and giggling about the lyrics -- surprisingly everybody went nuts over the song.

Us: Where were you when you found out the song had hit No. 1?

MR: It’s always a very surreal feeling to have a No. 1 record. I have been there five times before, but it never gets old and it’s very exciting to know that everybody in the world is listening to your song. I found out about it on Twitter believe it or not. I had just come in from dinner and of course I’m on Twitter all of the time. I saw all these "Makeba congrats on your No. 1 record" Tweets. I knew "Rude Boy" was out and it was going to the top of the charts, but it jumped from No. 4 to No. 1 and I hadn't even seen the charts yet. Rihanna hit me up and was like "We're No. 1 today all over the world, congratulations." So it’s always, it's a real very surreal feeling.

Us: That’s so funny that you found out about it on Twitter.

MR: Yeah, Twitter is like the new CNN or something!

Shontelle Performs 'T-Shirt' At BMI Showcase Event

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On Thursday March 4, SRC/Universal Motown recording artist Shontelle performed at BMI Industry Insider's - 'How I Produced The Record' panel/event/discussion/showcase at the Highline Ballroom, NYC.

Check out the photos of Shontelle and the other artists from the BMI event here:
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Common Disscusses & Jams With Colbie Caillat & Zac Brown

As part of the BMI’s “How I Wrote That Song” disscussion (and a little jamming) series that takes place around the Grammys, Common, Colbie Caillat, Nas, Salaam Remi, Sebastian Krys and Zac Brown where on hand as guest panelists. The event took place Saturday January, 30 at the House of Blues on Sunset Hollywood, CA.

Photos from the event:
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(video courtesy of Hard Knock TV, musicismybfvids & adjayscent)

BMI Urban Awards Honors Lil Wayne, T-Pain, Kanye West And Others

via press release:

U.S. music rights organization BMI saluted the world's premier R&B, rap and hip-hop songwriters, producers and publishers tonight at its annual Urban Awards. BMI President & CEO Del Bryant and Catherine Brewton, Vice President, Writer/Publisher Relations, Atlanta, hosted the ceremony at Frederick P. Rose Hall, Home of Jazz at Lincoln Center, Broadway at 60th Street, New York City.

Hip-hop titans T-Pain and Lil Wayne shared the prestigious Songwriter of the Year prize, as trendsetters Polow Da Don and Kanye West both earned Producer of the Year titles. Song of the Year honors went to Jordin Sparks' "No Air," written by Erik Griggs, while Universal Music Publishing Group garnered yet another Publisher of the Year crown.

The capstone of the night's festivities was the presentation of the BMI Icon Award to George Clinton, whose achievements were celebrated with an all-star musical tribute, featuring performances by Cee-Lo Green, who delivered "One Nation Under a Groove"; Parliament/Funkadelic's Bootsy Collins, who performed "Atomic Dog"; Janelle Monáe who performed "Flashlight"; and Dallas Austin, Big Gipp and Outkast's Big Boi, whose medley of "(Not Just) Knee Deep," "Tear the Roof Off the Sucker (Give Up the Funk)" and "Up for the Down Store" was the jaw-dropping conclusion.

Photos:
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A complete list of nominees and winners here:
2009 BMI Urban Awards: BMI Award-Winning Songs

Gamble & Huff honored at the 57th Annual BMI Pop Awards

On May 19, the leading music rights organization Broadcast Music, Inc. (BMI) held its 57th Annual Pop Awards, honoring Gamble & Huff as BMI Icons.

Held at the Beverly Wilshire Hotel in Los Angeles, the invitation-only ceremony was hosted by BMI President & CEO Del Bryant and BMI Vice President/General Manager, Los Angeles, Barbara Cane and also recognized the writers and publishers of the past year's 50 most-performed pop songs.

The evening's capstone was a musical tribute to Kenneth Gamble and Leon Huff. Gavin DeGraw sang "If You Don't Know Me By Now," Estelle performed "Don't Leave Me This Way," and Michael Bublé delivered his rendition of "Me and Mrs. Jones." Named BMI Icons in recognition of their "unique and indelible influence on generations of music makers," Gamble & Huff join an elite list of previous BMI Icons that includes the Jacksons, Bee Gees, Crosby, Stills & Nash, Paul Simon, Merle Haggard, Brian Wilson, Willie Nelson, James Brown, Ray Davies, Carlos Santana, Dolly Parton, and Hall & Oates.