February/March 2010 ® A Bi-Monthly News Update for Songwriters & Composers BMIBAS r o A d C t M U S i C , i N C.® Bulletinbmi.com Using Notation Taylor Swift Wins Album of Year at 2010 Grammys Software aylor Swift capped off Best Dance Recording honors By Dave Simons her past year of pop and Fame was named Best culture domination Electronic/Dance Album. any of us who Twith four career-defining Colbie Caillat, Jamie Foxx, are songwriters wins, including the cov- T-Pain, Kanye West, Keith have little use for eted Album of the Year for Urban, Lady Antebellum, Mreading or notating music, Fearless, during the 52nd an- Béla Fleck, Eminem, and why should we? Jot nual Grammy Awards, held Rihanna, Carrie Underwood, down a chord progression, Sunday, January 31 in Los Kurt Elling, Booker T. Jones, add some words and a Angeles. She and her pro- and many more also enjoyed melody, and there you are. ducer, fellow BMI songwriter big wins. But let’s say you wanted to Nathan Chapman, took the Wins from Taylor Swift, add a horn part to your new stage, as Swift proclaimed Lady Gaga, Zac Brown Band, aulfield song. Though you could how thankful they were to be c and Colbie Caillat, as well play your idea on a keyboard able to take the trophy “back as the dominance of John for your saxophonist guest, to Nashville.” Michael Legend, and most recently, writing out the section is far A slew Grammys are Taylor Swift chart-topper Ke$ha, as well more efficient. But unless headed for mantle pieces as so many others, under- you’re very skilled, putting in Music City, as several group the Zac Brown Band score the arrival of a new the notes on paper, complete Nashville-based BMI song- claimed the Best New Artist generation of superstars, and with all necessary rests, writers and artists walked prize. also point to the successes repeats, sharps and flats, away with big wins in multi- The Black Eyed Peas, of one of BMI’s cornerstone could be quite challenging. genre categories: Kings of Eminem and Rihanna initiatives. The organization With music notation Leon’s “Use Somebody” walked away with multiple has played an early role as software, your computer earned Record of the Year awards each, while Lady connector and encourager does the job for you. This honors, while breakout Gaga’s “Poker Face” earned continued on page 2 kind of software turns continued on page 6 Song Hall To Induct Leonard Cohen, David Foster With this issue, the BMI MI legends Leonard musical creators. Already Cohen was inducted into Bulletin introduces a new Cohen (SOCAN) an established poet and the Canadian Songwriters series of articles designed to and David Foster novelist when he turned to Hall of Fame (2006) and the help you further your career Bwill become members music, Cohen has crafted Rock & Roll Hall of Fame through the expertise pro- of the elite Songwriters unvarnished classics (2008), while his world tour, vided by Songwriter101.com, Hall of Fame during the “Suzanne,” “Bird on a Wire,” launched in May 2008, is still a website devoted to helping organization’s 41st annual “Sisters of Mercy,” “Famous drawing sold-out crowd the next generation of song- induction ceremony, slated Blue Raincoat,” “So Long, Fifteen-time Grammy- writers learn the ins and outs for Thursday, June 17 at the Marianne,” “Hallelujah” winner David Foster is a of the business. Marriott Marquis Hotel in and many more. His songs songwriting giant. With Articles will cover a New York City. have been recorded by unparalleled instinct and broad range of topics, in- Leonard Cohen has artists including R.E.M., bottomless talent, he has cluding music publishing, copyright, studio recording long-since defied easy Bob Dylan, Elton John, garnered an unprecedented techniques and other areas, categorization, receiving Judy Collins, Willie Nelson 46 Grammy nominations. all targeted to helping you and surpassing recognition and, most recently, Justin Foster’s profound legacy build a successful career as a of his eccentric brilliance in Timberlakes. A recipient of of song includes an songwriter. stride, only to become one the 2010 Grammy Lifetime extraordinary chain of #1 of the country’s preeminent Achievement Award, continued on page 6 1 What to Do Before You Record Your Demo ® By Cliff Goldmacher you’re not paying the studio perfect recording but rather an hourly fee. an accurate representation of s a result of record- You can also benefit from the song structure. In other ing and producing trying a few rough record- words, it doesn’t have to BULLETIN literally thousands ings at home before you get sound great as long as the Editor: Robbin Ahrold Vice President, Corporate Aof demos, I’ve learned that it to the studio. The simple act chords, melody and lyrics Communications and Marketing is always better to “Prepare of listening back to a song are correct. The purpose of Managing Editor: Howard Levitt and Prevent” than to instead of performing it will this work tape is to provide West Coast Editor: Hanna Pantle “Repair and Repent.” Here reveal any weaknesses or the demo vocalist and ses- Nashville Editor: Kay Clary are a few steps you can take issues that need to be dealt sion musicians with a final Technology Editor: David F. Bills to help make your demo with before the studio clock version of your song from Assistant Editors: Elisabeth Dawson, Jamil Walker recording experience more is running. The last of these which they can learn. Design: Jenkins & Page successful. rough home recordings will Let’s start with the demo It may sound obvious become the definitive work vocalist: It’s always a good The BMI Bulletin® is published by Broadcast but make sure your song is tape. policy to get a copy of the Music, Inc., 320 West 57th Street, New York, finished. I can’t tell you the This is any simple, in- work tape and the lyrics NY 10019. President & CEO: Del R. Bryant, 320 West 57th Street, New York, NY 10019; number of times I’ve had expensive recording that to the singer a week or so Corporate Secretary: Stuart Rosen, 320 West clients come into the studio you do on a hand-held tape before the session. There 57th Street, New York, NY 10019; Treasurer: Angelo Bruno, 10 Music Square East, only to start rewriting a part recorder, mini disc player, are several reasons for this. Nashville, TN 37203. of the lyric or melody. It is mp3 recorder, etc. Generally First of all, the singer can Permission is hereby given to quote from or reprint any of the contents on the condition significantly less stressful a piano or guitar plus a let you know what key the that proper copyright credit is given to (and quite a bit less expen- scratch vocal will do the song should be in to best suit the source. ® ® ® sive) to write a song when trick. The key here is not a continued on page 6 BMI , BMI.com and Broadcast Music, Inc. are registered trademarks of Broadcast Music, Inc. © 2010 BMI Taylor Swift Wins Album of Year continued from page 1 BMI OFFICES festivals was one of the ceremony’s New York includ- highlights, underscoring 320 West 57th Street New York, NY 10019 ing CMJ, the late legend’s Lifetime (212) 586-2000 Fax: (212) 245-8986 Lollapa- Achievement Award. Fellow e-mail: [email protected] looza, BMI Icon Loretta Lynn Nashville 10 Music Square East SXSW, the also received a Lifetime Nashville, TN 37203 (615) 401-2000 Fax: (615) 401-2707 Key West Achievement Award, along e-mail: [email protected] Song- with Bobby Darin, David Los Angeles writers “Honeyboy” Edwards, 8730 Sunset Boulevard Third Floor West Festival Leonard Cohen (SOCAN), Los Angeles, CA 90069 aulfield c and the and Clark Terry. A-team (310) 659-9109 Fax: (310) 657-6947 e-mail: [email protected] Austin heavyweight and first Michael Miami Kings of Leon City Nashville NARAS chapter 1691 Michigan Ave Suite 350 Limits president Harold Bradley Miami Beach, FL 33139 for these and countless other Music Festival. From spot- and legendary producer (305) 673-5158 Fax: (305) 673-8287 e-mail: [email protected] artists back when “up-and- ting and supporting a Florence Greenberg also each Atlanta coming” best described dynamic Lady Gaga when received the Trustees Award. 3340 Peachtree Road NE their careers. BMI’s layered she first electrified small Lady Gaga kicked off the Suite 570 Atlanta, GA 30326 approach to songwriter clubs, to championing the Grammy telecast in electrify- (404) 261-5151 Fax: (404) 261-5152 e-mail: [email protected] development comprises prodigious talent of a teen- ing form, segueing from a London educational, creative and age Taylor Swift, whose charged delivery of “Poker 84 Harley House promotional opportunities, songs somehow both belied Face” into a duet with Sir Marylebone Road London NW1 5HN including the BMI Lehman her youth and embodied it, Elton John (PRS), featuring England 011-44-207-486-2036 Engel Musical Theatre, Jason BMI has been there from the Gaga’s “Speechless” and Fax: 011-44-207-224-1046 Blume Songwriters’ and Jazz beginning, and will remain John’s “Your Song.” Taylor e-mail: [email protected] Composers Workshops; 8 off a steadfast and dependable Swift, Pink, Zac Brown Band, Puerto Rico 1250 Ponce De Leon Ave. 8th, Pick of the Month and supporter. and many other BMI trend- San Juan, PR 00907 (787) 754-6490 Fax: (787) 753-6765 Acoustic Lounge showcase A stirring tribute to setters also delivered dy- e-mail: [email protected] series; and stages at premier BMI Icon Michael Jackson namic live performances.