<link>http://www.bmi.com/affiliate/rss/</link> <description>This BMI feed includes news stories, events, and musicworld stories by musical genre.</description> <dc:language>en</dc:language> <dc:creator>genres@bmi.com</dc:creator> <dc:rights>Copyright 2009</dc:rights> <dc:date>2009-11-25T15:57:16+00:00</dc:date> <admin:generatorAgent rdf:resource="http://www.expressionengine.com/" /> <atom10:link xmlns:atom10="http://www.w3.org/2005/Atom" rel="self" href="http://feeds.bmi.com/bmi/blues" type="application/rss+xml" /><atom10:link xmlns:atom10="http://www.w3.org/2005/Atom" rel="hub" href="http://pubsubhubbub.appspot.com" /><item> <title>Blues Icon Koko Taylor Dies http://www.bmi.com/news/entry/538758 Muddy Waters, Taylor, Koko, Blues, Los Angeles Queen of the Blues Koko Taylor has died. She was 80 years-old.

A pioneer and consistent force within the blues genre, Taylor was one of a very few females to earn success in the Chicago blues field, which has been traditionally dominated by men including legends Howlin’ Wolf and Muddy Waters. She experienced a jolt of success in 1965 thanks to her smash “Wang Dang Doodle,” and went on to perform steadily for the rest of her life. She released her last album, Old School, in 2007.

With almost 30 Blues Music Awards, Taylor received more awards from the Blues Foundation than any other performer, and she won the traditional blues female artist of the year crown at last month’s ceremony in Memphis. She earned one Grammy but was nominated for eight, while the Rhythm and Blues Foundation honored her with a Pioneer Award in 2003.

She is survived by her husband, daughter, two grandchildren, and three great-grandchildren.

]]> 2009-06-08T21:08:21+00:00 Justin Townes Earle Leads BMI Nominees for 2009 AMA Honors and Awards http://www.bmi.com/news/entry/538658 Reckless Kelly, Isbell, Jason, Malo, Raul, Bush, Sam, Douglas, Jerry, Blues, Country, Folk, Rock, Nashville Roots music enthusiasts, industry executives, and artists gathered on BMI’s Music Row rooftop Wednesday, May 20 as mandolin virtuoso Sam Bush and the Belleville Outfit’s Phoebe Hunt announced the nominees for the 2009 Americana Music Association Honors and Awards.

Justin Townes Earle received three nods, including album of the year for Midnight at the Movies, as well as artist and emerging artist of the year. With a royal roots music pedigree—he’s the son of alt-country hero Steve Earle and named after legendary singer-songwriter Townes Van Zandt—Justin Townes Earle has charmed critics and fans alike with his contemporary take on golden-age honky tonk.

Alejandro Escovedo and the Flatlanders—made up of individually celebrated BMI troubadours Joe Ely, Jimmie Dale Gilmore, and Butch Hancock— garnered two nominations each. Escovedo was tapped in artist and album of the year categories, while the Flatlanders garnered song and duo/group of the year nods. Additional BMI nominees include Jason Isbell & The 400 Unit, Raul Malo, Band of Heathens, Belleville Outfit, Reckless Kelly and the Gourds.

Slated for Thursday, September 17 at the Ryman Auditorium, the awards ceremony is the apex of the 10th Annual Americana Festival and Conference, which will run Wednesday, September 16 through Saturday, September 19 in Nashville. For more information, please visit www.americanamusic.org.

ALBUM OF THE YEAR
Real Animal, by Alejandro Escovedo
Jason Isbell & The 400 Unit, by Jason Isbell & The 400 Unit
Midnight at the Movies, by Justin Townes Earle

ARTIST OF THE YEAR
Alejandro Escovedo
Justin Townes Earle
Raul Malo

INSTRUMENTALIST OF THE YEAR
Jerry Douglas
Sam Bush

NEW & EMERGING ARTIST
Band of Heathens
Belleville Outfit
Justin Townes Earle

SONG OF THE YEAR
“Country Love” by the Gourds
“Homeland Refugee,” written by Joe Ely, Jimmie Dale Gilmore, and Butch Hancock; performed by the Flatlanders

DUO GROUP OF THE YEAR
Flatlanders
Reckless Kelly

]]> 2009-05-21T18:43:38+00:00 A Great Night In Harlem: New York http://www.bmi.com/events/entry/538251 Blues, Jazz, New York, Industry 8th Annual Jazz Foundation of America Presents "A Great Night In Harlem," at the Apollo Theater (253 W. 125th Street, NYC).

For donations and concert information visit jazzfoundation.org.

]]> 2009-05-14T23:00:29+00:00 Buddy Guy Leads BMI Winners at 30th Annual Blues Music Awards http://www.bmi.com/news/entry/538553 Ball, Marcia, Guy, Buddy, James, Etta, King, B.B., Magness, Janiva, Rush, Bobby, Taylor, Koko, Thomas, Irma, Blues, Memphis BMI blues legends dominated the 30th Annual Blues Music Awards, held Thursday, May 7 in Memphis, Tennessee. With three trophies, icon Buddy Guy walked away with the most wins, including album and contemporary blues album of the year for Skin Deep, as well as contemporary blues male artist of the year.

Acclaimed singer Janiva Magness earned the prestigious B.B. King entertainer of the year title along with contemporary blues female artist of the year recognition. Legend B.B. King took home two honors himself: traditional blues album of the year for One Kind Favor and traditional blues male artist of the year. Perennial favorites Irma Thomas, Koko Taylor, and Etta James received recognition as well: Thomas' Simply Grand was named soul blues album of the year, Taylor earned the traditional blues female artist of the year crown, and the soul blues female artist of the year title went to James. Bobby Rush also underscored the potency of his influence with the soul blues male artist of the year victory, while Lil' Ed and The Imperials earned band of the year bragging rights.

Kenny Neal's "Let Life Flow" garnered song of the year honors, while in the instrumentalist categories, recognition for excellent harmonica playing went to Billy Gibson, and Deanna Bogart's preeminence was recognized in the horn field. Marcia Ball was named Pinetop Perkins Piano Player, while Jeff Healey's (SOCAN) Mess of Blues won rock blues album of the year.

M for Mississippi: A Road Trip through the Birthplace of the Blues earned DVD of the year, while Albert Collins Live at Montreux 1992 received historical album of the year honors.

For a complete list of 2009 Blues Music Award winners, please visit www.blues.org.

]]> 2009-05-13T15:15:56+00:00 2009 Blues Music Awards: Memphis http://www.bmi.com/events/entry/538326 Blues, Memphis, Industry, Blues Music Awards BMI is a proud sponsor of The Blues Foundation's 30th Blues Music Awards. This year's awards will be held at the Memphis Cook Convention Center in downtown Memphis, TN. The event brings together blues performers, industry representatives and fans from all over the world to celebrate the best in blues recordings and performances from the previous year.

]]> 2009-05-07T21:00:45+00:00 “Music In The Air” @ SXSW: Austin http://www.bmi.com/events/entry/537937 Wills, Elizabeth, Blues, Country, Rock, Singer-Songwriter, Urban, Austin, Showcase, Songwriter “Music In the Air” showcase co-sponsored by BMI will take place at Ray Benson Roadhouse Bar at Austin-Bergstrom International Airport.

Performances by:

11:00am-12:45 pm - Dan Dyer

1:15-3:00 pm - Elizabeth Wills

3:30-5:30 pm - Uncle Lucius

]]> 2009-03-23T14:00:35+00:00 “Music In The Air” @ SXSW: Austin http://www.bmi.com/events/entry/537936 Nelson, Paula, Blues, Country, Rock, Singer-Songwriter, Austin, Showcase, Songwriter “Music In the Air” showcase co-sponsored by BMI will take place at Ray Benson Roadhouse Bar at Austin-Bergstrom International Airport.

Performances by:

2:00-3:45 pm - Paula Nelson Band

4:15-6:00 pm - Redd Volkaert

]]> 2009-03-18T17:00:33+00:00 BMI Acoustic Lounge: Los Angeles http://www.bmi.com/events/entry/537780 Blues, Pop, R&B, Rock, Singer-Songwriter, Los Angeles, Showcase, Songwriter Singer/songwriter showcase series featuring acoustic performances in an intimate setting as well as networking opportunities with other songwriters and BMI representatives. Held the first Monday of every month at Genghis Cohen (740 N. Fairfax Ave) from 7-8 p.m. Open to the public; admission is always free.

Performances by:

Azul

Scott Kippayne

Ernesto Carreyó

Jon Geiger

]]> 2009-03-02T22:00:37+00:00 International Blues Challenge: Memphis http://www.bmi.com/events/entry/537646 Blues, Memphis, Industry Blues musicians from around the world will compete for cash, prizes, and industry recognition, performing in 18 venues along Beale Street, as The Blues Foundation presents the 25th Annual International Blues Challenge February 4-7 in Memphis, TN.

For more information regarding the IBC weekend, click here.

]]> 2009-02-07T19:58:47+00:00 International Blues Challenge: Memphis http://www.bmi.com/events/entry/537645 Blues, Memphis, Industry Blues musicians from around the world will compete for cash, prizes, and industry recognition, performing in 18 venues along Beale Street, as The Blues Foundation presents the 25th Annual International Blues Challenge February 4-7 in Memphis, TN.

For more information regarding the IBC weekend, click here.

]]> 2009-02-06T19:58:32+00:00