BMI’s “How I Wrote That Song” panel discussion is an annual pre-Grammy weekend event that celebrates Grammy winners and nominees, and also serves as a platform for panelists to discuss the process of writing, producing and performing hit songs. The panel has historically featured an array of music’s top-tier talent. Previous “How I Wrote That Song” participants have included will.i.am, T-Pain, NAS, Colbie Caillat, Common, T-Pain, Keri Hilson, Zac Brown, Seal, Cee Lo Green, super producers Chad Hugo (N.E.R.D., The Neptunes) and Sebastian Krys, hit-penning gurus Kara DioGuardi, Bonnie McKee, Claude Kelly and BC Jean, and more.

The conversation will be moderated by Catherine Brewton, BMI Vice President, Writer/Publisher Relations.

BMI’s “How I Wrote That Song” is open to members of the public, ages 18 years old and up. Tickets are $15 in advance, $20 day-of the panel. Tickets can be purchased at http://www.keyclub.com/.

About the panelists:

Rev Run
Rev Run is one of the most iconic figures in music. The front man of seminal hip-hop group Run-D.M.C., Rev has sold tens of millions of records worldwide and is widely credited for ushering rap music into mainstream culture. An inductee of the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, Run-D.M.C. was named the greatest hip-hop artist of all-time by both MTV and VH1. Run remains a dynamic figure in entertainment today. His hit MTV show, Run's House, aired for six seasons and became one of the most widely viewed shows on cable television. Recently, Run has become a highly sought-after deejay and public speaker. Run’s daily inspirational words of wisdom are followed by nearly 3,000,000 people on Twitter and have established him as a thought leader in the world of social media.
twitter.com/#!/RevRunWisdom

DJ Khaled
DJ Khaled is the deejay for one of Miami's most notable radio stations, 99 Jamz. Paired up with K-Foxx, DJ Khaled currently has the #1 rated radio show in South Florida. Over a decade on the radio has inspired Khaled to develop his own sound of music. The versatile deejay has produced tracks for artists such as Trick Daddy, Pitbull, Young Jeezy, and his Terror Squad brother Fat Joe. In February 2008, Khaled launched his new label, We The Best Music, under Def Jam Records. Later that year, Khaled was appointed President of Def Jam South. Under his watch, we have seen albums released from Rick Ross, Young Jeezy, Ludacris, Ace Hood and Triple C’s. Khaled is currently signed to Young Money Cash Money as an artist.
djkhaled.org

RedOne
Multiple Grammy-winning RedOne has become one of the most successful and sought after producers and songwriters in the world. He has earned more than 35 international hit singles in the past three years, including 18 No. 1s. RedOne won a Grammy in 2010 for “Poker Face” with Lady Gaga off of The Fame album, which RedOne produced. He also co-wrote seven of the album’s tracks, including five back-to-back hit singles. RedOne garnered Grammy gold again in 2011 for his production on Lady Gaga’s The Fame Monster. He’s up for yet another Grammy this year for Lady Gaga’s Born This Way, which features several tracks he also produced. Named BMI Songwriter of the Year in 2010, RedOne was also Billboard’s Producer of Year and #1 Songwriter. In addition to Gaga, RedOne has collaborated with Enrique Iglesias (“I Like It,” featuring Pitbull, and “Dirty Dancer”), Usher (“More”), Midnight Red (“One Club at a Time”), Pitbull (“Rain Over Me,” featuring Marc Anthony) and Jennifer Lopez, with whom RedOne crafted the career-surging single “On the Floor” and led as Executive Producer on her album Love? redoneprod.com

This Workshop will take place in BMI’s New York office (7 World Trade Center, 250 Greenwich Street, 30th floor) from 12:00-1:00 PM on the fourth Thursday of every month.

Admission is FREE! SPACE IS LIMITED. Please RSVP with the total number of guests by email to Haley Hard at HHard@bmi.com.

Dates of BMI 101 Workshop
January 26, 2012
February 23, 2012
March 29, 2012
April 26, 2012
May 31, 2012
June 28, 2012
July 19, 2012
August 30, 2012
September 27, 2012
October 25, 2012
November 29, 2012
December 13, 2012

(Note: Dates are subject to change)

JOINT STATEMENT:

The vibrant music of the Western Hemisphere is widely recognized as one of the great contributions of our peoples to global society. Yet our ability to continue creating and offering this magnificent music is under threat today like never before. The collective output of our songwriters, performers, musicians, publishers, technicians and producers is being stolen on a massive scale that, unless adequately addressed, could fundamentally undermine our hemispheric cultural treasure. This is not an issue of one or just a few of our countries—it affects us all.

The victims of this theft include the artists and songwriters whose creativity gets no reward; governments that lose hundreds of millions of dollars in tax revenues; economies that are deprived of new investments; consumers who get less diversity and less choice; and record producers and publishers who, due to rampant theft, have less money to invest in the development of new talent.

The greatest victim of piracy is local culture. It has had a devastating impact on performers, musicians and songwriters throughout the hemisphere. Local repertoire accounts for nearly 70 percent of the global music market. Unless there are rational economic reasons to invest in original creative production, such investment will dry up, and along with it will perish the fantastic diversity of music that has been our region’s legacy.

For these reasons we call upon policy makers to use this report on the contribution of the creative industries as a catalyst for the adoption of new measures so that we can turn the tide on the destructive forces of music theft. Governments and the private sector have an unparalleled opportunity to address current problems affecting economic development, cultural output and diversity through the implementation of strong and unambiguous measures to fight piracy, and to pave the way for e-commerce in cultural materials to prosper by creating standards that will ensure the protection of cultural materials in the online environment.

BMI joined major music industry businesses and organizations around the globe in this joint statement and in advocating the use of this report to support the value of the music our songwriters create. The report will be presented on Thursday, January 26 in the Hall of the Americas at the Organization of American States in Washington D.C.

Open to festival badge holders.

BY INVITATION ONLY (LIMITED SPACE). Please RSVP by January 24th to ppina@bmi.com.

Video Links: www.vevo.com/artist/beatriz-luengo

BMI is proud to sponsor the event, and BMI members interested in attending should take advantage of $50 off registration. To claim the discount, enter code CLE-BMI50 when prompted.

For a detailed agenda and more, visit www.narm.com.

Held at Hotel Kabuki in San Francisco, the one-day SF MusicTech Summit brings music and technology leaders together. BMI songwriters, composers and music publishers are encouraged to attend and to take advantage of a 20% discount off registration.

The 12th Annual Digital Music Forum: East will be held at Museum of Jewish Heritage in New York City. Major players from music and technology – including Michael Drexler, BMI’s Executive Director, Business Development of New Media & Strategic Development – will discuss current challenges and opportunities. BMI members are strongly encouraged to participate in the event and can take 25% off the standard registration rate now.