BMI Foundation awards help young musicians, from composers to songwriters, get a leg up in the music industry. It is largely supported by Broadcast Music Inc. and its members. BMI is a publishing rights organization that represents people in the music industry, many of them modern music powerhouses. The foundation awards cover all modern music genres.
Identification
BMI Foundation awards are given to young people who are pursuing careers in music. Awards range range from those that support classical music groups specializing in contemporary works to inner-city youth musical theatre programs. Some programs are designed to preserve and continue indigenous American music, including jazz and blues. The BMI publishing rights organization also sponsors awards for professionals in the music industry, such as the BMI Country Music Awards in Nashville and the BMI Urban Awards, where the BMI Icon award is given. Past recipients include Carlos Santana, James Brown, Chuck Berry, The Bee Gees and Willie Nelson.
Function
There are various competitions for BMI awards as well as internships, scholarships and commissions throughout the year. For example, the BMI Student Composer Awards, co-sponsored by BMI and the BMI Foundation, aimed to award $20,000 in prizes in 2010. This particular award was established in 1951. It's meant to encourage young composers who want to create serious music. Cash prizes are awarded to aid such composers in pursuing musical education. Judging panels for such awards are made up of distinguished musicians and artists who volunteer time and knowledge, according to the BMI Foundation.
Process
Some awards, such as the Jean Pratt Scholarship, are given by invitation only. This scholarship is awarded each year to a music student at Coffeyville Community College in Coffeyville, Kansas. People can apply for other awards, such as the BMI Student Composer Awards. Applicants for this award must be younger than 28, live in the Western Hemisphere and be enrolled in a music education program. Still other awards are given following BMI-sponsored workshops, such as the Charlie Parker Jazz Competition Prize, which is awarded to the best new work created during the BMI Jazz Composers Workshop.
History
The BMI is a nonprofit organization formed in 1939 to represent songwriters in the genres of country, blues, jazz, R and B, folk, gospel and Latin music. Ultimately the organization embraced rock 'n' roll songwriters as well. BMI aims to assure that writers and publishers gain their royalty payments, provide an alternative licensing source for music users and provide competition in the field of performing rights. It helps composers, songwriters and music publishers develop business and creative skills needed for music careers. The BMI roster includes Chuck Berry, Willie Nelson, The Eagles, Carlos Santana, The Beach Boys, Aretha Franklin, Waylon Jennings, The Bee Gees, B.B. King, Sir Elton John and Eric Clapton.
The BMI Foundation is a nonprofit organization founded in 1985. It encourages performance, study and creation of music via awards, grants, scholarships, internships and commissions. Its support comes mainly from BMI-affiliated publishers, songwriters and composers who want to "give back."
Significance
BMI members dominate the music industry as far as awards go. BMI songwriters and composers regularly pull in more than half of all Grammys, Country Music Awards, R&B Hall of Fame and R&B Foundation awards. The BMI Foundation supports nonprofit organizations that further study, creation and performance of contemporary music as well as students who are pursuing careers in the music industry. Students who win fellowships often get the chance to meet successful industry icons. For example, the Pete Carpenter Fellowship award for aspiring film composers includes the opportunity to work for a month with BMI composer Mike Post, who created TV themes including Hill Street Blues and Law and Order.
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