Crib Notes

'HEY MAN, SMELL MY LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD': George Clinton (right) with BMI CEO Del Bryant

Broadcast Music Inc. (BMI) functions much like its competitor ASCAP, collecting royalties on behalf of songwriters and publishers from radio and other outlets. But unlike ASCAP, which is owned by its songwriters and publishers, BMI is owned by broadcasters, the same people they license for royalties.

Shady, right? Still, it’s been ahead of the curve when it comes to representing black musicians, and today its artists include the majority of top-selling hip hop artists. The weirdness of these dynamics were on full display at BMI’s Urban Awards show September 10 in New York. Held at Lincoln Center’s jazz hall, the evening’s co-host was BMI CEO Del Bryant, whose tightly-buttoned suit, weird tan and strained attempts at street banter routinely caused a huge room of cocktailed-up rappers, producers and music industry types (one of whom was rocking a Gumby haircut) to fall into awkward silences.

(more…)

Bookmark to:

Funkadelic Parliamentarian George Clinton doesn’t have any substantial Atlanta ties that I know of, but he’s been enormously influential on local artists. At least according to Dallas Austin, whom I talked to recently about his new 8Dazeaweakend project. (Its DVD, which features Clinton, just became available on iTunes, by the way.)

“He’s been instrumental to all of our careers in Atlanta, me and Outkast and everybody,” Austin says, going on to describe his exhilaration at seeing Parliament’s spaceship stage show when he was younger.

Next Thursday Austin and other Atlanta musicians will have a chance to return the favor, as they are scheduled to appear at BMI’s Urban Music Awards show in New York City, during which Clinton will be presented with an “Icon” award.

Atl types scheduled to attend the event at Lincoln Center’s Frederick P. Rose Hall also include Keri Hilson, Soulja Boy, Polow da Don, Cee-Lo, Bobby Valentino and Big Boi. Others promised are DJ Khaled, Plies, Rick Ross and Ray J.

In fact, pretty much everybody will be there except you. There are no tickets available to the public. But your trusty correspondent has submitted a press request, so hopefully I will be able to apprise you of the goings on.

Bookmark to:

Just found out about an open discussion scheduled to take place today in Decatur from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. on the proposed Performance Rights Act (H.R. 848). Featured round table panelists will include artists George Clinton, Dionne Farris, Rhymefest and Peter Stroud.

The act, which would require radio stations to pay performance royalties to recording artists, has sparked quite a bit of controversy.

Last week we posted An open letter to black radio from Tony MF Rock in which the Atlanta hip-hop pioneer voiced his concern over how certain black radio commentators have been framing the proposed legislation as an attack on black-owned radio stations. And today, EbonyJet.com has posted a similar critique from Paul Porter:

Unfortunately, Black radio is swiftly becoming part of the problem, not the solution. It began, of course, with black-owned stations losing their independent voices and turning into sterile corporate jukeboxes limiting both information and community access, while feeding us music that reinforced the same stereotypes that for decades radio helped to defeat.

Now the few surviving Black-owned radio stations are abusing their unique influence in the community to misinform listeners about the impact of a new Congressional bill designed to support the kind of independent, creative and positive musical artists we all have demanding.

Cathy Hughes, Founder of Radio One, as one example, has been leading the charge against HR 848, an act of legislation that Hughes charges will “end black radio.” Nothing could be further from the truth.

Today’s town hall meeting, hosted by the Atlanta chapter of the National Academy of Recording Arts & Sciences, will feature “updates” from congressmen Hank Johnson (D-Ga.) and John Conyers (D-Mich.). According to the flier, the RSVP deadline was Friday. I attempted to contact the Atlanta NARAS office this morning, but got no response.

I’m not sure if it’s open to the general public, but I suggest people interested in voicing their opinion (or in listening) should show up anyway. Worst-case scenario, you’ll get turned away at the door. But an influx of people could speak volumes, too.

I plan to attend and report back via Twitter updates and an eventual blog post. Tony MF Rock says, via email, that he plans to attend too.

musicFIRST® Town Hall Atlanta — an open discussion about the Performance Rights Act, H.R. 848. Featuring George Clinton, Dionne Farris, Rhymefest, Peter Stroud. 1-3 p.m. TODAY. Porter Sanford III Performing Arts & Community Center, 3181 Rainbow Dr. Decatur, Ga. 30034. NARAS Atlanta phone # 404-816-1380.

Bookmark to: