BMI Teams With AT&T For New Songwriter Event, Writing Area

Pictured: (L-R) BMI’s Jody Williams and Mason Hunter, AT&T’s Bart Peters, BMI songwriter Michael Ray, AT&T’s Jennifer Miles and Tom Sauer and BMI’s Leslie Roberts.

BMI recently hosted “Nashville’s Next Big Wave,” a mixer for BMI writers who have just signed their first publishing deal. The mixer was presented by AT&T’s on-demand music channel “Country Deep.” Writers in attendance included Drew Castleberry (signed to Tree Vibez Music) and Jody Stevens and Jon Langston (both signed to Sony/ATV). Hosted by BMI’s Director, Writer-Publisher Relations, Leslie Roberts, the event was designed to bring newly-signed writers together to make friends, set up potential co-writes and simply become familiar with one another.

BMI songwriter Michael Ray, who recently celebrated his first No. 1 single “Kiss You In the Morning,” was on hand to provide words of encouragement to the more than 100 attendees, including the many freshly-signed writers.

“It was an honor to be asked by my BMI family to talk with the new songwriters and the future of our industry,” said Ray. “Country Deep has been such a great partner to me and it’s so exciting that they have teamed up with BMI to create these amazing writing rooms for all the BMI writers; I can’t wait to get in there and start writing.”

During the mixer, BMI and AT&T announced a new relationship, focusing on developing BMI writers into country music’s next stars. The newly-decorated songwriter rooms and the hallway between them will be known as the “Country Deep Songwriter Wing.” The rooms offer pianos, other instruments and a near-endless supply of coffee.

“We are excited about this new relationship with BMI in our continued efforts to support the Country Deep platform,” said Tom Sauer, Vice President, video development for AT&T. “We look forward to expanding our ongoing initiatives – from the artists we highlight every day on Country Deep to the songwriters creating the music.”

“AT&T, with its unique channel ‘Country Deep,’ is an exciting platform that has often supported our affiliates through special concerts, events and on-air performance opportunities,” said Mason Hunter, BMI’s Executive Director, Strategic Partnership. “I’m thrilled ‘Country Deep’ is supporting BMI and our mission to help songwriters hone their talents. BMI is pleased to have ‘Country Deep’ featured in our songwriter rooms and look forward to expanding this long term relationship.”

Writer rooms are available to BMI members only by appointment and inquiries should be directed to WritersRooms@bmi.com.

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Jessica Nicholson

Jessica Nicholson serves as the Managing Editor for MusicRow magazine. Her previous music journalism experience includes work with Country Weekly magazine and Contemporary Christian Music (CCM) magazine. She holds a BBA degree in Music Business and Marketing from Belmont University. She welcomes your feedback at jnicholson@musicrow.com.

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