BMI Island Hoppers Songwriters Fest Breaks Attendance Records

Pictured (L-R): BMI songwriters Dave Pahanish and Aaron Barker perform on Captiva Island at Island Hopper Songwriters Festival 2018. Photo by Brian Tietz

BMI’s fifth annual Island Hopper Songwriters Festival attracted record-breaking crowds to Captiva Island, Fort Myers Beach and Downtown Fort Myers Sept. 21-30 as nearly 80 BMI songwriters performed in 25 venues around the area. Writers performing at the festival included Bob DiPiero, Dave Pahanish, Aaron Barker, LOCASH, Jeffrey East, Heidi Newfield, and many more.

Attendance at the 10-day festival was up more than 20 percent, and the event helps shine a spotlight on the craft of songwriting while also helping jump-start the local economy during a slow time of year by filling hotel rooms and helping give back to BMI-licensed businesses in Southwest Florida who have supported BMI songwriters over the years through the licensing fees they pay.

BMI Icon Bob DiPiero performs in Fort Myers Beach at the 2018 Island Hopper Songwriters Festival. Photo: Brian Tietz

LOCASH at the 2018 Island Hoppers Songwriters Festival

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Lorie Hollabaugh

Hollabaugh, a staff writer at MusicRow magazine, has over 20 years of music business experience and has written for publications including American Profile, CMA Close Up, Nashville Arts And Entertainment, The Boot and Country Weekly. She has a Broadcast Journalism and Speech Communication degree from Texas Christian University, (go Horned Frogs), and welcomes your feedback or story ideas at [email protected].

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