BMI has announced the creation of a two-part campaign designed to help fuel rebuilding efforts after the historic flood that devastated Middle Tennessee last month. The initiative was unveiled by BMI President & CEO Del Bryant and BMI Vice President, Writer/Publisher Relations, Nashville Jody Williams during Tim McGraw and Faith Hill’s all-star Nashville Rising: A Benefit Concert for Flood Recovery, held June 22 at Bridgestone Arena in Music City. BMI operates on a non-profit basis, representing more than 400,000 songwriters, composers and music publishers, many of whom live and work in Middle Tennessee.

BMI’s campaign is twofold. The company, along with its Nashville-based subsidiary Landmark Digital Services, has partnered with the Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee to create the BMI Flood Relief Fund, a donation-matching program within which BMI will match up to $50,000 of contributions from individuals and businesses. BMI has also donated an additional $50,000 to the Community Foundation to assist with the organization’s immediate recovery work.

“All of us at BMI realize what a privilege it is to live here and be part of this community,” says Williams. “Everybody here knows somebody who was devastated by the flood. Nashville has friends all over the world, and the match program has been designed so that anyone can contribute, from anywhere.”

Donations to the BMI Flood Relief Fund are being accepted through July 31, 2010, and may be made through www.bmi.com or the Community Foundation’s website, www.cfmt.org. All contributions are fully tax-deductible and will be used to support the Community Foundation’s flood-recovery efforts throughout Middle Tennessee.

“As a central hub for the entire music industry, BMI has the unique ability and responsibility to connect people,” says Bryant. “The months directly following a disaster are crucial. Nashville is the lifeblood of so many of our songwriters, composers and music publishers, as well as our own employees. There is much left to be done, and BMI is committed to supporting the community every step of the way.”

Pictured at Nashville Rising: A Benefit Concert for Flood Recovery are (l-r): BMI's Del Bryant and Jody Williams, Community Foundation's Ellen Lehman, Faith Hill, Tim McGraw, and entertainment reporter Nancy O'Dell. Photo: Getty Images for Nashville Rising

Pictured at Nashville Rising: A Benefit Concert for Flood Recovery are (l-r): BMI’s Del Bryant and Jody Williams, Community Foundation’s Ellen Lehman, Faith Hill, Tim McGraw, and entertainment reporter Nancy O’Dell.
Photo: Getty Images for Nashville Rising

Vice President Joe Biden announced Tuesday (6/22) that the United States will target foreign websites that pirate American music and movies. It’s all part of a new national strategy to reduce intellectual property theft.

“This is theft, clear and simple,” Biden said at a meeting with Attorney General Eric Holder, Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano and other Cabinet officials to discuss the new strategy, which also includes steps to reduce piracy and counterfeiting within the United States. “It’s ‘smash and grab,’ no different than a guy walking down Fifth Avenue and smashing the window at Tiffany’s and reaching in and grabbing what’s in the window.”

U.S. businesses estimate losses of billions of dollars annually due to piracy and counterfeiting of films, music and consumer goods, and blame the illegal trade for U.S. job losses as well. The U.S. Trade Representative’s office has battled to close websites in Russia, China and other countries that sell pirated American music and films.

Biden said the U.S. would increase pressure on foreign governments to shut down the sites by “being as public as we possibly can” about illegal activity. U.S. business groups welcomed the plan, which was mandated by Congress in 2008 and also includes steps to ensure that the federal government does not purchase counterfeit goods.

“Addressing the problem of intellectual property theft in a meaningful way is essential to enhancing our global competitiveness and protecting American innovation,” said Mitch Bainwol, Chairman & CEO, Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA). “All those whose jobs rely on music welcome the commitment of President Obama and Vice President Biden to sustaining music’s economic and cultural contributions to America. We look forward to working with the Administration on the effective implementation of the report.”

Biden didn’t mention any foreign websites by name. A recent USTR report said China’s top Internet search firm, Baidu Inc, was associated with between 50 percent to 75 percent of illegal music downloads in China.

Several Russian websites still provide illegal downloads, even though the most notorious site, Allofmp3, was shut down in 2007.