Company Recognized by Leading Performing Rights Organization With "Songwriter of the Year," "Urban Ringtone of the Year," "BMI Top Producer" and Ten Additional AwardsNEW YORK, NY, Sep 11, 2007 -- Songwriters and producers from Warner/Chappell Music, the publishing
arm of Warner Music Group Corp. (NYSE: WMG) and one of the world's
largest music publishers, took top honors at the annual BMI Urban
Music Awards ceremony held on Friday, September 7th in Las Vegas.
Warner/Chappell Music songwriter T.I. won his first "Songwriter of
the Year" award, BMI Top Urban Producer Mike Jones received BMI's
"Urban Ringtone of the Year" award for having the most downloads for
his song "I'm N Luv (Wit A Stripper)" and 10 other Warner/Chappell
songwriters were recognized for their chart-topping songs.
The annual award ceremony recognizes the world's premier songwriters,
publishers and producers of the top BMI urban songs in the R&B, Rap
and Hip-Hop genres.
"These awards are industry recognition of Warner/Chappell's continued
strength and presence in urban music," said Dave Johnson, Chairman
and CEO, Warner/Chappell Music. "We are extremely proud that
Warner/Chappell's talented songwriters are writing many of hip-hop,
rap and R&B's biggest hits and that BMI has once again recognized not
only their talent but their strong presence in traditional and
burgeoning digital music."
"Over the past few years, Warner/Chappell has dedicated significant
energy and resources to the urban genre and has developed an
impressive roster of established and developing writers who are now a
dominant force in urban music," said Christopher Hicks, Senior Vice
President and Head of Urban Music for Warner/Chappell Music and
Atlantic Records. "We are extremely pleased with this recognition of
the important progress we have made and the momentum we now have as
one of the leading publishers of urban music."
Warner/Chappell Music songwriter/producer T.I. was recognized as one
of BMI's Top Producers for such hits as "What You Know," "Shoulder
Lean" (co-written with fellow Warner/Chappell songwriter Young Dro)
and "Grillz." T.I. also won his first "Songwriter of the Year" award.
Mike Jones was awarded with the "Urban Ringtone of the Year," award
while the following Warner/Chappell Music songwriters were recognized
among the winners for most performed songs of the year for their
recent hit singles including:
-- "Get Up" and "So What" (songwriter Jazze Pha)
-- "Here We Go" (administered by First N Gold and Warner/Chappell)
-- "I Know U See It" and "It's Goin' Down" (songwriter Yung Joc)
-- "I'm N Luv (Wit a Stripper)" (songwriters Mike Jones and T-Pain)
-- "My Love" (songwriters Timbaland, Danjahandz and T.I.)
-- "Shoulder Lean" (songwriter Young Dro)
-- "Badd" (songwriter Mike Jones)
-- "Do It To It" (songwriter Don Vito)
Warner/Chappell's successful strategy is also reflected in its
interests in numerous chart-topping songs on Billboard's urban
charts, including Rihanna's "Umbrella," written by Dream, Chris
Brown's "Say Goodbye," written by Kendrick Dean and Bryan-Michael
Cox, Nelly Furtado's "Promiscuous Girl," written by Timbaland and
Danjahandz, and Justin Timberlake's "My Love," written by Timbaland,
Danjahandz and T.I. Warner/Chappell also had significant
participation in a string of hit albums on the Billboard Top
R&B/Hip-Hop Albums Chart over the last year including albums from
Mary J. Blige, Timbaland and Lloyd, among others.
Warner/Chappell's U.S. roster of talented urban writers includes: Dr.
Dre, Timbaland, Bryan-Michael Cox, T.I., Jazze Pha, Kay Gee,
Danjahandz, Lil Wayne, Mike Jones, Paul Wall, Fat Joe, Yung Joc,
Fabo, Trillville, J.U.S.T.I.C.E. League, Rockwilder, Young Dro, Dave
Young, Don Cannon, Teddy Bishop, Drumma Boy, Zak Wallace, Eric
Hudson, india.arie, Don Vito, Kendrick Dean, KC, Souldiggaz, Corte
Ellis and others. Warner/Chappell is proud to work closely and have
cooperative relationships with Noontime Music, Dr. Dre, Timbaland,
Grand Hustle Publishing, Swishahouse Publishing, First N Gold, Artist
Publishing Group and Block Entertainment.
Founded in 1939, BMI is an American performing rights organization
representing more than 300,000 songwriters, composers and music
publishers in all genres of music. BMI collects license fees on behalf
of those American creators it represents, as well as thousands of
creators from around the world who chose BMI for representation in
the United States. The license fees BMI collects for the "public
performances" of its repertoire of more than 6.5 million compositions
-- including radio airplay, broadcast and cable television carriage,
Internet and live and recorded performances by all other users of
music -- are distributed as royalties to the writers, composers and
copyright holders it represents.
About Warner/Chappell Music
Warner/Chappell Music is WMG's award-winning global music publishing
company. The Warner/Chappell Music catalog includes standards such as
"Happy Birthday To You," "Rhapsody in Blue," "Winter Wonderland," the
songs of Cole Porter and George and Ira Gershwin, as well as the music
of Dido, Dr. Dre, Eric Clapton, Green Day, Led Zeppelin, Madonna,
Nickelback, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Sheryl Crow, T.I. and others.
Warner/Chappell Music is a leader in creating innovative strategies
for marketing and promoting its songwriters and their music. The
company's extensive catalog makes it a natural first stop for A&R
executives and record producers, feature film and television
production companies, and others looking to record or license some of
the world's greatest music.