The recording industry's most eminent stars and promising talent performed at Broadcast Music, Inc.'s (BMI) 13th Annual Unsigned Urban Showcase April 20, at the Havana Club in Atlanta. Hosted by R&B crooner Lloyd and DJ Drama, the showcase featured performances by hip-hop heir apparent Drake and Atlanta-bred Travis Porter who each brought their respective high-energy sounds.
The evening began with performances from showcase finalists Nicoya, Tra Squad, Miss Mykie and Terrell Howard, all chosen by a group of top BMI songwriters, producers and industry executives from over 700 submissions. Winning the top prize was Nicoya who wowed the audience and judges with her vocal arrangements, stage presence and overall charisma.
BMI Vice President, Writer/Publisher Relations Catherine Brewton and members of Organized Noize and Goodie Mob presented rapper/producer Big Boi with the Legends of ATL Award, which recognizes a community leader for his or her contribution to the Atlanta music scene.
Broadcast Music, Inc.® (BMI) is an American performing right organization that represents more than 400,000 songwriters, composers and music publishers in all genres of music and more than 6.5 million works. BMI reported $905 million for its 2009 fiscal year in performing right collections. BMI has represented the most popular and beloved music from around the world for 70 years. The U.S. corporation collects license fees from businesses that use music, which it then distributes as royalties to the musical creators and copyright owners it represents.
