BMI Awards 1998

Report by Lukas Kendall

I just got back from BMI's film music awards, and since I neglected to load a column for today before hand, now I am frantically jotting down my reactions before turning in (it's 12:30AM). A lot of people go to these dinners with an "Oh, not again" attitude, but maybe my youthful exuberance has clouded my judgment because I enjoyed it. I'm generally pretty relaxed at these things, because even though I run into dozens of composers we've written about (positively and negatively) the last year--not to mention studio executives, agents, etc.--I always assume, what's anyone going to do, get me fired?

Writing as a kid from an island who moved to L.A. to do this magazine, I think I share the awe that we all have as movie and movie-music fans. We see these names time and again and they're real idols to us. So, it's fun to run elbows with them (see the list below), especially once you know a fair number of people. So I'd like to thank BMI (as well as ASCAP, who held their awards night last month; we will be devoting equal time and space in an upcoming FSM for full photo coverage of both) for inviting me and for putting on a nice show.

I'd also like somehow to bring the experience of meeting these people back to you, the fans of all this stuff, because I consider myself quite the lucky bastard for getting to go. Also, I think most fan publications and web sites over-emphasize the "celebrity" aspect of film composers, instead of discussing them as people who happen to write music for film, and once in a while get to do something creative that they like, in addition to (like us all) trying to be happy by doing something in their lives, like having a family and a career.

Conveniently my mind has gone completely blank on anecdotes, but I'll stress one thing to aspiring composers, because I know a lot of you are out there: be a good person. This has nothing to do with music but has everything with being a successful film composer. Film is a collaborative medium, and the people who work and have lasting careers are the people whose personalities make you want to be with them. Do not confuse being "nice" with being bland, because that's possibly worse, but don't give people a hard time.

One of these days I'd love to have an FSM convention where fans and composers got to interact in a human way. Wouldn't that be cool? I remember going to a Star Trek convention when I was 14 and being made to feel like a moron because the only way I could interact with Sulu or whomever was by waiting in line for a magic marker autograph for an hour. It would be fun to get a roomful of fans and a few composers together and have an honest discussion about music and movies and all the things we love about them. It would have to be in Los Angeles but I'm open to suggestions (MailBag@filmscoremonthly.com).

A word about the actual awards (full list of winners below). These are not given by a panel of judges, and actually are not decided strictly by artistic merit. They are given to those composers who scored the most watched movies and TV shows of the year, as well as to those who have already won a prior award (like an Emmy). The reason is simple: BMI, which is one of the two large publishing/royalty collection and administration companies for composers and publishers (ASCAP is the other), doesn't want to be seen as taking sides for or against any of its members. This way they honor people who have been successful in a non-judgmental way. Which I can understand.

(I learned the difference between ASCAP and BMI, besides the fact that they are separate entities. ASCAP stands for American Society of Composers And Publishers, was founded by musicians and is run by them to this day; BMI stands for Broadcast Music Inc and was founded by broadcasters. They have certain differences in their by-laws and corporate structures, and BMI tends to have a younger membership, while ASCAP represents a lot of the famous songwriters of an older generation. They've both been very cool to me.)

Okay, here's the complete list of awards winners; the event took place at the Regent Beverly Wilshire Hotel in Beverly Hills, and was hosted by BMI President and CEO Frances W. Preston.

Richard Kirk Award: Alan Menken (there was a nice montage of clips shown)

BMI Film Music Awards

David Arnold, Tomorrow Never Dies

Teddy Castellucci, The Wedding Singer

Randy Edelman, Anaconda

Danny Elfman, Men In Black, Good Will Hunting, Flubber

Jerry Goldsmith, Air Force One, L.A. Confidential

Mark Mancina, Con Air

Alan Menken, Hercules

Trevor Rabin, Con Air

Graeme Revell, The Saint

Hans Zimmer, As Good As It Gets

BMI Most Performed Song from a Film

Will Jennings: "My Heart Will Go On" from Titanic; Blue Sky Rider Songs, Ensign Music Corporation, Fox Film Music Corporation

BMI Academy Award Winner: Will Jennings, "My Heart Will Go On" from Titanic

BMI Golden Globes Winner: Will Jennings, "My Heart Will Go On" from Titanic

BMI TV Music Awards

Bill Cosby, Benny Golson: Cosby

Dennis C. Brown, Dharma & Greg

W.G. "Snuffy" Walden, The Drew Carey Show

Marty Davich, ER

Bruce Miller, Darryl Phinnessee: Frasier, Union Square

Allee Willis, Friends

Steve Hampton, Just Shoot Me

Roger Neill, John O'Connor (PRS), Lance Rubin: King of the Hill

Paul Reiser, David Kitay: Mad About You

Mike Post, NYPD Blue, Law & Order

Ian Dye, NYPD Blue

Danny Elfman, The Simpsons

Isaac Hayes, David Porter: Soul Man

Marc Lichtman, Touched By An Angel

Robert Israel, 20/20

Mark Vogel , Two Guys, A Girl and A Pizza Place

Richard Band, Kevin Kiner, Chuck Norris, Tirk Wilder: Walker, Texas Ranger

BMI Emmy Award Winners

Louis Febre, The Cape

Ken Corday, Amy Evans, Dominic Messenger, Brent Nelson: Days Of Our Lives

Julie Bernstein, Steve Bernstein, Richard Stone: Animaniacs

John Williams, "Summon the Heroes" from The Centennial Olympic Games

Stan Bush, "Until I Was Loved By You" from Guiding Light

Gloria Sklerov, "Until I Was Loved By You" from Guiding Light

Cableace Award Winners

Dave Grusin, In The Gloaming

Eban Schletter, "Jeepers Creepers" from Mr. Show with Bob and David.