Performing rights
organization Broadcast Music, Inc. (BMI) is giving up and coming artists the chance
to display their talent, as part of an urban music showcase taking place in Atlanta.
Hosted by producer Jazze Pha and 107.9’s Rashaan Ali and including appearances
by T-Pain, Yung Joc, and Fat Joe, the showcase will take place at Atlanta’s
Club E.S.S.O. on Thursday, April 19. Finalists for the competition include
Nikkiya, Young ACE Scrilla, Six20, and Dain Harris. The four artists will
be judged by an esteemed group of judges including manager Hannah King, producer
DJ Toomp, Def Jam Executive VP, A&R Jay Brown, and many others including a
celebrity guest panel that will be revealed at the show. The winner of
the showcase will receive quite an impressive prize package. The much
sought after prize package will include two 12-hour sessions in Studio A at Tree
Sound Studio with an engineer, two tickets to the 2007 BMI Urban Awards in Las
Vegas, two Delta round-trip airfare tickets and one hotel room for two nights
in Las Vegas during the BMI Urban Awards, a Gibson guitar, a $1,000 cash prize
and a complete style makeover, including hair, makeup and clothing, provided by
Seven Over Escape.
For the past 65 years, BMI has represented over 300,000 songwriters, composers,
and publishers collecting license fees from businesses that use music and then
distributing the royalties to the creators and copyright owners.