Exit Interview: Del Bryant, BMI President And CEO By Carl Marcucci
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Lew Dickey, Cumulus CEO What’s next for Cumulus?
Les Moonves, President and CEO of CBS, shares his vision. Elliot Evers, Managing Director, Media Venture Partners: Navigating today’s M&A marketplace Pat Liguori, COLTAM Chair and ABC SVP, Research: Measuring TV tuning on tablets, smartphones El Mandril: He’s back and bigger than ever with a new deal Christopher Golub & Studio Orca: Broadening FM’s horizons FIN Branding Group’s Jimmy Marston: FIN e-cigs likes radio
ecipient of the 2014 Golden Mike Award from the Broadcasters Foundation of America, Del Bryant joined BMI in 1972, and worked in numerous areas of the company for 32 years, rising to president and CEO in 2004. The son of Boudleaux and Felice Bryant, the legendary songwriters who penned such classics as The Everly Brothers’ “Bye, Bye Love,” and many more, Bryant’s rich musical heritage inspired his accomplishments and passion for the business. Del has seen the industry change with the explosion of online music companies, direct licensing deals, and government involvement in how licensing should be structured. As Del has announced his retirement after 42 years with BMI this coming June, RBR-TVBR sat down to ask him some important questions. Tell us how it feels to be this year’s Golden Mike recipient [asked before the event]. Well, I couldn’t be prouder. I am just a little bit bowled over that I am going to be receiving this award. There are so many deserving members of the broadcasting community out there. I am flattered at the number of people in the music industry who stepped forward to be there that night and say something nice about me, and entertain on my behalf. I can’t tell you how proud I am that Kris Kristofferson, Michael Bolton, Brenda Russell, my dear friends Sandra Lee and Jack Sander are all showing up. Most of all, I am extremely proud of the work the foundation does. It is heartfelt work.
Give us some highlights on how you’ve grown BMI’s business since starting there and after becoming CEO in 2004. I am probably most proud of having put together a team of the industry’s most capable and sought-after executives to head new divisions and new offices in important emerging genres of music. I was an early believer in the rising popularity of urban music, and helped assemble a powerful team dedicated to that music. Our Latin music department formed strong relationships with songwriter-producers and artists. BMI’s London office was a priority, and we developed it into a major hub to attract the best songwriting and performing talent from Europe and beyond. We expanded BMI’s footprint in Los Angeles in film and television music to include not only legends like John Williams DEL BRYANT and Mike Post, but also multiple Oscar winners like Alan Menken, Latin composer Gustavo Santaolalla, and international sensation Alexandre Desplat, to mention but a few. And our leadership in country music is legendary. All the while, our New York- and Los Angelesbased creative teams built the industry’s most successful roster of pop and rock stars, from Pink, Kid Rock, Jennifer Lopez, Adam Levine and Maroon 5, to Kesha, Pitbull, and so many more. Technology became a mission-critical goal for us during my presidency. We introduced the industry’s first iPhone app, and a groundbreaking program to permit performing songwriters to digitally upload data on their songs and performance venues from their smartphones and iPads.
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