BMI FETES WILLIAMS

BMI honored Star Wars composer John Williams back in 1999 with its highest honor, the Kirk Award. To celebrate this career at the 34th annual BMI Film, TV & Visual Media Awards, the PRO will present him with a new one: the John Williams Award.

“He’s made a lasting impression on music lovers around the world, and an entire community of composers who he continues to inspire,” BMI Vice President Creative—Film, TV & Visual Media Doreen Ringer-Ross said. “Because of this, and for all that he has given the world of music and beyond, we felt it was appropriate to honor John with this special award.”

The ceremony, held 5/9 at the Beverly Wilshire Hotel, will also include the presentation of the BMI Champion Award to composers Laura Karpman, Miriam Cutler and Lolita Ritmanis for supporting fellow women media composers through The Alliance of Women Film Composers, which they founded in 2014.

Rick Baitz will receive BMI’s Classic Contribution Award for creating and leading BMI’s “Composing for the Screen” workshop for the past 10 years. Composers of the previous year’s top-grossing films, top-rated primetime network television series and highest-ranking cable and streamed media programs will also be recognized.