Big numbers are on the board for Lil Baby as he was named the top songwriter for the first quarter of 2020. During January, February, and March of 2020, over 800 songwriters received RIAA certification, however, but Baby is the clear winner with 22 certifications, Music Business Worldwide reports.
The RIAA certifications include Gold (500,000), Platinum (1,000,000) and Multi-Platinum (2,000,000+).
“Our new, quarterly announcements identify empirically the top songwriters in music today,” said, NMPA President & CEO David Israelite. “We are thrilled for all of the newly minted Gold & Platinum writers, particularly Lil Baby who has had a phenomenal Q1 run.”
“Thank you very much to my QC team / Wolfpack / 4PF, UMPG, my family, friends and all my fans for keeping me going to write these hits,” Lil Baby said of the achievement.
Earlier this year, Lil Baby released his latest album My Turn, which did 55 million streams on the first day of its release and went on to do over 1 billion global streams in three weeks.
It is a spiritual marriage between artists and songwriters, but it is not a bunch of hocus pocus. It takes work and engineering. While talent is key, there is a nurturing of skill that takes a cute ditty into a Billboard top charter. The new NBC hit show, Songland does that. Songland takes budding songwriters, and gives them the opportunity to present their original song to big superstar talent, like John Legend, Jonas Brothers, Meghan Trainor, Kelsea Ballerini and many more. It also invites three of the group of songwriters to work on their songs with three celebrity songwriter mentors/ judges: Ryan Tedder, Ester Dean and Shane McAnally. After that, the featured superstar gets to choose which song that they like most and will record.
Tonight’s episode features the seven times Grammy-Award winning will.i.am.
The songwriters gearing up for tonight’s episodes are from various backgrounds, and styles of music.
One songwriter is Josh Logan, who is originally from Chester, NY but now lives in Los Angeles. He is no newly and has a few big name credits under his belt. Most recently he has penned Jana Kramer’s country radio single ‘Beautiful Lies’, and JYYE’s EDM single on Tiësto’s label ‘Reason.’ He has also written for Brett Young, Michael Ray, Lauren Alaina and LOCASH.
Another songwriter on this episode is 19- year-old Indian transplant, Charisma Dixon. Currently living in LA, she has worked with artists like Snoop Dogg, Usher and songwriter Max Martin who has written for Katy Perry, Maroon 5, Taylor Swift, and The Weeknd. Her website says that she was Grammy nominated.
Also a teenager, Hip-Hop and Rock influenced Ray Goren uses his musicianship (he plays everything from guitar, synthesizer, drums, and piano) to write and produce. JAMMCard has named him as one of their ’20 Under 20′ artists for this year. At 18, he is one to watch.
Lastly, Arizona’s Adam Friedman makes an appearance tonight. This name might sound familiar, he was on a season of The Bachelor.
Tune in tonight to see how they create their massive hits, and which one will.i.am will select.
Missy’s career includes writing, production, and development for a plethora of Hip-Hop and R&B acts dating back more than 25 years. Elliott has six solo albums, all certified gold or better. She worked extensively on albums by Aaliyah, 702, Monica, and Tweet, among others. She is a five-time Grammy Award-winner (out of 22 nominations), including “Best Rap Solo Performance” for 2002’s “Get Ur Freak On.”
The 47-year-old Elliott’s journey of tenacity and perseverance began in Portsmouth, Virginia. The rapper, producer, and singer had a difficult childhood, involving accounts of physical abuse from her father and reports of molestation from a cousin when she was eight. The family also lived in Jacksonville, North Carolina for a period, when Elliott’s father, a shipyard welder, moved there for work.
Music would become a driving force in Elliott’s life by her teens. She co-formed R&B group Fayze. Timbaland, who was from the same area, produced the group. In 1991, Jodeci member Devante Sway heard some of the group’s material and signed them to his Swing Mob/Elektra Records imprint. In 1993, a backed Sista (a re-brand under Devante’s suggestion) released “Brand New.”
Living together in New York City, Swing Mob became a unit, also including Tim’, Magoo, and later, Ginuine, Tweet, and Playa. In the early ’90s, Elliott began offering her writing to others, including Cosby Show actress Raven Symone (see: “That’s What Little Girls Are Made Of”), as well as extensive work with Jodeci on the group’s second and third albums. In late 1994, Swing Mob released Sista’s 4 All The Sistas Around Da World. It contained Timbaland and Devante production (as well as Mr. Dalvin), with appearances by Mary J. Blige and K-Ci. After the group’s lone LP.
As Swing Mob disbanded from the label, Missy would continue production, writing, and development. She and Tim’ partnered and worked acts. None would be bigger than Aaliyah, whose One In A Million album featured extensive production, songwriting, and some raps from Missy. The 1996 double-platinum effort gave way for Elliott’s solo career. One year later, back on EastWest/Elektra, she would release Supa Dupa Fly. At a time when many female Rap artists led with sexual imagery and song themes, Elliott’s approach focused on inventive deliveries, universal subject matters, and a universe of jaw-dropping music videos.
The album debuted at #3, with more than 125,000 units, a first for a female solo MC at that time. Elliott joined JAY-Z on tour and persisted with a series of feature spots on albums.
Although the 1990s introduced Elliott to the masses, she reached her greatest strides between 2000 and 2005. 2001’s Miss E…So Addictive, 2002’s Under Construction, and 2005’s The Cookbook were each Top 3 on the charts. Under Construction contained two Top 10 singles, “Gossip Folks” with Ludacris and “Work It.” At a time when tough-talking Rap music was in vogue, Missy kept the party moving, and connected the genre to its origins, through sampling homages, fashion, and dance.
On her most recent album, 2005’s The Cookbook, Elliott again flashed Rap music back to an oft-overlooked part of its origins. “Lose Control” paid respects to Cybotron and Hot Streak, while reinvigorating club DJ records of the early 1990s, thanks to Fatman Scoop. It became Elliott’s first multi-platinum single.
Outside of her own catalog, Missy has appeared on hits ranging from MC Lyte and Lil’ Kim records to pupils including Ciara and her Gold Mind Records artist, Tweet.
In the last 14 years, Elliott has remained comparatively quiet. She has released a handful of promotional singles, always hinting at a seventh album. 2015’s “WTF (Where They From)” with Pharrell and 2017’s “I’m Better,” featuring Lamb, each made the charts. So did Missy’s two Step Up 2: The Streets songs more than a decade ago.
One year ago to the month, while receiving an award presented by Janet Jackson, Elliott told the public about her private battle with autoimmune illness Graves’ Disease. “I was sick and I couldn’t even lift a pen,” Missy told the audience during her acceptance speech, referring to her diagnosis of Graves’ Disease, an autoimmune disease. “My nervous system had broken all the way down. I didn’t come up in here in a wheelchair. Nobody helped me get up here. I’m walking…by the grace of God.” According to ABC News, Elliott confirmed the diagnosis to media and fans in 2011, but has been very quiet publicly about her health. She had been feeling effects since 2008. “I was on medication for a short while but have been off it for quite some time now,” she said then in a press release, “I manage the condition through diet and exercise.”
Elliott joins an induction class that includes Cat Stevens (nka Yusuf), Tom T. Hall, John Prine, and Jack Tempchin. Dallas Austin, a songwriter/producer recognized for his work with TLC, P!nk, Gwen Stefanie, and Boyz II Men, will also be inducted. Austin founded Rowdy Records, a label that also featured Rap artists including Illegal and Y’all So Stupid. Outside of those acts, he has produced for Erick Sermon and Poison Clan’s JT Money.
The induction ceremony will take place June 13 at the Marriott Marquis Hotel in New York City.
Missy’s career includes writing, production, and development for a plethora of Hip-Hop and R&B acts dating back more than 25 years. Elliott has six solo albums, all certified gold or better. She worked extensively on albums by Aaliyah, 702, Monica, and Tweet, among others. She is a five-time Grammy Award-winner (out of 22 nominations), including “Best Rap Solo Performance” for 2002’s “Get Ur Freak On.”
The 47-year-old Elliott’s journey of tenacity and perseverance began in Portsmouth, Virginia. The rapper, producer, and singer had a difficult childhood, involving accounts of physical abuse from her father and reports of molestation from a cousin when she was eight. The family also lived in Jacksonville, North Carolina for a period, when Elliott’s father, a shipyard welder, moved there for work.
Music would become a driving force in Elliott’s life by her teens. She co-formed R&B group Fayze. Timbaland, who was from the same area, produced the group. In 1991, Jodeci member Devante Sway heard some of the group’s material and signed them to his Swing Mob/Elektra Records imprint. In 1993, a backed Sista (a re-brand under Devante’s suggestion) released “Brand New.”
Living together in New York City, Swing Mob became a unit, also including Tim’, Magoo, and later, Ginuine, Tweet, and Playa. In the early ’90s, Elliott began offering her writing to others, including Cosby Show actress Raven Symone (see: “That’s What Little Girls Are Made Of”), as well as extensive work with Jodeci on the group’s second and third albums. In late 1994, Swing Mob released Sista’s 4 All The Sistas Around Da World. It contained Timbaland and Devante production (as well as Mr. Dalvin), with appearances by Mary J. Blige and K-Ci. After the group’s lone LP.
As Swing Mob disbanded from the label, Missy would continue production, writing, and development. She and Tim’ partnered and worked acts. None would be bigger than Aaliyah, whose One In A Million album featured extensive production, songwriting, and some raps from Missy. The 1996 double-platinum effort gave way for Elliott’s solo career. One year later, back on EastWest/Elektra, she would release Supa Dupa Fly. At a time when many female Rap artists led with sexual imagery and song themes, Elliott’s approach focused on inventive deliveries, universal subject matters, and a universe of jaw-dropping music videos.
The album debuted at #3, with more than 125,000 units, a first for a female solo MC at that time. Elliott joined JAY-Z on tour and persisted with a series of feature spots on albums.
Although the 1990s introduced Elliott to the masses, she reached her greatest strides between 2000 and 2005. 2001’s Miss E…So Addictive, 2002’s Under Construction, and 2005’s The Cookbook were each Top 3 on the charts. Under Construction contained two Top 10 singles, “Gossip Folks” with Ludacris and “Work It.” At a time when tough-talking Rap music was in vogue, Missy kept the party moving, and connected the genre to its origins, through sampling homages, fashion, and dance.
On her most recent album, 2005’s The Cookbook, Elliott again flashed Rap music back to an oft-overlooked part of its origins. “Lose Control” paid respects to Cybotron and Hot Streak, while reinvigorating club DJ records of the early 1990s, thanks to Fatman Scoop. It became Elliott’s first multi-platinum single.
Outside of her own catalog, Missy has appeared on hits ranging from MC Lyte and Lil’ Kim records to pupils including Ciara and her Gold Mind Records artist, Tweet.
In the last 14 years, Elliott has remained comparatively quiet. She has released a handful of promotional singles, always hinting at a seventh album. 2015’s “WTF (Where They From)” with Pharrell and 2017’s “I’m Better,” featuring Lamb, each made the charts. So did Missy’s two Step Up 2: The Streets songs more than a decade ago.
One year ago to the month, while receiving an award presented by Janet Jackson, Elliott told the public about her private battle with autoimmune illness Graves’ Disease. “I was sick and I couldn’t even lift a pen,” Missy told the audience during her acceptance speech, referring to her diagnosis of Graves’ Disease, an autoimmune disease. “My nervous system had broken all the way down. I didn’t come up in here in a wheelchair. Nobody helped me get up here. I’m walking…by the grace of God.” According to ABC News, Elliott confirmed the diagnosis to media and fans in 2011, but has been very quiet publicly about her health. She had been feeling effects since 2008. “I was on medication for a short while but have been off it for quite some time now,” she said then in a press release, “I manage the condition through diet and exercise.”
Elliott joins an induction class that includes Cat Stevens (nka Yusuf), Tom T. Hall, John Prine, and Jack Tempchin. Dallas Austin, a songwriter/producer recognized for his work with TLC, P!nk, Gwen Stefanie, and Boyz II Men, will also be inducted. Austin founded Rowdy Records, a label that also featured Rap artists including Illegal and Y’all So Stupid. Outside of those acts, he has produced for Erick Sermon and Poison Clan’s JT Money.
The induction ceremony will take place June 13 at the Marriott Marquis Hotel in New York City.
A Philadelphia songwriter was awarded a total of $44 million after a lawsuit he filed against music producers over the use of music he created for an Ushersong. Daniel Marino claimed in his suit that he built the bulk of the song that would become Usher’s “Bad Girl” from his 2004 album Confessions, and said he was frozen out of profiting from the recording.
Daniel Marino was awarded the sum in Philadelphia Common Pleas Court last week, when a jury issued a verdict ordering defendant William Guice to pay $6.75 million in compensatory damages and $20.25 million in punitive damages.
The verdict joined a settlement earlier last week in which Destro Music Productions, owned by codefendant Dante Barton, agreed to pay Marino $17.35 million as part of a stipulated judgment, bringing his total award to $44.35 million. Marino also received a third of the ownership rights to the song in question, a transcription of court proceedings in the settlement indicated. Guice, Barton, and Destro were represented by attorney Jason C. Berger of Margolis Edelstein
…
According to a civil complaint, between 2001 and 2002, Marino worked with Guice and Barton to create and record “Club Girl,” a song that would later be recorded and released by Usher on his 2004 album, Confessions, retitled as “Bad Girl.” Marino, who was represented by Francis Alexander attorney Francis Malofiy, said via the complaint that he created a majority of the song, including its guitar hook, tempo, chord progression, and other elements, while Barton and Guice added a beat and lyrics, respectively.
Ouch.
Songwriters and producers, get your paperwork right before you’re looking at a big bill like this.
My Fans Ain’t Either 
