Warner/Chappell Music Songwriters and Producers Take Top Honors at the Seventh Annual BMI Urban Music Awards

NEW YORK, NY--(Marketwire - September 11, 2007) - Songwriters and producers from Warner/Chappell Music, the publishing arm of Warner Music Group Corp. (NYSE: WMG) and one of the world's largest music publishers, took top honors at the annual BMI Urban Music Awards ceremony held on Friday, September 7th in Las Vegas. Warner/Chappell Music songwriter T.I. won his first "Songwriter of the Year" award, BMI Top Urban Producer Mike Jones received BMI's "Urban Ringtone of the Year" award for having the most downloads for his song "I'm N Luv (Wit A Stripper)" and 10 other Warner/Chappell songwriters were recognized for their chart-topping songs.

The annual award ceremony recognizes the world's premier songwriters, publishers and producers of the top BMI urban songs in the R&B, Rap and Hip-Hop genres.

"These awards are industry recognition of Warner/Chappell's continued strength and presence in urban music," said Dave Johnson, Chairman and CEO, Warner/Chappell Music. "We are extremely proud that Warner/Chappell's talented songwriters are writing many of hip-hop, rap and R&B's biggest hits and that BMI has once again recognized not only their talent but their strong presence in traditional and burgeoning digital music."

"Over the past few years, Warner/Chappell has dedicated significant energy and resources to the urban genre and has developed an impressive roster of established and developing writers who are now a dominant force in urban music," said Christopher Hicks, Senior Vice President and Head of Urban Music for Warner/Chappell Music and Atlantic Records. "We are extremely pleased with this recognition of the important progress we have made and the momentum we now have as one of the leading publishers of urban music."

Warner/Chappell Music songwriter/producer T.I. was recognized as one of BMI's Top Producers for such hits as "What You Know," "Shoulder Lean" (co-written with fellow Warner/Chappell songwriter Young Dro) and "Grillz." T.I. also won his first "Songwriter of the Year" award. Mike Jones was awarded with the "Urban Ringtone of the Year," award while the following Warner/Chappell Music songwriters were recognized among the winners for most performed songs of the year for their recent hit singles including:

--  "Get Up" and "So What" (songwriter Jazze Pha)
--  "Here We Go" (administered by First N Gold and Warner/Chappell)
--  "I Know U See It" and "It's Goin' Down" (songwriter Yung Joc)
--  "I'm N Luv (Wit a Stripper)" (songwriters Mike Jones and T-Pain)
--  "My Love" (songwriters Timbaland, Danjahandz and T.I.)
--  "Shoulder Lean" (songwriter Young Dro)
--  "Badd" (songwriter Mike Jones)
--  "Do It To It" (songwriter Don Vito)
    

Warner/Chappell's successful strategy is also reflected in its interests in numerous chart-topping songs on Billboard's urban charts, including Rihanna's "Umbrella," written by Dream, Chris Brown's "Say Goodbye," written by Kendrick Dean and Bryan-Michael Cox, Nelly Furtado's "Promiscuous Girl," written by Timbaland and Danjahandz, and Justin Timberlake's "My Love," written by Timbaland, Danjahandz and T.I. Warner/Chappell also had significant participation in a string of hit albums on the Billboard Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums Chart over the last year including albums from Mary J. Blige, Timbaland and Lloyd, among others.

Warner/Chappell's U.S. roster of talented urban writers includes: Dr. Dre, Timbaland, Bryan-Michael Cox, T.I., Jazze Pha, Kay Gee, Danjahandz, Lil Wayne, Mike Jones, Paul Wall, Fat Joe, Yung Joc, Fabo, Trillville, J.U.S.T.I.C.E. League, Rockwilder, Young Dro, Dave Young, Don Cannon, Teddy Bishop, Drumma Boy, Zak Wallace, Eric Hudson, india.arie, Don Vito, Kendrick Dean, KC, Souldiggaz, Corte Ellis and others. Warner/Chappell is proud to work closely and have cooperative relationships with Noontime Music, Dr. Dre, Timbaland, Grand Hustle Publishing, Swishahouse Publishing, First N Gold, Artist Publishing Group and Block Entertainment.

Founded in 1939, BMI is an American performing rights organization representing more than 300,000 songwriters, composers and music publishers in all genres of music. BMI collects license fees on behalf of those American creators it represents, as well as thousands of creators from around the world who chose BMI for representation in the United States. The license fees BMI collects for the "public performances" of its repertoire of more than 6.5 million compositions -- including radio airplay, broadcast and cable television carriage, Internet and live and recorded performances by all other users of music -- are distributed as royalties to the writers, composers and copyright holders it represents.

About Warner/Chappell Music

Warner/Chappell Music is WMG's award-winning global music publishing company. The Warner/Chappell Music catalog includes standards such as "Happy Birthday To You," "Rhapsody in Blue," "Winter Wonderland," the songs of Cole Porter and George and Ira Gershwin, as well as the music of Dido, Dr. Dre, Eric Clapton, Green Day, Led Zeppelin, Madonna, Nickelback, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Sheryl Crow, T.I. and others. Warner/Chappell Music is a leader in creating innovative strategies for marketing and promoting its songwriters and their music. The company's extensive catalog makes it a natural first stop for A&R executives and record producers, feature film and television production companies, and others looking to record or license some of the world's greatest music.

Contact Information: Contact: Josh Cramer-Montes 212-275-1375