| BMI (Broadcast Music, Inc.) celebrated its 39th Annual Film, TV & Visual Media Awards honoring the top performing composers of the past year at the Beverly Wilshire Hotel in Beverly Hills, California. The highest honor of the evening went to acclaimed film, television and gaming composer Christopher Lennertz, who was named a BMI Icon in recognition of his significant musical contributions, exceptional body of work and unmatched efforts in supporting the next generation of composers. The private ceremony was hosted by BMI President and CEO Mike O’Neill and BMI Vice President, Creative, Film, TV & Visual Media, Tracy McKnight. O’Neill presented Lennertz with the BMI Icon award, noting that the revered composer was “legendary for his diverse and distinctive impact across the worlds of film, television and gaming.” He went on to say, “Chris, you are a brilliant storyteller through your music, and your captivating scores have taken us on a thrilling ride.” Following a video tribute highlighting his successful career, Lennertz thanked BMI, his family, peers and mentors who have guided him and helped shape the composer he is today. He continued, “Our music helps people believe in their own story, their own worth, their own identity and their own existence, so I am humbled and honored to be in this room entirely filled with people who loved and believed in me.” Throughout his prolific career, Lennertz has scored blockbusters like Bad Moms, Horrible Bosses,and Ride Along, among others. On the small screen, his music appears in acclaimed series like The Boys, Revolution, Marvel’s Agent Carter and the cult-favorite Supernatural. He’s also one of the most in-demand composers for video games with hits like Medal of Honor, James Bond and the Mass Effect series. He has won a GRAMMY, twenty BMI awards and received two Emmy nominations. His passion for education and philanthropy also plays a major part in his life serving on the board of Education Through Music-Los Angeles and Mr. Holland’s Opus Foundation, as well as Hands Together Haiti. Lennertz also launched the Symphony of Hope project, a collaboration of leading film and TV composers and musicians joining together to rally the film music community in support of Haiti following the 2010 earthquake. In receiving this honor, Lennertz joins a prestigious list of BMI Icon Award recipients including Terence Blanchard, Alexandre Desplat, James Newton Howard, Rachel Portman (PRS), Alan Silvestri, Brian Tyler and John Williams, among others. During the ceremony, many notable composers were saluted for music featured in the past year’s top-grossing films, top-rated network television series and highest-ranking cable network and streamed media programs. Some of the night’s multiple award winners included Pierre Charles, Mychael Danna, Ramin Djawadi, Ludwig Göransson, Harry Gregson-Williams, Kevin Kiner, Sean Kiner, Clint Mansell, Tony Morales, Mike Post, Brain Tyler and Breton Vivian. Atli Örvarsson received the most awards of the evening with a total of six crystals for his work on the hit TV shows Chicago P.D., Chicago Med, Chicago Fire, FBI, FBI: International and FBI: Most Wanted. |
For a complete list of winners, as well as information on BMI’s film and television composers and events, visit: BMI.com/filmtv2023.
