BMI Foundation Announces peermusic Latin Scholarship

Ralph N. Jackson, President of the BMI Foundation, Inc., and Ralph Peer II, Chairman and CEO of peermusic, announced today the establishment of the peermusic Latin Scholarship for young songwriters and composers. Funded through the generosity of the peermusic companies, the new $5,000 scholarship will be awarded annually through a competition for original Latin songs and instrumental compositions. 

The first contest, which is currently underway, includes students between the ages of 16 and 24 from 17 select schools in California, Florida, Illinois, Massachusetts, New York, Puerto Rico and Texas. According to Jackson, “Peermusic has always been a leader in the field of Latin music, and we are delighted to partner with them in creating this wonderful new opportunity for young people in the Latin songwriting community.”  Founded by Ralph Peer in 1928, peermusic is a global network of music publishing companies operating from 33 offices in 27 countries. With well over a quarter of a million titles in the company’s catalogue, and songs that vary from country, blues, jazz and pop to Latin, concert and rock ‘n’ roll, peermusic is the largest privately owned company of its kind in the world. 

The BMI Foundation, Inc. is a not-for-profit corporation founded in 1985 to support the creation, performance and study of music through awards, scholarships, commissions and grants. Tax-deductible donations to the Foundation come primarily from songwriters, composers and publishers, BMI employees and members of the public with a special interest in music. Because both the Foundation staff and the distinguished members of the Advisory Panel serve without compensation, over 97% of all donations and income are used for charitable grants.