BMI Songwriters Rally For Lee County, FL
• BMI and iHeartMedia Fort Myers team up to present Songwriters for Southwest Florida, an Island Hopper Songwriter Fest relief concert to benefit hospitality workers in Lee County, FL after the devastating aftermath of Hurricane Ian. The response to help was overwhelming, with many songwriters pledging their support to a community that has given so much to them during their time at the annual 10-day Island Hopper Songwriter Fest in Southwest Florida over the last eight years.
The concert will be held on Nov. 2 at 3rd & Lindsley in Nashville and feature BMI songwriters who have performed at the festival since its inception, including Aaron Barker, Kristian Bush of Sugarland, Sheena Brook, Brooke Eden, Tim James, Paul McDonald, Frank Myers, Danny Myrick, Maggie Rose, Stephanie Quayle, Maia Sharp and more.
“BMI has been a proud sponsor of the Island Hopper Songwriter Fest since the beginning,” said Dan Spears, BMI’s VP of Industry Relations. “The festival has always given our songwriters amazing venues to showcase their music and connect with fans. In response to the hurricane, many BMI songwriters came forward, offering to do what they do best- bringing people together through music. We’re hoping to raise enough to give back to those hospitality workers in Lee County who have welcomed us over the last eight years.” Spears added, “I’d also like to thank our longtime partners, iHeartMedia and Fort Myers — Islands, Beaches & Neighborhoods, and our BMI songwriters for making this concert a reality.”
Louis Kaplan, longtime SVP of Programming for iHeart Ft Myers, commented, “Hurricane Ian dealt a horrific blow to the coastline of Southwest Florida’s people and businesses, especially the hotel, hospitality and restaurant workers that we work so closely with each year in the planning and execution of the Island Hopper Songwriter Fest. We’re so grateful to all of the festival artists, past and present, who have stepped up on behalf of the people who were so damaged by the storm. I’m lifted by all the support.”
Tickets are now on sale, with 100% of the proceeds going to the fund. To compliment the benefit concert, there is also an online auction with items signed by Luke Bryan, HARDY, Leslie Jordan, LOCASH, Mike Love of the Beach Boys, Frank Myers, and more. To bid on the auction items, visit songwritersforswfl.com, and to make online donations to the fund, go to visitfortmyers.com.
