HIGHLIGHTS FROM COMIC-CON’S 2019 PANEL “THE CHARACTER OF MUSIC” PRESENTED BY BMI & WHITE BEAR PR

“The Character of Music” panelists gather for a photo during Comic-Con 2019. Pictured (L to R) are: Co-moderator Chandler Poling (White Bear PR), BMI composer Tyler Bates (John Wick franchise), director Michael Schwandt, video game director Matt Nava (Abzu), Co-moderator Anne Cecere (BMI), two-time BAFTA-winning composer Austin Wintory (Journey), showrunner Aaron Ehasz (The Dragon Prince), and Emmy-winning BMI composer Frederik Wiedmann, on July 19, 2019 in San Diego. Photo Credit: William Kim

BMI and White Bear PR brought together a talented group of composers and directors for the “Character of Music” panel at Comic-Con’s 50th anniversary on Friday, July 19, at the San Diego Convention Center. The all-star line-up included renowned BMI composer Tyler Bates (R.U.N) and the director of Cirque du Soleil’s new live-action thriller, R.U.N., Michael Schwandt; Emmy-winning BMI composer Frederik Wiedmann along with showrunner Aaron Ehasz (The Dragon Prince); and two-time BAFTA-winning composer Austin Wintory (Abzu) with video game director Matt Nava (Abzu). This year’s panel was a full house and amongst the most popular seats at Comic-Con. Attendees who secured a spot to see the panel included a mixture of emerging composers, directors and music fans.   BMI’s Anne Cecere and White Bear PR’s Chandler Poling co-moderated the ninth edition of “The Character of Music.” The panelists touched on several key elements that go into producing a successful score for movies, live shows and video games, along with the key ingredients of a productive and creative relationship between composers and directors. Wiedmann elaborated on the early stages of harmonic development for the characters on The Dragon Prince, and Ehasz emphasized on the importance of finding a composer who can be brilliant and fast when scoring for television. Bates and Schwandt expanded on music’s vital role in the live-action thriller R.U.N. written by Robert Rodriguez. Wintory and Nava discussed the benefits of developing a short cut piece in the initial stages of game scoring to align visions. The panelists also answered questions from the audience, and participants received limited-edition swag from the composers.

Left: (L to R) BMI composer Tyler Bates, showrunner Aaron Ehasz, Emmy-winning BMI composer Frederik Wiedmann, and video game director Matt Nava, answer questions during their panel “The Character of Music” at Comic-Con on July 19, 2019 in San Diego. Photo Credit: William Kim  Right: (L-R) Matt Nava, BMI’s Anne Cecere, and Austin Wintory pause for a photo during Comic-Con, on July 19, 2019 in San Diego. Photo Credit: William Kim

Left: “The Character of Music” panelists Michael Schwandt and BMI composer Tyler Bates pose for a photo during Comic-Con on July 19, 2019 in San Diego. Photo Credit: William Kim Middle: (L-R) Director Michael Schwandt, BMI composer Tyler Bates, showrunner Aaron Ehasz, Emmy-winning BMI composer Frederik Wiedmann, video game director Matt Nava, and composer Austin Wintory, during “The Character of Music” panel at Comic-Con on July 19, 2019 in San Diego. Photo Credit: William Kim Right: (L-R) Showrunner Aaron Ehasz, White Bear PR’s Chandler Poling, and Emmy-winning BMI composer Frederik Wiedmann pose for a photo before their panel “The Character of Music” at Comic-Con on July 19, 2019 in San Diego. Photo Credit: William Kim

Left: (L-R) Moderating are White Bear PR’s Chandler Poling and BMI’s Anne Cecere, and panelists Michael Schwandt and Tyler Bates. Our panelists discussed their creative process during the “The Character of Music” panel at Comic-Con, on July 19 in San Diego. Photo Credit: William Kim Right: (L-R) Photographed during Comic-Con 2019 are director Michael Schwandt, BMI’s Anne Cecere, and BMI composer Tyler Bates on July 19, 2019 in San Diego. Photo Credit: William Kim

About BMI Celebrating over 78 years of service to songwriters, composers, music publishers and businesses, Broadcast Music, Inc.® (BMI®) is a global leader in music rights management, serving as an advocate for the value of music. BMI represents the public performance rights in 14 million musical works created and owned by more than 900,000 songwriters, composers, and music publishers. The Company negotiates music license agreements and distributes the fees it generates as royalties to its affiliated writers and publishers when their songs are performed in public. In 1939, BMI created a groundbreaking open-door policy becoming the only performing rights organization to welcome and represent the creators of blues, jazz, country, and American roots music. Today, the musical compositions in BMI’s repertoire, from chart toppers to perennial favorites, span all genres of music and are consistently among the most-performed hits of the year. For additional information and the latest BMI news, visit bmi.com, follow us on Twitter @BMI or stay connected through Broadcast Music, Inc.‘s Facebook page. Sign up for BMI’s The Weekly™ and receive our e-newsletter every week to stay up to date on all things music.