BEVERLY HILLS, CALIFORNIA – MAY 10:
(L-R) BMI Vice President, Creative, Film, TV & Visual Media Tracy McKnight, Tony Morales, and BMI Executive Vice President, Creative & Licensing Mike Steinberg pose onstage during the 2023 BMI Film, TV and Visual Media Awards at Beverly Wilshire, A Four Seasons Hotel on May 10, 2023 in Beverly Hills, California. (Photo by Lester Cohen/Getty Images for BMI)
BEVERLY HILLS, CA (LA ELEMENTS) 5/21/2023 – “My kids and my family are the number one thing that keeps me inspired. I have a 10-year-old, a 15-year-old, and a beautiful wife. They are wonderful and I love them so much. So much of what I do comes from love, whether it be a character in a movie or something that is going on in a television show. I really try to use them as my biggest inspiration,” says Christopher Lennertz.
We caught up with Lennertz at the 39th Annual BMI Film, TV & Visual Media Awards where he was honored with the ICON Award. Held on May 10 at the legendary Beverly Wilshire Hotel, some of Hollywood’s best and brightest composers gathered to celebrate this widely anticipated industry event. Every year the BMI Awards come together to honor and celebrate top performing composers of the past year. The night focuses on shining a light on the amazing talents of songwriters, composers, and music publishers and the incredible magic they create for the world and some of our favorite on screen flicks and television shows.
The private ceremony this year was hosted by BMI President and CEO Mike O’Neill and BMI Vice President, Creative, Film, TV & Visual Media, Tracy McKnight. The highest honor of the night is the BMI Icon Award. This year’s BMI Icon recipient was none other acclaimed GRAMMY award-winning and two-time Emmy nominated composer Christopher Lennertz, who was recognized for his significant musical contributions, exceptional body of work cross film, television, and gaming, as well as his unmatched efforts in supporting the next generation of composers.
“Legendary for his diverse and distinctive impact across the worlds of film, television and gaming, Chris, you are a brilliant storyteller. Through your music, and your captivating scores, you have taken us on a thrilling ride,” said O’Neill while presenting Lennertz with the BMI Icon award.
Throughout his prolific career, Lennertz has scored some blockbuster hits like “Bad Moms,” “Horrible Bosses,” and “Ride Along.” While on TV Lennertz’s music has appeared in series like “The Boys,” “Revolution,” Marvel’s “Agent Carter” and the cult-favorite “Supernatural.” If that wasn’t impressive enough, 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.
Lennertz has won a GRAMMY, twenty BMI awards and received not one, but two Emmy nominations. His passion for education and philanthropy is a huge part of who Lennertz is. As a result, he serves 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 coming together to rally the film music community in support of Haiti following the 2010 earthquake.
“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,” says Lennertz after BMI shared a touching video tribute of his incredible career.
By 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.
“It feels very surreal and not real. I’ve been to so many of these where my heroes have gotten this award like John Williams, Tom Newman, and Alan Silvestri. I adore them and admire them in a way that they are such brilliant and amazing artists, that I really don’t feel like I belong here yet, but I’m very honored and appreciative that they chose me,” said Lennertz humbly.
“My absolute biggest advice for young composers is tell the story first. The music is just a vehicle to tell the story that characters are going through, and if you can make the audience feel inside what the characters are feeling inside that is a total win,” says Lennertz.
Atli Örvarsson picked up six awards at the BMI Film, TV and Visual Media Awards Photo by Jesse Grant/Getty Images for BMI)
During the ceremony, many notable composers were honored for their music that was 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.
Celebrating over 80 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 over 20.6 million musical works created and owned by more than 1.3 million 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, follow us on Twitter and Instagram @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.
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