[Congressional Record Volume 158, Number 93 (Tuesday, June 19, 2012)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1073]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                       TRIBUTE TO FRANCES PRESTON

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. HOWARD L. BERMAN

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, June 19, 2012

  Mr. BERMAN. Mr. Speaker, I am joined by my colleagues Congressmen 
Steve Cohen, Jim Cooper, Marsha Blackburn, Jerrold Nadler, Howard 
Coble, Lamar Smith, Barney Frank, and John Conyers to honor the life 
and memory of one of the First Ladies of American music, Frances W. 
Preston, the former president and Chief Executive Officer of Broadcast 
Music Inc. (BMI).
  Frances Preston was a trailblazer who opened up doors of opportunity 
for a new generation of female executives in the music and 
entertainment industries. No barriers stopped Frances in advocating for 
songwriters' rights, and on Capitol Hill, her tireless advocacy was 
critical in protecting the music industry. Her counsel was 
indispensible and we sought it often.
  The business acumen of Frances Preston was exceeded only by her 
charisma and charm, and by the respect, affection and admiration her 
colleagues and peers had for her. She was lauded for her empathy and 
for the gracious manner in which she treated every person, from the 
hottest star to the humblest worker. She was an exceptional executive, 
leader, role model and friend.
  With Frances at its head, BMI grew to represent over 300,000 American 
and foreign songwriters, composers and music publishers in licensing 
music, and collecting and distributing royalties from play on radio and 
in television, films, ads and other media. Its artists represent all 
types of music and its catalog contains 4.5 million works. During her 
18 years as president, its revenue grew more than three times to more 
than $625 million.
  BMI has become an internationally respected leader and a unique 
success story as the entertainment industry has been transformed by 
digital technology and globalization. Sensitive to the changing world 
of music, Frances focused on domestic licensing, foreign performing 
rights, legislation for fair compensation for writers and publishers, 
and copyright protection.
  Frances joined BMI in 1958 after working in music and broadcasting in 
Nashville. She opened BMI's regional office there, and led her company 
to preeminence in the South, signing writers and publishers with roots 
in both country and other types of music.
  In 1964, the year the Nashville BMI building opened on Music Row, 
Frances became a vice president of BMI--reportedly, the first woman 
corporate executive in Tennessee.
  She has often been called a trailblazer in the music business but 
Frances was also a trailblazer among women. She was the first woman 
Rotarian in the State of Tennessee. She was the first woman to work 
with the National Chamber of Commerce. She was one of the first four 
women--and the first businesswoman--to be invited to join the Friars 
Club in New York and the first woman to serve on their board of 
governors.
  Frances was an industry pioneer and a compassionate humanitarian who 
touched the lives of many people, and she will be sorely missed.

                          ____________________