The certificate reads “BMI Citation of Achievement presented by Broadcast Music, Inc. to Press Publishing Co., Inc. in recognition of the great national popularity, as measured by broadcast performances, attained by Elvis Presley's 'Suspicious Minds' in 1969.” Presley was amidst a change in career direction in 1969 as his movie career came to a close and he opted a return to the concert stage. 'Suspicious Minds' by songwriter Mark James was handed to Elvis by producer Chips Moman, becoming a #1 single in 1969 - Presley's first since 1962's 'Good Luck Charm.' It was his 17th and last #1 single in the U. S., and is ranked by Rolling Stone magazine as #91 on their list of the '500 Greatest Songs of All Time.' BMI, otherwise known as Broadcast Music, Inc. collects licensing fees from businesses that use music, which it then distributes to songwriters, composers, and music publishers. Like its competing organization, ASCAP (American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers), one of the primary vehicles by which those fees are gauged is radio and television airplay. BMI's top songs are 'You've Lost That Lovin' Feeling' and 'Yesterday,' both of which were broadcast 8 million times in the 20th century. BMI Certificates of Achievement are, of course, highly collectible. Scattered light surface creasing, toning around the edges, and a mild area of soiling at the bottom edge, otherwise fine condition. RRAuction COA.
