[kneeling] RLG's Joe Galante, Diamond Rio's Marty Roe, BMI's Thomas Cain, Diamond Rio's Brian Prout, producer Mike Clute, [standing] Modern Management's Ted Greene, Arista's Bobby Kraig, Diamond Rio's Dan Truman, songwriters Skip Ewing and Donny Kees, Diamond Rio's Jimmy Olander, Dana Williams and Gene Johnson

The multi-week hit, recorded by Diamond Rio on their Arista album Completely and produced by Mike Clute, is published by Sony/ATV/Acuff-Rose Music and Write On Music. In charge of handing out the commemorative #1 cups was BMI's Thomas Cain, who played the healing angel in the accompanying "I Believe" video.

Kees and Ewing previously topped the country charts with "I'm Not Supposed To Love You Anymore" (Bryan White) and "If I Never Stop Loving You" (David Kersh). Other hits for Ewing -- BMI's 2000 Country Songwriter of the Year -- include "Wish You Were Here," "Someone Else's Star" and "Love, Me." This #1 success is Kees' second this year, following Joe Nichols' smash "Brokenheartsville."

Donny Kees, Sony/ATV's Troy Tomlinson, BMI's Thomas Cain, Skip Ewing

Lily Prout [center] with parents Stephanie Bentley and Brian Prout

Skip Ewing, Claudia Young, Angela Kaset

Danny Wells, Donny Kees, Randy Boudreaux

Isabella Roe and dad Marty

Bobby Tomberlin, Gilles, Jazz, Chloe & Susan Godard, Andrew Dorff

Sony/ATV's Mike Whelan, BMI's Perry Howard, Clint Daniels, Blake Mevis, Buddy Brock

photos by Kay Williams]]> 2003-07-21T18:00:00-05:00 http://www.bmi.com/podcasts/container/132850 Stephanie Bentley discusses her appreciation for Faith Hill Bentley, Stephanie, Country, Pop, In Their Own Words, Video, 2002, BMI Pop Awards 2002-05-13T18:00:00-05:00 http://www.bmi.com/news/entry/233044 Artists, Alabama, Allen, Harley, Amazed, Bentley, Stephanie, Black, Clint, Bogard, Steve, Brock, Chad, Cannon, Chuck, Clark, Terri, Collins, Jim, Crosby, Rob, Diamond Rio, Dillon, Dean, DiPiero, Bob, Douglas, Tom, Dunn, Ronnie, Evans, Sara, Funk, Jim, Gill, Vince, Godard, Gilles, Green, Marv, Greenwood, Lee, Griggs, Andy, Hagen, Earle, Hickenlooper, Erik, Hill, Ed, Hill, Faith, Howard, Harlan, Hummon, Marcus, Keith, Toby, Krauss, Alison, Lonestar, Loveless, Patty, Luther, Bill, Martin, Tony, McBride, Martina, McGraw, Tim, McHugh, Thom, Nelson, Willie, Nesler, Mark, Nichols, Tim, Nichols, Tim, Preston, Frances, Rascal Flatts, Sillers, Tia, Smith, Shaye, Smith, Stephony, Steele, Jeffrey, Strait, George, Tippin, Aaron, Tippin, Thea, Tomberlin, Bobby, Travis, Randy, Tritt, Travis, Twain, Shania, Urban, Keith, Wariner, Steve, Wells, Danny, Wilson, Brian, Wright, Chely, Wright, Mark, Yankee Grey, Awards, BMI Awards, BMI Country Awards, Musical Styles, Country, Dance, Pop, Rock, Urban, Musicworld, Feature BMI staged the 49th edition of its Country Awards last night, with ultimate honors saved for “I Hope You Dance,” songwriters Toby Keith, Marv Green and Aimee Mayo, and publishing titan Warner-Tamerlane Publishing Corp. BMI Citations of Achievement were presented by President & CEO Frances W. Preston and Vice President Paul Corbin to the songwriters and publishers of the past year’s 50 most performed songs during a black-tie gala at the company’s Music Row offices. This celebration -- the oldest awards program saluting country music’s creators -- culminated in the announcements of Country Song, Songwriter, and Publisher of the Year.

Pictured are BMI Nashville Vice President Paul Corbin, FDNY Lt. Vincent Louis, NYPD Lt. Stephen Reardon, FDNY Lt. Michael Dilena, BMI President & CEO Frances Preston, and Tennessee Speaker of the House James Naifeh.

Click here to see pictures from the awards ceremony. High-resolution photos from the event are available for downloading at press.bmi.com.

Highlights of the evening included a special tribute to the victims and rescuers of the September 11th disaster. After a video collage, Preston introduced three men who were on duty that day and responded to the call at the World Trade Center: New York Fire Department Lieutenants Michael Dilena and Vincent Louis of Engine Co. 236 in East New York, Brooklyn, and New York Police Department Lieutenant Stephen Reardon of the Emergency Service Unit (ESU) in Brooklyn. The officers, who have been at Ground Zero since the terrorist attacks, were presented with Profile In Courage certificates on behalf of the FDNY and the NYPD. The remembrance tribute continued with a stirring performance by Lee Greenwood of “God Bless The USA”; Greenwood was later honored with the Words of Freedom Award.

“I Hope You Dance” earned writer Tia Sillers the 33rd Robert J. Burton Award as Most Performed Country Song of the Year. A multi-week, multi-format #1 smash for MCA recording artist Lee Ann Womack, “I Hope You Dance” is published by Choice Is Tragic Music (Sillers accepting) and Ensign Music Corporation (Chairman & CEO Irwin Z. Robinson and Vice President Pat Finch of parent The Famous Music Publishing Companies accepting). Sillers, who previously garnered BMI Country accolades for “There’s Your Trouble,” “Lipstick Promises” and “Land Of The Living,” wrote the song with Mark D. Sanders (share not licensed through BMI).

Toby Keith (Read Bio)

Aimee Mayo (Read Bio) and Marv Green (Read Bio)

Tia Sillers (Read Bio)

Pictured (l to r) onstage at BMI Nashville are BMI Country Songwriters of the Year Marv Green and Aimee Mayo, "I Hope You Dance" writer Tia Sillers, Ensign Music's Pat Finch, Lee Greenwood, BMI Country Songwriter/Artist of the Year Toby Keith, BMI President & CEO Frances Preston, Willie Nelson, BMI Country Song of the Ensign Music's Irwin Z. Robinson and Les Bider of BMI Country Publisher of the Year Warner-Tamerlane Publishing Corp.

Toby Keith, Marv Green and Aimee Mayo each contributed three songs to the list of 50 to form a Country Songwriter of the Year triumvirate. Keith was presented with a BMI Crystal inscribed “Songwriter/Artist of the Year,” Green and Mayo with “Songwriter of the Year” Crystals.

Keith took the prize via his recordings of “Country Comes To Town,” “How Do You Like Me Now?!” (co-written with Chuck Cannon) and “You Shouldn’t Kiss Me Like This,” all from his platinum DreamWorks album How Do You Like Me Now?! Keith’s BMI Awards total now stands at 12, including “Wish I Didn’t Know Now,” “You Ain’t Much Fun,” “Dream Walkin,” “Who’s That Man” and “He Ain’t Worth Missing.”

Green and Mayo teamed to write Amazed”> [2nd award] (Lonestar), “Let’s Make Love” (Faith Hill & Tim McGraw) and “It’s Always Something” (Joe Diffie). Last year the writers shared, along with Chris Lindsey, BMI Country Song of the Year honors for “Amazed.” Green’s previous BMI honors came courtesy of “Day In, Day Out” and “True”; Mayo has BMI Citations for “My Best Friend” and “Places I’ve Never Been.”

Warner-Tamerlane Publishing Corp. claimed BMI Country Publisher of the Year by accumulating the highest percentage of copyright ownership in award songs. Accepting the BMI Crystal for the publisher, which placed 11 songs on the most-performed list, were Chairman & CEO Les Bider and Executive VP/GM Tim Wipperman of parent company Warner/Chappell Music, Inc.

Legendary singer/songwriter Willie Nelson was saluted with the President’s Award. BMI created the President’s Award in 1993 to honor an exceptional person or persons in the entertainment industry deserving of special recognition. Presented tonight for only the fifth time, the honor has previously been bestowed on Harlan Howard, Brian Wilson, Earle Hagen and Alabama.

Of the 64 songwriters recognized, eight, in addition to Keith, Green and Mayo, were multiple winners: Chris Lindsey, Chad Brock, Tom Douglas, Rick Giles, Bill Luther, Bobby Tomberlin, Danny Wells and Darryl Worley.

Additional publishers collecting three or more awards were Careers-BMG Music Publishing, Inc.; EMI-Blackwood Music, Inc.; Sony/ATV Tree; Universal Music Publishing Group (Irving Music, Songs of Universal, Inc., and Universal-Songs of PolyGram International, Inc.); Golden Wheat Music; Mike Curb Music; Songs of Nashville DreamWorks; and Tokeco Tunes.

“Flowers On The Wall” was recognized with its third BMI Country Award. Written by the late Lew Dewitt of the Statler Brothers, the song was honored in 1966 and 1967 (plus a 1966 Pop Award), and has accumulated more than two million performances. Three songs were cited for the second consecutive year: “Amazed” (2000 BMI Country Song of the Year); “Breathe” (2001 BMI Pop Song of the Year); and “How Do You Like Me Now?!”

Among this year’s honorees, 25 songs have reached the status of BMI Million-Air (accumulating at least one million broadcast performances) for a total of over 30 million performances. Based on an average length of three minutes, one million airplays is the equivalent of 50,000 hours or 5.7 years, continuously; Million-Airs on the 2001 Country list translate into 1.5 million hours or 171 years of continuous airplay.

BMI’s Citations of Achievement are given annually in recognition of popularity in the field of country music, as measured by feature broadcast performances on American radio and television; the 2001 Country Awards eligibility period ran April 1, 2000 through March 31, 2001.

2001 BMI Country Awards

AMAZED (2nd Award)
Marv Green
Chris Lindsey
Aimee Mayo
Careers-BMG Music Publishing, Inc.
Golden Wheat Music
Silverkiss Music
Songs of Nashville DreamWorks
Warner-Tamerlane Publishing Corp.
Lonestar: BNA

ANOTHER NINE MINUTES
Billy Crain
Tom Douglas
Nick N' Ash Music
Sony/ATV Tree
Yankee Grey: Monument

BEEN THERE
Clint Black
Steve Wariner
Blackened Music
Steve Wariner Music
Clint Black with Steve Wariner: RCA

THE BEST DAY
Carson Chamberlain
Dean Dillon
Acuff-Rose Music, Inc.
Everything I Love Music
Universal-Songs of PolyGram International, Inc.
George Strait: MCA Nashville

BEST OF INTENTIONS
Travis Tritt
Post Oak Publishing
Travis Tritt: Columbia

BORN TO FLY
Sara Evans
Marcus Hummon
Careers-BMG Music Publishing, Inc.
Floyd's Dream Music
Sony/ATV Tree
Sara Evans: RCA

BREATHE (2nd Award)
Stephanie Bentley
Hopechest Music
Universal-Songs of PolyGram International, Inc.
Faith Hill: Warner Bros.

BURN
Tina Arena (APRA)
EMI-Blackwood Music, Inc.
Jo Dee Messina: Curb

BUT FOR THE GRACE OF GOD
keith urban
Coburn Music, Inc.
keith urban: Capitol Nashville

BUY ME A ROSE
Jim Funk
Erik Hickenlooper
Blue Plate Music Publishing
Rex Benson Music
Kenny Rogers with Alison Krauss & Billy Dean: Dreamcatcher

CARLENE
Charlie Black
Rory Bourke
EMI-Blackwood Music, Inc.
Flybridge Tunes
Rory Bourke Music Co.
Phil Vassar: Arista

THE CHAIN OF LOVE
Jonnie Barnett
Pugwash Music
Waterdance Music
Clay Walker: Giant

COULDN'T LAST A MOMENT
Jeffrey Steele
Danny Wells
Irving Music
My Life's Work Music
Songs of Windswept Pacific
Yellow Desert Music
Collin Raye: Epic

COUNTRY COMES TO TOWN
Toby Keith
Tokeco Tunes
Toby Keith: DreamWorks

FEELS LIKE LOVE
Vince Gill
Vinny Mae Music
Vince Gill: MCA Nashville

FLOWERS ON THE WALL (3rd Award)
Lew DeWitt
Wallflower Music
Eric Heatherly: Mercury Nashville

GO ON
Tony Martin
Mark Nesler
Baby Mae Music
Buna Boy Music
Glitterfish Music, Inc.
Hamstein Cumberland Music
George Strait: MCA Nashville

A GOOD DAY TO RUN
Bobby Tomberlin
Darryl Worley
EMI-Blackwood Music, Inc.
Hatley Creek Music
Mike Curb Music
Darryl Worley: DreamWorks

HOW DO YOU LIKE ME NOW?! (2nd Award)
Chuck Cannon
Toby Keith
Tokeco Tunes
Wacissa River Music, Inc.
Toby Keith: DreamWorks

I HOPE YOU DANCE
Tia Sillers
Choice Is Tragic Music
Ensign Music Corporation
Lee Ann Womack with Sons of the Desert: MCA Nashville

I LOST IT
Jimmy Olander
Taxicaster Music
Warner-Tamerlane Publishing Corp.
Kenny Chesney: BNA

IT WAS
Mark Wright
Marketwright Music
Songs of Universal, Inc.
Chely Wright: MCA Nashville

IT'S ALWAYS SOMETHIN'
Marv Green
Aimee Mayo
Careers-BMG Music Publishing, Inc.
Golden Wheat Music
Warner-Tamerlane Publishing Corp.
Joe Diffie: Epic

KISS THIS
Aaron Tippin
Thea Tippin
Acuff-Rose Music, Inc.
Thea Later Music
Aaron Tippin: Lyric Street

LET'S MAKE LOVE
Marv Green
Chris Lindsey
Bill Luther
Aimee Mayo
Careers-BMG Music Publishing, Inc.
Golden Wheat Music
Silverkiss Music
Songs of Nashville DreamWorks
Warner-Tamerlane Publishing Corp.
Faith Hill with Tim McGraw: Warner Bros.

LIGHTNING DOES THE WORK
Chad Brock
Kelly Garrett
John Hadley
Bluesabilly Music
John Hadley Songs
Lehsem Songs
Sony/ATV Tree
Chad Brock: Warner Bros.

A LITTLE GASOLINE
Dean Miller
Mighty Nice Music
Terri Clark: Mercury Nashville

THE LITTLE GIRL
Harley Allen
Coburn Music, Inc.
John Michael Montgomery: Atlantic

LOVE'S THE ONLY HOUSE
Tom Douglas
Sony/ATV Tree
Martina McBride: RCA

MAKE UP IN LOVE
Tony Ramey
O-Tex Music
Doug Stone: Atlantic

A MAN AIN'T MADE OF STONE
Franne Golde
Robin Lerner
Franne Gee Music
Puckalesia Songs
Warner-Tamerlane Publishing Corp.
Randy Travis: DreamWorks

MORE
Thom McHugh
Golden Wheat Music
McHuge Music
Warner-Tamerlane Publishing Corp.
Trace Adkins: Capitol Nashville

ONE MORE DAY
Bobby Tomberlin
Mike Curb Music
Diamond Rio: Arista

PRAYIN' FOR DAYLIGHT
Steve Bogard
Rick Giles
Careers-BMG Music Publishing, Inc.
Warner-Tamerlane Publishing Corp.
Rascal Flatts: Lyric Street

THE QUITTIN' KIND
Phil Barnhart
Sam Hogin
Sam's Jammin' Songs
Sony/ATV Tree
Suffer In Silence Music
Joe Diffie: Epic

SHE'S MORE
Rob Crosby
Crutchfield Music
Warner-Tamerlane Publishing Corp.
Andy Griggs: RCA

THAT'S THE KIND OF MOOD I'M IN
Rick Giles
Gilles Godard (SOCAN)
Tim Nichols
Buzz Cut Music
Diamond Storm Music, Inc.
EMI-Blackwood Music, Inc.
Mike Curb Music
Ty Land Music
Patty Loveless: Epic

THERE IS NO ARIZONA
Shaye Smith
EMI-Blackwood Music, Inc.
Zomba Songs Inc.
Jamie O'Neal: Mercury Nashville

THERE YOU ARE
Bob DiPiero
Ed Hill
Careers-BMG Music Publishing, Inc.
Love Monkey Music
Music Hill Music
Sony/ATV Tree
Martina McBride: RCA

THIS EVERYDAY LOVE
Danny Wells
Irving Music
Rascal Flatts: Lyric Street

UNCONDITIONAL
Rivers Rutherford
Songs of Universal, Inc.
Clay Davidson: Virgin

WHAT ABOUT NOW
Aaron Barker
Blind Sparrow Music
O-Tex Music
Lonestar: BNA

WHAT I NEED TO DO
Bill Luther
Careers-BMG Music Publishing, Inc.
Kenny Chesney: BNA

WHEN YOU NEED MY LOVE
Wynn Varble
Darryl Worley
EMI-Blackwood Music, Inc.
Hatley Creek Music
Warner-Tamerlane Publishing Corp.
Darryl Worley: DreamWorks

WILD HORSES
Bill Shore
Warner-Tamerlane Publishing Corp.
Garth Brooks: Capitol Nashville

YES!
Chad Brock
Jim Collins
Stephony Smith
Cuts R Us Songs, Inc.
EMI-Blackwood Music, Inc.
Lehsem Songs
Make Shift Music
Singles Only Music
Warner-Tamerlane Publishing Corp.
Chad Brock: Warner Bros.

YOU SHOULDN'T KISS ME LIKE THIS
Toby Keith
Tokeco Tunes
Toby Keith: DreamWorks

YOU'LL ALWAYS BE LOVED BY ME
Ronnie Dunn
Terry McBride
Showbilly Music
Sony/ATV Tree
Brooks and Dunn: Arista

YOU'VE GOT A WAY
Shania Twain
Loon Echo, Inc.
Universal-Songs of PolyGram International, Inc.
Shania Twain: Mercury Nashville

YOUR EVERYTHING
Chris Lindsey
Songs of Nashville DreamWorks
Keith Urban: Capitol Nashville

While working out in a Nashville gym, Stephanie got a tap on the shoulder. It was her Thomasville, Georgia, friend Holly Lamar, who had just moved to Music City.

Lamar asked Stephanie to sing a demo for her, and they decided to try writing together. "I brought that little riff that I had," advises Stephanie. Holly quickly noted that she had a title for it: "Breathe."

"We wrote it on seven Tuesdays - our regular writing day," Stephanie explains. "We're both very picky and it took several times to get it right."

Winning the top BMI prize was the last thing on Bentley's mind when she arrived in Nashville in 1991 pursuing a music career that resulted in an Epic Records album, Hopechest, spawning country chart singles. "It was such an unbelievable thing when 'Breathe' brought all those awards," she comments. "We pour our hearts out every day, we work so hard, we pay our dues to the max, and we do it because we love it - through the times we don't have any money, through the times that it's in our souls and we have to do it."

Though she rose to success through the country genre, Stephanie grew up on southern rock, folk, pop and jazz and cites such influences as James Taylor, Sting and Barbra Streisand.

"It's fun not to have to be in a box," she says. "And it's fun to write whatever feels good from your heart and just see where it lands."

Besides the platinum-gilded power of "Breathe," Bentley also has cuts emerging from Martina McBride, Jo Dee Messina, the Wilkinsons and Pam Tillis.

"I feel blessed to be able to do what I love to do every day, and make a living doing it," Stephanie reflects. "A lot of times in this business, it gets in your head that people worry more about the business than they do the music, which is really what it's all about. That's the reason I'm really in the business to begin with."]]> 2001-08-27T18:00:00-05:00 http://www.bmi.com/news/entry/232990 Artists, Alabama, Amazed, Anderson, Al, Anderson, Bill, Bentley, Stephanie, Black, Clint, Brooks & Dunn, Bryant, Del, Byrd, Tracy, Cannon, Chuck, Clark, Terri, Collins, Jim, Dixie Chicks, Gentry, Montgomery, Green, Marv, Griggs, Andy, Hagen, Earle, Hill, Ed, Hill, Faith, Howard, Harlan, Hummon, Marcus, Keith, Toby, Ketchum, Hal, Lauderdale, Jim, Lonestar, Luther, Bill, Martin, Tony, Mavericks, The, McBride, Martina, McGraw, Tim, Mobley, Wendell, Nichols, Tim, Overstreet, Paul, Owen, Randy, Preston, Frances, Seidel, Martie, Sherrill, John Scott, Smith, Shaye, Smith, Stephony, Steele, Jeffrey, Stegall, Keith, Twain, Shania, Wariner, Steve, Wilson, Brian, Wright, Chely, Yankee Grey, Yoakam, Dwight, Awards, BMI Awards, BMI Country Awards, Musical Styles, Country, Pop, Rock, Musicworld, Feature Click here to see photos from the event

Nashville, October 3 — Performing rights organization BMI staged the 48^th edition of its Country Awards tonight, with superlative honors reserved for "Amazed," songwriters Al Anderson and Skip Ewing, songwriter/artists Martie Seidel and Shania Twain, and publishing giant Sony/ATV Tree. BMI Citations of Achievement were presented by President & CEO Frances W. Preston and Vice President Roger Sovine to the songwriters and publishers of the past year’s 50 most performed songs during a black-tie gala at the company’s Music Row offices. This celebration -- the oldest awards program saluting country music’s creators -- culminated in the announcements of Country Song, Songwriter, and Publisher of the Year.

Sony/ATV Tree was proclaimed Publisher of the Year at the 48th BMI Country Awards, with nine songs on the list of the 50 most performed songs of the past year. Onstage for the presentation are BMI's Roger Sovine, Sony/ATV Tree's Woody Bomar and Donna Hilley, BMI's Frances Preston and Sony/ATV Tree's Don Cook.

"Amazed" earned writers Marv Green, Chris Lindsey and Aimee Mayo the 32^nd Robert J. Burton Award as Most Performed Country Song of the Year. An unprecedented 8-weeks-at-#1-Billboard smash for RCA recording artists Lonestar, "Amazed" is published by Careers-BMG Music Publishing, Inc. (Nick Firth and Karen Conrad accepting); Golden Wheat Music (Scott Hendricks accepting); Silverkiss Music (Aimee Mayo accepting); Songs of Nashville DreamWorks (Chuck Kaye and James Stroud accepting) and Warner-Tamerlane Publishing Corp. (Les Bider and Tim Wipperman accepting).

BMI's Roger Sovine, Al Anderson, Skip Ewing, Shania Twain, BMI's Frances Preston, Martie Seidel and BMI's Del Bryant

Al Anderson, Skip Ewing, Martie Seidel and Shania Twain each placed three songs on the list of 50 to form a Country Songwriter of the Year quadrumvirate. Anderson and Ewing were presented with BMI Crystals inscribed with Songwriter of the Year; Seidel and Twain were gifted with the inaugural Songwriter/Artist Crystal.

Stephony Smith and Toby Keith

Al Anderson’s winning titles were "Powerful Thing," "Big Deal" and "Unbelievable" (the last two co-written with Jeffrey Steele). Anderson, former NRBQ guitarist who has written hits for Carlene Carter, Hal Ketchum and The Mavericks, previously earned BMI Awards for "All You Ever Do Is Bring Me Down" and "Should’ve Asked Her Faster."

Skip Ewing, who has scored hits for Kenny Chesney, Clint Black and Bryan White as well as for himself, brought his BMI Awards total to 14 citations with the success of "Put Your Hand In Mine," "Wish You Were Here" and "You Had Me From Hello."

Martie Seidel of the Dixie Chicks saw her first-ever BMI Awards — for "Cowboy Take Me Away," "Ready To Run" and "You Were Mine" — deliver a share of the night’s top songwriting prize. "You Were Mine" (composed with sister/Chick Emily Robison) is from the Monument trio’s 10-million-selling Wide Open Spaces album; the other two songs (with collaborator Marcus Hummon) were #1 hits from six-times-platinum album Fly.

Returning champ Shania Twain’s award-winning compositions were "Come On Over," "Man! I Feel Like A Woman" and "That Don’t Impress Me Much," all from the 17-times platinum Mercury release Come On Over (the best-selling album in country music history and the best-selling album ever by a female solo artist). The 1999 CMA Entertainer of the Year, who captured both BMI Country Songwriter and Song ("You’re Still The One") honors last year, was also crowned BMI Pop Songwriter of Year the past two years; she now owns 22 BMI Country and Pop Awards.

Sony/ATV Tree basked in the spotlight as BMI Country Publisher of the Year by accumulating the highest percentage of copyright ownership in award songs. Sony/ATV Tree Publishing President & CEO Donna Hilley and Sony/ATV Music Publishing President Richard Rowe accepted the BMI Crystal for the publisher, which placed nine songs on the most-performed list.

Highlights of the evening included the presentation of the President’s Award to Alabama; songwriter members Randy Owen and Teddy Gentry accepted the sterling silver loving cup. BMI created the President’s Award in 1993 to honor an exceptional person or persons in the entertainment industry deserving of special recognition. Presented tonight for only the fourth time, the honor has previously been bestowed on Harlan Howard, Brian Wilson and Earle Hagen. Preston also recognized the family of the late Faron Young on the eve of the BMI songwriter’s induction into the Country Music Hall of Fame.

The BMI Country Awards, the first songwriter awards event to be carried live on the internet, were made available to the world wide web audience through coverage by liveonthenet.com.

Of the 59 songwriters recognized, nine were double winners: Bill Anderson, Jim Collins, Andy Griggs, Marcus Hummon, Tony Martin, Jeffrey Steele, Steve Wariner and "Amazed" authors Aimee Mayo and Chris Lindsey.

Additional publishers collecting four or more awards were Warner-Tamerlane Publishing Corp; Universal Music Publishing Group (Songs of Universal, Inc. and Universal-Songs of PolyGram International, Inc.); EMI Music Publishing (Beechwood Music Corporation, EMI-Blackwood Music, Inc., EMI-Tower Street Music and EMI-Longitude Music); Careers-BMG Music Publishing, Inc.; and Mighty Nice Music.

Four songs were cited for the second time. The Nat Stuckey-penned "Pop A Top" picked up its first Country Award in 1968; "Stand Beside Me," "This Kiss" and "Unbelievable" each posted a previous win in 1999.

Among this year’s honorees, 31 songs have earned the status of BMI Million-Air (accumulating at least one million broadcast performances) for a total of over 36 million performances. "God Must Have Spent A Little More Time On You" and "Crazy Little Thing Called Love" have each reached the two million milestone; "Missing You" has hit the four million mark. All three songs have also previously garnered BMI Pop Awards. Based on an average length of three minutes, one million airplays is the equivalent of 50,000 hours or 5.7 years, continuously; Million-Airs on the 2000 Country list translate into 1.8 million hours or 205+ years of continuous airplay.

BMI’s Citations of Achievement are given annually in recognition of popularity in the field of country music, as measured by feature broadcast performances on American radio and television; the 2000 Country Awards eligibility period ran April 1, 1999 through March 21, 2000.

Founded in 1940, BMI is an American performing rights organization represent-ing more than 250,000 songwriters, composers and music publishers in all music genres. Through music performance and reciprocal agreements, it grants businesses and media access to its repertoire of more than 4.5 million musical works from around the world.

BMI Country Awards 2000

The 50 Most Performed Songs
 

ALL THINGS CONSIDERED
Tim Hunt
Smith Haven Music
Warner-Tamerlane Publishing Corp. Yankee Grey: Monument

AMAZED
Marv Green
Chris Lindsey
Aimee Mayo
Careers-BMG Music Publishing, Inc.
Golden Wheat Music
Silverkiss Music
Songs of Nashville DreamWorks
Warner-Tamerlane Publishing Corp.
Lonestar: BNA

BECAUSE YOU LOVE ME
Kostas
John Scott Sherrill
Nothing But The Wolf Music
Seven Angels Music
Sony/ATV Tree
Universal-Songs of PolyGram International, Inc.
Jo Dee Messina: Curb

BIG DEAL
Al Anderson
Jeffrey Steele
Al Andersongs
Mighty Nice Music
My Life's Work Music
Songs of Windswept Pacific
Yellow Desert Music
LeAnn Rimes: Curb

BREATHE
Stephanie Bentley
Hopechest Music
Universal-Songs of PolyGram International, Inc.
Faith Hill: Warner Bros.
 
COME ON OVER
Shania Twain
Loon Echo, Inc.
Universal-Songs of PolyGram International, Inc.
Shania Twain: Mercury

COWBOY TAKE ME AWAY
Marcus Hummon
Martie Seidel
Careers-BMG Music Publishing, Inc.
Floyd's Dream Music
Woolly Puddin' Music
Dixie Chicks: Monument

CRAZY LITTLE THING CALLED LOVE
Freddie Mercury (PRS)
Beechwood Music Corporation
Dwight Yoakam: Reprise

EVERYTIME I CRY
Karen Staley
Warner-Tamerlane Publishing Corp.
Terri Clark: Mercury

GOD MUST HAVE SPENT A LITTLE MORE TIME ON YOU
Evan Rogers
Carl Sturken
Bayjun Beat Music
Songs of Universal, Inc.
Alabama: RCA
View website

HANDS OF A WORKING MAN
Jim Collins
David Vincent Williams
Megalex Music
Sugar Bend Music
Warner-Tamerlane Publishing Corp.
Ty Herndon: Epic
  
HOW DO YOU LIKE ME NOW?!
Chuck Cannon
Toby Keith
Tokeco Tunes
Wacissa River Music, Inc.
Toby Keith: DreamWorks

HOW FOREVER FEELS
Wendell Mobley
New Works Music Co.
Warner-Tamerlane Publishing Corp.
Kenny Chesney: BNA

I CAN'T GET OVER YOU
Ronnie Dunn
Terry McBride
Constant Pressure Publishing
Showbilly Music
Sony/ATV Tree
Warner-Tamerlane Publishing Corp.
Brooks & Dunn: Arista

I'LL GO CRAZY
Andy Griggs
Zack Turner
Sony/ATV Tree
Andy Griggs: RCA

I'LL THINK OF A REASON LATER
Tony Martin
Tim Nichols
Baby Mae Music
EMI-Blackwood Music, Inc.
Hamstein Cumberland Music
Ty Land Music
Lee Ann Womack: Decca

I'M ALREADY TAKEN
Terry Ryan
Steve Wariner
Fleetside Music
Steve Wariner Music
Steve Wariner: Capitol

LESSONS LEARNED
Paul Nelson
Asifits Music
Sony/ATV Tree
Tracy Lawrence: Atlantic
 
LITTLE GOOD-BYES
Kenny Greenberg
Kent Greene Music
Sony/ATV Tree
SheDaisy: Lyric Street

LONELY AND GONE
Greg Crowe
Dave Gibson
Bill McCorvey, Jr.
House of Integrity Music
Little Tornadoes Music
Timberock Music
Universal-Songs of PolyGram International, Inc.
Warner-Tamerlane Publishing Corp.
Montgomery Gentry: Columbia

MAN! I FEEL LIKE A WOMAN!
Shania Twain
Loon Echo, Inc.
Universal-Songs of PolyGram International, Inc.
Shania Twain: Mercury

MISSING YOU
John Waite
Paperwaite Music
Brooks & Dunn: Arista

MY BEST FRIEND
Aimee Mayo
Bill Luther
Careers-BMG Music Publishing, Inc.
Tim McGraw: Curb

(NOW YOU SEE ME) NOW YOU DON'T
David Lee
Ken Ten Publishing, Inc.
Lee Ann Womack: MCA Nashville

ONE HONEST HEART
David Malloy
Malloy's Toys Music
Starstruck Angel Music, Inc.
Reba: MCA Nashville

PLEASE REMEMBER ME
Will Jennings
Blue Sky Rider Songs
Tim McGraw: Curb
 
POP A TOP
(2nd Award: 1968)
Nat Stuckey
Sony/ATV Tree
Alan Jackson: Arista

POWERFUL THING
Al Anderson
Al Andersongs
Mighty Nice Music
Trisha Yearwood: MCA Nashville

PUT YOUR HAND IN MINE
Skip Ewing
Acuff-Rose Music, Inc.
Write On! Music
Tracy Byrd: RCA

READY TO RUN
Marcus Hummon
Martie Seidel
Careers-BMG Music Publishing, Inc.
Floyd's Dream Music
Woolly Puddin' Music
Dixie Chicks: Monument

SHE THINKS MY TRACTOR'S SEXY
Jim Collins
Paul Overstreet
EMI-Blackwood Music, Inc.
Jelinda Music
Scarlet Moon Music, Inc.
Kenny Chesney: BNA

SHE'S IN LOVE
Keith Stegall
EMI-Tower Street Music
Little Cayman Music
Mark Wills: Mercury

SINGLE WHITE FEMALE
Shaye Smith
EMI-Blackwood Music, Inc.
Zomba Songs, Inc.
Chely Wright: MCA Nashville

SMILE
Chris Lindsey
Songs of Nashville DreamWorks
Lonestar: BNA

SOMETHING LIKE THAT
Rick Ferrell
Mr. Noise Music
We Make Music
Tim McGraw: Curb

STAND BESIDE ME
(2nd Award: 1999)
Stephen Allen Davis
Hamstein Cumberland Music
Jo Dee Messina: Curb

THAT DON'T IMPRESS ME MUCH
Shania Twain
Loon Echo, Inc.
Universal-Songs of PolyGram International, Inc.
Shania Twain: Mercury

THIS KISS
(2nd Award: 1999)
Robin Lerner
Puckalesia Songs
Warner-Tamerlane Publishing Corp.
Faith Hill: Warner Bros.

TWO TEARDROPS
Bill Anderson
Steve Wariner
Mr. Bubba Music, Inc.
Sony/ATV Tree
Steve Wariner Music
Steve Wariner: Capitol

UNBELIEVABLE
(2nd Award: 1999)
Al Anderson
Jeffrey Steele
Al Andersongs
EMI-Longitude Music
Mighty Nice Music
My Life's Work Music
Songs of Windswept Pacific
Yellow Desert Music
Diamond Rio: Arista

WHAT DO YOU SAY
Michael Dulaney
Dulaneyhouse Music
Ensign Music Corporation
Michael Dulaney Music
Reba: MCA Nashville

WHAT DO YOU SAY TO THAT
Jim Lauderdale
Melba Montgomery
Caroljac Music
Laudersongs
Mighty Nice Music
George Strait: MCA Nashville
WHATEVER YOU SAY
Ed Hill
Tony Martin
Baby Mae Music
Careers-BMG Music Publishing, Inc.
Hamstein Cumberland Music
Music Hill Music
Martina McBride: RCA
WHEN I SAID I DO
Clint Black
Blackened Music
Clint Black with Lisa Hartman Black: RCA

WISH YOU WERE HERE
Bill Anderson
Skip Ewing
Debbie Moore
Acuff-Rose Music, Inc.
Belton Uncle Music
Mr. Bubba Music, Inc.
Sony/ATV Tree
Write On! Music
Mark Wills: Mercury

WRITE THIS DOWN
Kent Robbins
Colter Bay Music
Irving Music
George Strait: MCA Nashville

WRONG NIGHT
Rick Bowles
Josh Leo
Hellmaymen Music
Starstruck Angel Music, Inc.
Warner-Tamerlane Publishing Corp.
Reba: MCA Nashville
 
YOU HAD ME FROM HELLO
Kenny Chesney
Skip Ewing
Acuff-Rose Music, Inc.
Roots and Boots Music
Write On! Music
Kenny Chesney: BNA

YOU WERE MINE
Emily Robison
Martie Seidel
Woolly Puddin' Music
Dixie Chicks: Monument

YOU WON'T EVER BE LONELY
Andy Griggs
Sony/ATV Tree
Andy Griggs: RCA

Hill is nominated for Entertainer of the Year, Female Vocalist of the Year, Single of the Year (�Breathe�), Album of the Year (Breathe), Vocal Event of the Year (with Tim McGraw for ‘Let’s Make Love’) and Music Video of the Year (‘Breathe’).

The Dixie Chicks - whose five CMA awards since 1998 include vocal group honors the past two years - notched these nominations: Entertainer of the Year, Album of the Year, (Fly) Vocal Group of the Year, Vocal Event of the Year (with Asleep At the Wheel for �Roly Poly�), and Music Video of the Year (�Goodbye Earl�).

Other multiple BMI/CMA nominees are Tim McGraw with three (he�ll be competing against wife Faith Hill for the Entertainer prize) and, with two each, Asleep At the Wheel, Byron Gallimore, Toby Keith and Mark Wright.

BMI award-winning songwriter Vince Gill will host the show for the ninth consecutive year. His selection this year as a Male Vocalist of the Year hopeful brings his career CMA nominations total to 46; his 18 CMA wins are the most by any artist.

The 34th Annual CMA Awards will be broadcast live on the CBS Television Network on Wednesday, October 4 (8:00 -11:00 pm EDT) from the Grand Ole Opry House in Nashville.

For more information, visit www.CMAawards.com or www.CMAworld.com.

BMI Nominees for the 34^th Annual CMA Awards

Entertainer of the Year
Dixie Chicks
Faith Hill
Tim McGraw

Single of the Year
"Breathe" - Faith Hill
produced by Byron Gallimore and Faith Hill

"How Do You Like Me Now?!" - Toby Keith
produced by James Stroud and Toby Keith

"I Hope You Dance"
produced by Mark Wright

Album of the Year
Breathe - Faith Hill
Produced by Byron Gallimore and Faith Hill

Fly - Dixie Chicks
Produced by Blake Chancey

I Hope You Dance
Produced by Mark Wright

Under The Influence
Produced by Keith Stegall

Song of the Year
"Amazed"
written by Marv Green, Aimee Mayo and Chris Lindsey
Careers-BMG Music Publishing, Inc., Golden Wheat Music, Silverkiss Music, Songs of Nashville Dreamworks, Warner-Tamerlane Publishing Corp.,

"Breathe"
Stephanie Bentley
Hopechest Music, Universal-Songs of PolyGram International, Inc.

"I Hope You Dance"
Tia Sillers
Choice Is Tragic Music
Ensign Music Corporation

"Murder On Music Row"
Larry Cordle and Larry Shell
Pier Five Music Inc., Shell Point Music, Wandachord Music

Female Vocalist of the Year
Faith Hill
Martina McBride

Male Vocalist of the Year
Vince Gill
Tim McGraw

Vocal Group of the Year
Alabama
Asleep At the Wheel
Diamond Rio
Dixie Chicks
Lonestar

Vocal Duo of the Year
Brooks & Dunn
Montgomery Gentry
The Kinleys
The Warren Brothers

Vocal Event of the Year
Asleep At the Wheel/Dixie Chicks
Clint Black with Lisa Hartman Black
Faith Hill with Tim McGraw

Musician of the Year
Brent Mason

Music Video of the Year
"Breathe" - Faith Hill
"Goodbye Earl" - Dixie Chicks
"How Do You Like Me Now?!" - Toby Keith

Horizon Award
Sara Evans
Montgomery Gentry
SHeDAISY
Chely Wright

NSAI Songwriter/Artist of the Decade Vince Gill with wife Amy Grant; co-writer of NSAI Song of the Year �Amazed� Marv Green; and BMI�s Patsy Bradley and Thomas Cain

Gill (a two-time BMI Country Songwriter of the Year) became the first recipient of NSAI�s Songwriter/Artist of the Decade award, Chapman was named NSAI�s Songwriter/Artist of the Year for 1999, and award-winning writer/producer Shapiro (a three-time BMI Country Songwriter of the Year) became the first recipient of NSAI�s Songwriter of the Decade. The team of Green/Lindsey/Mayo laid claim to Song of the Year honors for the multi-format smash �Amazed,� recorded by Lonestar.

In all, 33 different songs and their accompanying 60 writers were presented with achievement awards, which were voted by NSAI�s membership as their favorite songs of 1999.

BMI�s NSAI Songwriter Achievement Award Winners for 1999:

SONGWRITER/ARTIST OF THE YEAR:
Steven Curtis Chapman

SONG OF THE YEAR:
�Amazed�
Marv Green, Chris Lindsey, Aimee Mayo

SONGWRITER OF THE DECADE:
Tom Shapiro

SONGWRITER/ARTIST OF THE DECADE:
Vince Gill

ADULT CONTEMPORARY CATEGORY

Amazed
Marv Green, Chris Lindsey, Aimee Mayo (artist: Lonestar)

I Do (Cherish You)
Dan Hill, Keith Stegall (artist: 98 Degrees)

Let Me Let Go
Dennis Morgan (artist: Faith Hill)

COUNTRY CATEGORY

Amazed
Marv Green, Chris Lindsey, Aimee Mayo (artist: Lonestar)

Breathe
Stephanie Bentley (artist: Faith Hill)

Busy Man
George Teren (artist: Billy Ray Cyrus)

Choices
Billy Yates (artist: George Jones)

Cowboy Take Me Away
Marcus Hummon, Martie Seidel (artist: Dixie Chicks)

I'll Think Of A Reason Later
Tony Martin, Tim Nichols (artist: Lee Ann Womack)

No Place That Far
Sara Evans, Tony Martin, Tom Shapiro (artist: Sara Evans)

Please Remember Me
Will Jennings (artist: Tim McGraw)

Pop A Top
Nat Stuckey (artist: Alan Jackson)

Single White Female
Shaye Smith (artist: Chely Wright)

Two Teardrops
Bill Anderson, Steve Wariner (artist: Steve Wariner)

When I Said I Do
Clint Black (artist: Clint Black)

Wish You Were Here
Bill Anderson, Skip Ewing, Debbie Moore (artist: Mark Wills)

Write This Down
Kent Robbins (artist: George Strait)

You Had Me From Hello
Kenny Chesney, Skip Ewing (artist: Kenny Chesney)

GOSPEL CATEGORY

Can't Keep A Good Man Down
Eddie Carswell, Russ Lee (artist: Newsong)

Count Your Blessing
Joe Johnston (artist: The Martins)

POP CATEGORY

I Do (Cherish You)
Dan Hill, Keith Stegall (artist: 98 Degrees)

Man! I Feel Like A Woman
Shania Twain (artist: Shania Twain)

ROCK/ALTERNATIVE CATEGORY

In 2 Deep
Mark Selby, Kenny Wayne Shepherd, Danny Tate (artist: Kenny Wayne Shepherd)

You Blew Me Off
Bobby Bare Jr. (artist: Bare Jr.)

URBAN CONTEMPORARY CATEGORY

My First Night With You
Kenneth �Babyface� Edmonds (artist: Mya)

BMI affiliate Faith Hill led all artists with recognition in eight categories: Entertainer, Female Artist, Album (Breathe), Song, Single and CMT Music Video ("Breathe"), the Impact Award and Collaborative Event [for "Let's Make Love" sung with husband Tim McGraw]. For her work has an album and single producer, she received two more mentions, bringing her total nominations to 10. BMI writer Tim McGraw claimed six nominations, sharing one with Hill and competing against her in three: Entertainer, Male Artist, Album (A Place In the Sun, as artist and co-producer), the Impact Award and Collaborative Event.

Also with six nominations was Clint Black, whose duet with wife Lisa Hartman Black ["When I Said I Do"] earned honors in the Collaborative Event, Song, Single and CMT Country Video categories; he also was cited as single producer and song of the year writer. For her performance on the #1 song, Hartman Black shared in four nominations.

BMI songwriters were included in four of the five Song of the Year offerings:

• Marv Green, Aimee Mayo and Chris Lindsey - "Amazed"
• Stephanie Bentley - "Breathe"
• Clint Black - "When I Said I Do"
• Kent Robbins - "Write This Down"

Other BMI affiliates with multiple nominations are the Dixie Chicks and Lonestar (three each), and Shania Twain, Vince Gill, Alabama, Tony Brown and Byron Gallimore (two each).

Earning one nomination each were Kenny Chesney, Martina McBride, Lila McCann, Steve Wariner, Chely Wright, Montgomery Gentry, SHeDAISY, Brooks & Dunn, Sara Evans, Patty Loveless, Blake Chancey, and Keith Stegall.

Country Weekly Presents the TNN Music Awards, hosted by BMI writer Jeff Foxworthy, will be telecast live on Thursday, June 15 (8:00-11:00 pm, ET/PT) on TNN and will again be held in the Gaylord Entertainment Center in Nashville before a crowd of nearly 12,000 country music fans. The awards show is an official part of the Country Music Association's 29th International Country Music Fan Fair event, a week-long festival June 12-15 in Nashville for more than 20,000 country music fans.

Final voting for the winners of the Country Weekly Presents the TNN Music Awards began March 27, via 900 telephone numbers announced on TNN telecasts and through country.com and countryweekly.com. Ballots will also be available through Country Weekly in four issues beginning April 18 (available on newstands March 31). Winners in these 12 categories will be announced live on the awards show. In addition, the Country Weekly Career Achievement Award and TNN's signature Minnie Pearl Award will be presented.

For more information, visit www.country.com.

BMI #1 parties in Nashville recently honored some of the TNN Music Awards nominees: