BMI saluted the writers and publishers of the past year's most performed Christian songs during the BMI Christian Music Awards held June 20, with highest honors reserved for Building 429's "Glory Defined" as Song of the Year and Mark Hall as Songwriter of the Year.

Christian Music Awards Photo Slideshow

Click here for the Christian Awards Song List

Click here to read Casting Crowns' Bio

Click here to read Building 429's Bio

Senior Vice President Phil Graham, Vice President Paul Corbin and Director Joyce Rice of BMI's Writer/Publisher Relations department presented BMI Citations of Achievement to 22 songs in five categories: AC (Adult Contemporary), CHR (Christian Hit Radio), Contemporary/Traditional Gospel, Rock and Southern Gospel.

Building 429	Mark Hall

Staged at the company's Music Row offices, the ceremonies featured special performances by Casting Crowns, Dottie Peoples, Legacy Five and George Rowe for the crowd of 250 writers, artists, and executives.

Casting Crowns

Jim Cooper and Jason Roy won the BMI Crystal for Most Performed Christian Song of the Year as writers of "Glory Defined." Published by Dayspring Music LLC, "Glory Defined" was recorded by Building 429 on their debut album Space In Between Us (Word Records). Roy is front man/guitarist and Cooper is producer of the group, which was named Top New Artist of 2005 by the Gospel Music Association. "Glory Defined" was recognized for AC and CHR airplay.

Dottie Peoples	Legacy Five

Mark Hall, lead singer of Casting Crowns, earned the title of BMI Christian Songwriter of the Year by collecting four BMI Citations of Achievement for writing "If We Are the Body" and "Who Am I," each included in the AC and CHR categories. Both songs are from Casting Crowns' self-titled, platinum debut on Beach Street/Reunion Records. This BMI honor caps an incredible two years for Hall and his group, which saw their first project reach platinum status. The Atlanta-area youth minister was also named Songwriter of the Year at the 2004 and 2005 Gospel Music Association Awards, with Casting Crowns chosen as the GMA's 2005 Group of the Year.

George Rowe	Jim Cooper	Jason Roy

In addition to Roy and Cooper, songwriters collecting two Citations each were Aaron Sprinkle in the Rock category ("Rawkfist" and "Sea of Faces") and AC-CHR winners Marc Byrd ("God of Wonders"), Kenny Greenberg ("More") and Brendan Graham [IMRO] ("You Raise Me Up").

Aaron Sprinkle	Marc Byrd

Other 2005 BMI award-winning songwriter/artists were rockers Pillar, John Cooper of Skillet, Michael Tait and Chad Chapin of Tait, and Thousand Foot Krutch; urban stars Fred Hammond and Keith "Wonderboy" Johnson; and Southern Gospel voices Gerald Crabb, Wayne Haun, Annie McRae and Rodney Griffin of Greater Vision.

Kenny Greenberg	Brendan Graham

The ceremony also announced the Publisher of the Year, which was a four-way tie among Christian Taylor Music, Club Zoo Music, Inc., SWECS Music and Songs of Greater Vision. The award is determined by the highest percentage of copyright ownership in award songs.

Club Zoo Music, Inc. (owned by Franklin Miller and Sawyer Brown's Mark Miller) and SWECS Music (owned by three-time BMI Christian Songwriter of the Year Steven Curtis Chapman) collected the honor for publishing the Casting Crowns hits "If We Are the Body" and "Who Am I."

Two Southern Gospel companies also accepted the accolade: Christian Taylor Music (owned by Dottie Miller) with "I Wish I Could Have Been There," "If It Had Not Been the Lord" and "Places To Go, People To See"; and Songs of Greater Vision (owned by Greater Vision group members Rodney Griffin and Gerald Wolfe) with "He Is To Me" and "Just Ask."

BMI's Citation of Achievement performance certificates are given annually in recognition of popularity in the field of popular music, as measured by feature broadcast performances on American radio and television. This year's Christian Music Awards eligibility period ran January 1, 2004 through December 31, 2004.

“We believe our music is about a message,” says lead vocalist/principal songwriter John Cooper. “We believe there’s a mission that we have, and the more people who hear that message the better. The message of Collide is about having faith when you’re living in world that is only providing you with fear. That kind of hope is hard to come by in this world.”

Skillet members Cooper, his wife Korey, Ben Kasica and Lori Peters will remain on Memphis-based Ardent Records, which has been working the band in the Christian market, while Lava takes Collide to the mainstream. Produced by Paul Ebersold (3 Doors Down, Sister Hazel), Collide finds Skillet exploring a heavier rock sound than 2000’s Alien Youth .

“We had done the electronic thing for three records,” says Korey Cooper. “We were happy with Alien Youth and it was selling, but for the next record decided to go way less on the keyboards and a lot more just straight rock. And obviously, Paul Ebersold coming into the picture as producer shaped the sound.”

The single “Savior” has already heated up Christian radio airwaves on and in April, Lava took it to mainstream rock stations. The album will be re-issued with one new song, “Open Wounds,” which was penned by Cooper and Kevin Kadish.

“Songwriting is the most important thing in the equation because there are so many great, great bands out there that you can’t make it on just being a great band anymore,” says Cooper. “One of the best things about Skillet is our live performance...but songwriting is why people sell records. It happens when they have a hit song on the radio. I try to put most all my time into writing songs. Good songs will always sell records.”]]> 2004-07-25T18:00:00-05:00 http://www.bmi.com/news/entry/234083 Artists, Adams, Yolanda, Austin, Dallas, Blue Highway, Casting Crowns, Cooper, John, Crabb, Gerald, Johnson, Doug, Knapp, Jennifer, Stuart, Mark, Winans, CeCe, Musical Styles, Bluegrass, Christian, Country, Gospel, Rock, Urban 35th Annual GMA Music Awards, presented by the Gospel Music Association at Municipal Auditorium in Nashville (4/28). Mark Hall of Casting Crowns earned the Dove for Songwriter of the Year. Cedric Caldwell, The Crabb Family, The Martins, Grits and Michael Tait each were named double winners at the ceremony, which was hosted by BMI Award-winner Yolanda Adams and Deion Sanders.

Casting Crowns

Other BMI Dove-winners included Dallas Austin, Blue Highway, Matt Bronleewe, Myron Butler, Chad Chapin, John Cooper, John Ginty, Lari Goss, Tob Hemby, Monroe Jones, Mookie, Alan O'Bryant, Robert Randolph, Relient K, Matt Rollings, Salvador, Rebecca St. James, Pete Stewart, Mark Stuart, Matthew Thiessen and Mark Lee Townsend.

The event will broadcast on UPN on May 28 at 8-10 p.m. ET/PT.

The Crabb Family

BMI's 2004 GMA Award Winners

Songwriter of the Year
Mark Hall of Casting Crowns

Contemporary Gospel Recorded Song of the Year
"Hallelujah Praise"
Cece Winans
and Cedric Caldwell, songwriters

Country Recorded Song of the Year
"Three Wooden Crosses"
Doug Johnson, songwriter

The Martins	Grits

Bluegrass Recorded Song of the Year
"So Many Years, So Many Blessings"
The Lewis Family; Wayne Haun, Cindi Ballard and Belinda Smith, songwriters

Southern Gospel Recorded Song of the Year (tie)
"The Cross"
The Crabb Family; Gerald Crabb, songwriter

"The Promise"
The Martins

Tait

Rap/Hip Hop Recorded Song of the Year
"Believe"
Grits with Jennifer Knapp; Teron Carter, Stacy Jones, Kene Bell and Otto Price, songwriters

Modern Rock Album of the Year
Two Lefts Don't Make a Right...But Three Do
Relient K; Mark Lee Townsend and Matthew Thiessen, producers

Rock Album of the Year
Lose This Life
Tait; Michael Tait, Matt Bronleewe and Chad Chapin, producers

Blue Highway	CeCe Winans

Pop/Contemporary Album of the Year
Stacie Orrico
Dallas Austin, Matt Rolling and Mookie, producers

Inspirational Album of the Year
Above It All
The Martins

Southern Gospel Album of the Year
The Walk
The Crabb Family; Jason Crabb, Adam Crabb and Aaron Crabb, producers

Rebecca St. James	Robert Randolph	Monroe Jones

Bluegrass Album of the Year
Wondrous Love
Blue Highway; Alan O'Bryant, producer

Urban Album of the Year
Unclassified
Robert Randolph & The Family Band; Robert Randolph and John Ginty, producers

Traditional Gospel Album of the Year
CeCe Winans Presents...The Born Again Church Choir
Cedric Caldwell, producer

Praise & Worship Album of the Year
Offerings II - All I Have to Give
Monroe Jones, producer

Relient K

Instrumental Album of the Year
An Acoustic Christmas
Tom Hemby; Tom Hemby, producer

Special Event Album of the Year
!Hero The Rock Opera
Michael Tait, Mark Stuart, Rebecca St. James, Pete Stewart, Grits and
John Cooper; Pete Stewart, producer

Choral Collection of the Year
High Praises
Lari Goss, producer]]> 2004-05-26T18:00:01-05:00 http://www.bmi.com/news/entry/234017 Artists, Austin, Dallas, Blue Highway, Byrd, Marc, Casting Crowns, Chapman, Steven Curtis, City, Mike, Cooper, John, Crabb, Gerald, Foster, David, Jars of Clay, Johnson, Doug, Kirkpatrick, Wayne, Knapp, Jennifer, McClurkin, Donnie, McKeehan, Toby, Neville, Aaron, Parton, Dolly, Skillet, Smith, Connie, Stuart, Mark, Stuart, Marty, Winans, CeCe, Winans, Mario, Musical Styles, Bluegrass, Christian, Country, Gospel, Rock 35th Annual Dove Awards were announced recently at a press conference at Nashville's Gaylord Entertainment Center, and BMI songwriter/artists led the way in multiple nominations.

Wayne Haun	Steven Curtis Chapman	Pete Stewart

Producer Wayne Haun topped the list with nine nods including Southern Gospel Song, Bluegrass Song, Country Song, Southern Gospel Album, Country Album, Special Event Album and Choral Collection. Steven Curtis Chapman earned seven mentions for recordings in the Song of the Year, Male Vocalist, Pop/Contemporary Album and Long Form Music Video categories. Producer Pete Stewart is vying for six trophies including Rap/Hip Hop Song, Rock Song and Rock Album.

CeCe Winans	Connie Smith	Marc Byrd

Additional Song of the Year contenders are Chris Eaton [PRS] ("Child of Mine"), Doug Johnson ("Three Wooden Crosses"), and Mark Hall of Casting Crowns ("If We Are The Body"), who has also just been added to the Songwriter of the Year list. Other BMI-affiliated nominees include Marc Byrd, The Crabb Family, Jars of Clay, Toby McKeehan, Sandi Patty, Robert Randolph, Relient K, Rizen, Marty Stuart and Cece Winans.

The Dove Awards will broadcast live from Municipal Auditorium in Nashville on Thursday, April 28.

Casting Crowns

Congratulations to BMI's 2004 Dove Award Nominees:

NINE NOMINATIONS
Wayne Haun

SEVEN NOMINATIONS
Steven Curtis Chapman

SIX NOMINATIONS
Pete Stewart

FIVE NOMINATIONS
CeCe Winans

FOUR NOMINATIONS
Marc Byrd
The Crabb Family
Barbara Fairchild
Lari Goss
Toby McKeehan
Smokie Norful
Robert Randolph
Connie Smith

THREE NOMINATIONS
Audio Adrenaline
Kevin Bond
Cedric Caldwell
Casting Crowns
Miguel Angel Guerra
Jars of Clay
The Martins
Otto Price
Michael Tait

TWO NOMINATIONS
Matt Bronleewe
Byron Cage
Kurt Carr
Gerald Crabb
Chris Eaton
George Hamilton IV
The Hoppers
The Hoskins Family
Doug Johnson
Greater Vision
Grits
Dave Moody
Newsboys
Charlie Peacock
Relient K
Rebecca St. James
Mark Stuart
Marty Stuart
Michael Anthony Taylor

OTHER NOMINEES
Craig Adams
Alejandro Allen
Duane Allen
Paul Allen
Dallas Austin
Percy Bady
Cindi Ballard
Barry Beckett
Josiah Bell
Kene Bell
Big Dismal
Big Rocc
Blue Highway
Jason Burkum
Myron Butler
Steve Carey
Teron Carter
Chad Chapin
The Churchmen
Mike City
Club Zoo Music
John Cooper
Aaron Crabb
Adam Crabb
Jason Crabb
Kathy Crabb
Billy Ray Cyrus
dcTalk
Christine Dente
Scott Dente
Craig Duncan
Sheri Easter
James R. "Budd" Ellison
Jerome Fontamillas
David Foster
Richard Frierson
John Ginty
GlassByrd
Karen Peck Gooch
Wendi Foy Green
Andy Griffith
Mark Hall
Sanchez Harley
Dan Haseltine
Mark Heimermann
Tom Hemby
Rick Hendrix
Maurice Henderson
Bob Herdman
Here's To JO Music
Jeremy Holderfield
Canton Jones
Monroe Jones
Stacy Jones
Jay Joyce
Joey Kibble
Mark Kibble
Wayne Kirkpatrick
Jennifer Knapp
The Lewis Family
Charlie Lowell
Stephen Mason
Lisa McClendon
Donnie McClurkin
Joyce Martin McCollough
Ann McCrary
Rod McGaha
Will McGinniss
Nelson McSwain
Mike Curb Music
Carlton Moody
Phillip Moore
Dan Munizzi
Martha Munizzi
Dan Murph
Naomi and the Segos
Greg Nelson
Grant Nicholas
Arnold Lanni
Adriann Lewis
Ay'Ron Lewis
Little Pooky's Music
Aaron Neville
Art Neville
Newsboys
Grant Nicholas
The Oak Ridge Boys
Alan O'Bryant
Matt Odmark
Joe Pace
Dolly Parton
Sandi Patty
Peach Hill Songs
The Perrys
Dan Pitts
The Principles
Desmond Pringle
Tom Reeves
Alvin Richardson
Rizen
Ric Robbins
Carroll Wayne Roberson
Joseph Rojas
Matt Rollings
George Rowe
Roger Ryan
Sandtown
Ray Scott
Seventh Day Slumber
Mike Severson
Skillet
Belinda Smith
Soul Dog
Aaron Sprinkle
Kevin Stokes
Storm Boy Music
Jerry Sullivan
Swecs Music
Sweet Radical Music
Sydney Erin Music
Tait
T-Bone
Matthew Thiessen
Mark Lee Townsend
Virtue
Billy Joe Walker, Jr.
Kevin Ward
Steven Weaver
West Lodge Music
Fletch Wiley
Mario Winans
Marvin L. Winans, Jr.
Vickie Winans
Gerald Wolfe
Vicki Yohe]]> 2004-03-31T17:00:00-05:00 http://www.bmi.com/events/entry/532837 Artists, Byrd, Marc, Chapman, Steven Curtis, Cooper, John, Crabb, Gerald, Schultz, Mark, Awards, Musical Styles, Gospel, Singer-Songwriter, Regions, Nashville, Showcase, Showcase Templated h="300" align="center" height="12">  Showcase Highlights Dove Nominees
To kick off Gospel Music Week 2002, BMI Nashville joined forces with the Gospel Music Assocation to sponsor the Songwriter's Showcase on Sunday, April 21. Hosted by Nichole Nordeman and Mark Schultz, the SRO event featured performances by the writers of Dove Song Of The Year nominees and those whose songs were at the top of the radio charts in several genres, included CHR, AC & Inspo, Gospel, Southern Gospel and Rock. Dove-nominated BMI writer/artists performing at the showcase included Steven Curtis Chapman ("Live Out Loud"), Marc Byrd ("God Of Wonders"), John Cooper of Skillet ("Alien Youth"), Gerald Crabb ("That's No Mountain") and Mark Schultz ("Back In His Arms Again").      

Pictured backstage at the downtown Nashville Hilton Suites just before showtime are (front) BMI's Mark Mason, Steven Curtis Chapman, Mark Schultz, Paul Baloche, Marc Byrd, John Cooper, Geoff Moore; (back) Dan Burgess, Nichole Nordeman, Bart Millard, Gerald Crabb, Steve Hindalong, Kyle Matthews, Lenny LeBlanc, Grant Cunningham and BMI's Joyce Rice.

John Cooper and BMI's Mark Mason

photos by Beth Gwinn

Scheduled to perform are:

Year-End Chart-topping writers:

• Peter Furler - CHR
• Grant Cunningham - AC & Inspo
• Matt Huesmann - AC & Inspo
• John Cooper - Rock
• Kyle Matthews - Gospel
• Gerald Crabb - Southern Gospel

Song of the Year nominated writers:

• Nicole C. Mullen - "Call On Jesus"
• Lenny LeBlanc - "Above All"
• Paul Baloche - "Above All"
• Bart Millard - "I Can Only Imagine"
• Dan Burgess - "Press On"
• Geoff Moore - "Live Out Loud"
• Shaun Groves - "Welcome Home"
• Marc Byrd - "God Of Wonders"
• Steve Hindalong - "God Of Wonders"