Bell, who has just launched a solo career, produced a gold record for gospel singer Vickie Winans when he was just 14 and since then has produced albums for gospel greats such as BeBe & CeCe Winans and Smokey Norful, among others.

Shown are (front row): songwriter Josiah Bell; BMI’s June Neira; songwriter/artists Matthew Mayfield, Frankie Storm and Duncan Sheik; composer Steven Sater; and songwriter/artists Lady GaGa and Lanz; (back row): BMI’s Ben Tischker and Wardell Malloy; songwriter Claude Kelly; songwriter/artist Brent Smith of Shinedown; BMI’s Charlie Feldman; songwriters Curtis Richardson and Dave Katz; and BMI’s Samantha Cox.

Josiah Bell
Songwriter/producer/engineer; signed first production deal to M2 Entertainment at 14-years-old; produced and wrote six songs for Stellar Award and Grammy-nominated gospel artist Vickie Winans at age 15; produced and wrote two songs for gospel artist Smokie Norful, including the hit single, “Can’t Nobody”; Smokie’s CD went Gold and won a Grammy for Gospel Album of the Year. Josiah is currently working on a solo project.

Dave Katz
Prolific songwriter for bands like Coheed + Cambria, Gym Class Heroes, Boys Like Girls; wrote and produced “Bring It (Snakes on a Plane)” for the Snakes on a Plane soundtrack; worked with Roger Daltry on his 1992 release, Rocks in the Head.

Claude Kelly
Singer/songwriter/vocal arranger for artists like Carl Thomas, Trey Songz, DJ Clue, Ray J, Danity Kane, Brooke Hogan, Frankie J

Lady GaGa
Singer/songwriter and N.Y. native, GaGa was chosen by the Songwriter’s Hall of Fame as one of nine performers in the 2006 New Songwriter’s Showcase, and as result, was signed to a production deal with Sony’s multi-platinum producer, Rob Fusari; since then GaGa has been in the midst of a label and industry frenzy!

Lanz
Songwriter/rapper; by 13, Lanz was already making an impression on New York’s underground rap scene, performing at clubs around town. At 16, her razor sharp lyrics and delivery on tough issues caught the attention of Interscope/Geffen/A&M Chairman Jimmy Iovine, who signed her. Currently finishing up her debut CD.

Matthew Mayfield
Lead vocalist/guitarist for Moses Mayfield who was writing his own songs by 12. For him, songwriting is about connecting on a personal, emotional level, “dealing with my own demons and other peoples’ demons, vicariously.” Moses Mayfield has opened for Switchfoot, The Fray, My Morning Jacket and will be opening for Pete Yorn in early ’07. Debut release on Columbia set for March 27.

Curtis Richardson
Has written for Jennifer Lopez and LL Cool J (No. 1 hit “All I Have”), Joss Stone, Rihanna, Sharissa. Coming up in ’07, Curtis will be writing with Craig David, Kelly Clarkson, Carrie Underwood and Chaka Khan.

Steven Sater
A multiple threat with projects in theatre, film, music and television. Sater makes his Broadway debut with the book and lyrics to Spring Awakening. His partner, Duncan Sheik, wrote the music to the smash musical, which topped some of 2006’s Ten Best lists from Time Magazine, USA Today, New York Magazine and both critics from Time-Out New York and The New York Times, placing Spring Awakening among the front-runners for this year. In just a matter of weeks, the CD is already No. 3 on the Billboard charts for Cast Albums and Virgin’s No. 1 best seller for Cast Albums.

Duncan Sheik
Grammy-nominated singer/songwriter/recording artist who scored for film and the stage; produced Gold records for himself and his peers; year-long ride on the pop charts with “Barely Breathing”; new CD White Limousine. Broadway debut with writing partner Steve Sater of critically acclaimed Spring Awakening, the new musical based on Frank Wedekind’s controversial 1891 play about a young person’s sexual awakening.

Brent Smith
Lead singer and songwriter for Atlantic platinum recording artists, Shinedown. Brent currently co-wrote the album cut, “There and Back Again” with RCA chart-topping American Idol finalist Daughtry and is currently co-writing in all genres, including rock, pop and country.

Frankie Storm
Philly-based 24-year-old singer/songwriter currently working with production teams like Stargate, Soul Shock and Karlin and the Underdogs.

“I want to get into television,” says Winans, who is looking to launch a reality show. “I want to do a show called ‘The Vickie Winans Show--Dreams Come True.’ I’ve spent most of my life trying to make people happy. I want to do a television show and just go around this country making people happy. I want to give people who are less fortunate a boost in life.”

She plans to shoot the pilot in Detroit. Then she’ll shop it to networks.

Winans is also working on a stand-up comedy DVD, which she hopes to release in 2007. “I do comedy in all my shows,” she says. “So many people ask me for that [DVD] all the time, so I’m going to go ahead.”

The Detroit native spent the latter part of 2006 promoting her latest release, Woman to Woman: Songs of Life, a landmark 33-song collection that was years in the making. The new single, “The Rainbow,” tackles the subject of domestic violence. “All the songs I’ve ever wanted to do are on that album and it’s really, really great,” she says. “I’m so glad I did it.”

Winans is one of gospel music’s busiest touring artists. Chrysler Financial recently sponsored the Vickie Winans Rising Star tour, and in conjunction it, Winans and Chrysler held a talent competition with the winner getting a record contract with Winans’s Destiny Joy Records. Winans is currently producing the debut project on Datisha Pickett.

When not in the studio, Winans plans to hit the road. “I’ve done more than 200 shows a year, every year for the last 15 years,” she says. “I just love what I do. It’s tiring sometimes, but I’m on a mission.”

The CCA introduced their WorshipCast License on Oct. 1 and it is designed to provide churches a legal right to webcast worship music performed by a church's praise/worship team.

"Worship music is a cornerstone in the U.S. and we're happy to help support the further growth with the Church Copyright Administration," said BMI's Scott Andrews, Executive Director, New Media Licensing. "Their WorshipCast service is a unique and trend-setting program that will benefit the Christian music and publishing industries through performance royalties. We're proud to be a partner with this organization and to help grow the marketplace for the genre."

"Through the support of BMI, we are able to help facilitate the commitment by churches to be copyright compliant," says CCA President Susan Fontaine Godwin, a 22-year veteran in Christian music publishing and church copyright administration. "Through our internet streaming site, WorshipCast, we are able to offer a one-stop license that will help simplify the legal use of music on church websites. It is a groundbreaking endeavor for the CCA and we appreciate all of BMI's help and support in the Christian music industry on behalf of their songwriter and composer affiliates."

CCA's WorshipCast License, continuing the company's proactive position concerning the legal, effective use of current technology, offers one form for enrollment with all three of American PROs, access to CCA's exclusive CopyrightSolver database, an online, user-friendly form for posting internet usage activities, and simplified accounting and reporting procedures. WorshipCast License specifics are accessed via e-mail to internetinfo@churchca.com or a call to 251-929-2404.

CCA offers administration, consultation and education services to a client base that includes Saddleback Church, Willow Creek Church, and Christian ministries and businesses like International Mission Board and Sermonspice. Clients obtain clearances for copyright uses not covered by other industry licenses through CopyrightSolver, streamlining and automating the process while giving clients personal control and immediate information about their project orders. Full Service and Per Project administration plans, plus personal On-Site Consultation, are CCA services designed to meet the needs of individual clients.

BMI has been involved in sacred music throughout its history and licenses the work of such classic songwriters as Thomas Dorsey ("Precious Lord") and Steven Curtis Chapman. Some of the many Christian and gospel songwriters, composers and publishers it represents include The Hemphills, Kirk Franklin, Jars of Clay, Carman, TD Jakes, The Isaacs, BeBe & CeCe Winans, Yolanda Adams, Joyce Martin, Donald Lawrence, Dottie Peoples, Dorinda Clark-Cole, Rebecca St. James, Fred Hammond, Jeff Steele, John P Kee, Tait, Kim Burrell, Jeff & Sheri Easter, Donnie McClurkin, Wayne Haun, Deitrick Haddon, Mike Bowling, Vickie Winans, Audio Adrenaline, Albertina Walker, Skillet, Walter Hawkins, Grits, Rance Allen, Larnelle Harris and LaSHUN Pace.

Donald Lawrence	Walter Hawkins	Lil iROCC Williams

With an impressive six Stellar Awards, Lawrence was named Artist and Producer of the Year, and took home awards for CD and Contemporary CD of the Year for his Verity Records release I Speak Life. The album also won the award for Recorded Music Package of the Year.

Gospel legend Walter Hawkins, honored the previous day at BMI's 7th Annual Trailblazers of Gospel Music Luncheon, picked up two awards for Traditional Male Vocalist of the Year and Traditional CD of the Year for A Song in My Heart.

Lil iROCC Williams, also a double winner, won Rap/Hip-Hop Gospel CD of the Year and Children's Performance of the Year for The Sequel. The 15-year-old gospel phenomenom earned the same two awards at the 2004 Stellar Awards for his self-titled debut.

Other winners included Jonathan Nelson, RiZen, Sounds of Blackness, Martha Munizzi and 2002 BMI Christian Song of the Year writer Dottie Peoples.

BMI's 2006 Stellar Awards winners:

Donald Lawrence
Artist of the Year
CD of the Year -- I Speak Life
Producer of the Year
Group/Duo of the Year -- Donald Lawrence & Co.
Contemporary Group/Duo of the Year -- Donald Lawrence & Co.
Contemporary CD of the Year -- I Speak Life

Walter Hawkins
Traditional Male Vocalist of the Year
Traditional CD of the Year -- A Song in My Heart

Lil iROCC Williams
Rap/Hip-Hop Gospel CD of the Year -- The Sequel
Children's Performance of the Year -- The Sequel

Martha Munizzi
Special Event CD of the Year
When He Came

Jonathan Nelson
Song of the Year
"Healed"

Dottie Peoples
Traditional Female Vocalist of the Year

RiZen
Traditional Group/Duo of the Year

Sounds of Blackness
Contemporary Choir of the Year
]]> 2006-01-25T17:00:01-05:00 http://www.bmi.com/news/entry/234108 12 Stones, Audio Adrenaline, Chapman, Steven Curtis, Jars of Clay, Johnson, Doug, Kee, John P., McClurkin, Donnie, St. James, Stuart, Mark, Winans, Vickie, Christian, Gospel, Feature, BMI Christian Music Awards Steven Curtis Chapman, Bob Herdman, Will McGinniss and Mark Stuart as Songwriters of the Year; and EMI Music CMG Publishing as Publisher of the Year.

Joyce Rice, Director, Writer/Publisher Relations, and Thomas Cain, Senior Director, Writer/Publisher Relations, awarded BMI Citations of Achievement to 31 songs in five categories: AC (Adult Contemporary), CHR (Christian Hit Radio), Contemporary/Traditional Gospel, Rock, and Southern Gospel. Staged at the company's Music Row offices, the ceremonies featured special performances by Lemmie Battles and the quartet Mercy's Mark for the crowd of 200 writers, artists and executives.

Onstage at BMI Nashville during the Christian Music Awards are BMI Director Joyce Rice, EMI Music CMG Publishing President Eddie DeGarmo, Song of the Year writer Joe Beck, Songwriter of the Year Bob Herdman, "Three Wooden Crosses" writer Doug Johnson and BMI Executive Vice President Del Bryant. Photo by Steve Lowry

Joe Beck and Chad Chapin accepted the BMI Crystal for Most Performed Christian Song of the Year as writers of "To Ever Live Without Me." Published by CEC Animal Music and EMI Music CMG Publishing, "To Ever Live Without Me" was recorded by Jody McBrayer on his Sparrow Records album This Is Who I Am.

Steven Curtis Chapman	Audio Adrenaline

Of the 50 writers called out, Steven Curtis Chapman, Bob Herdman, Will McGinniss and Mark Stuart each placed two songs on the awards list to share the title of BMI Christian Songwriter of the Year.

Chapman, BMI's 2001 and 2003 Christian Songwriter of the Year, was cited for writing the AC hits "All About Love" and "How Do I Love Her," included on his Sparrow Records album All About Love.

Herdman and Audio Adrenaline members McGinniss and Stuart were recognized for the Audio Adrenaline CHR hits "Ocean Floor" and "Pierced," from the band's Grammy-winning ForeFront release Worldwide.

EMI Music CMG Publishing enjoyed the BMI Christian Publisher of the Year spotlight by accumulating the highest percentage of copyright ownership in award songs (through its companies River Oaks Music Company, Sparrow Song and Up In The Mix Music).

Other BMI award-winning songwriter/artists included Rebecca St. James, Jars of Clay, Vickie Winans, Donnie McClurkin, John P. Kee, 12 Stones, Relient K, Big Dismal and Greater Vision.

A highlight of the ceremonies was special acknowledgment of "Three Wooden Crosses," written by Doug Johnson. The first song released by a gospel label to reach #1 on the country charts, "Three Wooden Crosses" was named Song of the Year by the ACM (2004), the CMA (2003) and NSAI (2003) and Country Recorded Song of the Year at the GMA's Dove Awards (2004). Johnson was presented with a Citation of Appreciation recognizing the song's message, which has "renewed faith in millions of listeners around the world."

BMI's Citations of Achievement are given in recognition of popularity in the field of Christian music, as measured by feature broadcast performances on American radio and television. The 2003 Christian Music Awards eligibility period ran January 1, 2003 through December 31, 2003.

Catherine Brewton, Natalie Wilson of SOP Chorale, Freddie Jerkins, Jr., Freddie Jerkins, Sr., and Teddy Bishop

This year’s honorees were BMI songwriter/artists Yolanda Adams, nominated for six Stellar Awards; Vickie Winans, who co-hosted the Stellar Awards ceremony; John P. Kee; Donnie McClurkin; and Dottie Peoples. Each honoree received a Trailblazer Award plaque in recognition of their outstanding achievements in gospel music.

Dottie Peoples and Thomas Cain

At the Stellar Awards, Yolanda Adams was victorious in five categories: Artist of the Year, Female Vocalist of the Year, CD of the Year (Mountain High...Valley Low), Contemporary Female Vocalist of the Year, and Music Video of the Year ("Open My Heart"). Fred Hammond was named Producer of the Year and Contemporary Male Vocalist of the Year. Traditional Female Vocalist honors went to Brenda Waters.

Rev. Jones, Michael Guido, Joyce Rice, Stacy Jones and Teron Carter of Grits, Thomas Cain

Kim Burrell, Dorothy Norwood, Tina Atkins of Mary Mary, Albertina Walker, Vickie Winans, Dottie Peoples and Erica Atkins of Mary Mary

Thomas Cain, Donnie McClurkin, Kim Burrell, Catherine Brewton

Donnie McClurkin, Catherine Brewtobn, Dottie Peoples, Thomas Cain

Nicole Wilson of SOP Chorale, Joyce Rice, Freddie Jerkins, Jr., Thomas Cain, Kim Burrell, Catherine Brewton

LaShawn Daniels, Little Freddie Jerkins, and Rodney Jerkins perform with support from the SOP Chorale

Trint-I-Tee 5:7's Angel Taylor, Chanelle Haynes and Adrian Anderson surround Dottie Peoples

Erica Atkins of Mary mary, Vickie Winans, Tina Atkins of Mary Mary, Catherine Brewton

Juan Winans, Michael Winans, LaShawn Daniels, Kim Burrell, Carvins Winans and Catherine Brewton

photos by Shelia Turner