Rodney Atkins nailed the capstone on his red-letter year by receiving six nominations, including Top Male Vocalist, Album and Song of the Year. One of the feel-good stories of 2007, Atkins saw his ACM-nominated project If You're Going Through Hell achieve platinum status. After toiling in Nashville for 10 years in relatively ambiguity, the universally loved honky tonker's hard-earned recognition and fan-driven success slapped smiles on faces all over Music Row.

Duos Big & Rich and Sugarland each scored four nods. Charismatic and eclectic, Big & Rich earned recognition in the prestigious Top Vocal Duo category and Single, Song and Video of the Year for the poignant ballad "Lost in this Moment." Big Kenny landed an additional two nominations for his producing credits. Sugarland underscored their staying power with a Top Vocal Duo nod as well; the pair's stirringly original tune "Stay" became one of the industry's buzz songs, earning nominations for Single Record, Song and Video of the Year. Member Kristian Bush also earned recognition for his production of the tune.

Miranda Lambert and Taylor Swift snagged three nods each. Critical darling Lambert's nominations for Top Female Vocalist, Album and Single Record of the Year reflect both the growth of her audience and creativity. Country's favorite wunderkind Taylor Swift's nominations reflect the strength of her year: nods in both Top Female Vocalist and Top New Female Vocalist reiterate the breakout strength of her year.

BMI affiliates swept both the Top Vocal Duo and Top New Male Vocalist categories. Duo nominees include Brooks & Dunn, Halfway to Hazard and Montgomery Gentry; Luke Bryan, Jack Ingram and Jake Owen will vie for the Top New Male Vocalist prize.

Additional BMI nominees include Keith Urban for Entertainer of the Year and Top Male Vocalist; Rascal Flatts, also for Entertainer of the Year plus Top Vocal Group; Martina McBride and Carrie Underwood for Top Female Vocalist; Diamond Rio, the Eagles and Little Big Town for Top Vocal Group; Sarah Buxton for Top New Female Vocalist; Lady Antebellum and The Wreckers for Top New Duo Vocal Group; Gary Allan and his latest no. 1 single "Watching Airplanes" for Single Record of the Year; producers Tony Brown, Mark Wright, Nathan Chapman, Scott Borchetta, John Hobbs, Justin Niebank and Byron Gallimore; songwriters Rodney Clawson and Keith Anderson for co-penning Big & Rich's "Lost in this Moment"; as well as Tim McGraw, Vince Gill and Sheryl Crow in the Vocal Event of the Year category.

2008 BMI ACM Award Nominees

ENTERTAINER OF THE YEAR
Rascal Flatts
Keith Urban

TOP MALE VOCALIST
Rodney Atkins
Keith Urban

TOP FEMALE VOCALIST
Miranda Lambert
Martina McBride
Taylor Swift
Carrie Underwood

TOP VOCAL GROUP
Diamond Rio
Eagles
Little Big Town
Rascal Flatts

TOP VOCAL DUO
Big & Rich
Brooks & Dunn
Halfway To Hazard
Montgomery Gentry
Sugarland

TOP NEW MALE VOCALIST
Luke Bryan
Jack Ingram
Jake Owen

TOP NEW FEMALE VOCALIST
Sarah Buxton
Taylor Swift

TOP NEW DUO OR VOCAL GROUP
Lady Antebellum
The Wreckers

ALBUM OF THE YEAR [Award to Artist(s)/Producer(s)/Record Company]
Crazy Ex-Girlfriend
Miranda Lambert (Columbia)

If You're Going Through Hell
Rodney Atkins (Curb)
Co-produced by Rodney Atkins

Taylor Swift
Taylor Swift (Big Machine)
Produced by Scott Borchetta, Nathan Chapman

SINGLE RECORD OF THE YEAR [Award to Artist(s)/Producer(s)/Record Company]
Famous In A Small Town"
Miranda Lambert
Columbia

Lost In This Moment"
Big & Rich
Co-produced by Big Kenny
Warner Bros/WRN

"Stay"
Sugarland
Co-produced by Kristian Bush, Byron Gallimore
Mercury

"Watching Airplanes"
Gary Allan
Co-produced by Gary Allan, Mark Wright
MCA Nashville

SONG OF THE YEAR [Award to Composer(s)/Publisher(s)/Artist(s)]
"Don't Blink"
Co-written by Casey Beathard
Publishers: Lavender Zoo Music (BMI), Sony/ATV Acuff
Rose (BMI)

"Lost In This Moment"
Big & Rich
Co-written by Keith Anderson, Rodney Clawson
Publishers: Warner-Tamerlane Publishing Corp. (BMI), Writer's Extreme Music (BMI)

"Watching You"
Rodney Atkins
Co-written by Rodney Atkins, Steve Dean
Publishers: Bethar Music (BMI), Mike Curb Music (BMI)

"Stay"
Sugarland

VIDEO OF THE YEAR [Award to Producer(s)/Director(s)/Artist(s)]
"Lost In This Moment"
Big & Rich
Co-produced by Big Kenny

"Stay"
Sugarland
Producer: Kristian Bush, Byron Gallimore

"Watching You"
Rodney Atkins

VOCAL EVENT OF THE YEAR [Award to Artist(s)/Producer(s)/Record Company]
"Because Of You"
Produced by Tony Brown
MCA Nashville

"Find Out Who Your Friends Are"
Featuring Tim McGraw

"What You Give Away"
Vince Gill With Sheryl Crow
Produced by Vince Gill, John Hobbs, Justin Niebank
MCA Nashville

Check out live photos from the event

Full BMI Grammy Award Winners List

Unable to attend the ceremony due to a tardy issuance of her visa, Winehouse watched, accepted awards and performed twice via satellite in London. Her innate vintage cool and authentic emotion echoed through her performances of Record and Song of the Year, “Rehab,” along with “I’m No Good.” After claiming the most Grammys of any artist throughout the evening, including Best New Artist, Best Female Pop Vocal Performance and Best Pop Vocal Album, Winehouse’s ubiquitous artistic shadow was most certainly in attendance.

Charismatic rap star Kanye West further emphasized his staying power with wins in Rap Album and Solo Rap Performance of the Year. Honored both as a songwriter and recording artist, West also earned Rap Song of the Year bragging rights for “Good Life.” In addition to garnering accolades for his solo work, West claimed Best Rap Performance by a Duo or Group for his collaboration with Common on “Southside.”

“What a beautiful day this is in Los Angeles!” Herbie Hancock’s visible surprise while accepting his Album of the Year trophy provided a sublimely extemporaneous moment during the telecast. The first jazz project in 43 years to win Album of the Year, Hancock’s River: The Joni Letters features collaborations with numerous contemporary stylists, including Norah Jones and Corinne Bailey Rae. The project also garnered Best Contemporary Jazz Album honors.

BMI’s preeminent rock family enjoyed a successful night as well. The unfaltering Foo Fighters took home Best Hard Rock Performance honors for driving single “The Pretender,” while their Echoes, Silence, Patience and Grace earned Rock Album of the Year. Critical darlings and rock purists The White Stripes claimed Best Rock Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocals for the title track to Icky Thump, which also garnered Best Alternative Album bragging rights for the enigmatic duo.

Beloved jazz saxophonist and composer Michael Brecker received posthumous awards for Best Jazz Instrumental Album (Individual or Group) and Best Jazz Instrumental Solo. Perennial favorites The Clark Sisters also secured honors for Best Gospel Performance and Best Gospel Song.

Additional winners included Carrie Underwood for Best Female and Keith Urban for Best Male Country Vocal Performances; Calle 13 for Best Latin Urban Album; Ray Price and Willie Nelson for Best Country Collaboration with Vocals; Juan Luis Guerra for Best Tropical Latin Album; Vince Gill’s These Days for Best Country Album; Rihanna’s “Umbrella” for Best Rap/Sung Collaboration; Maroon 5 for Best Pop Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocals; and Alison Krauss for Best Pop Collaboration with Vocals.

He wrote his first hit song 50 years ago. It was a Ray Price hit called “City Lights,” and he wrote it when he was a disc jockey at a Georgia radio station. He had his first Top 10 record as a solo artist 47 years ago and he joined the Grand Ole Opry 46 years ago.

And he had his last big cut . . . well, what time is it? Anderson continues to be an in-demand songwriter, writing for Kenny Chesney, Brad Paisley and a slew of other new millennium favorites. His co-written “Give It Away” was a rarity: a No. 1 hit that was co-written by a Country Music Hall of Famer (Anderson) and sung by another Hall of Famer (George Strait). And in 2005, his “Whiskey Lullaby” (written with Jon Randall and sung by Paisley and Alison Krauss) won the Country Music Association’s song of the year prize. BMI’s first country Icon is, as retired former Sony/ATV President Donna Hilley once noted, both an elder statesman and a contemporary talent.

“He’s young for his age,” Randall said. “I think he can go on indefinitely. I want to be Bill Anderson when I grow up.”

For the record, Anderson was born on Nov. 1, 1937. Writing top hits at his age is like Sandy Koufax pitching a no-hitter against a modern-day New York Yankees team. Anderson never figured it would work out this way, exactly, though he also never planned on retiring and fading away.

“I just knew that this is what I wanted to do for my life’s work,” he said. “But I do remember telling people I’d stop if it wasn’t working out.”

It worked out, in spades. He wrote “City Lights” when he was 19, entering the hit parade and launching a remarkable career in music. The songwriting success preceded his triumphs as an idiosyncratic solo artist: Though he didn’t have a classically superior voice, Anderson developed a signature vocal style that led folks to call him “Whispering Bill Anderson.” His breathy, intimate singing helped him to score smashes including “Mama Sang A Song,” “Still,” “I Get The Fever” and “Wild Week-End.”

“In the days when I came along, the style was the thing,” he said. “If you weren’t different, you didn’t stand much of a chance.”

Anderson’s career as a top-draw solo artist cooled in the late 1970s, though he remained a popular fixture on the Opry. He quit writing songs in the 1980s, figuring that his writing well was dry and that it was better to concentrate on other things (such as hosting game shows on ABC and The Nashville Network). But Steve Wariner’s version of Anderson’s “The Tips of My Fingers” became a radio hit in 1992, proving that a classic country song could resonate through the decades, and Wariner and Vince Gill kept pushing him to co-write.

“That’s when the writing thing started to bubble again, and that’s when I got happier than I ever had been in my life,” Anderson said.

And so Bill Anderson’s career entered unprecedented territory. Never before had someone been to the top of an industry as a songwriter in one decade, as a performer in another and then re-emerged as a top songwriter again decades later. His works have been sung at the Opry, at county fairs and at Carnegie Hall. And his longevity and versatility helped Anderson become a common denominator in the careers of a seemingly disparate group of artists: Ernest Tubb, James Brown, Loretta Lynn, Trini Lopez, Aretha Franklin, The Louvin Brothers, Elvis Costello, Merle Haggard, Dean Martin and Waylon Jennings have all recorded his songs.

A friend recently sent Anderson a 50th birthday card, which surprised him since he has long passed 50 and it wasn’t his birthday. But the date was August 27, 2007, and it was the 50th anniversary of the day he wrote “City Lights.” Ray Price recorded it the next year, and a small town disc jockey became a professional songwriter. The day Price recorded “City Lights,” Anderson received a congratulatory call from Roger Miller and then another congratulatory call from a publisher. Later that afternoon, he got a call from a second publisher who said, “If you’ll sign with us, I think I can talk Ray Price into cutting ‘City Lights’.”

“In four hours, I got a good lesson into the realities of the music business,” Anderson said.

In those days, Bill Anderson was still learning lessons. These days, he could teach them.

West, a previous six-time Grammy winner, garnered the most nods including Album of the Year, Best Rap Album and Best Rap Solo Performance. His songwriting expertise is being recognized twice in the Best Rap Song category for “Good Life” and “Can’t Tell Me Nothing”.

Amy Winehouse, up for six, goes head-to-head with Kanye in the Album of the Year category. Winehouse received nominations including Song of the Year for “Rehab” and the coveted Best New Artist, which she’ll compete with BMI newcomer Taylor Swift.

BMI singer/songwriters dominated the Album of the Year category obtaining all five nominations with the Foo Fighters Echoes, Silence, Patience & Grace; Vince Gill’s These Days; Herbie Hancock’s River: The Joni Letters; Kanye West’s Graduation; and Amy Winehouse’s Back to Black.

In addition, T-Pain received his first-ever Grammy recognition garnering five nods in categories including Best R&B Performance By A Duo or Group With Vocals and Best Rap Song. Ne-Yo also scored five nominations, including Best Contemporary R&B Album mention for Because of You.

Daughtry, Tim McGraw, Rihanna and Feist scored four nominations each. Daughtry’s explosive self-titled album is up for Best Rock Album; McGraw’s Let It Go received a Best Country Album nod; Rihanna’s “Umbrella” earned a Record of the Year nomination; and Feist scored a Best New Artist nod.

Producer Mark Ronson received three nominations including Producer of the Year, Non-Classical and Record of the Year for his contributions to Winehouse’s Back to Black. Jack White of the White Stripes and Casting Crown's Mark Hall were also cited three times, as were Herbie Hancock, DJ Toomp and Common.

The Recording Academy will also honor Max Roach, The Band and Earl Scruggs with Lifetime Achievement Awards, as well as Jac Holzman and Willie Mitchell with Trustee Awards.

BMI attained a sizable percentage of the rock field achieving four-of-five nominations in the Best Rock Song and the Best Rock Album categories. The domination continued with BMI’s traditional strength in the Latin, Rap & R&B, Gospel, Jazz categories, and sweeps in the New Age and Traditional Blues categories.

Nashville A Teamer Jerry Kennedy was one of the night's inductees. Music runs wild through the Kennedy bloodline: All of Jerry's three sons are hit songwriters, while Shelby Kennedy is also a Writer/Publisher Relations representative in the Nashville office. Pictured are (l to r): Gordon Kennedy, Jerry Kennedy, Bryan Kennedy and BMI's Shelby Kennedy.

The vast majority of 2007's inductees are BMI affiliates, veterans and virtual architects of the American popular music canon. Nashville's A Team lent their gifts to studio recordings by Patsy Cline, Jim Reeves, Elvis Presley, Bob Dylan, Brenda Lee, Marty Robbins and countless others. The Blue Moon Boys and the Tennessee Two helped shape the sounds of Elvis Presley and Johnny Cash, respectively. The Wrecking Crew's musicianship finessed legendary singles for The Ronettes, The Beach Boys, Simon & Garfunkel, The Carpenters and more. Detroit's Funk Brothers were a tour de force in Motown, playing on Marvin Gaye's "I Heard It through the Grapevine," singles by Smokey Robison & The Miracles and a smorgasbord of others. The Memphis Boys picked, strummed and drummed through major hits for icons including Elvis Presley and Willie Nelson.

Pictured at the event are (l to r): host Creed Batton, the Musicians Hall of Fame's Joe Chambers, guitar legend Scotty Moore and BMI's Jody Williams.

Joe Chambers, gatekeeper of the Musicians Hall of Fame, took great care in organizing the event, which brought due recognition to behind the scenes virtuosos. Peter Frampton, Vince Gill, George Jones, Brenda Lee, Mandy Barnett, The Jordanaires, Dobie Gray, The Supremes' Mary Wilson, Amy Grant, Keith Anderson, Ray Scott, Garth Brooks, John Carter Cash and Rodney Crowell presented, performed and reiterated glowing praise. Actor/musician Creed Bratton, beloved character of the same name on The Office, proved an able host; before gaining attention for his television and film work, Batton played guitar in popular 60s group The Grass Roots.

Photos by Beth Gwinn

Rhonda Vincent

Rhonda Vincent & the Rage secured an impressive 11 individual IBMA award nominations, including nods for Entertainer, Vocal Group, Female Vocalist, Song of the Year for "All American Bluegrass Girl" and Album of the Year for the project by the same name.  Band member Hunter Berry received a nomination for Fiddle Player of the Year; and his solo debut Wow Baby is nominated for both Instrumental Album of the Year and Recorded Event of the Year.  Mickey Harris was nominated for Bass Player of the Year, and both Vincent and Kenny Ingram are in the running for Recorded Event of the Year for their work on New Songs, Old Friends and BMI affiliate Tony Trischka's Double Banjo Bluegrass Spectacular, respectively. 

Doyle Lawson & Quicksilver

Six-time recipients of IBMA's Vocal Group of the Year, Doyle Lawson & Quicksilver are nominated for this award again, along with Entertainer of the Year, Song of the Year for "Sadie's Got Her New Dress On" written by BMI songwriter Connie Leigh, Album of the Year for More Behind the Picture than the Wall, two nominations for Gospel Recorded Event (for songs "We Shall Inherit" and "He Lives in Me") and Mandolin Player of the Year (Lawson). Guitarist/vocalist Jamie Dailey and Lawson will vie separately for Recorded Event of the Year, for their contributions to New Songs, Old Friends and Hunter Berry's Wow Baby respectively--bringing the band's collective tally to nine nominations.

Alison Krauss & Union Station

Longtime BMI affiliates Alison Krauss & Union Station featuring Jerry Douglas and The Del McCoury Band each received seven nominations.

The Del McCoury Band

In addition to Entertainer, Instrumental Group and Gospel Recorded Event of the Year, individual members of The Del McCoury Band earned nods for Mandolin Performer (Ronnie McCoury) and Recorded Event of the Year. The McCoury Music label also garnered an Album of the Year nomination for legendary artist Larry Sparks' new project, The Last Suit You Wear, co-produced by Sparks.

Alison Krauss & Union Station featuring Jerry Douglas picked up nominations for Entertainer, Vocal Group, Female Vocalist and Instrumental Group of the Year.  The prolific Jerry Douglas is nominated for Dobro Player of the Year, and vocalist/guitarist Dan Tyminski was also included in the Recorded Event of the Year category for his contributions to Wow Baby.

Kentucky Thunder is nominated for Instrumental Group of the Year--an award they have taken home eight times since 1998, while their album Instrumentals is up for Instrumental Recording of the Year.  Band member Darrin Vincent earned two individual nods: he contributed to Recorded Event of the Year nominee Wow Baby and produced Album of the Year contender All American Bluegrass Girl.  Smilin' Jim Mills received a nod for Banjo Performer of the Year - an award he has walked away with six times since 1999.

Additional nominees include Ronnie Bowman for Male Vocalist of the Year; The Infamous Stringdusters for Song, Album and Emerging Artist of the Year; Tony Trischka for the year's top Recorded Event, Instrumental Album and Banjo Player; Russell Moore for Male Vocalist of the Year; J.D. Crowe & The New South for Album and Song of the Year; fiddler extraordinaire Michael Cleveland & his band Flamekeeper for Instrumental Group honors; Blue Highway and The Isaacs for Vocal Group of the Year; Jim VanCleve for Instrumental Album and Fiddle Player of the year; Mark Johnson & Emory Lester for Instrumental Album of the Year; newcomers Cadillac Sky for Emerging Artist honors; Cia Cherryholmes for top Banjo picker and Mickey Harris for Bass Performer of the Year.

The late Carl Story will enter the Bluegrass Hall of Fame this year. Affectionately dubbed the "Father of Bluegrass Gospel Music," Story pioneered the genre alongside bluegrass royalty like Bill Monroe and Ralph Stanley.

Guitar stylist Mike Auldridge and Homespun Tapes' Happy Traum will both receive Distinguished Achievement Awards. IBMA's Distinguished Achievement Award, an honor which recognizes individuals in the bluegrass music industry who have fostered the music's image with developments that broaden the genre's recognition and accessibility.

Hosted by Sam Bush, the 2007 IBMA Awards will take place during World of Bluegrass week, slated for October 1-7 in Nashville. Tickets for the IBMA award ceremony are available through the Grand Ole Opry House box office (1-800-733-6779) and all Ticketmaster outlets. The show will also be broadcast live on XM Satellite Radio's "Bluegrass Junction" Channel 14. For more information, please visit www.ibma.org.

2007 BMI IBMA Nominees

Bluegrass Hall of Fame Inductee

Carl Story

Distinguished Achievement Award Recipients

Mike Auldridge

Happy Traum

ENTERTAINER OF THE YEAR

Cherryholmes

Alison Krauss & Union Station featuring Jerry Douglas

Doyle Lawson & Quicksilver

The Del McCoury Band

Rhonda Vincent & the Rage

VOCAL GROUP OF THE YEAR

Blue Highway

The Isaacs

Alison Krauss & Union Station featuring Jerry Douglas

Doyle Lawson & Quicksilver

Rhonda Vincent & The Rage

INSTRUMENTAL GROUP OF THE YEAR

Blue Highway

Michael Cleveland & Flamekeeper

Alison Krauss & Union Station featuring Jerry Douglas

The Del McCoury Band

Paul Brewster and Darrin Vincent of Kentucky Thunder

MALE VOCALIST OF THE YEAR

Ronnie Bowman

Russell Moore

Larry Sparks

FEMALE VOCALIST OF THE YEAR

Dale Ann Bradley

Sonya Isaacs

Alison Krauss

Claire Lynch

Rhonda Vincent

SONG OF THE YEAR

Song Title, Artist(s), Songwriter(s)

"All American Bluegrass Girl"

Rhonda Vincent (artist & songwriter)

"Fork In The Road"

The Infamous Stringdusters (artists),

Co-written by Chris Jones & John Pennell

"Lefty's Old Guitar"

J.D. Crowe & The New South (artists)

Co-written by Dave Maggard & Jack Spencer

"Sadie's Got Her New Dress On"

Doyle Lawson & Quicksilver (artists)

Written by Connie Leigh

"The Last Suit You Wear"

Larry Sparks (artist)

Co-written by Larry Shell & Larry Williams

ALBUM OF THE YEAR

All American Bluegrass Girl

Rhonda Vincent (artist)

Produced by Darrin Vincent & Rhonda Vincent

Fork In The Road

The Infamous Stringdusters (artists)

Produced by Tim Stafford & The Infamous Stringdusters

Lefty's Old Guitar

J.D. Crowe & The New South (artists)

Produced by J.D. Crowe & The New South

More Behind The Picture Than The Wall

Doyle Lawson & Quicksilver (artists)

Produced by Doyle Lawson

The Last Suit You Wear

Larry Sparks (artist)

Produced by Larry Sparks

RECORDED EVENT OF THE YEAR

Vassar Clements, Tony Rice & The Low Country All Star Band

Featuring Tony Rice & The Low Country All-Star Band (artists)

Double Banjo Bluegrass Spectacular

Tony Trischka with Earl Scruggs, Kenny Ingram, Tom Adams, Bela Fleck, Noam Pikelny, Alison Brown, Scott Vestal, Steve Martin & Bill Emerson (artists)

Produced by Tony Trischka & Bela Fleck

New Songs, Old Friends

Featuring Vince Gill, Doyle Lawson, Oak Ridge Boys, Rob Ickes, Del McCoury, Sonya Isaacs, Rhonda Vincent, Stuart Duncan, Larry Cordle, Keith Sewell, Ben Isaacs (artists)

Wow Baby

Hunter Berry with Tony Rice, Doyle Lawson, Dan Tyminski, Marty Stuart, Bobby Osborne, Sonya Isaacs, Rhonda Vincent, Buddy Spicher, Ronnie Stewart, Darrin Vincent, Bob Moore (artists);

Produced by Darrin Vincent

INSTRUMENTAL ALBUM OF THE YEAR

Acoustic Rising

Mark Johnson & Emory Lester (artists)

Produced by Mark Johnson & Emory Lester

Double Banjo Bluegrass Spectacular

Tony Trischka (artist)

Produced by Tony Trischka & Bela Fleck

No Apologies

Jim VanCleve (artist),

Rural Rhythm Records

Produced by Jim VanCleve

Wow Baby

Hunter Berry (artist),

Produced by Darrin Vincent

GOSPEL RECORDED PERFORMANCE OF THE YEAR

"He Lives In Me"

Doyle Lawson & Quicksilver (artists)

Produced by Doyle Lawson

"The Promised Land"

The Del McCoury Band (artist)

Produced by Del McCoury & Ronnie McCoury

"We Shall Inherit"

Doyle Lawson & Quicksilver (artists)

Produced by Doyle Lawson

EMERGING ARTIST OF THE YEAR

Cadillac Sky

Michael Cleveland & Flamekeeper

The Infamous Stringdusters

Williams & Clark Expedition

INSTRUMENTAL PERFORMERS OF THE YEAR

BANJO

Cia Cherryholmes

J.D. Crowe

Jim Mills

Tony Trischka

BASS

Mickey Harris

Missy Raines

Marshall Wilborn

FIDDLE

Hunter Berry

Michael Cleveland

Stuart Duncan

Ron Stewart

DOBRO

Mike Auldridge

Jerry Douglas

Rob Ickes

Randy Kohrs

GUITAR

Jim Hurst

Tony Rice

Larry Sparks

MANDOLIN

Sam Bush

Doyle Lawson

Ronnie McCoury

Influential radio and television personality Ralph Emery will be inducted in the "Non-Performer" category. From his night shift and Grand Ole Opry announcing duties on WSM/Nashville radio to the 30 year run of his popular morning television program "The Ralph Emery Show," Emery emerged as one of the main voices and faces of country music. His role as confidant and friend to country's stars coupled with his sheer longevity has established Emery as a true music historian as well: his first book, Memories: The Autobiography of Ralph Emery, resided on the New York Times best seller list for over six months. Radio and Records named Ralph Emery "Country Radio's Greatest Personality" in 2000.

Simple numbers may help tell part of Vince Gill's story: 16 albums, 17 Grammys and two BMI Songwriter of the Year titles are scattered throughout his career, illustrating his longevity in a music world sometimes eager to move on. Gill's sheer strength as a songwriter, producer, vocalist and instrumentalist tells the rest of his story. Throughout commercial successes and decades, he somehow remains staunchly true to his roots, yet artistically exciting and experimental. It's been four long years since Vince Gill's last album, and the already platinum These Days temporarily satisfies music lovers' seemingly inexhaustible desire for more, firmly solidifying Gill's place among the giants of any genre.

Legendary singer/songwriter Mel Tillis boasts 18 BMI Country Awards, two BMI Pop Awards and five million-performance songs in a catalog stacked with hits. As a recording artist, Tillis has scored 36 Top 10 singles, six of which peaked at No. 1. Multiple acting credits from both film and television color Tillis' resume, from guest appearances on TV's "Love Boat" and "The Dukes of Hazzard" to roles in major productions including "Every Which Way But Loose" (1979) with Clint Eastwood and "Smokey and the Bandit II" (1980) with Burt Reynolds, Jerry Reed, Sally Field and Jackie Gleason. Named the CMA Entertainer of the Year in 1976, Tillis is also a member of the Nashville Songwriters International Hall of Fame. This June, Tillis became a cast member of the Grand Ole Opry.

Emery, Gill and Tillis will be officially inducted this October during the traditional Medallion Ceremony at the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum.

DiPiero and Steele will lead a session focusing on "The Making of a Hit" at the annual gathering for radio broadcasters. To be held at the Minneapolis Marriott City Center, June 27 – July 1, this year’s conference is titled "Radio Under Construction."

BMI, an organization that represents thousands of songwriters, composers and music publishers, has regularly sponsored events at the Conclave to promote better understanding between the professions. "The Conclave is an excellent educational opportunity for radio industry professionals, and it's appropriate that songwriters should be a part of that learning experience," said Mike O'Neill, BMI Senior Vice President, Licensing.

An award-winning songwriter, Steele noted that, "While some of the songwriting process is inspiration, we writers rely on the skills we've developed through the years to bring us to that place where 'the magic' happens. Bob and I will talk about co-writing partnerships — the good and the bad of collaborating — and also share some stories about the unique combination of words, music and, of course, luck that made certain songs hits for us."

As a songwriter, artist and producer, Jeffrey Steele is enjoying one of the hottest streaks in music. Named Songwriter of the Year by BMI (2003) and by the Nashville Songwriters Association International (2003, 2005-06), he was nominated for a 2007 Grammy Award for the crossover Rascal Flatts smash, "What Hurts the Most." Among the more than 300 songs he's had recorded in the past six years are the #1 singles "The Cowboy in Me" (Tim McGraw), "These Days" and "My Wish" (Rascal Flatts), "Something To Be Proud Of" (Montgomery Gentry) and "Brand New Girlfriend" (Steve Holy). Other highlights of his catalog — recognized by BMI for more than 25 million airplays — are the hit singles "Chrome," "Hell Yeah," "Help Somebody," "Unbelievable" and "My Town." Steele performs frequently around the country — solo and with his band — and has produced recent projects for Montgomery Gentry and Keith Anderson, among others.

With literally hundreds of songs recorded over the last 20 years, Bob DiPiero is one of Nashville's most celebrated songwriters: 19 Top 10 hits, 13 of them number ones. He's won 19 BMI Awards, including the 1995 Robert J. Burton Award for most-performed country song of the year for Neal McCoy's "Wink." He was named 1998's Songwriter of the Year at the Nashville Music Awards and in both '95 and '96 he won CMA Triple Play (an award for having three number one songs in a 12-month period) for chartbusters including Faith Hill's "Take Me As I Am," Reba McEntire's "Till You Love Me," George Strait's "Blue Clear Sky, and Vince Gill's "Worlds Apart." He has also had songs recorded by pop artists including Neil Diamond, Dusty Springfield and Jason and the Scorchers.

The new artist categories were reserved for BMI singer/songwriters as well, albeit the respected winners are far from "new" to most listeners. Critic and fan favorite Miranda Lambert earned a Top New Female Vocalist win, while hard-working Rodney Atkins claimed the Top New Male Vocalist crown-10 years after signing his first record deal. Harmony-drenched quartet Little Big Town secured Top New Duo or Vocal Group honors as well.

Perennial favorites Brooks & Dunn won four awards including Top Vocal Duo and Vocal Event of the Year for "Building Bridges." The song featured fellow BMI members Sheryl Crow and Vince Gill, and both Ronnie Dunn and Kix Brooks also received nods for their work as producers. Brooks & Dunn now hold the record for most Top Vocal Duo wins with 14. In recognition of their numerous charitable endeavors, the duo was also presented with the Home Depot Humanitarian of the Year honor.

Both Song and Single Record of the Year went to "Give It Away," produced by BMI affiliate Tony Brown and co-written by BMI songwriters Whisperin' Bill Anderson and Jamey Johnson. The staunchly honky tonk tune was a No. 1 hit for recent Country Music Hall of Fame inductee George Strait, and it earned the first ACM award for Country Music Hall of Fame and Grand Ole Opry member Bill Anderson.

Megastars Rascal Flatts took home Top Vocal Group honors. The group recently saw their single "Stand" hit No. 1 and were also named Billboard's top-selling act for 2006. Their fifth ACM Top Vocal Group win ties them with Country Music Hall of Famers Alabama for the most consecutive wins in this category.

BMI legends swept the prestigious Pioneer and International Award categories. Peerless songwriter Harlan Howard, American treasure Dolly Parton and rebel icon Waylon Jennings were each honored with Pioneer Awards, while the academy bestowed the International Award on Bakersfield sound architect Buck Owens.

The Academy of Country Music, an artist and industry-driven organization, exists to produce a world-class network television awards show, and its associated events, to provide the financial resources to ensure the on-going philanthropic work of its Charitable Fund. Academy of Country Music Charitable Fund promotes and supports music education and humanitarian programs that transform the human spirit. Through its charitable donations, the ACMCF works towards two main goals: encouraging Learning Through Music and Healing Through Music. The Academy, which is comprised of more than 4,500 professional members and more than 48,000 associate members, was established in 1964 and is headquartered in Encino, Calif.

For more information on the Academy of Country Music Awards and the Academy of Country Music, please visit www.acmcountry.com.

BMI 2007 ACM Winners

Top Female Vocalist
Carrie Underwood

Top Vocal Group
Rascal Flatts

Top Vocal Duo
Brooks & Dunn

Top New Male Vocalist
Rodney Atkins

Top New Female Vocalist
Miranda Lambert

Top New Duo or Vocal Group
Little Big Town

Album of the Year [Award to Producer(s)/ Artist(s)/ Record Company]
Some Hearts
Carrie Underwood
19 Recordings Limited/Arista Records

Single Record of the Year [Award to Artist(s)/ Producer(s)/ Record
Company]
"Give It Away"
Producer: Tony Brown
MCA Nashville

Song of the Year [Award to Composer(s)/ Publisher(s)/ Artist(s)]
"Give It Away"
Writers: Bill Anderson and Jamey Johnson
Publishers: Sony/ATV Tree Publishing/Mr. Bubba Music, Inc., Admin. By
Sony/ATV Music Publishing and EMI Blackwood Music, Inc.

Video of the Year [Award to Producer(s)/Director(s)/Artist(s)]
"Before He Cheats"
Carrie Underwood

Vocal Event of the Year [Award to Artist(s)/Producer(s)/Record Company]
"Building Bridges"
Brooks & Dunn with Vince Gill & Sheryl Crow
Producers: Tony Brown, Ronnie Dunn & Kix Brooks
Arista Nashville

Pioneer Award
Harlan Howard
Dolly Parton
Waylon Jennings

International Award
Buck Owens

Musicians

Aubrey Haynie
Fiddle

Brent Mason
Guitar

John Hobbs
Piano/Keyboards

Stuart Duncan
Specialty Instrument

Michael Johnson
Steel Guitar