Clint Black

BMI and A&E created an innovative on-air campaign to promote the series. Titled "Country Crossroads," the campaign features additional BMI writers sharing original anecdotes about the musical influences that the Biography subjects had on their work. The original campaign was shot on location in Los Angeles, New York and Nashville and featured a broad spectrum of BMI writers, including Clint Black, Isaac Hayes, Rosanne Cash, Lorrie Morgan, Shelby Lynn, Buddy Jewell, Julie Roberts and Louie Perez sharing their reflections on their personal musical icons. BMI contributed to the creation of the campaign concept and supplied talent relations, research services, archival footage and logistics support to the shoots. A&E Networks shot and produced the spots.

"Bio Country" can be seen on The Biography Channel Wednesdays at 8 ET/9 PT. Check your local listings for more information.

Isaac Hayes

Rosanne Cash

Shelby Lynne

BMI saluted the premier country music songwriters, artists and publishers at its 2004 Country Awards, staged last night (11/8) at the BMI offices on Music Row in Nashville.

Country Awards Song List

Country Awards Event Photos

Crystal Gayle; BMI President & CEO Del Bryant; Shania Twain; Kitty Wells, Casey Beathard; Toby Keith, Loretta Lynn; Universal Music Senior VP/GM Pat Higdon; BMI President Emeritus Frances Preston; and Sony/ATV Music Publishing Nashville President & CEO Donna Hilley.

Shania Twain's "Forever and For Always" was proclaimed Country Song of the Year. Casey Beathard earned the title of Country Songwriter of the Year, with superstar Toby Keith collecting Country Songwriter/Artist of the Year honors. Sony/ATV Music Publishing Nashville was named Country Publisher of the Year. A highlight of the gala was a tribute to Loretta Lynn, who was named a BMI ICON for "her enduring influence on generations of music makers."

The black-tie ceremony was hosted by Del Bryant, BMI President and CEO. Frances W. Preston, President Emeritus, and Paul Corbin, Vice President of Writer/Publisher Relations, Nashville, assisted with the presentations to the BMI-affiliated writers and publishers of the 50 most performed songs in the country music format.

Loretta Lynn	Shania Twain

"Forever and For Always," written and recorded by Shania Twain, won the 36th Robert J. Burton Award as Most Performed Country Song of the Year for tallying the most US broadcast performances during the eligibility period. Included on Twain's 10-times platinum Mercury Nashville album, UP!, "Forever and For Always" was published by her company Loon Echo, Inc., and by Universal-Songs of PolyGram International, Inc., and was co-written with her husband, Robert John "Mutt" Lange (share not licensed through BMI).

Casey Beathard	Toby Keith

"Forever and For Always" is Twain's fourth BMI Song of the Year win. It was named Song of the Year at the 2004 BMI London Awards, and her smash "You're Still the One" received the honor at both the 1999 BMI Pop and Country Awards. She was also named BMI Songwriter of the Year at both the 1999 and 2000 Pop and Country Awards and now owns a total of 28 BMI Awards.

The BMI Country Songwriter of the Year trophy went to Casey Beathard, who placed five titles on the most performed list: "Drinkin' Bone" (recorded by Tracy Byrd), "Hot Mama" (Trace Adkins), "The Love Song" (Jeff Bates), "No Shoes, No Shirt, No Problems" (Kenny Chesney) and "Walk a Little Straighter" (Billy Currington).

Toby Keith was crowned BMI Country Songwriter/Artist of the Year on the strength of his #1 hits "American Soldier," "Beer For My Horses" and "I Love This Bar." Keith, who now has 15 BMI Awards, was also named Songwriter/Artist of the Year in 2001.

Eight songwriters were double winners, contributing two songs each to the most-performed list: Bob DiPiero, Scotty Emerick, Tony Martin, Wendell Mobley, Tim Nichols, Tom Shapiro, Jeffrey Steele, and Twain.

Other writer/artists earning awards were Keith Urban, Sara Evans, Lonestar's Richie McDonald, Clint Black, Kix Brooks & Ronnie Dunn, Buddy Jewell, Craig Morgan, Pat Green, Jeff Bates, and Sherri� Austin.

Sony/ATV Music Publishing Nashville was named BMI Country Publisher of the Year by accumulating the highest percentage of copyright ownership in award songs. Donna Hilley, President & CEO, accepted on behalf of the publisher, which boasted 18 songs on the most-performed list (through its companies Sony/ATV Acuff Rose and Sony/ATV Tree).

Other publishers with multiple award-winning songs included Warner-Tamerlane Publishing Corp. (8); Universal-Songs of PolyGram International, Inc. (6); EMI-Blackwood Music, Inc. (4); Careers-BMG Music Publishing, Inc./Zomba Songs Inc., and Tokeco Tunes (3 each).

President Emeritus Frances Preston was recognized with the President's Award; BMI's Del Bryant led the tribute, joined by Kris Kristofferson, Vince Gill, and Alabama's Randy Owen. Preston, who joined BMI in 1958 and created the Country Awards in 1959, served as President & CEO from 1986 until August of this year. The award, given to those in the entertainment industry deserving of special recognition, has previously been bestowed on the group Alabama, Merv Griffin, Earle Hagen, Harlan Howard, Willie Nelson, Billy Sherrill, Pete Townshend and Brian Wilson.

The evening culminated in the ICON tribute to Loretta Lynn, which included an introduction by Preston, remarks from Kitty Wells, and performances by Crystal Gayle, Lynnís sister (singing Coal Minerís Daughter�) and Martina McBride (�You Ainít Woman Enough�). A BMI affiliate for 43 years, the Kentucky-born Lynn launched her career in 1960 with her self-composed "I'm a Honky Tonk Girl." Soon she was topping the charts with the feisty female classics she wrote, including "You Ain't Woman Enough" (1966), "Don't Come Home A-Drinkin'" (1966), "What Kind of Girl (Do You Think I Am)" (1967), "Fist City" (1968), "Coal Miner's Daughter" (1970), "You're Lookin' at Country" (1971), "Rated X" (1972) and "The Pill" (1975). The first woman ever to become the Country Music Association's Entertainer of the Year, she released her 71st album, the acclaimed Van Lear Rose, earlier this year.

Lynn joins a distinguished list of previous BMI ICONS, including country songwriter/artists Bill Anderson and Dolly Parton; pop songwriting master Brian Wilson; R&B legends James Brown, Chuck Berry, Little Richard, Bo Diddley, Isaac Hayes and Al Green; Motown songwriting trio Brian Holland, Lamont Dozier and Eddie Holland; and blues/rock/soul artist Van Morrison.

Among the BMI-affiliated winners were "Critics' Pick" Buddy Jewell and "Breakthrough Songwriter" Don Rollins, along with co-writer Jim Brown ("It's 5 O'Clock Somewhere"). BMI writer/artist Craig Morgan collected "Song of the Year" honors for "Almost Home," which he co-wrote with Kerry Kurt Phillips; the award is given to recognize the craft of songwriting, not necessarily chart position.

Music Row's Susana Ross and "Best Nashville Songplugger" Sherrill Blackman of SDB Music Group	Buddy Jewell with Music Row reviewer Robert K. Oermann

Jim Brown, Music Row's David Ross, Don Rollins

BMI's Paul Corbin, manager Faith Quisenberry, Craig Morgan and BMI's Harry Warner

Photos by Alan Mayor]]> 2004-06-10T18:00:00-05:00 http://www.bmi.com/news/entry/234030 Artists, Byrd, Tracy, Gentry, Montgomery, Griggs, Andy, Jewell, Buddy, Shelton, Blake, Steele, Jeffrey, Wells, Danny, Musical Styles, Country Montgomery Gentry recently celebrated platinum sales success for their third Columbia Records CD My Town. The album yielded the smash hits "Speed," "Hell Yeah" and the title track. The duo's Carrying On album is approaching platinum, and their debut release, Tattoos & Scars is already certified for sales in excess of one million copies.

Leading the Jim Beam toast are Troy Gentry, Eddie Montgomery, Sony Nashville's John Grady and BMI's Paul Corbin.

Eddie Montgomery and Troy Gentry are nominated for two Academy of Country Music Association awards: Top Vocal Duo and Vocal Event of the Year, joining fellow BMI writers Tracy Byrd, Andy Griggs and Blake Shelton for "The Truth About Men."

Danny Wells, BMI’s David Preston, Chris Wallin

Montgomery Gentry's fourth Columbia album, You Do Your Thing -- which is co-produced by Jeffrey Steele and Rivers Rutherford -- hits stores May 18.

Sony Nashville’s Larry Pareigis, Buddy Jewell, Sony Nashville’s Bill Macky, Buffy Cooper and Dale Libby

Troy Gentry, Jeffrey Steele, Eddie Montgomery, Rivers Rutherford

Jack Lameier, BMI’s Paul Corbin, Hallmark Management’s John Dorris

Susan Myers, Sony Nashville’s Shawn Williams, Laura Huie

Photos by Deana Tackett]]> 2004-04-12T18:00:00-05:00 http://www.bmi.com/news/entry/234002 Artists, Alabama, Brooks & Dunn, Buffett, Jimmy, Byrd, Tracy, Daniels, Charlie, Evans, Sara, Gentry, Montgomery, Gill, Vince, Green, Pat, Griggs, Andy, Jewell, Buddy, Johnson, Doug, Keith, Toby, Krauss, Alison, Lonestar, Loveless, Patty, McBride, Martina, McGraw, Tim, Mobley, Wendell, Nelson, Willie, Rascal Flatts, Shelton, Blake, Stegall, Keith, Trick Pony, Twain, Shania, Urban, Keith, Wright, Mark, Musical Styles, Country Brooks & Dunn and Toby Keith received five nominations each when the nominees for the 39th annual Academy of Country Music Awards were announced in Los Angeles on March 10.

Brooks & Dunn

Toby Keith

Brooks & Dunn - who have collected 18 ACM trophies so far -- were recognized in the categories of Entertainer, Top Vocal Duo, and Single Record, Song and Album on the strength of Red Dirt Road and its title track. Reigning ACM Entertainer of the Year Keith appeared again in that category, as well as in the running for Top Male Vocalist, Single Record ("American Soldier"), Album (Shock 'N Y'all) and ACM/Launch Video ("Beer For My Horses").

Jimmy Buffett

Martina McBride

Keith Stegall

Following closely with four mentions each were long-time BMI affiliates Jimmy Buffett, Martina McBride and producer Keith Stegall. Other multiple BMI-nominees were producer James Stroud with three, and Tim McGraw, Montgomery Gentry, and producers Mark Wright and Tony Brown with two each.

Tim McGraw

Montgomery Gentry

In addition to Keith, Kix Brooks and Ronnie Dunn, BMI songwriters on the exclusive Song of the Year list were Don Rollins ("It's Five O'Clock Somewhere"), Wendell Mobley ("There Goes My Life") and Doug Johnson ("Three Wooden Crosses").

James Stroud

Mark Wright

Don Rollins

McBride and BMI Award-winning legend Charlie Daniels were also nominated for the Academy of Country Music/Home Depot Humanitarian Award. The first fan-voted award in the Academy's history, this honor salutes an artist or group in the country music industry who is committed to serving others, has a generosity of spirit and a dedication to helping build the dreams of those in need.

Wendell Mobley

Doug Johnson

Charlie Daniels

The ACM ceremony will be broadcast on Wednesday, May 26, at 8:00 PM ET/PT on CBS Television Network, from the Mandalay Bay Resort & Casino in Las Vegas.

BMI's ACM Nominees:

Entertainer of The Year
Brooks & Dunn
Toby Keith
Tim McGraw

Top Male Vocalist
Toby Keith
Tim McGraw
Keith Urban

Top Female Vocalist
Sara Evans
Patty Loveless
Martina McBride
Shania Twain

Top New Artist
Pat Green
Buddy Jewell

Top Vocal Group
Alabama
Diamond Rio
Lonestar
Rascal Flatts
Trick Pony

Top Vocal Duo
Brooks & Dunn
Montgomery Gentry
The Warren Brothers

Single Record of the Year
"American Soldier"
Toby Keith/James Stroud, Toby Keith, Producers
"It's Five O'Clock Somewhere"
Jimmy Buffett/Keith Stegall, Producer
"Red Dirt Road"
Brooks & Dunn/Kix Brooks, Ronnie Dunn, Mark Wright, Producers
"Remember When"
Keith Stegall, Producer

Song Of The Year
"It's Five O'Clock Somewhere"
Don Rollins, Songwriter/R. Joseph Publishing, Warner-Tamerlane
Publishing Co., Publishers/Jimmy Buffett, Artist
"Red Dirt Road"
Kix Brooks, Ronnie Dunn, Songwriters/ Buffalo Prairie Songs, Showbilly Music, Sony-ATV Tree Publishing, Publishers/Brooks & Dunn, Artists
"There Goes My Life"
Wendell Mobley, Songwriter/Warner-Tamerlane Publishing Co., Publisher
"Three Wooden Crosses"
Doug Johnson, Songwriter/Mike Curb Music, Sweet Radical Music, Publishers

Album Of The Year
Honkytonkville
Tony Brown, Producer
Martina
Martina McBride, Artist/Producer
Red Dirt Road
Kix Brooks, Ronnie Dunn, Mark Wright, Producers/Brooks & Dunn, Artists
Shock 'N Y'all
James Stroud, Toby Keith, Producers/Toby Keith, Artist

Vocal Event of the Year
"How's The World Treating You"
Alison Krauss
"It's Five O'Clock Somewhere"
Jimmy Buffett, Artist/Keith Stegall, Producer
"The Truth About Men"
Tracy Byrd, Andy Griggs, Blake Shelton, Montgomery Gentry, Artists/Tracy Byrd, Producer
"Working For A Living"
Byron Gallimore, Producer
"Young Man's Town" Vince Gill, Artist/Producer

ACM/Launch Video of the Year
"Beer For My Horses"
Toby Keith, Willie Nelson, Artists
"Concrete Angel"
Martina McBride, Artist
"It's Five O'Clock Somewhere"
Jimmy Buffett, Artist

Producer of the Year
Tony Brown
Keith Stegall
James Stroud

Audio Engineer of the Year
Billy Sherrill

Guitar
J. T. Corenflos

Bass
David Hungate
Mike Brignardello

Steel Guitar
Sonny Garrish
Dan Dugmore

Piano/Keyboard
John Hobbs
Gordon Mote

Fiddle
Aubrey Haynie
Rob Hajacos
Stuart Duncan
Glen Duncan
Jonathan Yudkin

Specialty Instrument
Eric Darken
Jim Horn
Terry McMillan]]> 2004-03-11T17:00:00-05:00 http://www.bmi.com/news/entry/233915 Artists, Jewell, Buddy, Johnson, Doug, Travis, Randy, Musical Styles, Christian, Country, Gospel Christian Country Music Awards, held at the Ryman Auditorium in Nashville (11/6). Song of the Year accolades went to Doug Johnson for writing (with Kim Williams) "Three Wooden Crosses," a #1 hit for Randy Travis. "Three Wooden Crosses" was also named Song of the Year at the CMA Awards the previous night and at NSAI's annual Songwriter Achievement ceremony earlier in the week.

Del Way

Doug Johnson

Paula Slow

The Male Vocalist trophy was handed to Del Way, with Paula Slow taking Female Vocalist. Nashville Star winner Buddy Jewell and Lisa Ryan of the "700 Club" hosted the evening, which included performances and presentations by Sherri� Austin, George Jones, LaVerne Tripp and the Fox Brothers.

BMI congratulates the following 2003 Christian Country Music Award winners:

Song of the Year
"Three Wooden Crosses"
Doug Johnson
Songwriter

Male Vocalist
Del Way

Female Vocalist
Paula Slow

Vocal Duo of the Year
Twice Robin

Vocal Group of the Year
Fox Brothers

Trio of the Year
Jeff Treece Band

New Artist of the Year
Glenn Kearney

Music Evangelist of the Year
CrossCountry]]> 2003-12-07T17:00:01-05:00 http://www.bmi.com/podcasts/container/133291 Buddy Jewell discusses learning to be a songwriter in Nashville Jewell, Buddy, Country, In Their Own Words, Video, 2003, BMI Country Awards 2003-11-03T17:00:00-05:00 http://www.bmi.com/musicworld/entry/233829 Artists, Jewell, Buddy, Musical Styles, Country, Musicworld, Hitmaker The demanding life of an up-and-coming artist requires a relentless commitment to doing whatever is necessary to get yourself heard and seen. This, Buddy Jewell knows, after toiling for 10 years trying to get a record deal in Nashville. His big break came as “pretty much a last-ditch effort” when he tried out last fall for the USA Network’s star-search show Nashville Star. Jewell’s silky southern voice, engaging performances and warm heart endeared him to millions of Americans, who voted him into a recording contract with Sony Nashville. Though happy and grateful, if a bit tired, he now describes his dream-come-true as having a “tiger by the tail.”

“I can’t let go or it’ll turn around and bite me,” jokes the respected former demo singer.

Jewell and the two-and-a half million viewers who voted for him are vindicated. His touching first single, “Help Pour Out the Rain (Lacey’s Song),” was the highest debuting single by a new artist in over a decade. His self-titled album, released July 1 on the Columbia imprint, was number one its first week out, selling more units than any country debut since LeAnn Rimes’s Blue in 1996. In May, when Jewell took the Opry stage for his first appearance, he became the first new artist in memory to get a standing ovation. In fact, everywhere he goes, people in airplanes, fans on casino floors stand in applause for Buddy Jewell.

Of all the accolades, though, one most affirming is that it’s his song, one inspired by and written for his daughter, that not only tops the charts, but touches the hearts of music fans and bereaved families the world over. Hundreds of e-mails from parents who’ve tragically lost children attest to comfort the song has given them. “I think when we all put pen to paper, we hope we write something that affects people like that,” he says modestly.

Jewell credits those years as a demo singer, in part, for helping him become such a good songwriter. “I got to work for the greatest writers in town,” he says, “and I got to see, ‘this is how you craft a song’.”

Having caught up with that tiger, though, has left little time for songwriting. “The only writing I get to do these days,” quips Jewell, “is to sign my name when I register at the hotel.”