Lyric Financial and BMI also co-hosted an industry mixer on the rooftop of Atlanta hotspot Luckie Lounge, where Lyric Financial's Eli Ball and Al Kapone detailed the unique services the company offers exclusively to BMI songwriters and producers.

About the Atlantis Music Conference & Festival Now in its 10th year, Atlantis is a three-day and four-night musical extravaganza held September 17-20 in Atlanta, Georgia. Atlantis' goals are to provide independent artists unparalleled access to educational and networking opportunities including professional demo critiques, insightful panels featuring industry insiders and exposure to a&r executives and music fans through nightly showcases. The mercurial state of the contemporary music industry has opened new avenues for independent artist development and success, all thoroughly explored and explained during the unique Atlantis Music Conference & Festival. www.atlantismusic.com

Panel participants huddle for a group shot. Pictured are (l-r): BMI's Byron Wright and Catherine Brewton, Zack Odom, Kenneth Mount, Cri$tyle, DJ Toomp, Jasper Cameron, Jeffrey Steele and BMI's David Claassen. (Photo by Donna Parmell)

Crossover hit-maker Jeffrey Steele shares lessons learned with the audience. (Photo by Duncan McAlynn)

DJ Montay listens attentively to a question from an attendee. (Photo by Duncan McAlynn)

Jasper Cameron shares stories behind his songs for stars including Ciara, Lloyd and Nelly. (Photo by Duncan McAlynn)

Center Stage in Midtown provided an ideal setting for the panel. (Photo by Catrina Maxwell)

Pictured at the Lyric Financial and BMI mixer are (l-r): Yung Joc manager William Word, Lyric Financial's Eli Ball, BMI's Catherine Brewton, Al Kapone, attorney TaQuisha Tobin, Lyric Financial's Joseph Moran and BMI's Dave Claassen. (Photo by Cara Pastore)

Pictured at Luckie Lounge are (l-r): Battery 5 Productions CEO Greg Smith, Trimm, Ashe Watson and Head ROC. (Photo by Cara Pastore)

Luckie Lounge mixer attendees enjoy the Atlanta skyline.

For more information, please visit Atlantis Music or Center Stage-Atlanta.

Effervescent duo Sugarland underscored their critically acclaimed year, counting an inaugural nod in the prestigious Entertainer of the Year club among their five nominations. The pair also snagged a Single of the Year nod for the emotive "Stay," co-produced by Kristian Bush and Byron Gallimore, along with Vocal Duo, Video and Musical Event of the Year nominations.

Carrie Underwood and Miranda Lambert garnered more industry recognition, mirroring their increasing popularity, while Taylor Swift joined Female Vocalist of the Year ranks for the first time. Reigning Female Vocalist of the Year Underwood gained another nod in that category and added an Album of the Year nomination for her sophomore release, Carnival Ride. Lambert joins Underwood in the Female Vocalist of the Year category, and her fierce composition "Gunpowder and Lead" is up for Single of the Year.

Ace guitarist and crooner Keith Urban also earned two nominations, remaining in the elite Entertainer and Male Vocalist of the Year ranks. Perennial favorites Brooks & Dunn retained their dominance, garnering nods in Album and Vocal Duo of the Year categories. Trio Lady Antebellum also added more prestige to their glowing breakout year, earning Vocal Group and New Artist of the Year nominations. Little Big Town's success with critics and the industry remains potent, as the quartet scored Vocal Group and Musical Event nods. The ethereal Alison Krauss also earned two nods: a Female Vocalist of the Year nomination and Musical Event of the Year tap for her work with legend Robert Plant.

BMI songwriters Monty Criswell, Rodney Clawson and Wade Kirby earned a Song of the Year nomination for the poignant "I Saw God Today," while BMI troubadour Lee Thomas Miller also boasts a nod in the prestigious category for his composition "You're Gonna Miss This."

The 42nd Annual CMA Awards will be broadcast live from the Sommet Center in Nashville, Wednesday, Nov.12 (8:00-11:00 PM/ET) on ABC.

2008 BMI CMA Nominees

ENTERTAINER OF THE YEAR
Sugarland
Keith Urban

FEMALE VOCALIST OF THE YEAR
Alison Krauss
Miranda Lambert
Martina McBride
Taylor Swift
Carrie Underwood

MALE VOCALIST OF THE YEAR
Keith Urban

NEW ARTIST OF THE YEAR
Jason Aldean
Rodney Atkins
Lady Antebellum
James Otto

VOCAL GROUP OF THE YEAR
Eagles
Lady Antebellum
Little Big Town
Rascal Flatts

VOCAL DUO OF THE YEAR
Big & Rich
Brooks & Dunn
Montgomery Gentry
Sugarland
The Wreckers

SINGLE OF THE YEAR
(Award goes to Artist and Producer)
"Gunpowder & Lead"
Miranda Lambert
Produced by Frank Liddell and Mike Wrucke
Columbia Records

"I Saw God Today"
Co-produced by Tony Brown
MCA Nashville

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

ALBUM OF THE YEAR
(Award goes to Artist and Producer)
Carnival Ride
Carrie Underwood
19 Recordings Limited/Arista/Arista Nashville

Cowboy Town
Brooks & Dunn
Produced by Tony Brown, Ronnie Dunn and Kix Brooks
Arista Nashville

Good Time
Produced by Keith Stegall
Arista Nashville

Troubadour
Co-produced by Tony Brown
MCA Nashville

SONG OF THE YEAR
(Award goes to Songwriter and Primary Publisher)
"I Saw God Today"
Co-written by Rodney Clawson, Monty Criswell and Wade Kirby
Big Red Toe/Extremely Loud Music/Steel Wheels Music/Blind Mule Music

"You're Gonna Miss This"
Co-written by Lee Thomas Miller
EMI Blackwood Music/New Songs of Sea Gayle

MUSICAL EVENT OF THE YEAR
(Award to each Artist)
Josh Turner featuring Trisha Yearwood
"Another Try"
MCA Nashville

Robert Plant and Alison Krauss
"Gone, Gone, Gone"
Rounder Records

Sugarland featuring Little Big Town and Jake Owen
"Life In A Northern Town"
Mercury Nashville

MUSIC VIDEO OF THE YEAR
(Award goes to Artist and Director)
"Good Time"
Alan Jackson
Directed by Trey Fanjoy

"Stay"
Sugarland

MUSICIAN OF THE YEAR
Jerry Douglas - Dobro
Brent Mason - Guitar

BMI will take part in the 2008 Atlantis Music Conference and Festival by presenting a Producer/Songwriter panel Thursday, September 18 at Atlanta’s Center Stage in Midtown (1374 West Peachtree St) from 4 until 5:30 p.m. A diverse cross-section of the elite producers, managers and songwriters who happen to share a passion for working with up-and-comers will discuss current issues facing independent artists, including creating memorable music on a shoe-string budget; taking advantage of digital recording technology indies can use at home; and the dynamics behind an electrifying producer/artist relationship.

Established hit-makers including Cri$tyle (Mariah Carey, Brandy, Teyana Taylor), DJ Montay (DJ Unk, Flo Rida, Three 6 Mafia), DJ Toomp (Mariah Carey, Kanye West, TI), Eric Hudson (John Legend, Kanye West, Omarion), Jasper Cameron (Ciara, Lloyd, Nelly) and Jeffrey Steele (Rascal Flatts, Tim McGraw, Montgomery/Gentry), with Zack Odom and Kenneth Mount (Cartel, Mayday Parade) will provide invaluable insight during an intimate discussion.

About the Atlantis Music Conference & Festival Now in its 10th year, Atlantis is a three-day and four-night musical extravaganza held September 17-20 in Atlanta, Georgia. Atlantis’ goals are to provide independent artists unparalleled access to educational and networking opportunities including professional demo critiques, insightful panels featuring industry insiders and exposure to a&r executives and music fans through nightly showcases. The mercurial state of the contemporary music industry has opened new avenues for independent artist development and success, all thoroughly explored and explained during the unique Atlantis Music Conference & Festival.

For more information on the Atlantis Music Conference & Festival, please visit www.atlantismusic.com.

The prestigious Album of the Year trophy went to Miranda Lambert for her critically acclaimed project, Crazy Ex-Girlfriend. Lambert accepted the award with genuine surprise and gratitude, thanking both the industry and fans for embracing her "left of center" approach. Her charged performance of single "Gunpowder and Lead" was easily one of the night's best.

Contemporary country royalty Carrie Underwood garnered the Top Female Vocalist crown for the second consecutive year. With the release of her sophomore effort, Carnival Ride, the powerhouse vocalist has eloquently underscored her undeniable staying power. Underwood also delivered a highlight of the ceremony, performing a duet with Brad Paisley on a beautifully pared-down version of Eddy Arnold's "Make the World Go Away," in tribute to the late icon.

Perennial favorites Brooks & Dunn took home yet another Top Vocal Duo win, marking their 15th award in the category. Brooks & Dunn stake a comfortable claim to the most-awarded pair in ACM history and remain contemporarily potent on top of their historically successful career.

Country golden girl Taylor Swift enjoyed more official recognition of her overwhelming crossover dominance with the Top New Female Vocalist honor. Eighteen year-old Swift tearfully thanked her mother for her early sacrifices and steadfast support.

Top New Male Vocalist went to singer/songwriter Jack Ingram. Already a familiar face to Texas and Americana fans, Ingram's win arrives on the heels of more than a decade of critically heralded albums and live shows. His breakout success in 2007 introduced him to a wider audience and delivered long overdue recognition.

Lady Antebellum earned Top New Duo or Vocal Group honors. The win marks the budding trio's first award and bodes well for their self-titled debut album.

Top Vocal Group honors went home with Rascal Flatts for the sixth consecutive year. The dominating crossover titans are now tied with legendary group Alabama for most wins in the coveted category. Rascal Flatts also received the Home Depot Humanitarian Award in recognition of their substantial philanthropic endeavors.

Tim McGraw shared in the Vocal Event of the Year win for "Find Out Who Your Friends Are," while Sugarland's Kristian Bush and producer Byron Gallimore enjoyed honors for their individual creative contributions to "Stay," named Single Record of the Year.

All BMI 2008 ACM Award Winners

Top Female Vocalist
Carrie Underwood

Top Vocal Group
Rascal Flatts

Top Vocal Duo
Brooks & Dunn

Top New Male Vocalist
Jack Ingram

Top New Female Vocalist
Taylor Swift

Top New Duo or Vocal Group
Lady Antebellum

Album of the Year
Crazy Ex-Girlfriend
Miranda Lambert

Single Record of the Year [Award to Artist(s)/ Producer(s)/ Record Company]
"Stay" by Sugarland
Co-produced by Kristian Bush and Byron Gallimore

Vocal Event of the Year
"Find Out Who Your Friends Are" featuring Tim McGraw

Home Depot Humanitarian Award
Rascal Flatts

The 13th Annual Hog's Breath Key West Songwriters Festival looms enticingly on the horizon. Presented by Cherry Heart Music and proudly supported by charter sponsor BMI, the event is slated for April 30 through May 4 in Key West, Florida. The festival revolves around five days and nights of more than 20 free shows, staged at an array of the island's most popular drinking holes and hot spots. Informal adaptations of Nashville's signature in-the-round acoustic showcases dominate much of the schedule, while this year, a street concert Saturday, May 3 featuring the Jeffrey Steele Band and Robert Earl Keen adds a Mardis Gras fillip to the mix.

BMI songwriters dominate the diverse lineups. Americana trendsetters including Robert Earl Keen, Raul Malo, Kim Richey and John Oates will perform alongside Nashville's most engaging and prolific hitmakers, including Jeffrey Steele (Rascal Flatts' "What Hurts the Most"), John Scott Sherrill (Steve Wariner's "Some Fools Never Learn"), Wendell Mobley (Rascal Flatts' "Fast Cars & Freedom"), Jamey Johnson (George Strait's "Give It Away"), Scotty Emerick (Toby Keith's "As Good As I Once Was"), David Lee (Tim McGraw's "I Need You," featuring Faith Hill), Keith Follese (Tim McGraw's "Something Like That"), Jim Beavers (Gary Allan's "Watching Airplanes"), Heather Little (Miranda Lambert's "Gunpowder and Lead"), Steve Bogard (Dierks Bentley's "Every Mile A Memory"), Bobby Pinson (Sugarland's "Want To"), Doug Johnson (Randy Travis's "Three Wooden Crosses"), Chas Sandford (John Waite's "Missing You"), Chuck Cannon (Toby Keith's "How Do You Like Me Now"), Max T. Barnes (Diamond Rio's "That's How Your Love Makes Me Feel"), Chuck Jones (Chris LeDoux's "Cadillac Ranch"), Rodney Clawson (Jason Aldean's "Why"), Gary Hannan (Joe Nichols's "Tequila Makes Her Clothes Fall Off"), Billy Yates (George Jones's "Choices"), Jerrod Niemann (Garth Brooks' "Good Ride Cowboy") and Dallas Davidson (Trace Adkins's "Honky Tonk Badonkadonk"), with Curb recording artist Lee Brice (Garth Brooks' "More Than A Memory"), singer/songwriters Heather Morgan, Stephanie Chapman and Lauren Lucas and Orange County rock outfit Lit's Jeremy Popoff.

For a complete list of sponsoring hotels, local businesses, schedules and participating songwriters, please visit www.keywestsongwritersfestival.com or call 305.296.4222.

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

Key West and country music’s thirteen year love affair is anything but secret, and the Hog’s Breath Key West Songwriters Festival, presented by Cherry Heart Music and BMI, serves as the 13th annual spring rendezvous.

Live music bliss and a favorite of Key West locals, the event introduces brimming crowds to the songwriters behind smashes. Diverse lineups deliver rare, “Key West only” moments: Hit makers including Jeffrey Steele (Rascal Flatts’ “What Hurts the Most), Jamey Johnson (George Strait’s “Give It Away”) and Scotty Emerick (Toby Keith’s “As Good As I Once Was”) will perform alongside Americana trendsetters including Robert Earl Keen and Raul Malo. The festival revolves around five days and nights of more than 20 free shows, staged at an array of the island’s most popular drinking holes and hot spots. Informal adaptations of Nashville’s signature in-the-round acoustic showcases dominate much of the schedule, while this year, a street concert Saturday, May 3 featuring the Jeffrey Steele Band and Robert Earl Keen adds an enticing Mardis Gras fillip to the mix.

For a complete list of sponsoring hotels, local businesses and participating songwriters, please visit www.keywestsongwritersfestival.com or call 305.296.4222.