Workshop attendees form a line outside BMI Nashville’s Writer/Publisher department on Tuesday, April 10.

Jason Blume’s Songwriter Workshop, held each month at BMI’s Nashville office, offers alternating formats designed both to encourage and inform aspiring songwriters. Its moderator and namesake, Jason Blume, strives to create a nurturing environment, sharing his own triumphs, advice and struggles with about 50 participants. “My own journey to success was so dramatic that I think it serves a powerful inspiration for writers who face the rejection and frustration that is typically part of the journey,” says Blume, who has penned tunes for a diverse smattering of contemporary music stars including Colin Raye, the Oak Ridge Boys, Britney Spears, Jesse McCartney and pop-flamenco trendsetters the Gipsy Kings. Blume is also a best-selling author, penning the three books 6 Steps to Songwriting Success: The Comprehensive Guide to Writing and Marketing Hit Songs, Inside Songwriting and most recently, This Business of Songwriting—all published by Billboard books. He also produced the acclaimed instructional CD series Writing Hit Melodies with Jason Blume and Writing Hit Lyrics with Jason Blume.

It’s finally time to get started, so the songwriters file in to take their seats.

“I lecture for approximately 90 minutes,” he explains. “Following the lecture, on alternating months, each participant has an opportunity to pitch one song to a guest publisher. Countless publisher/writer relationships have begun as a result of a publisher taking a copy of one of those songs. The other months, I do a constructive critique of one song from each of the participants.”

Jason Blume kicks off the April edition of his workshop.

The critiques and face time with publishers has reaped rich dividends for several devout attendees. Wood River, Illinois native Charlie Brown began attending the BMI workshops soon after making the move to Nashville in 2000. On May 1, rising country music favorite Blake Shelton will release his new album, featuring a Charlie Brown-penned song called “What I Wouldn’t Give.” May 1 also happens to be Charlie’s birthday. “I've been to many Jason Blume workshops here at BMI,” says Brown. “Jason has been my mentor from the beginning of my career. I went from nothing going on, to talking publishing deals with many top companies in town. My first cut by a great artist, released on my birthday—it's a great feeling.”

Participants listen closely, taking notes and posing questions as Blume guides them through the course.

Songwriter Johnny Chase also applied Blume’s lessons to his real world goals. “I heard Jason Blume speak in LA last November and he mentioned that he gives a free workshop the 2nd Tuesday of every month at BMI in Nashville,” shares Chase. “He [Blume] is a very motivating speaker, so I started attending in January. That particular session was on writing lyrics, and he covered many aspects of the music business and how to get your music to the people that are looking for it as well.” Today, Johnny’s “By Your Side” has been used twice on the MTV hit show NEXT, while his song “Fear to Fall” will be included on HBO’s Entourage Season 3 DVD. “I used the info I learned at the class and also purchased all of his books and learning CD’s and dove in head first,” says Chase. “Thanks to Jason Blume and the BMI workshop, I have a direction to head with my music and have already started the year off with a bang!”

Blume often shares personal stories of challenges he faced early in his career.

To hear samples of Charlie Brown and Johnny Chase’s music, please visit myspace.com/charliebrownsmusic and myspace.com/johnnychase1 . For more information on Jason Blume, please visit jasonblume.com.

Up-and-coming songwriter and bourgeoning workshop success story Johnny Chase listens intently.

Held each month from 12:30 to 4:30pm in the BMI Nashville office, the Songwriters Workshop with Jason Blume is open to all songwriters who are serious about and committed to successful commercial songwriting. Registration will now be conducted the same day of each workshop, with no prior registration necessary. 50 participants will be admitted each session, with registration beginning promptly at 12 p.m. in BMI's main lobby on the day of the workshop. From noon until 12:30 p.m., numbers will be handed out on a first-come, first-served basis, until all 50 seats are filled. Email NashvilleWorkshops@bmi.com with any questions regarding the workshop.

After the workshop, Blume chats individually with participants. April 10, Charlie Brown stopped by to also give aspiring artists a little encouragement. Pictured are (l to r): Jason Blume, songwriters Charlie Brown and Johnny Chase and BMI’s Mark Mason.

Photos by Elisabeth Dawson

I'LL TAKE THAT AS A YES (THE HOT TUB SONG)
Jon McElroy
Vince Melamed
Senor Vicente Music
Songs of Mighty Isis
Vista Larga Music
Phil Vassar
Arista Nashville

LIKE WE NEVER LOVED AT ALL
Vicky McGehee
Warner-Tamerlane Publishing Corp.
Faith Hill
Warner Bros.

LONG, SLOW KISSES
Jeff Bates
Gordon Bradberry
New Works Music Co.
Smith Haven Music
Warner-Tamerlane Publishing Corp.
Jeff Bates
RCA

LOT OF LEAVIN' LEFT TO DO
Brett Beavers
Run The Trotline Music
Sony/ATV Tree
Dierks Bentley
Capitol Records

ME AND CHARLIE TALKING
Miranda Lambert
Heather Little
Nashville Star Music
Sony/ATV Tree
Tiltawhirl Music
Miranda Lambert
Epic Records

MY GIVE A DAMN'S BUSTED
Joe Diffie
Tony Martin
Tom Shapiro
Difftunes
EMI-Blackwood Music, Inc.
Mike Curb Music
Music of Stage Three
Sony/ATV Tree
Jo Dee Messina
Curb Records
MY OLD FRIEND
Steve McEwan (PRS)
Careers-BMG Music Publishing
Tim McGraw
Curb Records

MY SISTER
Amy Dalley
Music of Stage Three
Reba McEntire
MCA Nashville

NOBODY BUT ME
Shawn Camp
Phillip White
Big Yellow Dog Music
Murrah Music Corporation
Sony/ATV Tree
Travelin' Arkansawyer Music
Blake Shelton
Warner Bros.

PLAY SOMETHING COUNTRY
Ronnie Dunn
Terry McBride
Showbilly Music
Sony/ATV Tree
Still Working For The Man Music, Inc.
Turn Me On Music
Brooks & Dunn
Arista Nashville

PROBABLY WOULDN'T BE THIS WAY
Tammi Kidd
Irving Music
LeAnn Rimes
Asylum-Curb

SHE DON'T TELL ME TO
Bob DiPiero
Tom Shapiro
EMI-Blackwood Music, Inc.
Love Monkey Music
Piano Wire Music LLC
Sony/ATV Tree
Montgomery Gentry
Columbia Records

SHE LET HERSELF GO
Dean Dillon
Sony/ATV Acuff Rose
Unwound Music
George Strait
MCA Nashville

SKIN (SARABETH)
Doug Johnson
Mike Curb Music
Sweet Radical Music
Rascal Flatts
Lyric Street

SOMEBODY'S HERO
Ed Hill
Shaye Smith
Careers-BMG Music Publishing
EMI-Blackwood Music, Inc.
Sagrabeaux Songs
Shaye Smith Music
Jamie O'Neal
Capitol Records

SOMETHING MORE
Kristian Bush
Dirkpit Music
Sugarland
Mercury Nashville

SOMETHING TO BE PROUD OF
Jeffrey Steele
Gottahaveable Music
Songs of Windswept Pacific
Montgomery Gentry
Columbia Records

SONGS ABOUT ME
Ed Hill
Shaye Smith
Careers-BMG Music Publishing
EMI-Blackwood Music, Inc.
Sagrabeaux Songs
Shaye Smith Music
Trace Adkins
Capitol Records

STAY WITH ME (BRASS BED)
Jedd Hughes
Terry McBride
Still Working For The Man Music, Inc.
Terry McBride Music
Wilmington Road Publishing
Josh Gracin
Lyric Street

THE TALKIN' SONG REPAIR BLUES
Dennis Linde
EMI-Blackwood Music, Inc.
Rising Gorge Music
Alan Jackson
Arista Nashville

TEQUILA MAKES HER CLOTHES FALL OFF
Gary Hannan
John Wiggins
Chobe Music
Fiddle Stock Music
Heavy Leather Music, Inc.
Notewrite Music
Joe Nichols
Universal South

TONIGHT I WANNA CRY
Keith Urban
Coburn Music, Inc.
Guitar Monkey Music
Keith Urban
Capitol Records

WHEN I GET WHERE I'M GOING
George Teren
House of Full Circle Music
Brad Paisley featuring Dolly Parton
Arista Nashville

WHO YOU'D BE TODAY
Bill Luther
Aimee Mayo
Careers-BMG Music Publishing
Evansville Music
Little Blue Typewriter Music
Kenny Chesney
BNA

YOU'LL BE THERE
Cory Mayo
Coburn Music, Inc.
George Strait
MCA Nashville
YOUR MAN
Jace Everett
EMI-Blackwood Music, Inc.
Josh Turner
MCA Nashville

Country Awards Event Photos

Country Awards Song List

Merle Haggard Icon Feature

BMI and Country Music

Toby Keith's hit "As Good As I Once Was," co-written by Keith and Scotty Emerick, was named Song of the Year. Previously named Songwriter of the Year in 2001 and 2004, Keith also shared his third Songwriter of the Year crown with Ed Hill and Vicky McGehee, while Sony/ATV Music Publishing Nashville snagged Publisher of the Year honors for the fifth consecutive year. A stirring tribute to American legend Merle Haggard honored the newest BMI Icon, celebrating Haggard's open-ended relevancy and influence that span genres and generations.

Merle Haggard	Toby Keith

"As Good As I Once Was" landed the 38th Robert J. Burton Award for Most Performed Country Song of the Year for co-writers Toby Keith and Scotty Emerick, along with publishers Big Yellow Dog Music, Florida Cracker Music, Sony/ATV Tree and Tokeco Tunes. With tongue firmly in cheek, Keith's wry delivery sent the tune racing up the Billboard charts, where it resided for six weeks.

Vicky McGehee	Ed Hill

Vicky McGehee, Ed Hill and Toby Keith formed the three-way tie for Country Songwriter of the Year, as each laid claim to three of the top 50 award-winning songs. In the past year, McGehee's hits "All Jacked Up," "Hicktown" and "Like We Never Loved At All" helped cement her status as one of Music City's "go-to" hit songwriters. Songwriting veteran Ed Hill's track record is liberally scattered with hits; this year, Hill's "Georgia Rain," "Somebody's Hero" and "Songs About Me" earned him his first BMI Songwriter of the Year title. Country superstar and two-time NSAI Songwriter of the Year Toby Keith added a third BMI Songwriter of the Year trophy to his growing collection with the hits "Big Blue Note," "HonkyTonk U" and "As Good As I Once Was."

With 17 songs among this year's top 50, Sony/ATV Music Publishing Nashville (through its companies Sony/ATV Acuff Rose, Sony/ATV Songs LLC and Sony/ATV Tree) picked up its fifth consecutive Publisher of the Year win. The publishing powerhouse accumulated the highest percentage of copyright ownership thanks to award songs like "Believe," "Class Reunion (That Used To Be Us)," "Do You Want Fries With That," "God's Will," "Lot of Leavin' Left To Do," "Me and Charlie Talking," "My Give A Damn's Busted," "Nobody But Me," "Play Something Country," "She Don't Tell Me To" and "She Let Herself Go."

The capstone of the evening took the form of the Icon tribute to Merle Haggard, featuring performances by Martina McBride, John Anderson and Hank Williams Jr. By any conventional measure -- radio hits, albums and concert tickets sold, songs recorded by other artists, and awards and honors received over a career that's now in its fifth decade -- Merle Haggard qualifies as a giant of country music.

Haggard's numbers are staggering: 48 BMI Country Awards, nine BMI Pop Awards, a BMI R&B Award, and 16 BMI "Million-Air" awards for hits like "Big City," "The Fightin' Side of Me," "I Had A Beautiful Time," "Mama Tried," "Okie From Muskogee," "Today I Started Loving You Again" and "Workin' Man Blues," all from a catalog of songs that adds up to over 25 million performances and illustrates the legend's genre-bending mastery. A total of six CMA awards, 17 ACM awards, two Grammys and a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award conspicuously dot Haggard's resume, but as valuable as such measures are, they don't begin to define the accomplishments that have earned the "Poet of the Common Man" his latest accolade.

As a songwriter, he boldly explored not just the most popular themes of love and heartbreak, but the changing economic and social landscape, American history and politics, patriotism, war, and his own experiences as a convict, a husband, a father and a musician. Using the often uncomplicated yet elegant forms handed down by his predecessors, he created -- and continues to add to -- an enduring body of work that resonates far beyond the world of country music while remaining firmly rooted within it. In recognition of his enduring commitment to tradition, consistent creativity and unshakable artistic integrity, BMI is proud to present Merle Haggard with its Icon Award.

The 2006 BMI Country Awards also honored songwriters Brett Beavers, Ronnie Dunn, Scotty Emerick, Aimee Mayo, Terry McBride, Tom Shapiro, Shaye Smith, Jeffrey Steele, George Teren, Keith Urban and Phillip White, who each supplied two songs to the top 50 list.

"Goodbye Time," co-written by Roger Murrah and James Dean Hicks, earned its second BMI Country Award this year; Conway Twitty's 1989 version won the first time around and Blake Shelton's remake garnered this year's recognition. Joe South's "(I Never Promised You A) Rose Garden," 1971's Country Song of the Year, won its seventh award this year thanks to Martina McBride's recent version. Lynn Anderson's 1970 version collected the song's first six awards.

Publishers winning three or more awards were Big Yellow Dog, Careers-BMG Music Publishing, EMI-Blackwood Music, Inc., Music of Stage Three, Sagrabeaux Songs, Songs of Windswept Pacific, Tokeco Tunes and Warner-Tamerlane Publishing Corp.]]> 2006-11-04T03:00:01-05:00 http://www.bmi.com/news/entry/334611 Artists, Alexander, Jessi, Berg, Matraca, Brooks & Dunn, Bryant, Del, Clark, Terri, DiPiero, Bob, Evans, Sara, Gentry, Montgomery, Girls Lie Too, Hill, Faith, James, Brett, Lonestar, Loveless, Patty, McBride, Martina, McGraw, Tim, Nichols, Tim, Nichols, Tim, Rascal Flatts, Shelton, Blake, Steele, Jeffrey, Strait, George, Urban, Keith, Wiseman, Craig 2005 CMA Awards in New York City, some of Nashville's finest BMI songwriters will be performing at Joe's Pub (425 Lafayette Street) during "Country Takes NYC," a week of activities leading up to the 39th Annual CMA Awards. The showcases will take place on November 12 and 13.

Bob DiPiero	Jeffrey Steele	Aimee Mayo

Each night features a lineup of successful songwriters from Nashville performing "in-the-round," the style of the Bluebird Café - Nashville's famous songwriters' mecca. The tunesmiths will line up on stage with guitars in-hand and take turns telling the stories behind their hits and then perform their songs. BMI songwriter Bob DiPiero will act as the host each night.

Matraca Berg	Tim Nichols

"Nashville has a uniquely tight-knit and collaborative music community where the song starts the creative cycle, with it all building from there," says BMI President and CEO Del Bryant. "We're looking forward to putting the spotlight on some of Nashville's best song architects." Bryant is originally from Nashville and is a son of one of the most successful songwriting teams in American music. His parents Boudleaux and Felice Bryant penned classics such as "Love Hurts," "All I Have to Do Is Dream," "Rocky Top," "Wake Up Little Susie," "Bye, Bye Love," to name just a few.

Saturday, November 12 - 6:30-8:30pm

Matraca Berg: "Wrong Side of Memphis" (Trisha Yearwood), "Strawberry Wine" and "We Danced Anyway" (Deana Carter), "Wild Angels" (Martina McBride)

Chris Lindsey: "Smile" and "Amazed" (Lonestar), "Let's Make Love" (Faith Hill with Tim McGraw), "Your Everything" (Keith Urban)

Aimee Mayo: "Amazed" (Lonestar), "Let's Make Love" (Faith Hill with Tim McGraw), "This One's For The Girls" (Martina McBride), "My Best Friend" (Tim McGraw)

Jessi Alexander: "Honeysuckle Sweet" (Jessi Alexander), "I Want to Believe" (Patty Loveless), "What's On My Mind" (Blake Shelton), "Make Me Stay or Make Me Go" (Jessi Alexander)

Brett James: "When the Sun Goes Down" (Kenny Chesney), "Who I Am" (Sara Evans), "Blessed" (Martina McBride), "With Me" (Lonestar)


Sunday, November 13 - 6:30-8:30pm

Bob DiPiero: "Blue Clear Sky" (George Strait), "Take Me As I Am" (Faith Hill), "Cleopatra Queen of Denial" and "Cryin' Over Spilled Perfume" (Pam Tillis)

Jeffrey Steele: "These Days" (Rascal Flatts), "Big Deal" (Leann Rimes), "Cowboy In Me" (Tim McGraw), "Speed" (Montgomery Gentry)

Tim Nichols: "Live Like You Were Dying" (Tim McGraw), "Girls Lie Too" (Terri Clark), "That'd Be All Right" (Alan Jackson), "Heads Carolina Tails California" (Jo Dee Messina)

Craig Wiseman: "Live Like You Were Dying" (Tim McGraw), "The Good Stuff" (Kenny Chesney), "Hell Yeah" (Montgomery Gentry), "Another Day In Paradise" (Phil Vassar)

For information about Joe's Pub, visit JoesPub.com or call (212) 539-8778. Getting there: 425 Lafayette Street between East 4th and Astor Place in New York's East Village.

The 39th Annual CMA Awards take place Tuesday, November 15 (8:00-11:00 PM /ET) live from Madison Square Garden in New York City on the CBS Television Network. The CMA Awards are hosted by Brooks & Dunn.

Hugh Prestwood, Jeffrey Steele, Dennis Morgan

In addition to the Hall of Fame inductions, the Nashville Songwriters Association International (NSAI) conferred a series of Songwriter Achievement Awards, with the top prizes won by BMI affiliates. BMI Award-winning writer Jeffrey Steele earned his second NSAI Songwriter of the Year title, honored this year for his compositions "Gone," recorded by Montgomery Gentry, and "Help Somebody," recorded by Van Zant. NSAI's Song of the Year honors went to "Bless the Broken Road," written by Bobby Boyd, Jeff Hanna and Marcus Hummon. The song, previously recorded by Hummon, was a recent hit for Rascal Flatts.

Del Bryant, Patty Loveless

Longtime friend and fellow Hall of Famer Rodney Crowell gave a poignant introduction speech for Vince Gill, followed by a stunning performance of "Whenever You Come Around" by Gill's wife, Amy Grant. Patty Loveless brought the house down with her rendering of Gill's "Go Rest High on That Mountain," backed by John Hobbs and Al Anderson, who also paid tribute to Gill by treating the audience to a sampling of his other signature songs, including "When I Call Your Name," "Never Knew Lonely," "Pocket Full of Gold," "Don't Let Our Love Start Slipping Away," "I Still Believe in You," "Look at Us," "Whenever You Come Around," and "Which Bridge To Cross (Which Bridge To Burn)."

NSAI's Mark Alan Springer, Phillip White, Roger Murrah, Jeff Hanna, Bobby Boyd, Vince Gill, Jeffrey Steele, Del Bryant, James Dean Hicks

Blake Shelton and BMI's Thomas Cain saluted Murrah, whose hits include "Goodbye Time," "Don't Rock the Jukebox," "High Cotton," "I'm in a Hurry (and Don't Know Why)," "We're in This Love Together," "Ozark Mountain Jubilee," "It Takes a Little Rain (To Make Love Grow)," "Life's Highway," "It's a Little Too Late" and "National Working Woman's Holiday." Murrah's induction speech was provided by Hall of Fame member Bobby Braddock.

Billy Montana, Del Bryant	Jeffrey Steele

Steve Wariner joined Jeffrey Steele, Reed band member Mark Thornton and guitarist John Knowles to celebrate Reed, whose classics include "East Bound and Down," "Amos Moses," "When You're Hot, You're Hot," "A Thing Called Love," "Guitar Man," "The Claw," "Crazy Legs," "Misery Loves Company," "Talk About the Good Times" and "Tupelo Mississippi Flash." Longtime friend Bobby Bare provided the induction speech.

Besides honoring the Song, Songwriter and Songwriter/Artist of the Year, the writers of NSAI's Professional Songwriters Division also singled out 13 songs and their writers for its 2005 Achievement Awards (informally dubbed "The Songs I Wish I'd Written").

BMI recipients were Bobby Boyd, Jeff Hanna and Marcus Hummon for "Bless The Broken Road," Bart Butler and Bobby Pinson for "Don't Ask Me How I Know," James Dean Hicks and Roger Murrah for "Goodbye Time," Phillip White for "He Gets That from Me," Hank Williams, Sr. for "Hey, Good Lookin'," Joe Diffie, Tony Martin and Tom Shapiro for "My Give a Damn's Busted," Billy Montana for "Suds in the Bucket," Ed Hill, Karyn Rochelle for "Georgia Rain" and Paul Overstreet for "Some Beach." "Bless The Broken Road" was the top choice of the NSAI Pro writers.]]> 2005-10-17T05:00:00-05:00 http://www.bmi.com/musicworld/entry/234416 Artists, Braddock, Bobby, Krauss, Alison, Overstreet, Paul, Shelton, Blake, Travis, Randy, Whitley, Keith, Musical Styles, Country, Musicworld, Feature For Paul Overstreet, heading to the beach not only feeds his soul, it sometimes feeds his family. The well-respected singer/songwriter recently returned to the top of the country charts with "Some Beach," which was in residence for four weeks. The success of the song was sweetened for both Overstreet and the artist who recorded it, Blake Shelton, through their mutual admiration society. Blake has repeatedly credited Overstreet as one of his main influences growing up, citing Overstreet's Heroes as the album that virtually changed his life and piqued his interest in becoming an artist. Overstreet is flattered that 15 years later, he is having an effect on the younger generation of artists coming through Music City.

"You never know what motivates people out there," admits Paul, "and if something I did back then got him excited about music, then man, that's cool! I couldn't be more thrilled to be working now with him and his producer, Bobby Braddock."

Overstreet has a second cut on Blake Shelton's Barn & Grill, and is excited to be at top of the charts againa. He and his co-writer, Rory Lee Feek, came upon the idea for "Some Beach" when they heard that Kenny Chesney was recording an island-themed album and hoped to land a song on the collection (Chesney had already scored with Overstreet's "She Thinks My Tractor's Sexy"). Instead, "Some Beach" found "the right home" with Shelton, and sparked something in Overstreet creatively that he hadn't tapped into before.

"I've been going to the Caymans a lot," he explains. "I really relax down there and love to scuba dive. And I've written so many island type songs now, that I'm going to do an island-themed album soon."

Paul also has material ready for a traditional country record, much like those he recorded in the early 1990s, and songs for a wacky, funny album as well. The second one might surprise people who don't know Paul well and think he is a serious, pious artist without a sense of humor. "Perception is a lot of what goes on in our business, and the perception of me from my records is that I was real stoic and not too jovial — but I've always been into pranks and jokes."

At the island-themed "Some Beach" bash, the five-time BMI Country Songwriter of the Year also received a Million-Air certificate for "Deeper Than the Holler," recorded by Randy Travis, and a 4 Million-Air honor for "When You Say Nothing At All," a career song for both Keith Whitley and Alison Krauss. The feats are particularly gratifying for a songwriter who is 20 years into his career and can still see his songs holding up and receiving recognition. "I love those certificates, because that lets you know that your song is still out there working, and that radio's playing it, even though it's been awhile."

(back) Ten Ten Music's Barry and Jewel Coburn, Harley Allen, BMI's Joyce Rice, and (front) Allen's daughters Katie and Maggie.

Other #1 hits penned by Allen include Blake Shelton's "The Baby," Gary Allan's "Tough Little Boys," and John Michael Montgomery's "The Little Girl."

DreamWorks' Bruce Shindler, Barry Coburn	Alan Brewer, Jewel Coburn

Frank Rogers and son Manny

Judy Harris, Karen Sturgen, Debbie Zavitson

Robert Lee Castleman, Harley Allen

Harley Allen, BMI's Joyce Rice, CMA's Ed Benson

photos by Beth Gwinn

BMI's Joyce Rice, Rory Feek, Paul Overstreet, Scarlet Moon Music's Melissa Kij, Bobby Braddock, Blake Shelton, and Warner Bros.' Bill Bennett

A five-time BMI Country Songwriter of the Year, Overstreet also received BMI Million-Air certificates at the party for "When You Say Nothing At All" (4 million performances) and "Deeper Than the Holler" (3 million performances). Among his other award-winners are "On the Other Hand," "Forever and Ever, Amen," "Diggin' Up Bones" and "She Thinks My Tractor's Sexy."

BMI's Paul Corbin and Bobby Braddock	Paul Overstreet and Blake Shelton

Jo Walker-Meador and Paul Overstreet	Paul Overstreet and Rory Feek

Julie, Paul and Nash Overstreet

Harmony, Paul, Charity, Julie, Skye and Summer Overstreet

Blake Shelton, Warner Bros.' Paul Worley, BMi's Joyce Rice, Even Stevens

Photos by Kay Williams ]]> 2005-03-02T17:00:00-05:00 http://www.bmi.com/news/entry/234346 Artists, Big & Rich, Black, Clint, Brooks & Dunn, Buffett, Jimmy, Evans, Sara, Gentry, Montgomery, Keith, Toby, Krauss, Alison, Lonestar, Los Lonely Boys, Lynn, Loretta, McBride, Martina, McGraw, Tim, Rascal Flatts, Roberts, Julie, Shelton, Blake, Smith, Mindy, Sugarland, Tritt, Travis, Twain, Shania, Uncle Kracker, Urban, Keith, White, Jack, Musical Styles, Country, Urban 2005 CMT Music Awards, country music's only fan-voted awards show. Tim McGraw drew five mentions, with Big & Rich and Toby Keith receiving four each. Alison Krauss, Martina McBride, Shania Twain and Keith Urban followed with three each.

Tim McGraw	Big & Rich	Toby Keith

CMT viewers began voting on February 16 for their favorite videos on CMT.com to determine the finalists, and later the winners. The first round of voting will end on March 10, when the votes will be tabulated and the field will be narrowed to four finalists in each category.

Alison Krauss	Martina McBride	Shania Twain

On Wednesday, March 16, CMT will announce the four finalists in each category except Video of the Year. Fans will be able to vote online at CMT.com through April 8 to determine the winners in all categories except Video of the Year. The winner of Video of the Year will be determined by viewers at CMT.com during the live telecast of the awards show.

Keith Urban	Los Lonely Boys

All category winners will be announced on Monday, April 11, on the live 2005 CMT Music Awards, hosted by Jeff Foxworthy.

BMI's nominees for 2005 CMT MUSIC AWARDS are:

VIDEO OF THE YEAR
Big & Rich - "Save A Horse (Ride A Cowboy)"
Alison Krauss - "Whiskey Lullaby"
Keith Urban - "Days Go By"
Rascal Flatts - "Feels Like Today"
Tim McGraw - "Live Like You Were Dying"
Toby Keith - "Stays In Mexico"

MALE VIDEO OF THE YEAR
Blake Shelton - "Some Beach"
Charlie Robison - "El Cerrito Place"
Keith Urban - "Days Go By"
Tim McGraw - "Live Like You Were Dying"
Toby Keith - "Stays In Mexico"

Loretta Lynn	Brooks & Dunn

FEMALE VIDEO OF THE YEAR
Loretta Lynn - "Miss Being Mrs."
Martina McBride - "How Far"
Shania Twain - "Don't"

GROUP/DUO VIDEO OF THE YEAR
Alison Krauss & Union Station - "Restless"
Big & Rich - "Holy Water"
Brooks & Dunn - "That's What It's All About"
Lonestar - "Mr. Mom"
Los Lonely Boys - "Heaven"
Montgomery Gentry - "If You Ever Stop Loving Me"
Rascal Flatts - "Feels Like Today"

Jimmy Buffett	Lonestar

COLLABORATIVE VIDEO OF THE YEAR
Alison Krauss - "Whiskey Lullaby"
Jimmy Buffett and Martina McBride - "Trip Around The Sun"
Jimmy Buffett with Clint Black and Toby Keith - "Hey Good Lookin'"
Uncle Kracker - "When The Sun Goes Down"
Loretta Lynn and Jack White - "Portland, Oregon"
Tim McGraw - "Over And Over"
Shania Twain - "Party For Two"
Travis Tritt - "What Say You"

HOTTEST VIDEO OF THE YEAR
Keith Urban - "You're My Better Half"
Tim McGraw - "Over And Over"
Sara Evans - "Suds In The Bucket"
Shania Twain - "When You Kiss Me"
Toby Keith - "Whiskey Girl"

BREAKTHROUGH VIDEO OF THE YEAR
Big & Rich - "Save A Horse (Ride A Cowboy)"
Julie Roberts - "Break Down Here"
Los Lonely Boys - "Heaven"
Mindy Smith - "Come To Jesus"
Sugarland - "Baby Girl"

MOST INSPIRING VIDEO OF THE YEAR
Big & Rich - "Holy Water"
Brooks & Dunn - "That's What It's All About"
Martina McBride - "God's Will"
Tim McGraw - "Live Like You Were Dying"

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