Things can’t get much brighter for 14-year-old Miley Cyrus, whose alter ego “Hannah Montana” on the like-named Disney Channel series has propelled her to the top of the pop heap.

Or can they? Disney released a Hannah Montana clothing collection in late summer, with the singer/actress helping to design some of the pieces. And, inevitably perhaps, there’s a theatrical film in the works, being produced by her TV co-star and father, Billy Ray Cyrus — yes, he of “Achy-Breaky Heart” fame.

With her second album, Hannah Montana 2/Meet Miley Cyrus (Walt Disney/Hollywood) splitting the difference between songs from her show and several new tunes co-written by Cyrus herself, she believes she’s both pleasing her TV fans and establishing her own identity.

“Oh, I’m so stoked, I’m so excited,” she says about the record. “It’s kind of like a ‘Meet Miley’ album. It’s introducing them to me, which is cool.

“I get on my own thing: a little country and then pop and rock and some bluegrass,” she adds. “And I play a lot of guitar on it. The music style is very Kelly Clarkson.”

It should come as no surprise that she got her start early. “I was singing on the stage with my dad when I was two,” she says. “I would sing ‘Hound Dog’ and silly songs for the fun of it.”

In fact, the younger Cyrus really was, to use the old cliché, practically a born performer.

“When I was little, I would stand up on couches and say, ‘Watch me’,” she recalls. “We had these showers that are completely glass, and I would lock people in them and make them stay in there and watch me perform. I’d make them watch.”

Such determination was obvious to Disney when Cyrus beat out some 1,000 other girls to land the Hannah role. “We decided we would not go through with this series until we found a kid who could carry a sitcom as well as she could carry a tune,” says Gary Marsh, president of entertainment for Disney Channel Worldwide.

Miley “has the everyday relatability of Hilary Duff and the stage presence of Shania Twain,” Marsh adds, “and that’s an explosive combination.”

As her empire continues to expand, Cyrus remains sanguine about staying on top on both the music and acting sides. “I’ve always loved singing, and I’ve always loved acting and dancing,” she says. Which does she prefer? “It depends because acting is so cool, like being on set and that kind of thing. But singing is a better way to be yourself, so I can’t choose.”

At this rate, she won’t have to.

2007 BMI London Awards Song List

Gabriel’s achievements, whether musical, visual or humanitarian, are the work of a true visionary. The co-founder of rock band Genesis, Gabriel left the group in 1975 to begin a critically acclaimed, Grammy Award-winning solo career. Thus far, he has released 11 albums featuring self-penned gems and BMI million-performance songs, including “Big Time,” “Solsbury Hill,” “Sledgehammer” and “In Your Eyes,” and composed soundtracks for numerous films, including Martin Scorsese’s The Last Temptation of Christ. Amongst other bold endeavors, Gabriel founded Real World companies in 1987, housing his recording, publishing, film and multi-media ventures under one progressive roof. An early participant in Human Rights Now! and recipient of the Nobel Peace Laureates’ “Man of Peace” Award, Peter Gabriel founded world human rights advocacy supergroup TheElders.org in July 2007, with Richard Branson and Nelson Mandela.

“Unwritten,” co-penned by Danielle Brisebois and Natasha Bedingfield (PRS), received one of the organization’s highest accolades, the Robert S. Musel Award for Song of the Year. The award, named after the U.S. performing right organization’s longtime consultant to the U.K., annually honors the most-performed song of the year written by a member or members of BMI’s European sister organizations. Published by EMI Music Publishing Ltd. (PRS) and recorded by Bedingfield, “Unwritten” was the title track to Bedingfield’s platinum-selling debut album.

International phenomenon “Crazy,” co-written by GianFranco Reverberi and GianPiero Reverberi (both SIAE), along with Gnarls Barkley’s Cee-Lo Green, earned BMI’s College Song of the Year crown for tallying the most performances on American college radio. Published by Universal Music Publishing Ricordi srl (SIAE) and Warner/Chappell Music Publishing Ltd. (PRS), the award-winning song first leapt to the top of the British charts solely thanks to digital downloads.

Bestowed on the song with the most hits on BMI-licensed websites, the Internet Award went to James Blunt’s infectious “You’re Beautiful,” co-authored by Blunt, Amanda Ghost and Sacha Skarbek (all PRS), and published by Bucks Music Group Ltd. and EMI Music Publishing Ltd. (both PRS).

The Gorillaz’s “Dare,” co-written by Damon Albarn and Jamie Hewlett (both PRS), took home BMI’s Dance Award. Also published by EMI Music Publishing Ltd. (PRS) and featuring the vocal stylings of Shaun Ryder, “Dare” debuted atop the UK singles chart, officially making it the Gorillaz’s first No. 1 hit in Britain.

Prestigious “Million-Air” certificates were also presented throughout the evening in recognition of those songs that have achieved over three million U.S. radio and television performances — the equivalent of more than 17 years of continuous airplay. The Police’s “Every Breath You Take” topped the list, with a staggering nine-million performance award for songwriter Sting (PRS). Sting was also honored for five-million performance song “Every Little Thing She Does Is Magic.” Living legend Van Morrison (PRS) penned two hits on the list: his classic “Brown Eyed Girl,” which has amassed eight million performances, and four million performance song “Have I Told You Lately That I Love You.” Additional “Million-Air” recipients included Sir Elton John, John Lennon, Sir Mick Jagger, Keith Richards, Sir Trevor Nunn, Lord Lloyd Webber, Shania Twain and Steve Winwood (all PRS).

KT Tunstall (BMI), Harry Gregson-Williams, Rupert Gregson-Williams, Natasha Bedingfield, James Blunt, Pete Townshend, Snow Patrol members Gary Lightbody, Nathan Connolly, Paul Wilson, Tom Simpson and Jonny Quinn (all PRS), along with Alexandre Desplat (SACEM) and Karl Bartos (GEMA), garnered multiple awards in recognition of their songwriting skills: each composed two or more songs on the most-performed Pop, Film, Television, Cable, Emmy, Golden Globe or Urban Award lists. Reflecting music’s increasingly global reach, BMI also honored two Jamaican hitmakers alongside the European songwriters and publishers. Don Corleon, writer of "Break It Off" and "When you Gonna (Give it Up to Me),” and “Break It Off” co-writer Kirk Ford both received their first London Awards.

High-resolution photos from the event will be available to registered users only at bmi.com/press. To request access, please contact mediarelations@bmi.com.

Sheff has enjoyed Billboard chart success as both a songwriter and a producer. His credits include material for Jessica Andrews, Kathy Mattea, Randy VanWarmer, Shania Twain, Doug Stone, Michael Harter, Acappella, and others.

BMI recognized too that the emerging center of country music—Nashville—was to become one of the hubs of the music industry. An office was started there in 1958, and permanent facilities were constructed for BMI on Music Row in 1964 just in time for the emergence of some of “Music City U.S.A.’s” most legendary writers. That list includes writers like Willie Nelson, who before he became a star in his own right, created hits like “Crazy” for Patsy Cline and “Hello Walls” for Ray Price, and the late Harlan Howard, who penned a string of songs over more than five decades that many of country’s major stars recorded, including “I Fall to Pieces” and “Heartaches by the Number.” From that day on, BMI has assisted in the careers of many of country’s creative legends and recognized that this genre was no flash in the pan, but instead, an indisputable piece of America’s musical fabric. The fact that 87% of the members of the Country Music Hall of Fame are BMI songwriters attests to that fact.

BMI’s list of songwriters and composers also includes such country giants as Hank Williams Jr., Loretta Lynn, Felice & Boudleaux Bryant, Dolly Parton, Kris Kristofferson, Maybelle Carter, Lester Flatt, Earl Scruggs, Conway Twitty, Merle Haggard, the Stanley Brothers, Bob Wills, Bill Anderson, Doc Watson, Jimmy Martin, Mac Wiseman, Jim & Jesse McReynolds, Buck Owens, Faith Hill, Toby Keith, Tim McGraw, Alabama, Shania Twain, Vince Gill, Charlie Daniels, Don Gibson, Curly Putman, Bill Monroe, Brooks & Dunn, John Michael Montgomery and Alison Krauss.

Founded in l939 as a non-profit-making organization, BMI opened the door to performing rights representation for songwriters and composers of all types of music, many of whom were not eligible under the membership guidelines of the older American PROs. BMI offered first-time representation to songwriters of blues, jazz, r&b, gospel, folk, country and Spanish-language music, and as several of these musical trends converged to produce a new music called “rock & roll,” BMI became the preeminent performing right organization for songwriters of this new genre. The company quickly made reciprocal agreements with sister societies around the world.

The success of BMI’s songwriters and composers is unequaled, as evidenced by their dominance of the industry’s most prestigious awards and honors over the years, representing 51% of the Grammy Awards, 67% of the Country Music Association Awards, 69% of the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame inductees, 87% of the R&B Foundation’s Pioneer Awards and 95% of the Blues Music Awards.

London Awards Event Photos

Ray Davies: BMI Icon Feature Story

London Awards Song List

Davies is co-founder, lead singer and rhythm guitarist of the Kinks, one of the most long-lived and influential rock groups of the British Invasion. As the band's chief songwriter, he is the pen behind such Kinks classics as "You Really Got Me," "All Day and All of the Night," "A Well Respected Man," "Waterloo Sunset," "Tired of Waiting For You," "Sunny Afternoon," "Lola" and "Come Dancing."

In a written tribute to Davies that was read at the event, Who guitarist Pete Townshend called Davies "the true laureate of British popular music." In addition to Townshend, who credits his sound to the 40-plus year music vet, artists as diverse as Morrissey, Blur and Oasis also claim Davies as their main influence.

"Listen to Your Heart," written by Per Gessle and Mats Persson, and published by Jimmy Fun Music (all STIM), was named Song of the Year and received one of the organization's highest accolades, the Robert S. Musel Award. Recorded by Belgium-based duo D.H.T., the song was originally a No. 1 hit for Roxette in 1989 and received the BMI Dance Award at last year's ceremony.

"Feel Good Inc.," co-written by Gorillaz members Damon Albarn and Jamie Hewlett (both PRS), along with De La Soul's David Jolicoeur, was named BMI's College Song of the Year for tallying the most performances on American college radio. The Grammy Award-winning hit is from the Gorillaz' Demon Days CD, which went double platinum in the U.S. and triple platinum in the U.K.

The BMI Dance Award went to "Everytime We Touch," written by Stuart MacKillop, Maggie Reilly (both PRS) and Peter Risavy (GEMA), and published by Mambo/Sony/ATV Music Publishing Germany (GEMA). The infectious tune by Euro-dance trio Cascada was a worldwide smash, including in America, where it topped the dance charts and made it into the Top Ten of the pop charts.

"Million-Air" certificates were also presented throughout the evening in recognition of those songs that have achieved over three million U.S. radio and television performances - or the equivalent of more than 17 years of continuous airplay. Topping the list was the theme to Mondo Cane, "More," which earned a seven million performance award for songwriters Marcello Ciorciolini (SIAE), Norman Newell (PRS), Nino Oliviero (SIAE) and Riz Ortolani (SIAE). "You're Still the One," written and recorded by 2004 BMI London Awards Song of the Year winner Shania Twain (PRS), reached the six million performance plateau. Other "Million-Air" recipients included Sir Elton John, Eric Clapton, the Bee Gees, Sting, Seal, Pink Floyd's Roger Waters, Peter Gabriel and Paul Rodgers of Free (all PRS).]]> 2006-10-03T05:00:00-05:00 http://www.bmi.com/news/entry/334819 Artists, Allen, Harley, Anderson, Bill, Big & Rich, Braddock, Bobby, Daniels, Charlie, Dixie Chicks, Dunn, Ronnie, Gill, Vince, Haggard, Merle, Howard, Harlan, Kristofferson, Kris, Lonestar, Loudermilk, John D., Lynn, Loretta, Maguire, Martie, McDonald, Richie, Miller, Roger, Overstreet, Paul, Parton, Dolly, Shapiro, Tom, Sherrill, Billy, Steele, Jeffrey, Twain, Shania, Verges, Troy, Musical Styles, Country country music's oldest awards celebration. Staged at the company's Music Row offices, the black-tie, invitation-only event spotlights the 50 most performed songs of the previous year.

Citations of Achievement will be presented to the writers and publishers of the top 50 country songs, with the evening's highest honors going to BMI's Songwriter of the Year, Publisher of the Year and Most Performed Country Song of the Year (the Robert J. Burton Award).

The evening will culminate in a tribute to a new BMI Icon, acknowledging songwriters who have had "a unique and indelible influence on generations of music makers." Past BMI Icons from the country music community include Loretta Lynn, Bill Anderson and Dolly Parton, and most recently, Charlie Daniels.

Among the distinguished talents who have previously been crowned BMI Country Songwriter of the Year are last year's winners Harley Allen, Big & Rich's Big Kenny and Lonestar frontman Richie McDonald, and previous winners Harlan Howard, Don Gibson, Roger Miller, John D. Loudermilk, Kris Kristofferson, Merle Haggard, Dennis Morgan, Paul Overstreet, Vince Gill, Shania Twain, Tom Shapiro, Troy Verges, Dixie Chick Martie Maguire, Ronnie Dunn, Jeffrey Steele, Bobby Braddock and eight-time victor Billy Sherrill.]]> 2006-05-22T18:00:00-05:00 http://www.bmi.com/news/entry/334741 Artists, 3 Doors Down, Beatles, The, Branch, Michelle, Brown, James, Bryant, Del, Carlton, Vanessa, Christy, Lauren, Christy, Lauren, Crosby, David, Crosby, Stills & Nash, Crow, Sheryl, Evanescence, Foo Fighters, Hayes, Isaac, Kelly, R., Lennon, John, Lil Jon, Linkin Park, Maroon 5, Matrix, The, Nash, Graham, Nickelback, Parton, Dolly, Santana, Carlos, Simon, Paul, Spock, Scott, Twain, Shania, Williams, Pharrell, Wilson, Brian, Musical Styles, Rock Crosby, Stills & Nash will be honored as BMI Icons at the performing right organization's 54th Annual Pop Awards set for Tuesday, May 16 at the Regent Beverly Wilshire Hotel in Los Angeles. The invitation-only, black-tie dinner and ceremony, which will also honor the songwriters and publishers of the past year's most performed pop songs, will feature a special musical tribute to CSN.

The Icon designation is given to BMI songwriters and artists who have had "a unique and indelible influence on generations of music makers." The Rock and Roll Hall of Famers, whose signature three-part harmony has endured for more than three decades, joins an elite list of previous BMI Icons that includes Paul Simon, James Brown, Brian Wilson, Isaac Hayes, Dolly Parton and Carlos Santana.

The musical partnership of David Crosby, Stephen Stills and Graham Nash has produced some of the most timeless songs ever written, including "Marrakesh Express," "Suite: Judy Blue Eyes," "Helplessly Hoping," "Guinnevere," "Teach Your Children," "Wooden Ships," "Dark Star" and "Just a Song Before I Go." The only American band of the original Woodstock era to have a societal impact rivaling that of the Beatles, Crosby, Stills & Nash has been called "the voice of an entire generation."

Hosted by BMI President/CEO Del Bryant and Los Angeles VP/GM Barbara Cane, the 54th annual BMI Pop Awards will recognize the writers and publishers of the most performed songs on U.S. radio and television from the past year. A Pop Song of the Year, Songwriter of the Year and Publisher of the Year will be announced during the evening, as will the winner of the BMI Foundation's John Lennon Scholarship.

Pop Award winners from previous years include 3 Doors Down, Maroon 5, R. Kelly, Nickelback, Shania Twain, Pharrell Williams, Michelle Branch, Lauren Christy and Scott Spock of The Matrix, Lil Jon, the Foo Fighters, Evanescence, Linkin Park, Vanessa Carlton and Sheryl Crow, among others.

BMI London Awards Photo Slideshow

2005 BMI London Awards winners list

2005 BMI London Awards: Million-Airs

"It's My Life," written by Mark Hollis (PRS) and published by Universal Music Publishing Ltd., was named Song of the Year and received the copyright organization's highest accolade, the Robert S. Musel Award. This prestigious award is named for the late Robert Musel, BMI's long-time UK consultant. Originally a hit for 80s synthpop band Talk Talk (of which Hollis was a member), the No Doubt remake also won a Pop Award at the 2004 London Awards and at the 2005 Pop Awards held in Los Angeles.

Mark Hollis	Steve Winwood	Sting

A highlight of the gala celebration was a special tribute to legendary songwriter and recording artist Steve Winwood, who was honored as a BMI Icon for his "enduring influence on generations of music makers." The Grammy Award-winning singer joins a distinguished list of honorees that includes Van Morrison, Paul Simon, Brian Wilson, Carlos Santana and Dolly Parton, among others.

Per Gessle	Mats Persson

Winwood's 40-plus year career includes international stardom as both a solo artist and as a member of the Spencer Davis Group, Traffic and Blind Faith. He penned such classics as the Spencer Davis Group's "Gimme Some Lovin'" and Blind Faith's "Can't Find My Way Home"; co-wrote all of Traffic's biggest songs, including "The Low Spark of High Heeled Boys" and "Dear Mr. Fantasy"; and enjoyed a string of mega-hits in the 80s with BMI Award winners "While You See a Chance," "Valerie," "Back in the High Life Again," "Higher Love," "Finer Things" and "Roll With It."

Rolling Stones	Van Morrison

"Run," written by Snow Patrol members Iain Archer, Nathan Connolly, Gary Lightbody, Mark McClelland and Jonny Quinn, and published by Big Life Music Ltd. and Kobalt Music Publishing Limited (all PRS), was named BMI's College Song of the Year for tallying the most performances on American college radio. Included on the band's breakthrough album Final Straw, the song peaked at #15 on Billboard's Modern Rock chart. "Run" also received a Pop Award during the ceremony.

Keane	Enya

The BMI Dance Award went to "Listen to Your Heart" written by Per Gessle and Mats Persson and published by Jimmy Fun Music (all STIM). Recorded by Belgium-based duo D.H.T., the song is a remake of the 1989 #1 hit by Roxette, which won a BMI Pop Award in 1990. The D.H.T. version spent several weeks in the Top Ten of the Adult Contemporary, Hot Digital Songs, Pop 100 and Hot 100 Billboard charts, and reached the #25 position on the Hot Ringtones chart. Original Roxette members Gessle and Maria Fredriksson accepted the award; it was the first public appearance by Fredriksson since her recovery from brain cancer.

Snow Patrol	Elton John

Million-Air certificates were also presented throughout the evening in recognition of those songs that have had two million or more U.S. radio and television performances. Topping the list were Sting's "Every Breath You Take," which reached the eight million performance plateau and the Van Morrison classic "Brown Eyed Girl," which won a seven million performance award. "(I Can't Get No) Satisfaction" by the Rolling Stones and Eric Clapton's "Layla" each earned certificates for six million performances, while "To Love Somebody" by the Bee Gees was recognized for five million plays.

Sir Elton John (PRS) and writing partner Bernie Taupin took home the night's most Million-Air awards with "Don't Let the Sun Go Down on Me" (five million); "Goodbye Yellow Brick Road" and "I Guess That's Why They Call It the Blues" (four million); "Bennie and the Jets" (three million); and Saturday Night's Alright for Fighting," "Something About the Way You Look Tonight" and "Sorry Seems to Be the Hardest Word" (two million). Songs written by the late John Lennon (PRS) also earned multiple Million-Air certificates, including "Let It Be" (five million), "Here, There and Everywhere" (three million) and "Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds" (two million).

Other Million-Air winners included the Kinks anthem "You Really Got Me," written by Ray Davies (PRS), which earned a four million performance award; 2002's Song of the Year "Thank You," written by Paul Herman (PRS) and recorded by Dido, with three million plays; and last year's Song of the Year "Forever and For Always" by Shania Twain (PRS), which achieved two million performances. "Forever" is also a two-time BMI Pop Award winner (2003 and 2004) and a 2004 Country Award winner.

In addition to a two million performance certificate for "Behind Blue Eyes," Who guitarist Pete Townshend (PRS) received three TV Music Awards for the themes to CSI, CSI: Miami and CSI: NY. Film composers Harald Kloser (AKM) [Alien vs. Predator, The Day After Tomorrow], Harry Gregson-Williams (PRS) [Man on Fire, Shrek 2] and Rolfe Kent (PRS) [Mean Girls, Sideways] each picked up a pair of Film Music Awards, while ex-Police drummer Stewart Copeland (PRS) earned a TV Award for the music to ABC's smash series Desperate Housewives.

Additional awards included a Pop Award to Keane members Tom Chaplin (PRS) and Richard Hughes (PRS) for "Somewhere Only We Know," a Country Award to Steve McEwan (PRS) for the Brooks & Dunn hit "That's What It's All About," Pop and Urban Awards to Enya, Nicky Ryan and Roma Ryan (all PRS) for the Mario Winans song "I Don't Wanna Know" (featuring P. Diddy and Enya), and Christian and Pop Awards to Brendan Graham (IMRO) for "You Raise Me Up" by Josh Groban.

BMI saluted the top country music songwriters, artists and publishers at its 2005 Country Awards, staged October 18 at the performing rights organization's Music Row offices. The black-tie ceremony was hosted by Del Bryant, BMI President and CEO, and Paul Corbin, Vice President of Writer/Publisher Relations, Nashville, who presented Certificates of Achievement to the writers and publishers of the 50 most performed country songs in the BMI repertoire.

Tim McGraw's smash "Live Like You Were Dying," written by Tim Nichols, was named Song of the Year; three-time Grammy winner Harley Allen, Big & Rich's Big Kenny and Lonestar frontman Richie McDonald shared the Songwriter of the Year crown; and Sony/ATV Music Publishing Nashville was named Publisher of the Year. A highlight of the gala was a tribute to legendary artist Charlie Daniels, who was honored as a BMI Icon for his "enduring influence on generations of music makers."

Charlie Daniels	Tim Nichols

"Live Like You Were Dying" earned the 37th Robert J. Burton Award as Most Performed Country Song of the Year for writer Tim Nichols and publishers Nichols Worth Music and Warner-Tamerlane Publishing Corp. The title track from McGraw's triple-platinum CD, the inspirational hit spent a record-breaking 10 weeks at #1 and won every award for which it was nominated since its release in 2004, including multiple Grammy, CMA, ACM, Billboard, NSAI and CMT awards.

Harley Allen	Big Kenny	Richie McDonald

BMI writers Harley Allen, Big Kenny and Richie McDonald tied to claim the Country Songwriter of the Year trophy with three tunes each on the most performed list. Songs earning them the prestigious title were Allen's "Awful, Beautiful Life," "If Nobody Believed In You" and "My Last Name"; Big Kenny's "Holy Water," "Here for the Party" and "Save a Horse (Ride a Cowboy)"; and McDonald's "Let Them Be Little," "Mr. Mom" and "Let's Be Us Again." McDonald also penned BMI's 2002 Country Song of the Year, "I'm Already There."

With 15 songs on this year's list, Sony/ATV Music Publishing Nashville (through its companies Sony/ATV Acuff Rose and Sony/ATV Tree) picked up its fourth consecutive Publisher of the Year Crystal by once again accumulating the highest percentage of copyright ownership in award songs.

The evening culminated in the Icon tribute to Charlie Daniels, which featured a musical salute by country artists Travis Tritt and Montgomery Gentry. With a career that spans nearly four decades, Daniels has connected with millions of fans around the world with his mix of rock, country, bluegrass, blues and gospel.

Songs like "Uneasy Rider," "In America," "Long Haired Country Boy," "The South's Gonna Do It Again," "Wichita Jail," and the Southern rock classic "The Devil Went Down to Georgia," are a part of the American musical landscape. His legendary Charlie Daniels Band, twice named the ACM's Touring Band of the Year, logged more than a million miles on the road, traveling in a convoy of buses and gleaming black tractor-trailer rigs that stopped traffic from coast to coast.

Among Daniels' numerous accolades are multiple BMI Pop and Country Awards, a Grammy, three CMA's, a Dove Award, the ACM Pioneer Award, and several Gold and Platinum albums totaling more than 18 million in sales. His signature song, "The Devil Went Down to Georgia," simultaneously topped the country and pop charts and has amassed more than three million broadcast performances since its release in 1979. In addition to his own successful career, Daniels contributed to recording sessions for a diverse array of artists including Bob Dylan, Al Kooper, Flatt & Scruggs, Ringo Starr and Marty Robbins.

The 2005 BMI Country Awards also honored songwriters Bob DiPiero, Ed Hill, Tommy Lee James, Toby Keith, Vicky McGehee, Shania Twain, Keith Urban and Song of the Year writer Tim Nichols, who had two songs each on the list of 50.

Multiple publisher awards went to Careers-BMG Music Publishing, Inc./Zomba Songs Inc. (9); Warner-Tamerlane Publishing Corp. (6); Universal Music Publishing (Songs of Universal, Inc. and Universal-Songs of PolyGram International, Inc.) (5); Coburn Music, Inc. (4); Big Love Music, EMI-Blackwood Music, Inc., Harley Allen Music and Mike Curb Music (3); and Big Yellow Dog Music, Cake Taker Music, Dimensional Songs of the Knoll, Guitar Monkey Music, Loon Echo, Inc., Love Monkey Music, Music Hill Music/Sagrabeaux Songs, Nichols Worth Music, Still Working For The Man Music, Inc., Tokeco Tunes and Tommy Lee James Songs (2 each).

Keith Urban	Toby Keith	Byron Gallimore

With four nominations a piece, both Urban and Keith are up for Entertainer of the Year, marking the fourth year in a row Keith has been nominated in that category. They will also compete for Video of the Year. Urban hopes to repeat his Male Vocalist of the Year win from last year and score an Album of the Year award with Be Here.

Sugarland	Rascal Flatts

Toby Keith's other nods include Single and Song of the Year for his hit "As Good As I Once Was." The song, from his latest album Honkytonk University also earned a nomination for co-writer Scotty Emerick and producer James Stroud.

Big & Rich	Alison Krauss

Both Urban and Keith are eligible for additional trophies as co-producers on their respective nominations.

Producer Byron Gallimore, newcomers Sugarland and reigning Vocal Group of the Year Rascal Flatts followed with three nominations each, while country duo Big & Rich, bluegrass singer Alison Krauss and dobro master Jerry Douglas made it onto the double nominees list. Krauss and her band Union Station (of which Douglas is a member), nominated for Vocal Group of the Year, have also just picked up an impressive 14 IBMA Awards nominations.

Jerry Douglas	Brooks & Dunn	Julie Roberts

Twelve-time CMA Vocal Duo of the Year Brooks & Dunn, who return to host "country music's biggest night," will try once again to retain their crown. BMI Icon Bill Anderson picked up another songwriter nod for the Alison Krauss hit "Whiskey Lullaby" (named 2004's Musical Event), and country legend Willie Nelson took home his 44th CMA nomination for the Lee Ann Womack duet, "I'll Never Be Free."

Tim McGraw	Diamond Rio

Other BMI CMA nominees include Julie Roberts, Marcus Hummon, Jeff Hanna, Tim McGraw, Randy Scruggs, Jimmy Buffett and Diamond Rio.

Alabama	Glen Campbell

A highlight of the live show will be the induction of BMI country greats Alabama and Glen Campbell into the Country Music Hall of Fame. The prestigious award is the highest honor in country music and recognizes those who have made outstanding contributions to the genre throughout their careers. Campbell will be inducted in the "Career Achieved National Prominence Between World War II and 1975" category and Alabama will be the first artist inducted in the new "Career Achieved National Prominence Between 1975 and the Present" category created earlier this year. Their inductions will increase the Hall of Fame membership to 95.

Miranda Lambert	Sara Evans	Martina McBride

BMI's 2005 CMA Nominees:

4 Nominations
Toby Keith
Keith Urban

3 Nominations
Byron Gallimore
Rascal Flatts
Sugarland

2 Nominations
Big & Rich
Jerry Douglas
Sara Evans
Alison Krauss
Martina McBride

Single Nomination
Bill Anderson
Brooks & Dunn
Bobby Boyd
Tony Brown
Jimmy Buffett
Diamond Rio
Scotty Emerick
Jeff Hanna
Marcus Hummon
Miranda Lambert
Lonestar
Brent Mason
Tim McGraw
Montgomery Gentry
Willie Nelson
Jon Randall
Julie Roberts
Randy Scruggs
Darran Smith
James Stroud
Shania Twain
Union Station
The Warren Brothers