2013 BMI Country Awards Honor Dillon, Clawson, Hayes, Verges and Others

Broadcast Music, Inc. celebrated country music’s top songwriters at the 2013 BMI Country Awards held at the Company’s Nashville office on November 5, 2013. The oldest awards ceremony to salute the genre’s hit-makers, the 61st annual event honored the prolific songwriting career of Dean Dillon by naming him a BMI Icon for his enduring musical contributions. Additionally, the ceremony crowned Rodney Clawson Country Songwriter of the Year; the Hunter Hayes smash “Wanted,” Song of the Year; and Sony/ATV Music Publishing Nashville, Publisher of the Year. The invitation-only event also celebrated the songwriters and publishers of the most-performed country songs of the past year.

Dillon joins an elite list of other BMI Icons who have had “a unique and indelible influence on generations of music makers” and was honored with an all-star tribute from some of country’s biggest stars, including Luke Bryan performing Dillon’s BMI award-winning hit “Unwound,” Lee Ann Womack with an emotional rendition of “An Empty Glass” and Kenny Chesney with the country classic “Holed Up In Some Honky Tonk.” George Strait, who alone has recorded 54 of Dean Dillon’s songs, paid homage with a medley of three of his most notable Dillon-penned hits, including “The Chair,” “Marina Del Rey” and “Here for a Good Time.” When accepting the Icon designation, Dillon humbly said, “When Del called me and told me that I was the Icon for 2013, I started cryin’. I’ll tell you what, I live, eat, sleep and breathe songs. It’s all I’ve ever done and it’s all I’ve ever loved to do. I got so many people to thank here tonight that made this possible, ‘cause it darn sure ain’t all about me:” The newest BMI Icon then ended his thank you with a sincere message to other songwriters: “Write On.”

Songwriter of the Year Rodney Clawson was saluted for writing credits on an astounding six of the most-performed songs of the past year, including “Drink On It” recorded by Blake Shelton, “Drunk On You” by Luke Bryan, “One of Those Nights” by Tim McGraw, “Take a Little Ride” by Jason Aldean, “Where I Come From” by Montgomery Gentry and “Did It for the Girl” by Greg Bates.

“Wanted,” penned by Hunter Hayes and Troy Verges and recorded by Hayes, garnered more than one million performances in 2012 alone. The Song of the Year was published by Happy Little Man Publishing, Songs from the Engine Room and Songs of Universal, Inc.

As for Publisher of the Year, Sony/ATV Music Publishing Nashville continued its more than a decade long winning streak, again taking home the coveted title for having published 20 of the 50 most-performed songs of the year, including megahits “Cruise” by Florida Georgia Line, “Red Solo Cup” by Toby Keith, “Pontoon” by Little Big Town and many others.

BMI President Del Bryant hosted the ceremony with BMI Vice President, Writer/Publisher Relations, Nashville, Jody Williams; BMI Chief Executive Officer Mike O’Neill; and BMI Assistant Vice President, Writer/Publisher Relations, Nashville, Clay Bradley.

Here’s a complete list of the night’s winners:

SONG OF THE YEAR

“WANTED”
Hunter Hayes
Troy Verges
Happy Little Man Publishing
Songs From the Engine Room
Songs of Universal, Inc.

SONGWRITER OF THE YEAR

RODNEY CLAWSON
“Did It for the Girl”
“Drink on It”
“Drunk on You”
“One of Those Nights”
“Take a Little Ride”
“Where I Come From”

PUBLISHER OF THE YEAR

SONY/ATV MUSIC PUBLISHING NASHVILLE
(EMI-Blackwood Music, Inc, Sony/ATV Countryside, Sony/ATV Songs LLC and Sony/ATV Tree)
“5-1-5-0 ”
“Banjo”
“Begin Again”
“Cowboys and Angels”
“Creepin’”
“Cruise”
“Crying on a Suitcase”
“Fastest Girl in Town”
“Kiss Tomorrow Goodbye”
“Lovin’ You Is Fun”
“One That Got Away”
“Ours”
“Over You”
“Pontoon”
“Red Solo Cup”
“Springsteen”
“Time Is Love”
“Tip It on Back”
“Tornado”
“Where I Come From”

BMI ICON

DEAN DILLON

2013 COUNTRY AWARDS TOP 50 SONGS

5-1-5-0
Brett Beavers
Jim Beavers
Chestnut Barn Music
Chrysalis Songs
Sony/ATV Tree
Dierks Bentley
Capitol Nashville

ALONE WITH YOU
JT Harding
JTX Music
Mighty Co Music
Jake Owen
RCA Nashville

BANJO
Tony Martin
Wendell Mobley
Casa Jaco Music
Sony/ATV Tree
Warner-Tamerlane Publishing Corp.
Rascal Flatts
Big Machine

BEER MONEY
Blair Daly
Kip Moore
Troy Verges
Against The Wind Publishing
Internal Combustion Music
Kickin’ Grids Music
Songs From The Engine Room
Songs of The Corn
Songs of Universal, Inc.
Southside Independent Music Publishing
Warner-Tamerlane Publishing Corp.
Kip Moore
MCA Nashville

BEERS AGO
Toby Keith
Bobby Pinson
Bobby’s Lyrics Land and Livestock
Tokeco Tunes
Toby Keith
Show Dog/Universal

BEGIN AGAIN 
Taylor Swift
Sony/ATV Tree
Taylor Swift Music
Taylor Swift
Big Machine

BETTER THAN I USED TO BE
Bryan Simpson
How ‘Bout That Skyline Music
Mr. Noise Music
Writers of Sea Gayle Music
Tim McGraw
Curb Records

COME WAKE ME UP
Sean McConnell
Little Beluga Music
Warner-Tamerlane Publishing Corp.
Rascal Flatts
Big Machine

COWBOYS AND ANGELS
Josh Leo
Dustin Lynch
Tim Nichols
Big Music Machine
Contentment Music
Golden Gears Music
Made For This Music
Sony/ATV Tree
Warner-Tamerlane Publishing Corp.
Dustin Lynch
Broken Bow

CREEPIN’
Eric Church
Marv Green
Sinnerlina
Sony/ATV Tree
The Good The Bad The Ugly Publishing
Warner-Tamerlane Publishing Corp.
Eric Church
EMI Nashville

CRUISE
Tyler Hubbard
Brian Kelley
Joey Moi (SOCAN)
Chase Rice
Jesse Rice
Big Loud Mountain
Big Red Toe Music
Dack Janiels Publishing
Deep Fried Dreams
Sony/ATV Countryside
Florida Georgia Line
Big Loud Mountain/Republic

CRYING ON A SUITCASE 
Lee Thomas Miller
Tom Shapiro
EMI-Blackwood Music, Inc.
Itchy Baby Music
Little Dooey Music
Writers of Sea Gayle Music
Casey James
Columbia

DANCIN’ AWAY WITH MY HEART
Dave Haywood
Charles Kelley
DWHaywood Music
RADIOBULLETSPUBLISHING
Warner-Tamerlane Publishing Corp.
Lady Antebellum
Capitol Nashville

DID IT FOR THE GIRL
Greg Bates
Rodney Clawson
Amarillo Sky Songs
Bates ‘N Hook Music
Big Music Machine
Big Red Toe Music
Songs of Universal, Inc.
Super Effusion
Greg Bates
Republic Nashville

DRINK ON IT 
Rodney Clawson
Jon Randall
Amarillo Sky Songs
Big Red Toe Music
Reynsong Publishing Corporation
Wha Ya Say Music
Blake Shelton
Warner Bros.

DRUNK ON YOU
Rodney Clawson
Amarillo Sky Songs
Big Red Toe Music
Luke Bryan
Capitol Nashville

EVEN IF IT BREAKS YOUR HEART
Will Hoge
BMG Platinum Songs
Will Hoge Music
Eli Young Band
Republic Nashville

EVERY STORM (RUNS OUT OF RAIN)
Gary Allan
Crystal Beach Music
Gary Allan
MCA Nashville

FASTEST GIRL IN TOWN
Miranda Lambert
Pink Dog Publishing
Sony/ATV Tree
Miranda Lambert
RCA Nashville

FOR YOU 
Keith Urban
Mary Rose Music
Songs of Universal, Inc.
Keith Urban
Capitol Nashville

GOOD GIRL
Carrie Underwood
Carrie Okie Music
Carrie Underwood
19/Arista Nashville

GOODBYE IN HER EYES
Zac Brown
Wyatt Durrette
John Hopkins
Sonia Leigh
Angelika Music
Brighter Shade Publishing
Southern Ground Artists, Inc.
Weimerhound Publishing
Zac Brown Band
Atlantic/Southern Ground

HARD TO LOVE
Billy Montana
John Ozier
Dandon Ranch Music
Mike Curb Music
Over The Bar Music
Lee Brice
Curb Records

HOW COUNTRY FEELS
Vicky McGehee
Wendell Mobley
February 4 Music
peermusic III Ltd.
Warner-Tamerlane Publishing Corp.
Randy Houser
Stoney Creek

KISS TOMORROW GOODBYE
Luke Bryan
Jeff Stevens
Big Motor
Chrysalis Songs
Peanut Mill Songs
Sony/ATV Tree
Luke Bryan
Capitol Nashville

LOVE’S GONNA MAKE IT ALRIGHT
Al Anderson
Bucked Up Music
International Dog Music
George Strait
MCA Nashville

LOVIN’ YOU IS FUN 
Jim Beavers
Bob DiPiero
Love Monkey Music
Sony/ATV Tree
Easton Corbin
Mercury Nashville

MERRY GO ‘ROUND 
Kacey Musgraves
351 Music
Warner-Tamerlane Publishing Corp.
Kacey Musgraves
Mercury Nashville

NO HURRY
Zac Brown
Wyatt Durrette
James Otto
Angelika Music
Eldorotto Music Publishing
Warner-Tamerlane Publishing Corp.
Weimerhound Publishing
Zac Brown Band
Atlantic/Southern Ground

ONE OF THOSE NIGHTS
Rodney Clawson
Luke Laird
Amarillo Sky Songs
Big Red Toe Music
Universal Music-Careers
Tim McGraw
Big Machine

THE ONE THAT GOT AWAY
Dallas Davidson
Jake Owen
Jimmy Ritchey
EMI-Blackwood Music, Inc.
Jimbalaya Music
Shiitake Maki Publishing
Universal Music-Careers
Vibe Room Music
Jake Owen
RCA Nashville

OURS
Taylor Swift
Sony/ATV Tree
Taylor Swift Music
Taylor Swift
Big Machine

OVER
Paul Jenkins
David Elliott Johnson
Touch My Music Publishing
Blake Shelton
Warner Bros.

OVER YOU
Miranda Lambert
Blake Shelton
Pink Dog Publishing
Sony/ATV Tree
Miranda Lambert
RCA Nashville

PONTOON 
Barry Dean
Natalie Hemby
Luke Laird
BarryTones
EMI-Blackwood Music, Inc.
Universal Music-Careers
Wruckestrike
Little Big Town
Capitol Nashville

POSTCARD FROM PARIS 
Jeff Cohen
Kara DioGuardi
Kimberly Perry
Neil Perry
Reid Perry
As You Wish Music
Bug Music
Famdamily Music
Pearlfeather Publishing
Sunshine Terrace Music
When I Go To The Moon Music
The Band Perry
Republic Nashville

RED SOLO CUP
Brett Beavers
Jim Beavers
Brad Warren
Brett Warren
Chestnut Barn Music
Chrysalis One Songs
EMI-Blackwood Music, Inc.
Sony/ATV Tree
StyleSonic Music LLC
Toby Keith
Show Dog/Universal

SOMEBODY’S HEARTBREAK 
Andrew Dorff
Hunter Hayes
Luke Laird
Happy Little Man Publishing
Songs of Universal, Inc.
Universal Music-Careers
Hunter Hayes
Atlantic Records

SOMETHIN’ ‘BOUT A TRUCK
Dan Couch
Kip Moore
Music of Stage Three
Roll Through Music
Songs From The Couch
Songs of Cornman
Kip Moore
MCA Nashville

SPRINGSTEEN
Eric Church
Jeff Hyde
Ryan Tyndell
Bug Music
Mammaw’s Cornbread Music
ole Purple Cape Songs
Sinnerlina
Sony/ATV Tree
Eric Church
EMI Nashville

TAKE A LITTLE RIDE
Dylan Altman
Rodney Clawson
Jim McCormick
Amarillo Sky Songs
Big Red Toe Music
Chrysalis Songs
Music of Cal IV
Songs of Jim McCormick
Jason Aldean
Broken Bow

TIL MY LAST DAY
Justin Moore
Big Music Machine
Double Barrel Ace Music
Justin Moore
Valory

TIME IS LOVE
Tony Martin
Mark Nesler
Tom Shapiro
Casa Jaco Music
EMI-Blackwood Music, Inc.
Little Dooey Music
Little Lola Mae Music
Songs of Universal, Inc.
Sony/ATV Tree
Josh Turner
MCA Nashville