BMI Honors Christian Music’s Best at the 2018 BMI Christian Awards in Nashville
‘What a Beautiful Name’ earns Song of the Year; Capitol CMG Publishing earns Publisher of the Year; Ed Cash named Songwriter of the Year
BMI proudly honored the top 25 songs played on Christian radio during the past year at the 2018 BMI Christian Awards, held tonight at BMI’s Nashville offices on Music Row. The annual event celebrates the songwriters and publishers of the past year’s most performed Christian rock, contemporary Christian, inspirational, southern and urban gospel songs on U.S. Christian radio.
“Every year, the BMI Christian Awards gives us the opportunity to celebrate and honor all genres of inspirational music and the impact its creators have made on the music industry and on its fans around the globe,” says Leslie Roberts, Executive Director, Creative, Nashville. “It is always a privilege for us at BMI to dedicate an evening to the great accomplishments and successes of the talented songwriters and artists that create this incredible music that inspires, comforts, entertains, uplifts and challenges us as human beings to live more spirit-filled lives.”
The invitation-only event featured special performances, including “Broken Prayers” by Riley Clemmons, “Hills and Valleys” by Tauren Wells, and “Home” by Ed Cash.
The Song of the Year title went to “What a Beautiful Name,” written by Ben Fielding and Brooke Ligertwood and published by Capitol CMG Paragon. The song topped Billboard’s Hot Christian Songs chart on February 25, 2017 and held the top position for 38 weeks, making it the second-longest-leading number one in the history of the chart. “What a Beautiful Name” additionally earned two Dove Awards and Best Contemporary Christian Music Performance/Song at the 60th annual GRAMMY Awards.
The Songwriter of the Year award went to Ed Cash, who wrote “Home,” “Jesus,” and “My Victory.”
For the second consecutive year, Capitol CMG Publishing (Capitol CMG Paragon, Meaux Mercy Publishing, River Oaks Music Company, Songs of Universal, Inc., Sparrow Song, Universal Music-Brentwood Songs, Worship Together Music) took home the Publisher of the Year award. The company had the highest percentage of copyright ownership among the year’s most-performed songs, including the hits “Home,” “Jesus,” “Living in the Promised Land,” “Love Broke Through,” “Oh My Soul,” “One Step Away,” “The Lion and the Lamb,” and Song of the Year “What a Beautiful Name.”
During the program, Jody Williams, Vice President, Creative, Nashville, took a moment to acknowledge Al Andrews, founder and executive director of Porter’s Call, for his lifetime of dedication to counseling recording artists. Porter’s Call is an organization out of Franklin, Tennessee, that supports, encourages, and counsels recording artists and their families and provides a safe refuge for them to deal with the issues they face, at no charge. The presentation featured a speech from Williams and a video presentation with tributes by BMI songwriters the Warren Brothers, Charlie Worsham, Brandon Heath, Chris Tomlin, and Dave Barnes.
Jody Williams and Leslie Roberts served as the evening’s hosts.
Here’s a list of the night’s winners:
SONG OF THE YEAR
What a Beautiful Name
Ben Fielding (APRA)
Brooke Ligertwood (APRA)
Capitol CMG Paragon
SONGWRITER OF THE YEAR
Ed Cash
Home
Jesus
My Victory
PUBLISHER OF THE YEAR
Capitol CMG Publishing
(Capitol CMG Paragon, Meaux Mercy Publishing, River Oaks Music Company, Songs of Universal, Inc., Sparrow Song,
Universal Music-Brentwood Songs, Worship Together Music)
Home
Jesus
Living in the Promised Land
Love Broke Thru
Oh My Soul
One Step Away
The Lion and the Lamb
What a Beautiful Name
Award Winning Songs
CHAIN BREAKER
Mia Fieldes (APRA)
Zach Williams
Anthems of Hope
Be Essential Songs
Upside Down Under
Wisteria Drive Music
HARD LOVE
Bear Rinehart
Bo Rinehart
Bear Lee Breathing Music
Downtown DMP Songs
Needtobreathe Music
HE WELCOMES THE BEGGAR
Jason Cox
Amber Eppinette
Kenna West
Asheville Music Publishing
Chris White Music
Christian Taylor Music
Clearbox Benefit
Dayspring Music
Say Amen Music
Warner-Tamerlane Publishing Corp.
HILLS AND VALLEYS
Chuck Butler
Tauren Wells
Be Essential Songs
Crucial Music Entertainment
Jord A Lil Music
HOME
Ed Cash
Scott Cash
Chris Tomlin
Alletrop Music
Capitol CMG Paragon
Map Catalogs
McTyeire Music
S.D.G. Publishing
JESUS
Ed Cash
Chris Tomlin
Alletrop Music
Capitol CMG Paragon
Map Catalogs
S.D.G. Publishing
sixsteps Songs
Worship Together Music
JOY
Tony Brown
Bethel Worship Publishing
KING OF THE WORLD
Natalie Grant
Sam Mizell
BMG Platinum Songs
Takin’ It To The Maxx
LIVING IN THE PROMISED LAND
Wayne Haun
Joel Lindsey
Hefton Hill Music
Map Catalogs
PsalmSinger Music
Universal Music-Brentwood Benson Songs
LOVE BROKE THRU
Toby McKeehan
Chris Stevens
Achtober Songs
Capitol CMG Paragon
Meaux Mercy Publishing
Moody Producer Music
River Oaks Music Company
MAGNIFY
Darren Mulligan
Dayspring Music
Warner-Tamerlane Publishing Corp.
MY VICTORY
Ed Cash
Darren Mulligan
Alletrop Music
Dayspring Music
Map Catalogs
Warner-Tamerlane Publishing Corp.
NEVER BEEN A MOMENT
Micah Tyler
Be Essential Songs
Fair Trade Global Songs
NEVER FORSAKEN
Wayne Haun
Joel Lindsey
Dayspring Music
Sea Smoke Music
Songs From The Inside
Warner-Tamerlane Publishing Corp.
O COME TO THE ALTAR
Mack Brock
Chris Brown
Steven Furtick
Wade Joye
Be Essential Songs
Music By Elevation Worship Publishing
OH MY SOUL
Mark Hall
Bernie Herms
Be Essential Songs
G650 Music
My Refuge Music
Pure Note Music
Songs of Universal, Inc.
Sparrow Song
ONE STEP AWAY
Mark Hall
Bernie Herms
Be Essential Songs
G650 Music
My Refuge Music
Pure Note Music
Songs of Universal, Inc.
Sparrow Song
PRICELESS
Luke Smallbone
Dayspring Music
Kilns Music
Warner-Tamerlane Publishing Corp.
RISE
Danny Gokey
BMG Platinum Songs
Creative Heart Publishing
TESTIFY
Bear Rinehart
Bo Rinehart
Bear Lee Breathing Music
Downtown DMP Songs
Needtobreathe Music
THE LION AND THE LAMB
Leeland Mooring
Meaux Mercy Publishing
The Devil is A Liar Publishing
WAITING FOR YOU TO GET HOME
Matthew Browder
Phil Cross
Browder House Music
Chris White Music
Christian Taylor Music
Clearbox Benefi
Phil Cross Music
WHAT A BEAUTIFUL NAME
Ben Fielding (APRA)
Brooke Ligertwood (APRA)
Capitol CMG Paragon
YOU ASKED HIM TO LEAVE
Gerald Crabb
Dennis Morgan
Hatchie Bottom Music
Little Shop of Morgansongs
YOUR LOVE AWAKENS ME
Phil Wickham
Map Catalogs
Phil Wickham Music
Seems Like Music
Sing My Songs
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