BMI Celebrates Christian Music’s Best with 2021 Christian Music Awards
“Way Maker” Named Song of the Year; Capitol CMG Named Publisher of the Year; Ethan Hulse Wins Songwriter of the Year
BMI proudly paid tribute to the best and brightest in Christian music with its annual Christian Awards celebration. The honorees were announced today on BMI.com and across the company’s digital platforms, celebrating the encouraging and uplifting music of BMI’s Christian songwriters. To honor these achievements, BMI created a page on its website where fans can watch special video messages and performances, listen to award-winning music, and more. To view this exclusive content and hear the story behind some of this year’s uplifting songs, please click here.
“The BMI Christian Awards is one of our favorite annual celebrations, but it is especially meaningful after the events of the last year. Throughout this time, each and every one of these extraordinary songwriters has used their gift to uplift others,” says Leslie Roberts, AVP, Creative, BMI Nashville. “BMI is so proud to honor the creators of the inspirational songs of hope and faith that bring comfort to so many around the world. I am hopeful that we will all be together again to celebrate in person next year.”
The Song of the Year title went to “Way Maker,” written by Sinach and published by Capitol CMG Publishing. In 2020, the hit won the Dove Award for Song of the Year, making Sinach the first Nigerian Christian artist to win the award. The song has been covered by numerous artists including Christian rock band Leeland as well as the iconic Michael W. Smith. The Leeland and Smith versions of the song entered the Billboard Hot Christian Chart in the top ten, marking the first time in history that two versions of the same song resided together in the top of the chart.
For the third year in a row, the Songwriter of the Year award went to Ethan Hulse, who wrote “Rescue Story,” “Stand In Your Love” and “The Father’s House.” In 2019, Hulse won his first BMI Award and was simultaneously named Songwriter of the Year.
Capitol CMG 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 “Believer,” “Burn the Ships,” “Dead Man Walking,” “God’s Not Done With You,” “Holy Water,” “Let It Rain (Is There Anybody),” “See a Victory,” “Stand In Your Love,” “The Blessing,” “The Father’s House,” “Way Maker,” and “You Are Loved.”
In addition to the major award winners, BMI also paid homage to the 25 Most Performed Christian Songs of the Year (2020). This year’s winners featured 17 first time Christian award winners including Cody Carnes (“The Blessing”), Franni Cash Cain (“Holy Water”), Martin Cash (“Holy Water”), Dillon Chase (“Symphony”), Dave Clark (“River”), Sheri Easter (“You Are Loved”), Cassidy Estevez (“Symphony”), Rob Estevez (“Symphony”), Luke Guevara (“Symphony”), Matt Hales (“Burn the Ships”), Jason Ingram (“Alive,” “See A Victory”), Ricky Jackson (“Together”), Andrew Ripp (“Rescue Story”), Sinach (“Way Maker”), Rita Springer (“Stand In Your Love”), Mitch Wong (“Believer”), and Jimmy Yeary (“The God I Serve,” “Sometimes It’s The Radio”), who has previously been awarded seven BMI Country Awards. Legendary Christian songwriter and producer Bernie Herms is receiving his 17th and 18th Awards. He was named 2016 Christian Songwriter of the Year and also wrote the 2016 Christian Song of the Year, “Good Good Father.”
For a complete list of winners, video messages and performances, click here. To join the conversation on social media, follow us @BMI and use #BMIChristian.
SONG OF THE YEAR
Way Maker
Sinach
Capitol CMG Publishing
SONGWRITER OF THE YEAR
Ethan Hulse
Rescue Story
Stand In Your Love
The Father’s House
PUBLISHER OF THE YEAR
Capitol CMG Publishing
Believer
Burn the Ships
Dead Man Walking
God’s Not Done With You
Holy Water
Let It Rain (Is There Anybody)
See a Victory
Stand In Your Love
The Blessing
The Father’s House
Way Maker
You Are Loved
Top 25 Songs
Alive
Jason Ingram
Jonathan Smith
Zach Williams
Anthems of Hope
Be Essential Songs
Wisteria Drive Music
Believer
Mitch Wong (APRA)
Capitol CMG Publishing
Integrity’s Praise! Music
Burn the Ships
Matt Hales (PRS)
Luke Smallbone
Curb Dayspring Music
Kilns Music
Universal-Songs of PolyGram International, Inc.
Warner-Tamerlane Publishing Corp.
Dead Man Walking
Jordan Sapp
Capitol CMG Publishing
Songs by JSAPP
Fear No More
Blake NeeSmith
Jason Roy
Fear No More Publishing
Harper and Hudson
House of Emack Music
Map Catalogs
Moon and Musky Music
God’s Not Done With You
Bernie Herms
Tauren Wells
Be Essential Songs
Crucialworks Entertainment
G650 Music
Pure Note Music
Songs of Universal, Inc.
Going There
Lee Black
Scott Inman
Christian Taylor Music
ClearBox Benefit
Sunset Gallery Music
Holy Water
Ed Cash
Martin Cash
Scott Cash
Franni Cash Cain
Capitol CMG Publishing
We The Kingdom Music
Let It Rain (Is There Anybody)
Ed Cash
Capitol CMG Publishing
Nobody
Mark Hall
Bernie Herms
Avex USA obo Xeva Music
Be Essential Songs
BMG Platinum Songs US
My Refuge Music
Works by Pure Note Songs
Reason
Chris Stevens
Hot Mess Music International
Sony/ATV Tree
Warner-Tamerlane Publishing Corp.
Rescue Story
Ethan Hulse
Andrew Ripp
Jonathan Smith
Zach Williams
Anthems of Hope
Be Essential Songs
Cashagamble Jet Music
EGH Music Publishing
Songs By Fishbone
Wisteria Drive Music
River
Dave Clark
Karen Peck
Christian Taylor Music
ClearBox Benefit
Karen Peck Music
Map Catalogs
Shakertown Road Music
See a Victory
Chris Brown
Ben Fielding (APRA)
Steven Furtick
Jason Ingram
Be Essential Songs
Capitol CMG Publishing
Music By Elevation Worship Publishing
Shout MP Brio
Sometimes It’s The Radio
Joseph Habedank
Jimmy Yeary
Cedar Church Music
Christian Taylor Music
ClearBox Benefit
Sony/ATV Tree
Stand In Your Love
Ethan Hulse
Rita Springer
Be Essential Songs
Capitol CMG Publishing
EGH Music Publishing
Gateway Create Publishing
Map Catalogs
Symphony
Dillon Chase
Cassidy Estevez
Rob Estevez
Luke Guevara
Heritage Worship Music Publishing
Life Church Worship Publishing
The Blessing
Chris Brown
Cody Carnes
Steven Furtick
Kari Jobe
Be Essential Songs
Capitol CMG Publishing
Kari Jobe Carnes Music
Music By Elevation Worship Publishing
Worship Together Music
Writer’s Roof Publishing
The Father’s House
Ben Hastings (APRA)
Ethan Hulse
Be Essential Songs
Capitol CMG Publishing
EGH Music Publishing
Shout MP Brio
The God I Serve
Sonya Isaacs
Rebecca Isaacs Bowman
Karen Peck
Jimmy Yeary
Beattyville Music
BMG Platinum Songs US
Christian Taylor Music
ClearBox Benefit
EMI-Blackwood Music, Inc.
Karen Peck Music
Makem Smile Music
R. I. Bowman Music
The God Who Stays
Jonathan Smith
Be Essential Songs
Cashagamble Jet Music
Together
Kirk Franklin
Ran Jackson
Ricky Jackson
Josh Kerr
Luke Smallbone
Be Essential Songs
BNA Bangers
Curb Dayspring Music
Heavenly Junkie Music
Kilns Music
Richmond Park Publishing
Songs of Kobalt Music Publishing
Tunes of Black River
Warner-Tamerlane Publishing Corp.
Way Maker
Sinach
Capitol CMG Publishing
Yes I Will
Mia Fieldes (APRA)
Jonathan Smith
Be Essential Songs
Upside Down Under
You Are Loved
Sheri Easter
Marcia Henry
Capitol CMG Publishing
She Loved Music
Sunset Gallery Music
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