Recent Brooks & Dunn Updates
Music Business Council Established in Nashville

The music industry has long made up a substantial piece of the Nashville economy. In an effort to encourage dialogue between the city’s leaders, Mayor Karl Dean—in conjunction with the Nashville Chamber of Commerce—recently announced the establishment of the Music Business Council. Comprising artists and executives including BMI’s Jody Williams, the council will develop economic initiatives designed to capitalize on Nashville’s extensive musical history, present, and future. In addition to…
Heidi Newfield Leads List of BMI ACM Award Nominees
The Academy of Country Music announced nominees for the organization’s 44th annual awards Wednesday, February 11 in Nashville, and BMI artists, songwriters, and producers decisively populate category after category.Heidi Newfield leads the pack of BMI nominees, underscoring the success of her solo debut with five nominations, including top female vocalist, and single and song of the year for “Johnny & June.” Jamey Johnson garnered…
Award-Winning Hitmaker Dean Dillon Entertains Media Executives
BMI award-winning country songwriter Dean Dillon provided the entertainment at Federated Media’s Annual Achievement Awards, held January 23 in Angola, Indiana. Dillon, who was inducted into the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame in 2002, has written 13 number one songs for George Strait and dozens of other hits for artists such as Kenny Chesney, Brooks & Dunn, Lee Ann Womack and…
The Eagles Lead BMI Nominees for 2008 American Music Awards
Venerable rock legends the Eagles lead the BMI charge of the recently announced American Music Award nominees. With four nominations encompassing Artist of the Year, Favorite Band, Favorite Album, and Favorite Adult Contemporary Artist, The Eagles leave no doubt of their sustained artistic dominance. The Eagles Chris Brown Lil Wayne BMI trendsetters Lil Wayne and…
Matraca Berg, Tom Shapiro and John Hiatt to Join Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame
BMI songwriters swept the short list of 2008 Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame inductees: hit writers Matraca Berg and Tom Shapiro will enter the elite ranks in the Songwriter category, while prolific songman John Hiatt stands ready to join the Hall in the Songwriter/Artist field. The candidates will officially be inducted Sunday, October 26 at the 39th Annual Nashville Songwriters Hall…
BMI Artists Dominate Nominee List for 2008 CMA Awards
The Country Music Association announced nominees for the 2008 installment of the CMA Awards Wednesday, September 10, and BMI songwriters and artists overwhelmingly populate the anticipated list, sweeping the Female Vocalist of the Year nominations and dominating numerous categories. Effervescent duo Sugarland underscored their critically acclaimed year, counting an inaugural nod in the prestigious Entertainer of the Year club among their five nominations. The pair also snagged…
Majority of 2008 ACM Awards Go Home with BMI Artists
BMI's country family enjoyed sweeping recognition at the 2008 Academy of Country Music Awards, held May 18 in Las Vegas. The prestigious Album of the Year trophy went to Miranda Lambert for her critically acclaimed project, Crazy Ex-Girlfriend. Lambert accepted the award with genuine surprise and gratitude, thanking both the industry and fans for embracing her "left of center" approach. Her charged performance of single "Gunpowder and…
Rodney Atkins Leads BMI 2008 ACM Award Nominations
Big & Rich, Sugarland, Miranda Lambert & Taylor Swift Also Boast Multiple Nods BMI affiliates staked claim to the majority of the 2008 Academy of Country Music award nominations announced Tuesday, March 4 in Nashville. Reigning Top Female Vocalist Carrie Underwood helped announce the nominees live during CBS' The Early Show broadcast, which also featured live performances…
Angelo Joins BMI
Nashville-based songwriter/producer/musician extraordinaire Angelo recently joined BMI. Once the guitar player for Kim Richey, Angelo has written tunes for a uniquely diverse collection of artists including EmmyLou Harris, Martina McBride, Kings of Leon, Brooks & Dunn, The Mavericks and Trisha Yearwood. Pictured are (l to r): BMI's Bradley…
Honesty, Emotional Sincerity Are Keith Urban’s Hallmarks

To say the past year has been a whirlwind of change for Australian Keith Urban would be an understatement, considering he married actress Nicole Kidman in June, checked himself into rehab in October, and released his new album, Love, Pain & the whole crazy thing, in November. Marriage to a major movie star no doubt increased media attention on the country artist tenfold, but it also seems…
2007 ACMs Tout Carrie Underwood and ‘Give It Away’ to Writers Anderson and Johnson
Call her a phenomenon-a wunderkind-but leave "newcomer" monikers behind when attempting to describe country superstar Carrie Underwood. BMI's Underwood took home three trophies at the Academy of Country Music Awards Tuesday night in Las Vegas for Top Female Vocalist, Album and Video of the Year. The wins officially recognized Carrie Underwood's substantial contributions to the country music format and her unfaltering momentum.
Brooks & Dunn Top BMI’s 2007 ACM Nominee List
Brooks & Dunn emphasized their perennial honky tonkin’ dominance with an exclamation point when the 2007 Academy of Country Music Award nominees were announced Monday, March 5. The longtime BMI affiliates snagged seven nominations, with an eighth nod tacked on to Ronnie Dunn‘s list for his role as a producer. The duo has been honored by the Academy more than any…
Trent Summar

Not that labels in music matter much — at least they shouldn’t — but Trent Summar has an evocative and altogether hard-to-resist term for the music he makes: Farm rock. That probably says it well enough. But in case further explanation helps, we’re talking about that intersection where Chuck Berry rock and George Jones country converge. We’re talking about love songs that veer off the beaten path with honest slices…
‘Would You Go with Me’ Crew Celebrates Trip Up the Charts
The two ambidextrous co-writers of Josh Turner's No. 1 hit "Would You Go with Me" attracted a crowd teeming with talent to BMI's Music Row offices recently. Legends John Prine and Cowboy Jack Clement were among those on hand to congratulate Shawn Camp, John Scott Sherrill and Josh Turner on a job well done.
Brooks & Dunn, Carrie Underwood Win Big at 40th Annual CMA Awards
Big wins for BMI affiliates including powerhouse pair Brooks & Dunn, explosive newcomer Carrie Underwood, fan and critical favorite Keith Urban, and multiplatinum-selling Rascal Flatts dominated the 40th Annual Country Music Association Awards, held Nov. 6 in Nashville. The ceremony, which took place downtown at Gaylord Entertainment Center, featured a slew of live performances and plenty of extra room…
Brooks & Dunn Lead CMA Nominees List
Charismatic country twosome Brooks & Dunn leads the impressive list of BMI nominees for 40th annual Country Music Association Awards. The nominees, announced Wednesday, August 30, include two BMI inductions into the prestigious Country Music Hall of Fame: influential musician and producer Harold Bradley and legendary singer Sonny James. The new Hall of Fame members will be formally inducted during the CMA Awards ceremony in Nashville November 6.
Five For Fighting

It requires considerable artistic agility to write deeply personal songs that also reflect the broader world. That’s just what platinum-certified Grammy-nominated singer/songwriter John Ondrasik and his band Five For Fighting has consistently accomplished on each of his previous CDs. Now with Two Lights, his new Aware/Columbia release, John delivers his most personal album to date, creating nothing less than an American family portrait. John’s…
Christian Country Music Celebrates the Year’s Best
BMI Christian country artists and songwriters top the list of nominees for the 12th Annual Inspirational Country Music Awards, being held at Nashville's Acuff Theater on Nov. 9. The awards are presented and voted on by members of the Christian Country Music Association (CCMA) and will serve as the endnote to the organization's week-long conference, which takes place Nov. 5-9.
BMI Welcomes Chas Sandford
BMI is proud to welcome veteran songwriter Chas Sandford to its family. Sandford, who has been a part of the success of legendary band Chicago for the past 20 years as a songwriter and producer, composed one of the most played songs of all time, "Missing You," made famous by John Waite, but also a No. 1 hit for both Tina Turner and Brooks…
BMI Country Stars Win Big at ACM Awards
The 41st Annual Academy of Country Music Awards provided a welcome excuse for Music City to invade Sin City Tuesday night (5/23), and there were plenty of experiences that, luckily, won't stay in Vegas. Top Male Vocalist Keith Urban (left) shares the stage with 21-time ACM winning duo
