Recent Kirk Franklin Updates
Steven Curtis Chapman, Casting Crowns Enjoy Big Wins at 09 Dove Awards

Perennial favorite Steven Curtis Chapman walked away with the Artist of the Year crown at the 40th Annual GMA Dove Awards, held Thursday, April 23 in Nashville. Also named Songwriter of the Year, Chapman has garnered more Dove Awards than any other artist in the history of the awards ceremony, including 7 Artist of the Year honors and 10 Songwriter of the Year titles.
Gospel Music Channel to Air 2009 Trailblazers Celebration Feb. 22

The Gospel Music Channel (GMC) will broadcast the world premiere of the 2009 BMI Trailblazers of Gospel special Sunday, February 22 at 8 p.m. EST as part of the channel’s celebration of Black History Month. Co-hosted by Grammy Award-winning and platinum-selling star Kirk Franklin and BMI’s Catherine Brewton, the event honoring pacesetters Twinkie Clark, Donald Lawrence, and CeCe…
Alison Krauss and Lil Wayne Win Big at 2009 Grammys
Ethereal BMI songwriter Alison Krauss enjoyed frequent trips to the Grammy stage during the Recording Academy’s 51st annual ceremony Sunday, February 8 in Los Angeles. In all, Krauss accepted five trophies for Raising Sand, her collaboration with rock legend Robert Plant. The pair, along with super producer and fellow BMI songwriter T-Bone Burnett, walked away with many of the night’s top honors, including album…
Twinkie Clark, Donald Lawrence and CeCe Winans Honored at 2009 BMI Trailblazers of Gospel Luncheon
BMI recognized the substantial contributions of gospel pacesetters Twinkie Clark, Donald Lawrence, and CeCe Winans at the 10th Annual Trailblazers of Gospel Music Awards Luncheon Friday, January 16 in Nashville. Hosted by BMI Vice President, Writer/Publisher Relations Catherine Brewton, the invitation-only celebration attracted gospel music's premier songwriters, recording artists and music industry executives, as well as the genre's legends. …
BMI Announces 2009 Trailblazers Nominees
Ceremony Jan. 16 Will Salute BMI Songwriters Twinkie Clark, Donald Lawrence, and CeCe Winans BMI will honor gospel greats Twinkie Clark, Donald Lawrence and CeCe Winans at its 10th Annual Trailblazers of Gospel Music Awards Luncheon on Friday, Jan. 16, 2009. The invitation-only ceremony will take place in Nashville and will host gospel music's premier songwriters, recording artists and music industry…
Lil Wayne Leads Grammy Field with Eight Nominations

Nominations for the 51st Annual Grammy Awards were announced by The Recording Academy on December 3, with superstar BMI songwriter/artist Lil Wayne topping the field with eight mentions. Other top BMI nominees included Kanye West, who earned six nods, while Alison Krauss and Radiohead received five each. The Eagles, Lupe Fiasco, and…
Gospel Music Channel Airs 2008 BMI Trailblazers Awards Special
Vanessa Bell Armstrong, Mighty Clouds of Joy & Pastor Marvin Winans Honored The Gospel Music Channel aired an exclusive, one-hour special Sunday, September 14 highlighting the annual BMI Trailblazers of Gospel Music Awards gala, held earlier this year in Nashville. The program features dynamic musical tributes to BMI gospel greats Vanessa Bell Armstrong, Mighty Clouds of Joy and Pastor Marvin Winans.…
BMI Christian Music Awards Honor the Genre’s Most Played Songs
Ed Cash Receives Song and Songwriter of the Year Honors BMI saluted the writers and publishers of the past year’s most performed songs on Christian radio and television during the annual Christian Music Awards tonight at the company’s Music Row offices in Nashville. BMI named versatile hit-maker Ed Cash the 2008 Christian Songwriter of the Year, while his composition “Made to Worship” garnered Song of the Year…
BMI Stars Shine at BET Awards
Black Entertainment Television held its annual BET Awards on June 26 at the Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles, honoring the year's best hip-hop and r&b artists, as well as some of the biggest names in entertainment and sports. Gnarls Barkley Ne-Yo Kirk Franklin BMI artists shined at this year’s awards, with winners including Gnarls Barkley, Best Group;
Aaron Shust Takes Three Top Dove Honors
It was a night of celebration and fellowship for numerous BMI affiliates at the 38th annual GMA Dove Awards, held Wednesday, April 25 at the Grand Ole Opry house in Nashville. New singer/songwriter Aaron Shust made his arrival in Christian music official, taking home prestigious Song, Songwriter and New Artist of the Year honors. Shust, who co-wrote the award-winning "My Savior My God," made waves with his…
BMI Christian Music Awards Honor the Genre’s Most Played Songs
Casting Crowns’ Mark Hall Takes Home Two of the Night’s Top Honors BMI saluted the writers and publishers of the past year’s most performed songs on Christian radio and television during the BMI Christian Music Awards on April 21 at the company’s Music Row offices in Nashville. BMI named Casting Crowns’ “Voice of Truth” Song of the Year, while the group’s frontman Mark Hall earned the prestigious…
BMI Urban Stars Ride to the Top of Soul Train Nominations
The best of BMI's urban music stars topped the list of nominees for the 21st Annual Soul Train Music Awards, which honor the biggest acts of soul, r&b and hip-hop. The awards, determined by a panel of radio programmers, artists and retailers, will be handed out March 10 in Pasadena, Calif., at a ceremony co-hosted by singers LeToya and Omarion. Chris Brown John Legend…
Yolanda Adams, Fred Hammond Honored as BMI Gospel Trailblazers
BMI’s 8th Annual Trailblazers of Gospel Music luncheon kicked off the 2007 Stellar Award weekend activities Jan. 12 in Nashville. The event, hosted by BMI’s Catherine Brewton, lauded trendsetters Yolanda Adams and Fred Hammond for their epic contributions to the gospel genre, and featured impassioned tribute performances in honor of the two trailblazers by Coko, Karen Clark-Sheard, Melonie Daniels, Sheri Jones-Moffett, Marvin Sapp,
Myron Butler

After years of lending his songwriting and production skills to projects by other artists, Myron Butler stepped into the spotlight with the successful 2005 release of Myron Butler & Levi’s Set Me Free. One of the gospel community’s most versatile talents, Butler had his first song recorded at age 17 by Dallas’ DFW Mass Choir, and he became friends with choir director Kirk Franklin. DFW Mass Choir evolved into the…
Black Eyed Peas Lead AMA Winners
Hip-hop quartet the Black Eyed Peas led the list of BMI winners at the American Music Awards held last night (11/21) at the Shrine Auditorium in L.A. The band accepted a total of three statuettes, two for Favorite Group in both the rap/hip-hop and soul/rhythm and blues categories, as well as the Favorite Rap/Hip-Hop Album award for their multi-platinum release Monkey Business.
BMI and CCA Finalize WorshipCast License Agreement
BMI and the Church Copyright Administration (CCA), a leader in Christian copyright clearances for six years, have announced a licensing agreement for CCA's Internet license website, WorshipCast License. The licensing agreement allows the CCA to license its members to use BMI's repertoire on its website. The CCA introduced their WorshipCast License on Oct. 1 and it is designed to provide churches a legal right to…
For Donald Lawrence, ‘Finale’ Is Just the Beginning

As a songwriter, producer, artist and record executive, Donald Lawrence is one of the gospel music community’s most accomplished talents. Thus far in 2006, he was the most awarded artist at the Stellar Awards, claiming six trophies, and he set chart records with the release of Donald Lawrence Presents Tri-City Singers Finale. Though the release of Finale closes a successful chapter in Lawrence’s career, he’s not content to rest…
Steven Curtis Chapman Takes Home 50th Dove Award
Music history enthusiasts take note: On Wednesday, April 5, Christian music staple Steven Curtis Chapman had a night for the books as he was honored with his 50th Dove Award at the 37th Annual Gospel Music Awards in Nashville-a feat unparalleled by any other artist at any other major awards show.
GMA Nominations Praise BMI Gospel Music
BMI gospel artists and songwriters once again led the way in multiple mentions when nominations for the 37th Annual GMA Music Awards were announced last month. Presented by the Gospel Music Association during Gospel Music Week, the ceremony -- also known as the Dove Awards -- will be held April 5 at the Grand Ole Opry House in Nashville.
It’s Eight Grammy Nods for Mariah, Kanye and Legend
BMI superstars Mariah Carey, Kanye West and John Legend led the list of nominees for the 48th Annual Grammy Awards with eight nods each when contenders were announced at a star-studded press conference held December 8 at Gotham Hall in New York City. Their three-way tie pushed the total number of BMI-nominated songwriters and artists to an astounding 70% in the general fields.
