BMI Honors Christian Music’s Best at 2017 BMI Christian Awards in Nashville

Bernie Herms named Songwriter of the Year; ‘Good Good Father’ named Song of the Year; Capitol CMG Publishing earns Publisher of the Year

Posted in News on June 20, 2017
BMI’s Mike O’Neill and Leslie Roberts, BMI Christian Awards Songwriter of the Year Bernie Herms and BMI’s Phil Graham and Jody Williams.
BMI’s Mike O’Neill and Leslie Roberts, BMI Christian Awards Songwriter of the Year Bernie Herms and BMI’s Phil Graham and Jody Williams. Photo: Steve Lowry

BMI proudly honored the top 25 songs played on Christian radio during the past year at the 2017 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.

“Each year, when we celebrate the incredible music of BMI’s Christian songwriters and their publishers, I think it can’t possibly get any better than this. And every year it does. I’m so impressed and moved by the uplifting songs we honored tonight,” noted Leslie Roberts, Executive Director, Writer/Publisher Relations, Nashville, “We’re privileged to have such a talented group as part of the BMI family.”

The invitation-only event featured special performances, including “Thy Will” by Emily Weisband and Bernie Herms, “Big Enough” by Joseph Habedank, “Fight For You” by Grayson & Reed and “I Am Not Alone” by Kari Jobe.

The Song of the Year title went to “Good Good Father,” written by Tony Brown and published by Capitol CMG Paragon and Common Hymnal Digital. The song was recorded by Chris Tomlin and nominated for a Billboard Music Award for Top Christian Song in 2016.

The Songwriter of the Year award went to Bernie Herms, who wrote “Christ In Me,” “Just Be Held,” “Tell Your Heart to Beat Again” and “Thy Will.”

Capitol CMG Publishing (Capitol CMG Paragon, Meaux Mercy Publishing, 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 “Battle Cry,” “Cast My Cares,” “Christ In Me,” “Even So Come,” “Feel It,” “Forever,” “Good Good Father,” “Great Are You Lord,” “I Am Not Alone,” “Just Be Held,” “Move (Keep Walkin’),” “Tell Your Heart To Beat Again,” “There is Power” and “Thy Will.”

Mike O’Neill, President and CEO, Jody Williams, Vice President, Writer Publisher Relations, Nashville and Leslie Roberts, Executive Director, Writer/Publisher Relations, served as the evening’s hosts.

Below is a complete list of the 2017 BMI Christian Award winners.

SONG OF THE YEAR

Good Good Father
Tony Brown
Capitol CMG Paragon
Common Hymnal Digital

SONGWRITER OF THE YEAR

Bernie Herms
Christ In Me
Just Be Held
Tell Your Heart to Beat Again
Thy Will

PUBLISHER OF THE YEAR

Capitol CMG Publishing
(Capitol CMG Paragon, Meaux Mercy Publishing, Songs of Universal, Inc., Sparrow Song, Universal Music-Brentwood Songs, Worship Together Music)

Battle Cry
Cast My Cares
Christ In Me
Even So Come
Feel It
Forever
Good Good Father
Great Are You Lord
I Am Not Alone
Just Be Held
Move (Keep Walkin’)
Tell Your Heart to Beat Again
There Is Power
Thy Will

Award Winning Songs

Air I Breathe
Mat Kearney
Façade Aside Music
Sony/ATV Songs LLC

Battle Cry
Lee Black
Joel Lindsey
Sue Smith
Hefton Hill Music
Universal Music-Brentwood Benson Songs

Cast My Cares
Blake NeeSmith
Songs of Gotee
Universal Music-Brentwood Benson Songs

Christ In Me
Bernie Herms
G650 Music
Pure Note Music
Songs of Universal, Inc.

Even So Come
Chris Tomlin
Capitol CMG Paragon
S.D.G. Publishing
sixsteps Songs
Worship Together Music

Everything Comes Alive
Darren Mulligan
Dayspring Music

Feel It
Toby McKeehan
Achtober Songs
Capitol CMG Paragon

First
Mia Fieldes (APRA)
Be Essential Songs
Upside Down Under

Forever
Christa Joy Black
Kari Jobe
Bethel Worship Publishing
Capitol CMG Paragon
Kari Jobe Carnes Music
Worship Together Music

Good Good Father
Tony Brown
Capitol CMG Paragon
Common Hymnal Digital

Great Are You Lord
Leslie Jordan
Capitol CMG Paragon
Integrity’s Praise! Music

I Am Blessed
Karen Peck
Kenna West
Christian Taylor Music
Clearbox Benefit
Karen Peck Music

I Am Not Alone
Austin Davis
Benjamin Davis
Mia Fieldes (APRA)
Kari Jobe
Grant Pittman
Dustin Sauder
Be Essential Songs
Benjamin Davis Publishing
Capitol CMG Paragon
Kari Jobe Carnes Music
Upside Down Under
Watershed Music Publishing
Worship Together Music

If We’re Honest
Molly Reed
Dayspring Music
Goes Something Like This Music
Warner-Tamerlane Publishing Corp.

It’s Not Over Yet
Luke Smallbone
Dayspring Music
Kilns Music
Warner-Tamerlane Publishing Corp.

Just Be Held
Mark Hall
Bernie Herms
Be Essential Songs
G650 Music
My Refuge Music
Pure Note Music
Songs of Universal, Inc.
Sparrow Song

Move (Keep Walkin’)
Toby McKeehan
Chris Stevens
Achtober Songs
Capitol CMG Paragon
Meaux Mercy Publishing
Moody Producer Music

Prodigal
Dave Frey
Ben McDonald
Dayspring Music
Pencil Prophet Publishing
Run Run Milo

Put Out The Fire
Rodney Griffin
Songs of Greater Vision

Tell Your Heart to Beat Again
Bernie Herms
G650 Music
Pure Note Music
Songs of Universal, Inc.

The Beauty of the Blood
Joseph Habedank
Christian Taylor Music
Clearbox Benefit
Artist: Joseph Habedank

There Is Power
Lincoln Brewster
Mia Fieldes (APRA)
Be Essential Songs
Capitol CMG Paragon
Integrity’s Praise! Music
Upside Down Under
Worldwide Echoes

Thy Will
Bernie Herms
G650 Music
Pure Note Music
Songs of Universal, Inc.

Worry Ends Where Faith Begins
Sandy Blythe
Blythe Music Group
Jeff Whisnant Music

You Are Loved
Josh Zegan
Dayspring Music
Music By Josh Zegan

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