BMI Names Lee Thomas Miller as 2026 Songwriter Ambassador in Residence for Nashville Creative Office
BMI has named multi-award-winning songwriter Lee Thomas Miller as its 2026 BMI Songwriter Ambassador in Residence for the Nashville Creative office. The new initiative is designed to deepen engagement with songwriters as they navigate both the art and the business of music. The role underscores BMI’s ongoing commitment to championing songwriters at every stage of their careers.
Throughout the year, Miller will host his own BMI Acoustic Lounge, lead BMI’s signature round at the Tin Pan South Songwriters Festival and perform at BMI’s Key West Songwriters Festival and Annapolis Songwriters Festival. He will serve as a key speaker during exclusive BMI events such as BMI’s Next Big Wave Mixer as well as BMI’s Catalog Cast, where he will converse with Belmont University, MTSU and TSU students during the spring course. Featuring real-world industry insight for emerging and established writers alike, financial panels will also be offered during the year.
“Few people understand the songwriter journey like Lee Thomas Miller, who has navigated this changing industry for three decades,” said BMI Vice President, Creative, Nashville Clay Bradley. “His ability to lead by example and his rooted experience make him the ideal ambassador to help remind songwriters of their worth.”
“I signed with BMI in the late ’80s, and they were the first place I went to play terrible songs and demos on cheap cassette tapes. BMI has been one of the few constants through decades of change,” said Miller. “Not only are they a vital part of my own career, but I also have the honor of fighting alongside them for reform and protection in our copyright laws. It is humbling that BMI would ask me to serve in this capacity. It is the kind of program that makes our music community a family.”
In 2015, Miller received the inaugural BMI Champion Award for his advocacy on behalf of music creators. As the President of NSAI, Miller is currently on their Legislative committee lobbying for the rights of the American songwriter. This ultimately led to the federal Music Modernization Act that has changed the criteria for which songwriters are paid in the digital era.
Miller has earned 13 BMI Awards, both the CMA and an ACM “Song of the Year” award for Jamey Johnson’s “In Color,” the CMA “Single of the Year” award for Trace Adkins’ “You’re Gonna Miss This” and three GRAMMY nominations. With seven No. One hits and 18 Top 20 singles, his songs have over 25 million radio spins with over 100 million streams. Recently, Miller co-wrote the Scotty McCreery hit “It Matters To Her,” Hailey Whitters’ single “I’m In Love,” Bryan Martin’s “My Old Man,” Brandon Heath’s “The Ache” and more. He also has upcoming releases by artists including Parker McCollum, Jason Aldean, Brothers Osborne, Kelsey Hart, Kashus Culpepper, and more. Lee moved to Nashville in 1991, signed his first publishing deal in 1996 and has been on the radio virtually ever since.
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