October 14, 2025
Country Songwriter of the Year, Country Song of the Year and Country Publisher of the Year to be Revealed During Celebration of the Year’s 50 Most-Performed Country Songs
NASHVILLE, TN - Oct. 14, 2025 - BMI will celebrate prolific hitmaker Clint Black by naming him a BMI Icon during the 73rd annual BMI Country Awards. The multi-faceted entertainer will be recognized for his significant songwriting and contributions to Country music. The invitation-only event will be held at BMI’s Nashville office on Nov. 18th and will be hosted by BMI’s President and CEO, Mike O’Neill, Executive Vice President, Chief Revenue & Creative Officer, Mike Steinberg and BMI’s Nashville VP of Creative, Clay Bradley.
Throughout the evening, BMI will also reveal the Country Songwriter of the Year, Country Song of the Year and Country Publisher of the Year, while celebrating the top songwriters and music publishers behind this past year’s 50 most-performed songs in Country music.
“Clint Black’s career is a testament to the power of songwriting, and he is a true trailblazer whose artistry continues to leave an indelible mark on Country music,” Bradley said. “He set a new standard for storytelling in song that defined an era. His ability to craft songs that resonate across decades has made him a true BMI Icon.”
Since Black’s affiliation with BMI in 1993, he has achieved 22 No. One singles, all of which he had a hand in writing. Known for his smooth voice, sharp songwriting and traditional meets modern sound, the GRAMMY-winning singer has sold more than 20 million albums while consistently touring for three decades. Serving as a leading voice of his generation, Black influentially paved the way for the ‘90s country phenomenon. In 1989 his debut album, Killin’ Time, produced five consecutive No. One singles on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart, cementing him as a breakout sensation. Throughout his career, Black has earned numerous awards from the Country Music Association, Academy of Country Music, GRAMMY Awards and the American Music Awards. Beyond music, Black has also acted in film and television, further showcasing his versatility as an entertainer.
The BMI Icon Award is given to exceptional songwriters in recognition of their unique and indelible influence on music makers over many generations. In receiving this award, Black joins an impressive list of Country legends including Bill Anderson, Matraca Berg, Toby Keith, Loretta Lynn, Willie Nelson, Merle Haggard, Dolly Parton, Kris Kristofferson, Dean Dillon, Vince Gill and Hank Williams, Jr., as well as multi-genre creative/songwriting royalty Stevie Nicks, Little Richard, Carole King, Patti LaBelle, Brian Wilson, James Brown, Janet Jackson, Bo Diddley, Holland-Dozier-Holland, Peter Gabriel, Al Green, Van Morrison, Sting, Bryan Ferry, Carlos Santana, Los Lobos, and more.
ABOUT BMI:
Celebrating over 80 years of service to songwriters, composers, music publishers and businesses, BMI® is a global leader in music rights management, serving as an advocate for the value of music. BMI represents the public performance rights in over 22.4 million musical works created and owned by more than 1.4 million songwriters, composers, and music publishers. The Company negotiates music license agreements and distributes the fees it generates as royalties to its affiliated writers and publishers when their songs are performed in public. In 1939, BMI created a groundbreaking open-door policy becoming the only performing rights organization to welcome and represent the creators of blues, jazz, country, and American roots music. Today, the musical compositions in BMI’s repertoire, from chart toppers to perennial favorites, span all genres of music and are consistently among the most-performed hits of the year. For additional information and the latest BMI news, visit bmi.com, follow us on X and Instagram @BMI or stay connected through BMI’s Facebook page. Sign up for BMI’s The Weekly™ and receive our e-newsletter every week to stay up to date on all things music.
