NASHVILLE, TN--(Marketwired - November 02, 2016) - Broadcast Music, Inc.®, (BMI®), the global leader in music rights management, presented its 2016 BMI Country Awards this evening, honoring the prolific songwriting career of BMI President's Award winner Kenny Chesney, as well as the Country Songwriter, Song and Publisher of the Year. The 64th annual event, which is the genre's oldest awards ceremony, also celebrated the songwriters and publishers of the most-performed country songs of the past year. BMI President and CEO Mike O'Neill hosted the ceremony at the Company's office in Nashville, along with Jody Williams, BMI Vice President, Writer/Publisher Relations, Nashville.
Chesney, who was named this year's BMI President's Award winner, joined an elite list of songwriters across all genres including P!nk, Taylor Swift, Adam Levine, Willie Nelson, Brooks & Dunn and Gloria & Emilio Estefan. He was honored with a tribute concert from fellow songwriters and musicians, Keith Urban, Eric Church and Dean Dillion. The BMI President's Award is presented to songwriters who have distinctly and profoundly influenced the entertainment industry. Chesney's most performed single, "I Go Back," was given a heartfelt performance by Urban, while Church treated the audience to the classic "Anything But Mine." "The Tin Man," Chesney's first single and one he wrote alone, was performed by Dillon.
Ross Copperman was named Songwriter of the Year, with writing credits on seven of the most-performed songs of the past year, including Florida Georgia Line's "Confession," Billy Currington's "Don't It," Brett Eldredge's "Drunk on Your Love" and "Lose My Mind," Keith Urban's "John Cougar, John Deere, John 3:16," A Thousand Horses' "Smoke" and Luke Bryan's "Strip It Down."
"Die a Happy Man," written by performer Thomas Rhett with BMI songwriter Sean Douglas and Joe London, won the coveted Song of the Year award. Published by Brodsky Spensive Publishing, Cricket On The Line, Eastman Pond Publishing, EMI-Blackwood Music, Inc., Music of BIG DEAL, Nice Life and Warner-Tamerlane Publishing Corp., the track was one of the most-performed country songs of the year.
Sony/ATV Music Publishing Nashville continued their incredible winning streak of more than a decade, again taking home the Publisher of the Year accolade. Responsible for 22 of the 50 most-performed songs of the year, Sony/ATV published megahits such as Cam's "Burning House," Cole Swindell's "Let Me See Ya Girl," Chesney's "Wild Child," and many more. During the ceremony, BMI also saluted the songwriters and publishers of the 50 most-performed country songs of the previous year. In addition, Congressman Doug Collins (R-GA-9) was presented with the BMI Champion Award for his tireless efforts to modernize the laws that protect songwriters and ensure that music creators are fairly compensated for their work.
For a complete list of 2016 BMI Country Awards winners, please visit www.bmi.com/country.
Photo and video footage can be accessed via the official EPK link early Wednesday morning:
http://www.epklink.com/bmicountryawards2016
Media can also access high-resolution photos and event information at http://www.bmi.com/press/entry/575869
(username: bmimedia; password: songwriter)
About BMI
Celebrating over 76 years of service to songwriters, composers, music publishers and businesses, Broadcast Music, Inc.® (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 nearly 12 million musical works created and owned by more than 750,000 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 www.bmi.com, follow us on Twitter @BMI or stay connected through Broadcast Music, Inc.'s Facebook page.
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