BMI saluted the top country music songwriters, artists and publishers at its 2005 Country Awards, staged October 18 at the performing rights organization's Music Row offices. The black-tie ceremony was hosted by Del Bryant, BMI President and CEO, and Paul Corbin, Vice President of Writer/Publisher Relations, Nashville, who presented Certificates of Achievement to the writers and publishers of the 50 most performed country songs in the BMI repertoire.

Tim McGraw's smash "Live Like You Were Dying," written by Tim Nichols, was named Song of the Year; three-time Grammy winner Harley Allen, Big & Rich's Big Kenny and Lonestar frontman Richie McDonald shared the Songwriter of the Year crown; and Sony/ATV Music Publishing Nashville was named Publisher of the Year. A highlight of the gala was a tribute to legendary artist Charlie Daniels, who was honored as a BMI Icon for his "enduring influence on generations of music makers."

Charlie Daniels	Tim Nichols

"Live Like You Were Dying" earned the 37th Robert J. Burton Award as Most Performed Country Song of the Year for writer Tim Nichols and publishers Nichols Worth Music and Warner-Tamerlane Publishing Corp. The title track from McGraw's triple-platinum CD, the inspirational hit spent a record-breaking 10 weeks at #1 and won every award for which it was nominated since its release in 2004, including multiple Grammy, CMA, ACM, Billboard, NSAI and CMT awards.

Harley Allen	Big Kenny	Richie McDonald

BMI writers Harley Allen, Big Kenny and Richie McDonald tied to claim the Country Songwriter of the Year trophy with three tunes each on the most performed list. Songs earning them the prestigious title were Allen's "Awful, Beautiful Life," "If Nobody Believed In You" and "My Last Name"; Big Kenny's "Holy Water," "Here for the Party" and "Save a Horse (Ride a Cowboy)"; and McDonald's "Let Them Be Little," "Mr. Mom" and "Let's Be Us Again." McDonald also penned BMI's 2002 Country Song of the Year, "I'm Already There."

With 15 songs on this year's list, Sony/ATV Music Publishing Nashville (through its companies Sony/ATV Acuff Rose and Sony/ATV Tree) picked up its fourth consecutive Publisher of the Year Crystal by once again accumulating the highest percentage of copyright ownership in award songs.

The evening culminated in the Icon tribute to Charlie Daniels, which featured a musical salute by country artists Travis Tritt and Montgomery Gentry. With a career that spans nearly four decades, Daniels has connected with millions of fans around the world with his mix of rock, country, bluegrass, blues and gospel.

Songs like "Uneasy Rider," "In America," "Long Haired Country Boy," "The South's Gonna Do It Again," "Wichita Jail," and the Southern rock classic "The Devil Went Down to Georgia," are a part of the American musical landscape. His legendary Charlie Daniels Band, twice named the ACM's Touring Band of the Year, logged more than a million miles on the road, traveling in a convoy of buses and gleaming black tractor-trailer rigs that stopped traffic from coast to coast.

Among Daniels' numerous accolades are multiple BMI Pop and Country Awards, a Grammy, three CMA's, a Dove Award, the ACM Pioneer Award, and several Gold and Platinum albums totaling more than 18 million in sales. His signature song, "The Devil Went Down to Georgia," simultaneously topped the country and pop charts and has amassed more than three million broadcast performances since its release in 1979. In addition to his own successful career, Daniels contributed to recording sessions for a diverse array of artists including Bob Dylan, Al Kooper, Flatt & Scruggs, Ringo Starr and Marty Robbins.

The 2005 BMI Country Awards also honored songwriters Bob DiPiero, Ed Hill, Tommy Lee James, Toby Keith, Vicky McGehee, Shania Twain, Keith Urban and Song of the Year writer Tim Nichols, who had two songs each on the list of 50.

Multiple publisher awards went to Careers-BMG Music Publishing, Inc./Zomba Songs Inc. (9); Warner-Tamerlane Publishing Corp. (6); Universal Music Publishing (Songs of Universal, Inc. and Universal-Songs of PolyGram International, Inc.) (5); Coburn Music, Inc. (4); Big Love Music, EMI-Blackwood Music, Inc., Harley Allen Music and Mike Curb Music (3); and Big Yellow Dog Music, Cake Taker Music, Dimensional Songs of the Knoll, Guitar Monkey Music, Loon Echo, Inc., Love Monkey Music, Music Hill Music/Sagrabeaux Songs, Nichols Worth Music, Still Working For The Man Music, Inc., Tokeco Tunes and Tommy Lee James Songs (2 each).

BMI's David Preston, Adam Dorsey, Mark Narmore, Craig Morgan, Broken Bow Records' Benny Brown, Phil O'Donnell

Others honored with #1 cups and plaques at the party were co-producer Phil O'Donnell, and publishers Cake Taker Music, March Family Music and Sony/ATV Tree. Narmore's other writing credits include the BMI Award-winning "Like There Ain't No Yesterday" (Blackhawk) and "Moon Over Georgia" (Shenandoah), which also earned BMI Million-Air certificates for marking one million broadcast performances.

Philip White, Randy Boudreaux, Kim Williams

Karen & Jody Williams, Ed Williams, Kix Brooks

Broken Bow Records' Benny Brown, Craig Morgan, Phil O'Donnell, Mark Narmore, Jody Williams, BMI's David Preston, Sony/ATV Tree's Walter Campbell, March Family Music's Kevin Pearce

Adam Dorsey, Mark Narmore, Sony/ATV Tree's Walter Campbell, Jody Williams

Mark Narmore, BMI's David Preston, Craig Morgan

Karen & Craig Morgan

Photos by Ed Rode

Greeting singer/songwriter Vonyse (front left) are her brother Ryan Woods, (back row) BMI's Beka Callaway, manager Jesse Ervin, and BMI's Samantha Cox and David Bills.

]]> 2005-04-24T18:00:00-05:00 http://www.bmi.com/news/entry/234155 Artists, Adams, Ryan, Alabama, Blind Boys of Alabama, The, Broussard, Marc, Cake, Cash, Rosanne, Crow, Sheryl, Crowley, Kacy, Deadman, Green, Pat, Greencards, The, Honorary Title, The, Mali, Papa, Mason, Willy, Montgomery, Monte, Murphy, Trish, Phish, Raines, Davis, Smith, Mindy, Stollenwerck, Samantha, Van Zandt, J.T., White, Jason, Williams, Holly, Musical Styles, Country, Rock BMI will host a singer/songwriter stage at the 3rd Annual Austin City Limits Music Festival, to be held September 17-19 in Austin's Zilker Park (2100 Barton Springs Road). Writers featured on this year's expanded stage will include J.T. Van Zandt, Samantha Stollenwerck, Marc Broussard, Jason White, Kacy Crowley, the Honorary Title, Davis Raines, Bobby Bare, Jr., Monte Montgomery, Willie Mason, Trish Murphy, Papa Mali, Deadman, Holly Williams, and the Greencards.

Other BMI artists performing throughout the three-day music fest include Sheryl Crow, the Pixies, American Analog Set, Phish's Trey Anastasio, Endochine, Pat Green, Reckless Kelly, Solomon Burke, Cake, Ryan Adams, the Blind Boys of Alabama, Mindy Smith, Rosanne Cash and My Morning Jacket.

The ACL Festival focuses on alternative country and roots music and will present more than 130 bands on eight stages over three days. The Festival takes its name from the award-winning PBS series that has been showcasing live music for almost 30 years. Produced by Capital Sports & Entertainment, this year's stage sponsors also include SBC, HEB, Heineken, Cingular Wireless, Austin Ventures LP, Capital Metropolitan Transportation Authority and Bank of America.

BMI Singer/Songwriter Stage Schedule:

Friday, September 17
11:30-12:00 Kacy Crowley
1:10-1:50 Willy Mason
3:10-3:50 Marc Broussard
5:10-5:50 The Honorary Title
7:10-7:50 J.T. Van Zandt

J.T. Van Zandt	Willy Mason	Marc Broussard

Kacy Crowley	The Honorary Title

Saturday, September 18
11:30-12:00 The Greencards
1:10-1:50 Deadman
3:10-3:50 Trish Murphy
5:10-5:50 Holly Williams
7:10-7:50 Monte Montgomery

Jason White	Deadman

Monte Montgomery	Trish Murphy	Holly Williams

Sunday, September 19
11:20-11:50 Davis Raines
12:55-1:35 Samantha Stollenwerck
2:40-3:20 Papa Mali
4:40-5:20 Bobby Bare, Jr.
6:40-7:20 Jason White

Davis Raines	Samantha Stollenwerck	Papa Mali

Bobby Bare, Jr.	The Greencards

Artists and performers honor Sheldon Harnick at his 80th birthday gala

Performers who participated in the tribute included party host Alan Alda, Glenn Close, Marlo Thomas, Barbara Cook, Alfred Molina, Charlotte Rae and others.

Harnick, who has served for the nearly 30 years as co-chair of the Encompass Advisory Board, is the winner of the Pulitzer Prize, two Tony Awards, two Grammy Awards, the Songwriters Hall of Fame Johnny Mercer Award, the American Academy and Institute of Arts and Letters Marc Blizstein Memorial Award, as well as three gold records and a platinum record. He is a member of the Dramatists Guild and the Songwriters Guild of America.

Wishing Harnick (center) a happy 80th birthday are BMI's Del Bryant and Jean Banks.

Born and raised in Chicago, Harnick began studying the violin while in grammar school, going on to earn a Bachelor of Music degree from Northwestern University School of Music in 1949. Though his focus had been the violin, he eventually decided to try his luck as a theatrical lyricist in New York City.

His first song in a Broadway show, "The Boston Beguine" for NEW FACES OF 1952, introduced theatergoers to the wry, subtle humor and deft wordplay indicative of a Harnick lyric. Over the next several years he contributed lyrics or whole songs to such vintage revues as JOHN MURRAY ANDERSON'S ALMANAC, THE SHOESTRING REVUE and THE LITTLEST REVUE. In 1956, Harnick joined up with fellow BMI composer Jerry Bock and the pair began writing their own musicals, resulting in such award winning works as THE BODY BEAUTIFUL (1958), FIORELLO! (1959), SHE LOVES ME (1963), and the 1964 musical masterpiece, FIDDLER ON THE ROOF.

Other collaborations over the years include A CHRISTMAS CAROL (1981), FREE TO BE...YOU AND ME (1974), REX (1976), SUTTER'S GOLD (1980) and DRAGONS (1984). He has provided English-language librettos for classical operas and oratorios like Lehar's THE MERRY WIDOW (1977) and Georges Bizet's CARMEN (1981), and provided translations for such musicals as LA TRAGEDIE DE CARMEN (1984), GHETTO (1986) and CYRANO (1993). His original opera librettos include CAPTAIN JINKS OF THE HORSE MARINES (1975), LOVE IN TWO COUNTRIES (1991), and THE PHANTOM TOLLBOOTH (1995).

Still, that doesn't stop this punk diva from refusing to go gently, alternatively swaggering and caterwauling, evincing false bravado and real vulnerability, in a powerful blast of estrogen-laced rock sturm und angst that is her anti-valentine to the music biz from the self-proclaimed girl with the most cake.

It's hard to ignore the tabloid headlines, especially when Courtney cops to bad behavior in chemically fueled songs like "All the Drugs" and "I'll Do Anything" ("Give me one match so I can set myself on fire"). But she also shows a more human side.

Collaborating with Linda Perry and Bernie Taupin, Love's songwriting combines metallic crunch with chunky pop melodies. There are several mid-tempo power ballads, including the tender "Hold on to Me" the epic anti-Hollywood rant "Sunset Strip" and the closing "Never Gonna Be the Same," Courtney's widescreen version of "All the Young Hey Judes," which explains the liner-note dedication to Paul McCartney.

"Rock star/Pop star/Everybody dies/And all tomorrow's parties/They have happened tonight/And I know that I won't see tomorrow," she wails in "Sunset Strip," over a tuneful, sing-along chorus.

Courtney Love has paid the price, selling her soul for rock & roll, while referencing that Faustian bargain in "Zepplin Song": "Oh, go tell it to Jimmy Page/At the Crossroads with the deal he made. . . . " She's not sure whether the pact was worth it or not, either, admitting, "With all of my money/It doesn't feel as good/As the drugs."

Love for surrounds herself with some impressive talent on this new album. The cast includes MC5 guitarist Wayne Kramer and the Pixies/Breeders' Kim Deal, along with Virgin Records Chairman/CEO Matt Serletic, as well as Josh Abraham and James Barber, as producers.

"But there's no truth at the heart of any of it," she concludes in "Hold on to Me," "Just the brilliance and the passion/And the bitterness remain."

Courtney Love has been there and back…and lived to tell about it with brilliance, passion and bitterness. And if that's not rock & roll enough for you, tough.

Click here for a complete schedule of BMI events at SXSW.

The "Music For Film" panel will be moderated by BMI Vice President of Film/TV Relations, Doreen Ringer Ross. Panelists include composer Anthony Marinelli ("Mayor of The Sunset Strip," "The Man From Elysian Fields"); director George Hickenlooper ("Mayor of The Sunset Strip," "The Man From Elysian Fields"); Warner Brothers Pictures Vice President of Business Affairs, Music, Dan Butler; film producer Rana Joy Glickman; music supervisor Frankie Pine; Commotion Records/music supervisor Tracy McKnight; and Windswept Music Publishing's John Anderson.

On Tuesday, March 16, BMI will host an invitation-only industry dinner featuring live performances by Universal South recording artist Holly Williams and Austin-based trio The Greencards. Tuesday also marks the start of the BMI/KEYE stage at Highland Lakes Bar at the Austin-Bergstrom International Airport. Singer/songwriters from The Greencards to the South Austin Jug Band to honky tonk legend Dale Watson will perform for arriving passengers on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday from 2 pm to 6pm.

The "Rojo, Caliente y Verde: Generacion Alternativa" showcase, presented by BMI, Garcia Communications, LATV and The Agency Group, will be held on Wednesday, March 17 at Exodus (302-304 E. 6th Street). The show will feature a diverse array of Latin music including alternative rock band Los Abandoned (Los Angeles, CA), alternative rock group Vaquero (Monterrey, Mexico), hip-hop artists Cartel de Santa (Monterrey, Mexico), pop/rock artist Zo� (MX), alternative rock/electronica duo Plastilina Mosh (Monterrey, Mexico) and rock/hip-hop group Ozomatli (Los Angeles, CA).

That same night, BMI Vice President of Writer/Publisher Relations, Nashville, Paul Corbin and BMI Director, Writer/Publisher Relations, Nashville, Mark Mason, will once again present the Song and Songwriter of the Year awards at the Austin Music Awards at the Austin Music Hall.

Thursday, March 18 will feature the keynote address by noted BMI songwriter/artist Little Richard, as well as the BMI-sponsored songwriter's panel. The "Songwriters Way With Words" panel will be moderated by BMI's Corbin and will feature songwriters Robyn Hitchcock, Charlotte Martin and Ron Sexsmith from 2:35pm to 4pm at the Convention Center.

Thursday night's "BMI Presents..." showcase at the Austin Music Hall once again boasts a stellar lineup, with blues legends the Holmes Brothers, Austin's Jack Ingram, Cake, Little Richard and his ten-piece band, Charlie Robison, and Blues Traveler.

On Friday, March 19, BMI will host another "BMI Presents..." showcase at the Hard Rock Caf� (222 East 6th Street), kicking off with a pre-showcase party at 7pm featuring a special performance by urban/rock Capitol recording artist Van Hunt. Other performers include Luna Halo (Nashville, TN), Atlantic recording artist Kill Hannah (Chicago, IL), Jump, American Minor, V2 recording artist Charlie Mars and the UK's Razorlight.

BMI will also have a booth at the SXSW Music Festival trade show. Click here for complete coverage of BMI events at SXSW.]]> 2004-02-19T17:00:00-05:00 http://www.bmi.com/news/entry/233961 Artists, Cake, Little Richard, Los Abandoned, Ozomatli, Awards, Musical Styles, Blues, Latin, Musicworld, Feature BMI ICON Little Richard will headline the BMI Presents...Showcase at 2004 South By Southwest Music and Media Conference and Festival. The show will be staged at Austin Music Hall and also includes performances by The Holmes Bros., Jack Ingram, Charlie Robison, Cake and Blues Traveler.  

Richard has also been named this year's keynote speaker at the music conference, which is being held at the Austin Convention Center March 17-21. His address on Thursday, March 18 at 10:30am will mark the beginning of three days of panels, workshops and showcases that draws musicians and music professionals from around the world.

BMI will also feature a Latin showcase at SXSW on Wednesday, March 17 featuring Los Abandoned, Vaquero, Cartel de Santa, Zoe, Plastalina Mosh and Ozomatli at Exodus (302-304 E. 6th Street). Other BMI events at SXSW to be announced soon.]]> 2004-02-05T17:00:00-05:00 http://www.bmi.com/musicworld/entry/233316 Artists, Cake, Prophet, Chuck, Zevon, Warren, Musical Styles, Country, Rock, Musicworld, Hitmaker With a slew of critical accolades and six solo albums to his credit, Chuck Prophet has become one of the most acclaimed singer/songwriters in the Americana music movement. He has co-written with Kelly Willis and Kim Richey, and has had a number covered by country singer Cyndi Thompson. But this song craftsman, guitarist and performer admits that working in the studio is "probably where I have the most fun."

"The thing about making records is you take the songs and whatever you are interested in, whatever the songs ask for, and you bring it to a boil and see what floats to the top," says Prophet of the process of bringing a song to fruition as a recording.

Prophet grew up in Southern California and was turned on to music by his older sister's record collection and AM radio in the early 1970s. By the time he hit college in San Francisco, punk rock had also caught his ear and Prophet started playing in bands. When a group he played with opened for a outfit from Los Angeles called Green On Red, Prophet was knocked out by what he heard, and soon after was drafted into the band.

After playing with Green On Red over the course of eight albums and much of the 1980s, Prophet struck out on his own when the group disbanded. Yet he has also continued to collaborate with such varied others as Cake, The Silos, Bob Neuwirth, Warren Zevon and the ad hoc band Raisins In The Sun, as well as with his singer/songwriter wife Stephanie Finch.

When Prophet discusses the process of songwriting, he employs a cinematic approach: "You write a song and you do end up casting it like a movie in your mind," he observes. "You cast these songs with these characters in mind, and sometimes you get them, sometimes you don't. A lot of it's deliberate, and a lot of it's by staying open minded to the random elements that might happen. You get lucky too."]]> 2002-10-15T18:00:00-05:00 http://www.bmi.com/news/entry/233101 Artists, 3 Doors Down, Babyface, Berry, Chuck, Cake, Corrs, The, Counting Crows, Creed, Diddley, Bo, Foo Fighters, Gray, Macy, Henley, Don, Hill, Faith, Kelly, R., Little Richard, Rooney, Rooney, Cory, Smash Mouth, Sting, Sugar Ray, Awards, Musical Styles, Pop, Rock, BMI Pop Awards BMI will celebrate its 50th annual Pop Awards on May 14 at the Regent Beverly Wilshire Hotel in Los Angeles. In honor of the milestone anniversary, rock & roll pioneers Chuck Berry, Bo Diddley and Little Richard will be presented with BMI ICON Awards in recognition of their many contributions to contemporary music. This is the first time the ICON Awards will be presented. BMI President & CEO Frances W. Preston will hand out these prestigious awards to the three honorees, who will all be in attendance.

Little Richard

Bo Diddley

Chuck Berry

The BMI Pop Awards is an invitation only, black-tie event that recognizes the songwriters and publishers of the most performed songs of the past year. Preston along with Barbara Cane, Vice President & General Manager, Writer/Publisher Relations, Los Angeles, will present BMI Citations of Achievement during the awards ceremony and dinner.

Past BMI Pop Award winners include Don Henley, Babyface, Counting Crows, Macy Gray, Smash Mouth, Sugar Ray, CAKE, Foo Fighters, Faith Hill, The Corrs, matchbox twenty, Sting, R.E.M., R. Kelly, Bush, Creed, 3 Doors Down, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Santana and many others. Last year's top winners included Cory Rooney (BMI Songwriter of the Year), “Breathe" (BMI Song of the Year) and EMI Music Publishing (BMI Publisher of the Year).