CITR MC Tom Gross; BMI VP Writer/Publisher Relations Paul Corbin; Dr. Hal Moses, Director Emeritus of the Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center; Frances Preston, President, T.J. Martell Foundation; Raymond DuBois, M.D., Ph.D., Director of the Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center; Peter Quinn, CEO/National Executive Director for T.J. Martell

Musical highlights of the week included concerts by Steve Cropper, Clint Black, Little Big Town, John Corbett, Blue County, Hanna-McEuen, and many of Nashville's hottest songwriters including Matraca Berg, Jeff Hanna, Jessi Alexander, Jon Randall, Tim Rushlow, Chuck Cannon, Doug Johnson, Wayne Kirkpatrick and Chas Sanford.

Front row: Gary Chapman, Jennifer Chapman, Equity Music Group President Mike Kraski, Equity Chief Creative Officer Tim Wipperman, Kimberly Roads (LBT), Clint Black, Frances Preston, Karen Fairchild (LBT), Jimi Westbrook (LBT); Back Row: BMI's Paul Corbin, and Phillip Sweet (LBT)

"Country in the Rockies is a magical event filled with music, fun, friendships and most importantly, the mission of raising vital funds to support cutting-edge research for leukemia, cancer and AIDS through the Frances Williams Preston Laboratories at the Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center," stated Laura Heatherly, Executive Director of the T.J. Martell Foundation.

Clint Black

The inaugural "Music for Life Concert & Auction" held at the Crested Butte Center for the Arts raised $65,000. The event was spearheaded by a committee of local citizens and presented by Redden Group Realty of Crested Butte. Performers included Blue County, Suzy Boggus, Dean Dillon, Aaron Barker, Hanna-McEuen and Gary Morris.

Clint Black and Little Big Town

Since 1993, the Martell Foundation has enabled physicians and scientists of the Frances Williams Preston Laboratories at VICC to conduct cutting-edge research and quickly transition promising new findings from laboratory benches to patient bedsides. To date, the Nashville division has raised $14 million in support of the VICC's pilot projects. In turn, these contributions have been leveraged to obtain additional funding - totaling more than $100 million - from public and private sources to further advance ongoing efforts to alleviate suffering from cancer.

Jaime Hanna and Jonathan McEuen "busk" on the top of Mt. Crested Butte

The Frances Williams Preston Labs of Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center are named in honor of former BMI President and CEO Frances Preston. Preston is the founder of Country in the Rockies and also serves as President of the Martell board and as a VICC board member.

Clint Black

BMI and A&E created an innovative on-air campaign to promote the series. Titled "Country Crossroads," the campaign features additional BMI writers sharing original anecdotes about the musical influences that the Biography subjects had on their work. The original campaign was shot on location in Los Angeles, New York and Nashville and featured a broad spectrum of BMI writers, including Clint Black, Isaac Hayes, Rosanne Cash, Lorrie Morgan, Shelby Lynn, Buddy Jewell, Julie Roberts and Louie Perez sharing their reflections on their personal musical icons. BMI contributed to the creation of the campaign concept and supplied talent relations, research services, archival footage and logistics support to the shoots. A&E Networks shot and produced the spots.

"Bio Country" can be seen on The Biography Channel Wednesdays at 8 ET/9 PT. Check your local listings for more information.

Isaac Hayes

Rosanne Cash

Shelby Lynne

Tim McGraw	Big & Rich	Toby Keith

Voting is now open again for fans to vote online at CMT.com through Friday, April 8; the first round of voting ended March 10.

The CMT Music Awards, hosted by Jeff Foxworthy, will be held on Monday, April 11, at Nashville's Gaylord Entertainment Center.

The four finalists for Video of the Year will be announced during the live awards show, and fans will be able to vote during the telecast at CMT.com to determine the winner.

Keith Urban	Martina McBride	Alison Krauss

BMI's finalists for 2005 CMT MUSIC AWARDS are:

VIDEO OF THE YEAR
Big & Rich - "Save A Horse (Ride A Cowboy)"
Alison Krauss - "Whiskey Lullaby"
Keith Urban - "Days Go By"
Rascal Flatts - "Feels Like Today"
Tim McGraw - "Live Like You Were Dying"
Toby Keith - "Stays In Mexico"

MALE VIDEO OF THE YEAR
Keith Urban - "Days Go By"
Tim McGraw - "Live Like You Were Dying"
Toby Keith - "Stays In Mexico"

FEMALE VIDEO OF THE YEAR
Martina McBride - "How Far"

Rascal Flatts	Shania Twain

GROUP/DUO VIDEO OF THE YEAR
Big & Rich - "Holy Water"
Lonestar - "Mr. Mom"
Montgomery Gentry - "If You Ever Stop Loving Me"
Rascal Flatts - "Feels Like Today"

COLLABORATIVE VIDEO OF THE YEAR
Alison Krauss - "Whiskey Lullaby"
Jimmy Buffett with Clint Black and Toby Keith - "Hey Good Lookin'"
Tim McGraw - "Over And Over"
Shania Twain - "Party For Two"

HOTTEST VIDEO OF THE YEAR
Keith Urban - "You're My Better Half"
Sara Evans - "Suds In The Bucket"
Toby Keith - "Whiskey Girl"

BREAKTHROUGH VIDEO OF THE YEAR
Big & Rich - "Save A Horse (Ride A Cowboy)"
Julie Roberts - "Break Down Here"

MOST INSPIRING VIDEO OF THE YEAR
Big & Rich - "Holy Water"
Martina McBride - "God's Will"
Tim McGraw - "Live Like You Were Dying"
]]> 2005-03-21T17:00:00-05:00 http://www.bmi.com/news/entry/234365 Artists, Anderson, Bill, Big & Rich, Black, Clint, Boyd, Bobby E., Brooks & Dunn, Cannon, Chuck, Evans, Sara, Gentry, Montgomery, Hummon, Marcus, Jones, Norah, Keith, Toby, Krauss, Alison, Lonestar, Mardin, Arif, McBride, Martina, McGraw, Tim, Nichols, Tim, Parton, Dolly, Rascal Flatts, Robby, Roberts, Julie, Twain, Shania, Uncle Kracker, Urban, Keith, Wright, Mark, Musical Styles, Country Tim McGraw is the top nominee in the 40th annual Academy of Country Music Awards, announced March 3. In addition to entertainer and male vocalist praise, McGraw collected an album nomination for Live Like You Were Dying, with the title track earning him single, video and song of the year recognition.

Tim McGraw	Keith Urban	Toby Keith

BMI songwriters nominated for Song of the Year were Tim Nichols for "Live Like You Were Dying"; Toby Keith and Chuck Cannon for "American Soldier"; Bobby E. Boyd, Marcus Hummon and Jeff Hanna for "Bless the Broken Road"; and Bill Anderson and Jon Randall for "Whiskey Lullaby."

Alison Krauss	Byron Gallimore

Alison Krauss scored five nominations: one for Alison Krauss + Union Station as Top Vocal Group and four courtesy of song, video, single, and vocal event nominee "Whiskey Lullaby." Keith Urban, reigning ACM Entertainer of the Year Toby Keith and producer Byron Gallimore received four nods each. Big & Rich, Rascal Flatts and producer Mark Wright received three nominations each.

Big & Rich	Mark Wright

Diamond Rio paired their Top Vocal Group nomination with one for the Home Depot Humanitarian Award; online voting is underway for the fan-voted honor.

The ACM Awards show, set for May 17 at the Mandalay Bay Resort & Casino in Las Vegas, will be broadcast live on CBS-TV.

Rascal Flatts	Julie Roberts

BMI nominees for the 40th Annual Academy of Country Music Awards:

Entertainer of the Year
Brooks & Dunn
Toby Keith
Tim McGraw
Keith Urban

Top Vocal Group
Alison Krauss & Union Station
Diamond Rio
Lonestar
Rascal Flatts
The Notorious Cherry Bombs

Top New Artist
Big & Rich
Julie Roberts

Top Vocal Duo
Big & Rich
Brooks & Dunn
Montgomery Gentry
The Warren Brothers

Diamond Rio	Sara Evans

Top Female Vocalist
Sara Evans
Martina McBride

Top Male Vocalist
Toby Keith
Tim McGraw
Keith Urban

Video of the Year
"Live Like You Were Dying"
Tim McGraw

"Save a Horse (Ride a Cowboy)"
Big & Rich

"Whiskey Lullaby"
Alison Krauss

Brooks & Dunn	Martina McBride

Vocal Event of the Year
"Creepin' In"
Norah Jones and Dolly Parton
Arif Mardin and Norah Jones, producers

"Hey Good Lookin'"
with Clint Black and Toby Keith
Michael Utley, producer

"Party for Two"
Shania Twain

"When the Sun Goes Down"
Uncle Kracker

"Whiskey Lullaby"
Alison Krauss

Song of the Year
"American Soldier"
Toby Keith
Toby Keith and Chuck Cannon, writers
Tokeco Tunes and Wacissa River Music, Inc.

"Bless the Broken Road"
Rascal Flatts
Marcus Hummon, Bobby E. Boyd and Jeff Hanna, writers
Careers-BMG Music Publishing, Inc. and Jeff Diggs Music

"Live Like You Were Dying"
Tim McGraw
Tim Nichols, writer
Warner-Tamerlane Publishing Corp.

"Whiskey Lullaby"
Alison Krauss
Bill Anderson and Jon Randall, writers
Mr. Bubba Music, Inc., Reynsong Publishing Corp., Sony/ATV Tree and WhaYa Say Music

Single Record of the Year
"Bless the Broken Road"
Rascal Flatts, artist/producer

"Days Go By"
Keith Urban, artist/producer

"I May Hate Myself in the Morning"
Byron Gallimore, producer

"Live Like You Were Dying"
Tim McGraw
Tim McGraw, Byron Gallimore and Darran Smith, producers

"Redneck Woman"
Mark Wright and Joe Scaife producers

"Whiskey Lullaby"
Alison Krauss

Album of the Year
Be Here
Keith Urban
Producers: Keith Urban

Here for the Party
Mark Wright and Joe Scaife, producers

Live Like You Were Dying
Tim McGraw
Tim McGraw, Byron Gallimore and Darran Smith, producers

Restless
Sara Evans, artist/producer

Producer of the Year
Bryon Gallimore
James Stroud
Mark Wright

Engineer of the Year
Justin Niebank

Musicians of the Year
Bass
Mike Brignardello
David Hungate
Larry Paxton

Drums
Eric Darken

Fiddle
Glen Duncan
Stuart Duncan
Larry Franklin
Rob Hajacos
Jonathan Yudkin

Guitar
J.T. Corenflos
John Jorgenson
Brent Mason
Bryan Sutton

Piano/Keyboards
Gordon Mote

Specialty Instrument
Jim Hoke
Jim Horn
Rob Ickes
Randy Scruggs

Steel
Dan Dugmore
Sonny Garrish
John Hughey
Mike Johnson
Robby Turner]]> 2005-03-07T17:00:00-05:00 http://www.bmi.com/news/entry/234346 Artists, Big & Rich, Black, Clint, Brooks & Dunn, Buffett, Jimmy, Evans, Sara, Gentry, Montgomery, Keith, Toby, Krauss, Alison, Lonestar, Los Lonely Boys, Lynn, Loretta, McBride, Martina, McGraw, Tim, Rascal Flatts, Roberts, Julie, Shelton, Blake, Smith, Mindy, Sugarland, Tritt, Travis, Twain, Shania, Uncle Kracker, Urban, Keith, White, Jack, Musical Styles, Country, Urban 2005 CMT Music Awards, country music's only fan-voted awards show. Tim McGraw drew five mentions, with Big & Rich and Toby Keith receiving four each. Alison Krauss, Martina McBride, Shania Twain and Keith Urban followed with three each.

Tim McGraw	Big & Rich	Toby Keith

CMT viewers began voting on February 16 for their favorite videos on CMT.com to determine the finalists, and later the winners. The first round of voting will end on March 10, when the votes will be tabulated and the field will be narrowed to four finalists in each category.

Alison Krauss	Martina McBride	Shania Twain

On Wednesday, March 16, CMT will announce the four finalists in each category except Video of the Year. Fans will be able to vote online at CMT.com through April 8 to determine the winners in all categories except Video of the Year. The winner of Video of the Year will be determined by viewers at CMT.com during the live telecast of the awards show.

Keith Urban	Los Lonely Boys

All category winners will be announced on Monday, April 11, on the live 2005 CMT Music Awards, hosted by Jeff Foxworthy.

BMI's nominees for 2005 CMT MUSIC AWARDS are:

VIDEO OF THE YEAR
Big & Rich - "Save A Horse (Ride A Cowboy)"
Alison Krauss - "Whiskey Lullaby"
Keith Urban - "Days Go By"
Rascal Flatts - "Feels Like Today"
Tim McGraw - "Live Like You Were Dying"
Toby Keith - "Stays In Mexico"

MALE VIDEO OF THE YEAR
Blake Shelton - "Some Beach"
Charlie Robison - "El Cerrito Place"
Keith Urban - "Days Go By"
Tim McGraw - "Live Like You Were Dying"
Toby Keith - "Stays In Mexico"

Loretta Lynn	Brooks & Dunn

FEMALE VIDEO OF THE YEAR
Loretta Lynn - "Miss Being Mrs."
Martina McBride - "How Far"
Shania Twain - "Don't"

GROUP/DUO VIDEO OF THE YEAR
Alison Krauss & Union Station - "Restless"
Big & Rich - "Holy Water"
Brooks & Dunn - "That's What It's All About"
Lonestar - "Mr. Mom"
Los Lonely Boys - "Heaven"
Montgomery Gentry - "If You Ever Stop Loving Me"
Rascal Flatts - "Feels Like Today"

Jimmy Buffett	Lonestar

COLLABORATIVE VIDEO OF THE YEAR
Alison Krauss - "Whiskey Lullaby"
Jimmy Buffett and Martina McBride - "Trip Around The Sun"
Jimmy Buffett with Clint Black and Toby Keith - "Hey Good Lookin'"
Uncle Kracker - "When The Sun Goes Down"
Loretta Lynn and Jack White - "Portland, Oregon"
Tim McGraw - "Over And Over"
Shania Twain - "Party For Two"
Travis Tritt - "What Say You"

HOTTEST VIDEO OF THE YEAR
Keith Urban - "You're My Better Half"
Tim McGraw - "Over And Over"
Sara Evans - "Suds In The Bucket"
Shania Twain - "When You Kiss Me"
Toby Keith - "Whiskey Girl"

BREAKTHROUGH VIDEO OF THE YEAR
Big & Rich - "Save A Horse (Ride A Cowboy)"
Julie Roberts - "Break Down Here"
Los Lonely Boys - "Heaven"
Mindy Smith - "Come To Jesus"
Sugarland - "Baby Girl"

MOST INSPIRING VIDEO OF THE YEAR
Big & Rich - "Holy Water"
Brooks & Dunn - "That's What It's All About"
Martina McBride - "God's Will"
Tim McGraw - "Live Like You Were Dying"

BMI saluted the premier country music songwriters, artists and publishers at its 2004 Country Awards, staged last night (11/8) at the BMI offices on Music Row in Nashville.

Country Awards Song List

Country Awards Event Photos

Crystal Gayle; BMI President & CEO Del Bryant; Shania Twain; Kitty Wells, Casey Beathard; Toby Keith, Loretta Lynn; Universal Music Senior VP/GM Pat Higdon; BMI President Emeritus Frances Preston; and Sony/ATV Music Publishing Nashville President & CEO Donna Hilley.

Shania Twain's "Forever and For Always" was proclaimed Country Song of the Year. Casey Beathard earned the title of Country Songwriter of the Year, with superstar Toby Keith collecting Country Songwriter/Artist of the Year honors. Sony/ATV Music Publishing Nashville was named Country Publisher of the Year. A highlight of the gala was a tribute to Loretta Lynn, who was named a BMI ICON for "her enduring influence on generations of music makers."

The black-tie ceremony was hosted by Del Bryant, BMI President and CEO. Frances W. Preston, President Emeritus, and Paul Corbin, Vice President of Writer/Publisher Relations, Nashville, assisted with the presentations to the BMI-affiliated writers and publishers of the 50 most performed songs in the country music format.

Loretta Lynn	Shania Twain

"Forever and For Always," written and recorded by Shania Twain, won the 36th Robert J. Burton Award as Most Performed Country Song of the Year for tallying the most US broadcast performances during the eligibility period. Included on Twain's 10-times platinum Mercury Nashville album, UP!, "Forever and For Always" was published by her company Loon Echo, Inc., and by Universal-Songs of PolyGram International, Inc., and was co-written with her husband, Robert John "Mutt" Lange (share not licensed through BMI).

Casey Beathard	Toby Keith

"Forever and For Always" is Twain's fourth BMI Song of the Year win. It was named Song of the Year at the 2004 BMI London Awards, and her smash "You're Still the One" received the honor at both the 1999 BMI Pop and Country Awards. She was also named BMI Songwriter of the Year at both the 1999 and 2000 Pop and Country Awards and now owns a total of 28 BMI Awards.

The BMI Country Songwriter of the Year trophy went to Casey Beathard, who placed five titles on the most performed list: "Drinkin' Bone" (recorded by Tracy Byrd), "Hot Mama" (Trace Adkins), "The Love Song" (Jeff Bates), "No Shoes, No Shirt, No Problems" (Kenny Chesney) and "Walk a Little Straighter" (Billy Currington).

Toby Keith was crowned BMI Country Songwriter/Artist of the Year on the strength of his #1 hits "American Soldier," "Beer For My Horses" and "I Love This Bar." Keith, who now has 15 BMI Awards, was also named Songwriter/Artist of the Year in 2001.

Eight songwriters were double winners, contributing two songs each to the most-performed list: Bob DiPiero, Scotty Emerick, Tony Martin, Wendell Mobley, Tim Nichols, Tom Shapiro, Jeffrey Steele, and Twain.

Other writer/artists earning awards were Keith Urban, Sara Evans, Lonestar's Richie McDonald, Clint Black, Kix Brooks & Ronnie Dunn, Buddy Jewell, Craig Morgan, Pat Green, Jeff Bates, and Sherri� Austin.

Sony/ATV Music Publishing Nashville was named BMI Country Publisher of the Year by accumulating the highest percentage of copyright ownership in award songs. Donna Hilley, President & CEO, accepted on behalf of the publisher, which boasted 18 songs on the most-performed list (through its companies Sony/ATV Acuff Rose and Sony/ATV Tree).

Other publishers with multiple award-winning songs included Warner-Tamerlane Publishing Corp. (8); Universal-Songs of PolyGram International, Inc. (6); EMI-Blackwood Music, Inc. (4); Careers-BMG Music Publishing, Inc./Zomba Songs Inc., and Tokeco Tunes (3 each).

President Emeritus Frances Preston was recognized with the President's Award; BMI's Del Bryant led the tribute, joined by Kris Kristofferson, Vince Gill, and Alabama's Randy Owen. Preston, who joined BMI in 1958 and created the Country Awards in 1959, served as President & CEO from 1986 until August of this year. The award, given to those in the entertainment industry deserving of special recognition, has previously been bestowed on the group Alabama, Merv Griffin, Earle Hagen, Harlan Howard, Willie Nelson, Billy Sherrill, Pete Townshend and Brian Wilson.

The evening culminated in the ICON tribute to Loretta Lynn, which included an introduction by Preston, remarks from Kitty Wells, and performances by Crystal Gayle, Lynnís sister (singing Coal Minerís Daughter�) and Martina McBride (�You Ainít Woman Enough�). A BMI affiliate for 43 years, the Kentucky-born Lynn launched her career in 1960 with her self-composed "I'm a Honky Tonk Girl." Soon she was topping the charts with the feisty female classics she wrote, including "You Ain't Woman Enough" (1966), "Don't Come Home A-Drinkin'" (1966), "What Kind of Girl (Do You Think I Am)" (1967), "Fist City" (1968), "Coal Miner's Daughter" (1970), "You're Lookin' at Country" (1971), "Rated X" (1972) and "The Pill" (1975). The first woman ever to become the Country Music Association's Entertainer of the Year, she released her 71st album, the acclaimed Van Lear Rose, earlier this year.

Lynn joins a distinguished list of previous BMI ICONS, including country songwriter/artists Bill Anderson and Dolly Parton; pop songwriting master Brian Wilson; R&B legends James Brown, Chuck Berry, Little Richard, Bo Diddley, Isaac Hayes and Al Green; Motown songwriting trio Brian Holland, Lamont Dozier and Eddie Holland; and blues/rock/soul artist Van Morrison.

"I had two offers to write songs, one from [Nashville songwriter and producer] Buzz Cason and one from Johnny Rivers in California," recalls Buffett. "I really wanted to go to Johnny Rivers, because I kind of came out of New Orleans and Baton Rouge." Nashville won out, Buffett says, "because I didn't have enough money to buy gas to get to California."

That trip began a long relationship with Nashville. In those early days, he worked as a reporter for Billboard magazine. He recorded such hits as "Come Monday" and "Margaritaville" in the city's studios. About every 10 years, he briefly flirted with country radio. "If you stick around long enough," Buffett says, "people know you're still around."

These days, it'd be hard not to know Buffett's still around. In 2003, Buffett got his first #1 by singing "It's Five O'Clock Somewhere" with Alan Jackson. License to Chill , Buffett's latest album, boasts a Top 10 cover of Hank Williams' "Hey Good Lookin'" that features Jackson, Clint Black, Kenny Chesney, Toby Keith and George Strait. Each of those acts sings a duet with Buffett on the album, as do Martina McBride, Nanci Griffith, and Bill Withers. License to Chill sold more than a quarter-million copies in its first week, giving Buffett the first #1 album of a recording career that dates to the early 1970s.

Buffett says hearing of so many contemporary country singers influenced by his music convinced him he ought to record a country album even before Jackson approached him with "It's Five O'Clock Somewhere."

"I had decided to go in and do an album that would, hopefully, get the attention of country radio and country sales, because that's what was happening out there," he says. He recorded original songs and a couple of country classics, like "Hey Good Lookin'." But he rounded out the album with songs by John Hiatt, Leon Russell and Will Kimbrough, writers who've had experiences with mainstream Nashville that mirror Buffett's own.

Now, with "It's Five O'Clock Somewhere" and "Hey Good Lookin'," Buffett has more Top 40 hits on the country side than he does in pop.

"I love the fact that country seems to be broadening and inclusive. It's the listenable music of America. It's not a big giant step for me to come over and sing country. I love doing it; I just hadn't done it in a while. But it's a part of who I was. I'd attempted a few forays into the country world and been brushed back vehemently. Nothing ever worked before. That's the nature of this business: Everything comes back around."

Toby Keith	Alison Krauss	Mark Wright

Alison Krauss followed Keith with five CMA nods, including a third consecutive Female Vocalist nomination; Single, Video and Musical Event listings for her work on "Whiskey Lullaby;" and a second Musical Event nod for "How's the World Treating You" from Livin', Lovin', Losin': Songs of the Louvin Brothers.

Brooks & Dunn	Jimmy Buffett

Other BMI talents collecting multiple CMA mentions were Mark Wright and first-time show hosts Brooks & Dunn with three each; and Big & Rich, Jimmy Buffett, Tim McGraw, Joe Scaife and James Stroud with two each.

Big & Rich	Tim McGraw

Multiple BMI-Award winning songwriter/artist Kris Kristofferson. will be inducted to the Country Music Hall of Fame during the CMA Award telecast. Artists including Waylon Jennings, Ronnie Milsap, Ray Stevens and Gladys Knight have recorded songs from his catalog, which features "Me and Bobby McGee," "One Day At a Time," and "Sunday Morning Coming Down."

James Stroud	Julie Roberts	Martina McBride

The CMA Awards show will take place November 9 at the Grand Ole Opry House in Nashville and will be broadcast live on CBS-TV.

BMI's 2004 CMA Awards Nominees

Entertainer of the Year
Brooks & Dunn
Toby Keith
Tim McGraw

Female Vocalist of the Year
Sara Evans
Alison Krauss
Martina McBride

Male Vocalist of the Year
Toby Keith
Keith Urban

Montgomery Gentry	Sara Evans

Horizon Award
Big & Rich
Julie Roberts

Vocal Group of the Year
Alabama
Diamond Rio
Lonestar
Rascal Flatts
Trick Pony

Vocal Duo of the Year
Big & Rich
Brooks & Dunn
Montgomery Gentry
The Warren Brothers

The Warren Brothers	Dolly Parton	Norah Jones

Single of the Year
"I Love This Bar"
Toby Keith
Toby Keith and James Stroud, producers

"Live Like You Were Dying"
Tim McGraw
Byron Gallimore, Tim McGraw and Darran Smith, producers

"Redneck Woman"
Mark Wright and Joe Scaife, producers

"Remember When"
Keith Stegall,
producer

"Whiskey Lullaby"
Alison Krauss

Album of the Year
Here For The Party
Mark Wright and Joe Scaife, producers

Red Dirt Road
Brooks & Dunn
Kix Brooks, Ronnie Dunn and Mark Wright, producers

Shock 'N Y'All
Toby Keith
Toby Keith and James Stroud, producers

Music Video of the Year
"I Love This Bar"
Toby Keith

"It's Five O'Clock Somewhere"
Jimmy Buffett

"Whiskey Lullaby"
Alison Krauss

Musical Event of the Year
"Creepin' In"
Norah Jones with
Dolly Parton

"Hey Good Lookin'"
Jimmy Buffett with Clint Black and Toby Keith

"How's The World Treating You"
Alison Krauss

"When The Sun Goes Down"
Uncle Kracker

"Whiskey Lullaby"
Alison Krauss

Song of the Year
"Live Like You Were Dying"
Tim Nichols, writer
Warner-Tamerlane Publishing Corp., publisher

"Whiskey Lullaby"
Bill Anderson and Jon
Randall, writers
Mr. Bubba Music, Inc., Reynsong Publishing Corp., Sony/ATV Tree and Wha
Ya Say Music, publishers

Musician of the Year
Kenny Greenberg
Electric Guitar

Larry Paxton
Bass Guitar

Broadcast Personality of the Year
Eddie Stubbs
Steve McGrew

Hall of Fame
Kris Kristofferson]]> 2004-09-08T18:00:00-05:00 http://www.bmi.com/news/entry/234051 Artists, Black, Clint, Type, Important, Legislation Clint Black and Brenda Lee, and Members of the U.S. House of Representatives Mary Bono (R-CA), Steny Hoyer (D-MD) and Mark Foley (R-FL), recently announced the landmark formation of the Recording Arts and Sciences Congressional Caucus. The press event took place on April 19 at the Loews Vanderbilt Hotel in Nashville preceeding the GRAMMY Town Hall meeting, and was attended by members of the music community, and U.S. and local politicians.

Steny Hoyer (D-Md.), Mary Bono (R-Calif.), Clint Black, Brenda Lee and Neil Portnow. photo courtesy of the Recording Academy, 2004

Co-chaired by Reps. Bono and Hoyer, the caucus will seek to advance and protect the rights of musicians, songwriters, singers, producers and other recording professionals. Caucus members are united in their belief that support for the individual recording professional is essential to the creative life of the nation, and will therefore work to address issues such as intellectual property, new technologies, music preservation, music education and other music-related topics.

BMI Senior VP of Government Relations Fred Cannon, said “We are extremely happy to have this new caucus which will strengthen the creators’ position on a national level. The leaders of the caucus are keenly aware of the issues -- Rep. Bono has her songwriting and publishing catalogs registered with BMI. The support of artists like Clint Black and Brenda Lee is also vital to this mission of assisting songwriters and publishers in their future challenges.”

The Recording Academy worked with the members of Congress to advise them about issues that are of concern to the music community. Portnow recently traveled to Washington to meet with numerous members of Congress to serve as an advocate for the creative individuals that comprise the Academy's membership.

As part of the Academy's GRAMMY Cultural Policy Initiative, the GRAMMY Town Hall is the first in a series of high-level discussions with music industry leaders and policy-makers tackling challenging topics and important issues that affect the artistic environment. A 60-minute forum with moderated and audience Q&A, topics included pending legislation in Washington, D.C. that affects the music community; file sharing and new business models; public education about the value of paying for music; radio reform; broadcast decency and artists' responsibility; and public funding of the arts/arts education.

Launched late last year, the GRAMMY Cultural Policy Initiative is a major advocacy initiative designed to utilize the Recording Academy's unique resources to advance the rights of the music community through advocacy, education and dialogue.

Established in 1957, the National Academy of Recording Arts & Sciences, Inc., also known as the Recording Academy, is dedicated to improving the quality of life and cultural condition for music and its makers.]]> 2004-05-06T18:00:00-05:00 http://www.bmi.com/news/entry/233709 Artists, Black, Clint, Jewell, Buddy, Lambert, Miranda, Musical Styles, Country "Nashville Star" finalists Buddy Jewell, Miranda Lambert and John Arthur Martinez prior to the program's finale on May 3. Viewers selected Jewell as the winner of a Sony Nashville recording contract. A long-time Nashville demo singer, Jewell is currently receiving spins on country radio with his original "Help Pour Out The Rain (Lacey's Song)," and will soon start working on his debut album with producer Clint Black.

Pictured at the "Nashville Star" house are BMI's Perry Howard, Buddy Jewell, Miranda Lambert, John Arthur Martinez, BMI's Mark Mason and Deanna Bruton. photo by Brian Tipton

]]> 2003-05-07T18:00:00-05:00