BMI saluted the writers and publishers of the past year’s most performed songs on Christian radio and television during the annual Christian Music Awards tonight at the company’s Music Row offices in Nashville. BMI named versatile hit-maker Ed Cash the 2008 Christian Songwriter of the Year, while his composition “Made to Worship” garnered Song of the Year honors. BMI Vice President Jody Williams, along with Senior Director Thomas Cain and Associate Director Beth Mason, of BMI’s Writer/Publisher Relations department in Nashville, presented awards spanning five categories: Christian Rock, Contemporary Christian, Inspirational, Urban Gospel and Southern Gospel.

View Christian Music Awards Song List

Prior to the presentation of awards, perennial Christian music titans Jars of Clay, rising star Aaron Shust and fiery gospel artist Isaiah Thomas set the evening’s warm tone with soulful renditions of their award-winning songs.

The BMI Christian Awards' big winners huddled together for a photo. Pictured are (l to r): BMI’s Phil Graham, Publisher of the Year Universal Music Publishing’s Dale Matthews, Songwriter of the Year Ed Cash and BMI’s Jody Williams.

Prolific producer and songwriter Ed Cash earned the BMI Songwriter of the Year crown thanks to his profound compositions “Made to Worship,” “Holding onto You,” and “How Can I Keep from Singing.” The stirring “Made to Worship” also garnered the BMI Song of the Year crystal for Cash; recorded by contemporary Christian favorite Chris Tomlin, the song was published by Alletrop Music.

Perennial favorites Jars of Clay perform at the 2008 BMI Christian Awards.

The ceremony also feted Publisher of the Year Universal Music Publishing Group. The award is determined by the highest percentage of copyright ownership in award songs. The company’s eight award-winning songs include “The Blessing of Abraham,” written by esteemed producer and chorale director Donald Lawrence, “Dead Man (Carry Me),” co-written and recorded by Jars of Clay, “My Savior, My God,” written and recorded by Aaron Shust, and “Imagine Me,” co-penned and recorded by contemporary gospel trendsetter Kirk Franklin.

Big winner Ed Cash salutes his inspiration.

Gospel luminary Donald Lawrence and ceremony performer Aaron Shust garnered two awards each. The night’s other big winners included genre-bender tobyMac; Christian rock outfit Red’s Jasen Rauch and Anthony Armstong; urban gospel star Kirk Franklin; Red producer Robert Graves; Jars of Clay members Dan Haseltine, Charlie Lowell, Steve Mason and Matt Odmark; 2007 BMI Christian Songwriter of the Year Mark Hall; Sanctus Real producer Chris Stevens and Sanctus Real member Dan Gartley; premier producer, arranger and musician Jay Joyce; Kingdom Heirs member Dennis Murphy; producer, songwriter and music minister Isaiah D. Thomas; gospel heavyweight Rodney Griffin; Needtobreathe’s Bo Rinehart; singer/songwriter Aaron Sprinkle; songwriter/producer Marc Byrd; gospel favorite Percy James Bady; songwriters Adam Kohout, Tery Wilkins, David Nasser, Jules "Juda" Bartholomew, Twila LaBar, Joel Lindsey, Belinda Lee Smith, Lisa Stewart Seals; and the McClurkin Project’s Andrea McClurkin-Mellini and Nate McNair.

Isaiah D. Thomas brings the house down.

In addition to Universal Music Publishing Group, publishers winning multiple awards were Alletrop Music, EMI Christian Music Group (Meaux Mercy Publishing, River Oaks Music Company), Lilly Mack Music, Asheville Music Publishing, Chris White Music, Q W Publishing, Sony/ATV Songs LLC and White Spot Publishing.

Aaron Shust delivers a charged performance.

BMI artists shined at this year’s awards, with winners including Gnarls Barkley, Best Group; Ne-Yo, Best Male R&B; Kirk Franklin, Best Gospel Artist; Birdman & Lil’Wayne’s "Stuntin' Like My Daddy," Viewers Choice Award.

The late Gerald Levert won in the BETJ Cool Like That category. One of the highlights of the evening was the all-star performance of “Wind Beneath My Wings” performed by his father, Eddie Levert, Gladys Knight, Patti LaBelle and Yolanda Adams.

Hosted by actress/comedian Mo'Nique, the BET Awards also bestowed the coveted Lifetime Achievement Award to legendary songstress Diana Ross, and the Humanitarian Award to award-winning actor and activist Don Cheadle.

Perennial Christian music pacesetters Casting Crowns won Group of the Year, while their frontman and 2007 BMI Christian Songwriter of the Year Mark Hall was honored for co-writing the Pop/Contemporary Song of the Year, "Praise You in this Storm."

Prolific producer and songwriter Ed Cash scored the 2007 Producer of the Year title and was also recognized for his work with Chris Tomlin. Urban gospel favorite Kirk Franklin's "Imagine Me" was named Urban Recorded Song of the Year, while noted singer and songwriter Israel Houghton received Contemporary Gospel Recorded Song and Album of the Year awards.

Christian rock crew DecembeRadio nabbed Rock Album of the Year for their self-titled project, while long-admired rockers Jars of Clay snagged Rock/Contemporary Album of the Year for Good Monsters.

Additional BMI winners included Steven Curtis Chapman, Aaron Sprinkle, Rob Graves, Tia Sillers, Bill Anderson, Aaron Lindsey, Wayne Haun, Kevin Ward, Keith Stegall, Fred Jerkins III, Tommy Sims, producing power trio PAJAM, Antonio Neal, Avriele Crandle, Otto Price, Ronald Owen and Charlie Hall.

Founded in 1964, the Gospel Music Association serves as the face and voice for the Christian/gospel music community and is dedicated to exposing, promoting and celebrating the gospel through music of all styles including pop, rock, praise & worship, black gospel, r&b, hip-hop, southern gospel, country, and more. The GMA community consists of 4,000 members including agents, artists, church leaders, managers, promoters, radio personnel, record company executives, retailers, songwriters and other industry visionaries. The GMA produces the GMA Dove Awards, GMA Music Week, GMA Music in the Rockies, and the GMA Academy. For more information, please visit http://www.gospelmusic.org/

BMI saluted the writers and publishers of the past year’s most performed songs on Christian radio and television during the BMI Christian Music Awards on April 21 at the company’s Music Row offices in Nashville. BMI named Casting Crowns’ “Voice of Truth” Song of the Year, while the group’s frontman Mark Hall earned the prestigious Songwriter of the Year title. BMI Vice President Jody Williams, along with Senior Director Thomas Cain and Associate Director Beth Mason, of BMI’s Writer/Publisher Relations department in Nashville, presented awards for 25 songs in five categories: Christian Rock, Contemporary Christian, Inspirational, Urban Gospel and Southern Gospel.

2007 Christian Music Awards: Song List

Gospel star Kirk Franklin, Christian rock outfit Sanctus Real and Casting Crowns’ Mark Hall delighted the packed room by delivered scorching performances of their award-winning songs.

Longtime Christian music pacesetters Steven Curtis Chapman and Mark Hall took home BMI Song of the Year crystals for “Voice of Truth.” Recorded the by Hall’s award-winning band Casting Crowns, “Voice of Truth” was published by Club Zoo Music, Inc., My Refuge Music, Peach Hill Songs, Sparrow Song and SWECS Music.

It was a good night for the lead singer of Casting Crowns, who also earned his second BMI Christian Songwriter of the Year honor. Mark Hall’s hits ““Lifesong,” “Praise You in This Storm” and “Voice of Truth,” all recorded by Casting Crowns, garnered three BMI Christian Awards in both the Contemporary and Inspirational categories.

The ceremony also feted Songs of Greater Vision as Publisher of the Year. The award is determined by the highest percentage of copyright ownership in award songs. The company’s two honored songs, “Do You Want To Be Forgiven” and “Don’t Let The Sandals Fool Ya,” secured individual BMI Christian Awards for writer Rodney Griffin.

Some of the night’s other big winners included 2007 Trailblazers of Gospel honoree Yolanda Adams; producer/songwriter Ed Cash; urban gospel star Kirk Franklin; producer, arranger and musician Jay Joyce; songwriter/producer Kenny Greenberg; Israel Houghton and Percy James Bady; songwriter Fred Douglas Washington, Jr.; the Crabb Family’s Gerald Crabb; songwriter/artist Aaron Shust; producer/songwriter/author Matt Bronleewe; and brothers Henry, JoJo and Ringo Garza. Songwriters Marcia Henry, George Jordan, Sandy Knight, Doug McKelvey and Kevin Keith Walker, along with Day of Fire’s Greg Hionis, songwriter/producers Ian Eskelin and Liz Hooper, Sanctus Real producer Chris Stevens and Sanctus Real member Dan Gartley, each took home their first BMI Christian Music Award.

Publishers winning multiple awards were BMG Music Group (Bridge Building Music/Careers-BMG Music Publishing/Zomba Songs), Club Zoo Music, Inc., My Refuge Music, SWECS Music, EMI Music Publishing (EMI-Blackwood Music, Inc./Sparrow Song) and Gotee Music, Inc.

FOUR AWARDS
Red Hot Chili Peppers
Best Rock Performance by Duo or Group with Vocal
Best Rock Song
Best Rock Album
Best Boxed or Special Limited Edition Package

TWO AWARDS
George Benson
Best Pop Instrumental Performance
Best Traditional R&B Vocal Performance

Michael Brecker
Best Jazz Instrumental Solo
Best Large Jazz Ensemble Album

Chick Corea
Best Jazz Instrumental Album, Individual or Group
Best Instrumental Arrangement

The Flaming Lips
Best Rock Instrumental Performance
Best Engineered Album, Non-Classical

Kirk Franklin
Best Gospel Song
Best Contemporary R&B Gospel Album

Gnarls Barkley
Best Alternative Music Album
Best Urban/Alternative Performance

John Legend
Best Male R&B Vocal Performance
Best R&B Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocals

T.I.
Best Rap Solo Performance
Best Rap/Sung Collaboration

Carrie Underwood
Best New Artist
Best Female Country Vocal Performance

John Williams
Best Score Soundtrack Album
Best Instrumental Composition

OTHER WINNERS
Yolanda Adams
Best Gospel Performance

Pepe Aguilar
Best Mexican/Mexican-American Album

Christina Aguilera
Best Female Pop Vocal Performance

Chente Barrera y Taconazo
Best Tejano Album

The Black Eyed Peas
Best Pop Performance by Duo or Group with Vocal

Randy Brecker
Best Large Jazz Ensemble Album

T Bone Burnett
Best Compilation Soundtrack Album

Enya (PRS)
Best New Age Album

Peter Erskine
Best Large Jazz Ensemble Album

Béla Fleck & the Flecktones
Best Contemporary Jazz Album

Dave Fridmann
Best Engineered Album, Non-Classical

Bob Gaudio
Best Musical Show Album

Vince Gill
Best Male Country Vocal Performance

Osvaldo Golijov
Best Classical Contemporary Composition

Bill Harley
Best Spoken Word Album for Children

Van Hunt
Best R&B Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocals

Israel & New Breed
Best Traditional Gospel Album

Al Jarreau
Best Traditional R&B Vocal Performance

Klezmatics
Best Contemporary World Music Album

Krayzie Bone
Best Rap Performance by a Duo or Group

Will Lee
Best Large Jazz Ensemble Album

The Bryan Lynch/Eddie Palmieri Project
Best Latin Jazz Album

Maná
Best Latin Rock, Alternative or Urban Album

OK Go
Best Short Form Music Video

Joss Stone (PRS)
Best R&B Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocals

Jimmy Sturr and His Orchestra
Best Polka Album

Irma Thomas
Best Contemporary Blues

Los Tigres Del Norte
Best Norteño Album

Ike Turner
Best Traditional Blues Album

Julieta Venegas
Best Latin Pop Album

Doc Watson
Best Country Collaboration with Vocals

Pharrell Williams
Best Rap Song

Wolfmother (APRA)
Best Hard Rock Performance

R&B singer Chris Brown, neo-soul artist John Legend, "Crazy" duo Gnarls Barkley, Grammy-nominated singer/songwriter Ne-Yo and rapper Yung Joc came in with two nominations apiece, with Legend, Brown and Ne-Yo vying for the Best R&B/Soul Single trophy.

Gnarls Barkley, whose release St. Elsewhere is up for Best R&B/Soul Album, Group, Band or Duo, will compete against the Pussycat Dolls for Best R&B/Soul Single, Group, Band or Duo.

Harlem rappers Webstar & Young B hope to collect the Best R&B/Soul or Rap Dance Cut award with their breakout single, "Chicken Noodle Soup," while gospel giant Kirk Franklin's Songs from the Storm, Volume I looks to beat Youth for Christ's The Struggle is Over for Best Gospel Album.

BMI's 2007 Soul Train Music Award nominees:

Best R&B/Soul Single, Male
Avant
"4 Minutes"
Chris Brown
"Yo (Excuse Me Miss)"
John Legend
"Save Room"
Ne-Yo
"Sexy Love"

Best R&B/Soul Single, Group, Band or Duo
Gnarls Barkley
"Crazy"
The Pussycat Dolls featuring Avant
"Stickwitu"

Best R&B/Soul Album, Male
Chris Brown
Chris Brown
Jamie Foxx
Unpredictable
John Legend
Once Again

Best R&B/Soul Album, Group, Band or Duo
Gnarls Barkley
St. Elsewhere

Best R&B/Soul or Rap New Artist
Lupe Fiasco
"Gotcha"
Ne-Yo
"Sexy Love"
Rick Ross
"Hustlin'"
Yung Joc
"It's Goin' Down"

The Michael Jackson Award for Best R&B/Soul or Rap Music Video
Busta Rhymes Featuring will.i.am & Kelis
"I Love My Chick"
Jim Jones
"We Fly High"

Best R&B/Soul or Rap Dance Cut
Webstar & Young B featuring The Voice of Harlem
"Chicken Noodle Soup"
Yung Joc
"It's Goin' Down"

Best Gospel Album
Kirk Franklin
Songs from the Storm, Volume I
Youth for Christ
The Struggle is Over

photos: Arnold Turner

Gospel matriarch Albertina Walker and her group The Caravans, torch-carriers including Kirk Franklin, Donnie McClurkin, Mary Mary and The Clark Sisters, along with stars on the rise Lil iROCC and Trinitee 5:7 were among the multi-generational crew on hand to pay tribute to Hammond and Adams. Robust praise saturated the air as attendees celebrated two special lives, both in song and testimony.

The 22nd Annual Stellar Awards were held the next day, saluting the genre’s best of 2006. BMI affiliates took home trophy after trophy, enjoying a special night of reflection and fellowship with peers and fans.

BMI’s 2007 Stellar Award Winners:

Artist of the Year

Donald Lawrence presents The Tri-City Singers

Song of the Year (Songwriter; Song; Label)

Isaiah D. Thomas; “I Will Bless The Lord”; GospoCentric

Choir of the Year

Donald Lawrence presents The Tri-City Singers

Producer of the Year

Donald Lawrence

Group/Duo of the Year

Myron Butler & Levi

New Artist of the Year

Myron Butler & Levi

Male Vocalist of the Year

Myron Butler

Female Vocalist of the Year

Dorinda Clark-Cole

Contemporary Group / Duo of the Year

Myron Butler & Levi

CD of the Year

Kirk Franklin

Hero

Contemporary Female Vocalist of the Year

CeCe Winans

Contemporary CD of the Year

Donald Lawrence presents The Tri-City Singers

Finale: Act One

Traditional CD of the Year

New Life Community Choir featuring John. P. Kee

The Reunion

Contemporary Choir of the Year

Donald Lawrence presents The Tri-City Singers

Instrumental CD of the Year

Ramsey Lewis

With One Voice

Special Event CD of the Year

Donald Lawrence presents The Tri-City Singers

Finale: Act One

Quartet of the Year

Keith Wonderboy Johnson & The Spiritual Voicess

Music Video of the Year (artist, song/CD title, label)

Donald Lawrence presents The Tri-City Singers

Finale: Act One

EMI Gospel

Recorded Music Package of the Year (art credit / album (artist) / label)

Philpott Design (art direction and design)

Jay Blakesberg (photography)

Donald Lawrence presents the Tri City Singers

Finale: Act One; EMI Gospel

Praise and Worship CD of the Year

Kevin Burroughs Neeley

Fingers of Fire - Volume 1