Charlie Daniels received multiple honors.

The event, hosted by BMI Vice-President of Writer/Publisher Relations Jody Williams, included presentations from Williams; Adjutant of Tennessee Major General Gus Hargett; Nashville Mayor Karl Dean; Gaylord Entertainment's Senior Vice-President of Media and Entertainment Steve Buchanan, on behalf of the Grand Ole Opry; Steve Hauser from the William Morris Agency; President of Richards & Southern Merchandising Terry Calonge; National Liaison for The Spirit of America Cathy Gurley; and Charlie's longtime manager and President of Blue Hat Records, David Corlew. Presenters recognized Charlie's considerable achievements, both musical and humanitarian: His dedication to the men and women of the United States Armed Forces, the historical and cultural impact of his Volunteer Jam Sessions and his legacy as both a musician and songwriter were among the points of praise.

Charlie Daniels (left) chats with NFL Titans' kicker Rob Bironas (right).

Pictured are (l to r): BMI's Jody Williams, Travis Tritt and Charlie Daniels.

Charlie Daniels (right) cracks up longtime friend Travis Tritt (left).

Pictured (L-R): David Corlew, Daniels' longtime manager and Pres. Blue Hat Records; Charlie Daniels Jr., Charlie and Hazel Daniels, and Jody Williams, VP Writer/Publisher Relations BMI.

Charlie Daniels (left) and Travis Tritt (right) smile for the cameras.

Photos by Steve Lowry

In addition to sponsoring the event, BMI will present a stage both days featuring honky-tonk singer/songwriters pulled from Texas' rich musical landscape and a crew of Nashville up-and-comers.

Saturday, October 13

Monte Warden, 11:15am - 11:45am www.myspace.com/montewarden Austin singer/songwriter Monte Warden drummed up early accolades with bands Whoa Trigger! and the Wagoneers, later finding success penning hits for a slew of artists including Patty Loveless, George Strait, George Jones, Travis Tritt, Bruce Robison and Kelly Willis.

Ginn Sisters, 12pm - 12:30pm www.myspace.com/theginnsisters Sisters Tiffani and Brit Ginn put an Americana spin on familial harmonies and flute-playing, successfully creating a novel niche for their sound; longtime Austin residents, the Austin Chronicle dubbed the Ginn Sisters "cool countrified tonic for the summertime blues."

Rodney Hayden, 1pm - 1:45pm www.myspace.com/rodneyhayden Rodney Hayden attacks vintage country cool with innate contemporary awareness; a lonesome voice and unshakeable fondness for crying steel guitars prompted Billboard to explain, "For anyone who may be vague on the subject, this is country music."

The Barbwires, 2pm - 3:15pm Chef Dean Fearing and his crew of culinary artists moonlight as rock band The Barbwires; fondly referred to as the "Father of Southwest Cuisine," Chef Fearing is a bona fide barbeque expert with an encyclopedic knowledge of southwestern cuisine - a fitting judge for the Big State Festival's barbeque competition.

The Gougers, 3:30pm - 4:30pm www.myspace.com/thegougers The Gougers bounce between dreamy reflections and wry observations; with their new offering, A Long Day for the Weathervane, the quartet dropped "Sidehill" from their name, went electric and added a rhythm section, breathing new life into the Gougers' already refreshing sound.

Drew Kennedy, 5pm - 6pm www.myspace.com/drewkennedy Drew Kennedy's songs snag his audience without any pain - this unaffected singer-songwriter is too smart to be pompous: Catchy hooks do the snagging, and Kennedy's dry baritone does the heavy lifting.

Sunday, October 14

Colin Gilmore, 11:15am - 11:45am www.myspace.com/colingilmore Promising pop twanger Colin Gilmore's 2007 release Black Wine showcases more of the young singer/songwriter's jaunty melodies and colloquial observations; the son of Flatlander Jimmy Dale Gilmore, Colin's roots are solid, his future: rosy.

Mark McKinney, 12pm - 12:30pm www.myspace.com/markmckinney Texas native Mark McKinney's music aims to whisk his audience far away from daily headaches. Screaming guitars and McKinney's energetic vocals call for rowdy exploits, good friends and hometown pride.

Blue Mother Tupelo, 1pm - 1:45pm www.myspace.com/bluemothertupelo Blue Mother Tupelo's music emits southern swamp, gospel, hills and passion, punctuated with fervent tambourine and soaring vocals; the steady recipients of giddy critical praise, the pair prompted Paste to proclaim, "Blue Mother Tupelo is quite possibly the best husband and wife duo you've never heard of."

Jerrod Niemann, 2pm - 3:15pm www.myspace.com/jerrodniemann The past year has been good to Nashville singer/songwriter Jerrod Niemann: The Category Five recording artist is currently watching his debut single, "I Love Women (My Momma Can't Stand)," climb the charts, after co-writing the Garth Brooks No. 1 single and Chris LeDoux tribute, "Good Ride Cowboy."

Sunny Sweeney, 3:30pm - 4:30pm www.myspace.com/sunnysweeney Sunny Sweeney's disarmingly authentic honky-tonk charmed Nashville executives and diehard Texans, winning dual respect and valuable exposure in worlds often at odds with one another; the Austin360.com Best Country Artist crown is only the latest in a long trail of accolades for Texas-based Sweeney.

Granger Smith, 5pm - 6pm www.myspace.com/grangersmith Aggie Granger Smith cut his teeth on the Texas opry circuit while still in his teens, and jumped to writing his own songs and regional radio airplay while still in college; Nashville beckoned, and Smith made the move, only to realize what he really wanted was the Texas dancehalls he'd left behind. He's back home now, earning loyal fans one gig at a time.

Pictured after the performance are Mark Dixon, MBA President Don Richard of KATL-AM, MBA Executive Director Greg MacDonald, Fisher Radio's Terry Strickland, Cherry Creek Radio's Ron Korb, BMI's Dan Spears and (seated) BMI songwriter Kostas.

The Greek-American songwriter, who lives in Montana, has penned numerous Top 10 hits including BMI's 1994 Country Song of the Year "Blame It On Your Heart," co-written with the late Harlan Howard and recorded by Patty Loveless; he also wrote her No. 1 single "Timber I'm Falling In Love." Other cuts include "Ain't That Lonely Yet" and "Turn It On, Turn It Up, Turn Me Loose" for Dwight Yokam, "Lord Have Mercy On the Working Man" for Travis Tritt, and "Life #9" for Martina McBride.]]> 2006-07-10T18:00:00-05:00 http://www.bmi.com/news/entry/234586 Allen, Harley, Big & Rich, Bryant, Del, Cake, Daniels, Charlie, DiPiero, Bob, Gentry, Montgomery, Hill, Ed, James, Tommy Lee, Keith, Toby, Lonestar, McDonald, Richie, McGehee, Vicky, McGraw, Tim, Nichols, Tim, Nichols, Tim, Starr, Ringo, Tritt, Travis, Twain, Shania, Urban, Keith, Country, BMI Country Awards Charlie Daniels Saluted as BMI Icon

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).

Kylie Sackley

Shelly Fairchild
Her voice conveys the blues of her Mississippi Delta home and the soulful power of a passionate woman who has been "singing with everything I've got" since she began performing as a child. Her edgy style conveys the confidence of a small-town girl from Clinton, Miss., bold enough to head out on her own and earn lead roles in major musicals and national theatrical tours, yet sensitive enough to write heart-tugging stories about love and family as well as steamy tales about desire and living life to the hilt. Her dynamic stage presence conveys the experience of a stage actress and the live-wire energy and hot-blooded emotion of a risk-taker who can open the throttle and roar or slow down to caress a lyric with intimate conviction. Her Columbia Records debut, Ride, is a one-of-a-kind introduction that suggests this country singer won't be held back by preconceptions about Nashville or contemporary country music. Shelly co-wrote four songs on her album, including "You Don't Lie Here Anymore." Her influences range from Patsy Cline and Dolly Parton to Hank Williams Jr. and Travis Tritt.

Stephony Smith
BMI Award-winning songwriter Stephony Smith's list of accolades is unparalleled. An eight-time BMI Million-Air Award winner, she was named both Songwriter of the Year and her Faith Hill and Tim McGraw #1 hit "It's Your Love" was named Song of the Year at the 1998 BMI Country Awards. The song also earned a ACM Award for Song of the Year, as well as a Grammy and CMA nomination. She was named NSAI's Songwriter of the Year and has four NSAI #1 awards. Her other #1 cuts include "Back When" (Tim McGraw), "Sin Wagon" (Dixie Chicks), "Perfect Love" (Tricia Yearwood), "Yes!" (Chad Brock), "Big Star" (Kenny Chesney) and "How Was I to Know" (Reba McEntire). Smith has also written over 100 songs for artists such as Shania Twain, Wynonna, She Daisy, Barbra Streisand, Martina McBride, Shelby Lynne, Diamond Rio, Lonestar, Montgomery Gentry, and many others.

Lisa Carver
Lisa carver is a native Charleston, South Carolina girl, who has been part of the Nashville underground music scene for years. She is a songwriter first and foremost, but has always enjoyed entertaining audiences worldwide with her eclectic, three-dimensional story songs. However, over the last few years, after becoming a grand prize winner in the John Lennon Songwriting Fest, she began getting her collection of audial art cut by today's country artists ranging from Tim McGraw, Shelly Fairchild, Julie Roberts and Jessica Andrews, to Willie Nelson. Her vocal style is pretty much school of Prine, while her writing style lies somewhere between Kinky Friedman and Kris Kristofferson. Her irreverence and originality are refreshing in today's white-washed, politically-correct country music climate, and she's grateful for the chance to be making her mark on Music Row.

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"

Among the distinguished talents who previously have been crowned BMI Country Songwriter of the Year are Vince Gill, Shania Twain, Dixie Chick Martie Maguire, Ronnie Dunn, Toby Keith, Harlan Howard, Roger Miller, Kris Kristofferson, Merle Haggard and eight-time victor Billy Sherrill. Last year's top winners were Lonestar's Richie McDonald, writer of Song of the Year "I'm Already There," and Songwriters of the Year Tom Shapiro and Troy Verges. Recent artist guests have included Toby Keith, Brooks & Dunn, Keith Urban, Sheryl Crow, Willie Nelson, Martina McBride, Travis Tritt, Trick Pony, Rascal Flatts and Dwight Yoakam.

Check back here beginning at 10 pm CT/11 pm ET November 4 for a complete list of 2003 BMI Country Award winners. High-resolution photos will also be available for downloading to registered users only at Press.BMI.com. To request access, please email MediaRelations@bmi.com.]]> 2003-10-14T18:00:00-05:00 http://www.bmi.com/news/entry/200048 Artists, Alabama, Gayle, Crystal, Loveless, Patty, McBride, Jim, Travis, Randy, Tritt, Travis, Musical Styles, Country Jim McBride recently visited BMI's Joyce Rice and Paul Corbin in Nashville to sign a writer agreement with the performing rights organization. McBride was a full-time postman and part-time songwriter until 1981, when he began to pursue his songwriting career exclusively. His first hit came that year with "A Bridge That Just Won't Burn," recorded by Conway Twitty, and was quickly followed by his first #1 "Bet Your Heart On Me," recorded by Johnny Lee.

BMI's Joyce Rice, Jim McBride, BMI's Paul Corbin. photo by Brian Tipton

His other #1 songs include "Rose In Paradise" by Waylon Jennings and four by Alan Jackson: "Chasin' That Neon Rainbow," "Someday," "Chattahoochee" and "Who Says You Can't Have It All." "Chattahoochee," which he co-wrote with Jackson, was named Song of the Year at the 1994 CMA Awards.

McBride has also provided hits for Alabama, Johnny Cash, George Jones, Brenda Lee, Anne Murray, Reba McEntire, Jerry Lee Lewis, Randy Travis, Crystal Gayle, Travis Tritt and Patty Loveless. He has received several songwriting honors from the Nashville Songwriters Association International and was presented with the Music Creator Award from the Alabama Music Hall of Fame in 1995.]]> 2003-01-28T17:00:01-05:00 http://www.bmi.com/news/entry/200051 Artists, Chesnut, Jerry, Cochran, Hank, Howard, Harlan, Nelson, Willie, Parton, Dolly, Presley, Elvis, Tritt, Travis, Williams, Hank, Musical Styles, Country Jerry Chesnut. Painted by Nashville-based artist Anne Collie, the portrait of Chesnut joins those of other Tree Publishing & BMI greats -- including Harlan Howard, Conway Twitty, Hank Cochran, Curly Putman, Bobby Braddock and Willie Nelson -- on permanent display in the Sony/ATV lobby.

BMI's Bradley Collins and Joyce Rice, Sony/ATV's Donna Hilley, Jerry Chesnut and BMI's David Preston. photo by Brian Tipton

Sony/ATV Music president Donna Hilley praised one of Music Row's "Founding Fathers," whose catalog remains one of the most valuable in the company. Chesnut's songs are currently in the marketplace on more than 300 CDs, with many certified Gold and Platinum.

Among his classics are "T-R-O-U-B-L-E," "Four In the Morning," "A Good Year For the Roses," "It's Midnight," "Oney," "Woman Without Love," "Good Time Charley" and "The Wonders You Perform." The list of the hundred+ artists who have recorded his music is stellar and diverse: Elvis Presley, George Jones, Dolly Parton, Tom Jones, George Strait, Kitty Wells, Buddy Knox, Carol Channing, Travis Tritt, Elvis Costello, Wayne Newton, Dolly Parton, Johnny Cash, Tammy Wynette, Jerry Lee Lewis, Brook Benton, Alan Jackson, Marty Robbins, Lorretta Lynn and Hank Williams, Jr.

A native of Loyall, Kentucky and a former railroad conductor, Chesnut moved to Nashville in 1958 and scored his first major hit in 1967 with "A Dime At a Time," recorded by Del Reeves. His first #1 was the Grammy-nominated "Another Place, Another Time," recorded by Jerry Lee Lewis. In his career he has collected nearly two dozen performance honors from BMI, including double Million-Air status for "T-R-O-U-B-L-E." The first Lifetime Member of NSAI, Chesnut joined the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame in 1996.]]> 2003-01-23T17:00:00-05:00