Shania Twain, Toby Keith, Casey Beathard Lead Winners at 2004 BMI Country Awards
Loretta Lynn Honored as BMI ICON
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.
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.
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| 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).
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| 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 Miner's 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 Edward Holland; and blues/rock/soul artist Van Morrison.
Below is the complete list of 2004 BMI Country Music Award winners:
BMI Country Song of the Year
FOREVER AND FOR ALWAYS
Shania Twain
Loon Echo, Inc.
Universal-Songs of PolyGram International, Inc.
BMI Country Songwriter of the Year
Casey Beathard
BMI Country Songwriter/Artist of the Year
Toby Keith
BMI Country Publisher of the Year
Sony/ATV Music Publishing Nashville
ALMOST HOME
Craig Morgan
Magic Mustang Music, Inc.
Triple Shoes Music
Craig Morgan
Broken Bow
AMERICAN SOLDIER
Chuck Cannon
Toby Keith
Tokeco Tunes
Wacissa River Music, Inc.
Toby Keith
DreamWorks Nashville
BEER FOR MY HORSES
Scotty Emerick
Toby Keith
Big Yellow Dog Music
Sony/ATV Tree
Tokeco Tunes
Toby Keith duet with Willie Nelson
DreamWorks Nashville
BIG STAR
Stephony Smith
EMI-Blackwood Music, Inc.
Singles Only Music
Kenny Chesney
BNA
CHICKS DIG IT
Charlie Crowe
Casey Donovan Music
Chris Cagle
Capitol Nashville
CONCRETE ANGEL
Stephanie Bentley
Rob Crosby
Glitterfish Music, Inc.
Hopechest Music
Universal-Songs of PolyGram International, Inc.
Martina McBride
RCA
COOL TO BE A FOOL
Steve Dean
Wil Nance
Bethar Music
Still Working For The Man Music, Inc.
Wil Nance Songs
Joe Nichols
Universal South
COWBOYS LIKE US
Bob DiPiero
Love Monkey Music
Sony/ATV Tree
George Strait
MCA Nashville
DRINKIN' BONE
Casey Beathard
Sony/ATV Acuff Rose
Tracy Byrd
RCA
A FEW QUESTIONS
Phillip Moore
Ray Scott
Green Dogg Music, Inc.
Clay Walker
RCA
FOREVER AND FOR ALWAYS
Shania Twain
Loon Echo, Inc.
Universal-Songs of PolyGram International, Inc.
Shania Twain
Mercury Nashville
HAVE YOU FORGOTTEN?
Wynn Varble
Warner-Tamerlane Publishing Corp.
Darryl Worley
DreamWorks Nashville
HELL YEAH
Jeffrey Steele
Gottahaveable Music
Songs of Windswept Pacific
Montgomery Gentry
Columbia Records
HELP POUR OUT THE RAIN (LACEY'S SONG)
Buddy Jewell
My Little Jewell Music
Sony/ATV Tree
Buddy Jewell
Columbia Records
HONESTY (WRITE ME A LIST)
Patience Clements
David Kent
New Works Music Co.
Sony/ATV Acuff Rose
Rodney Atkins
Curb Records
HOT MAMA
Casey Beathard
Tom Shapiro
Sony/ATV Acuff Rose
Sony/ATV Tree
Wenonga Music
Trace Adkins
Capitol Nashville
I BELIEVE
Skip Ewing
Donny Kees
Sony/ATV Acuff Rose
Write On! Music
Diamond Rio
Arista Nashville
I LOVE THIS BAR
Scotty Emerick
Toby Keith
Big Yellow Dog Music
Sony/ATV Tree
Tokeco Tunes
Toby Keith
DreamWorks Nashville
I MELT
Wendell Mobley
Warner-Tamerlane Publishing Corp.
Rascal Flatts
Lyric Street
I WANNA DO IT ALL
Rick Giles
Gilles Godard (SOCAN)
Tim Nichols
EMI-Blackwood Music, Inc.
Mike Curb Music
Sony/ATV Tree
Ty Land Music
Terri Clark
Mercury Nashville
IN MY DAUGHTER'S EYES
James Slater
Diversion Music
Songs of Nashville DreamWorks
Martina McBride
RCA
IT'S FIVE O'CLOCK SOMEWHERE
Don Rollins
R Joseph Publishing
Warner-Tamerlane Publishing Corp.
Alan Jackson featuring Jimmy Buffett
Arista Nashville
THE LOVE SONG
Jeff Bates
Casey Beathard
Smith Haven Music
Sony/ATV Acuff Rose
Warner-Tamerlane Publishing Corp.
Jeff Bates
RCA
MY FRONT PORCH LOOKING IN
Richie McDonald
Frank Myers
Frank Myers Music
Sixteen Stars Music
Sony/ATV Tree
Lonestar
BNA
NO SHOES, NO SHIRT, NO PROBLEMS
Casey Beathard
Sony/ATV Acuff Rose
Kenny Chesney
BNA
PERFECT
Sara Evans
Tony Martin
Tom Shapiro
Careers-BMG Music Publishing, Inc.
Gingerdog Songs
Gold Watch Music
Sony/ATV Tree
Wenonga Music
Sara Evans
RCA
REAL GOOD MAN
George Teren
Teren It Up Music
Zomba Songs Inc.
Tim McGraw
Curb Records
RED DIRT ROAD
Kix Brooks
Ronnie Dunn
Buffalo Prairie Songs
Showbilly Music
Sony/ATV Tree
Brooks & Dunn
Arista Nashville
SHE ONLY SMOKES WHEN SHE DRINKS
Tony Martin
Tim Nichols
EMI-Blackwood Music, Inc.
Mosaic Music
Sony/ATV Tree
Ty Land Music
Joe Nichols
Universal South
SHE'S MY KIND OF RAIN
Tommy Lee James
Robin Lerner
Massabielle Music
Still Working For The Man Music, Inc.
Tommy Lee James Songs
Tim McGraw
Curb Records
SHE'S NOT JUST A PRETTY FACE
Shania Twain
Loon Echo, Inc.
Universal-Songs of PolyGram International, Inc.
Shania Twain
Mercury Nashville
SPEED
Jeffrey Steele
Gottahaveable Music
Songs of Windswept Pacific
Montgomery Gentry
Columbia Records
SPEND MY TIME
Clint Black
Hayden Nicholas
Blackened Music
Clint Black
Equity Music Group
STAY GONE
Billy Kirsch
Kidbilly Music LLC
Jimmy Wayne
DreamWorks Nashville
STREETS OF HEAVEN
Sherrié Austin
Magic Mustang Music, Inc.
Write Em Cowgirl Music
Sherrié Austin
Broken Bow
SWEET SOUTHERN COMFORT
Rodney Clawson
Warner-Tamerlane Publishing Corp.
Writer's Extreme Music
Buddy Jewell
Columbia Records
TELL ME SOMETHING BAD ABOUT TULSA
Red Lane
Sony/ATV Tree
George Strait
MCA Nashville
THEN THEY DO
Jim Collins
Sunny Russ
Make Shift Music
Warner-Tamerlane Publishing Corp.
Trace Adkins
Capitol Nashville
THERE GOES MY LIFE
Wendell Mobley
Lexi's Palm Tree Music
Warner-Tamerlane Publishing Corp.
Kenny Chesney
BNA
THIS ONE'S FOR THE GIRLS
Aimee Mayo
Careers-BMG Music Publishing, Inc.
Silverkiss Music
Martina McBride
RCA
THREE WOODEN CROSSES
Doug Johnson
Mike Curb Music
Sweet Radical Music
Randy Travis
Word/Curb/Warner Christian
TOUGH LITTLE BOYS
Harley Allen
Coburn Music, Inc.
Harley Allen Music
Gary Allan
MCA Nashville
THE TRUTH ABOUT MEN
Tim Johnson
Paul Overstreet
Marathon Key II Music
Scarlet Moon Music, Inc.
Warner-Tamerlane Publishing Corp.
Tracy Byrd
RCA
WALK A LITTLE STRAIGHTER
Casey Beathard
Carson Chamberlain
Everything I Love Music
Sony/ATV Acuff Rose
Universal-Songs of PolyGram International, Inc.
Billy Currington
Mercury Nashville
WATCH THE WIND BLOW BY
Dylan Altman
Anders Osborne
Hope-N-Cal Music
Slowborne Music
Universal-Songs of PolyGram International, Inc.
Tim McGraw
Curb Records
WAVE ON WAVE
Pat Green
EMI-Blackwood Music, Inc.
Greenhorse Music
Pat Green
Republic/Universal South
WHAT WAS I THINKIN'
Brett Beavers
Sony/ATV Tree
Dierks Bentley
Capitol Nashville
WHO WOULDN'T WANNA BE ME
Keith Urban
Coburn Music, Inc.
Guitar Monkey Music
Keith Urban
Capitol Nashville
WRINKLES
Ronny Scaife
Universal-Songs of PolyGram International, Inc.
Virgin Timber Music
Diamond Rio
Arista Nashville
YOU CAN'T TAKE THE HONKY TONK OUT OF THE GIRL
Bart Allmand
Bob DiPiero
Emrson Bignz Music
Love Monkey Music
Sony/ATV Tree
Brooks & Dunn
Arista Nashville
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