BMI Stands “Amazed” at 48th Annual Country Awards
Click here to see photos from the event
Nashville, October 3 — Performing rights organization BMI staged the 48th edition of its Country Awards tonight, with superlative honors reserved for "Amazed," songwriters Al Anderson and Skip Ewing, songwriter/artists Martie Seidel and Shania Twain, and publishing giant Sony/ATV Tree. BMI Citations of Achievement were presented by President & CEO Frances W. Preston and Vice President Roger Sovine to the songwriters and publishers of the past year’s 50 most performed songs during a black-tie gala at the company’s Music Row offices. This celebration -- the oldest awards program saluting country music’s creators -- culminated in the announcements of Country Song, Songwriter, and Publisher of the Year.
 Sony/ATV Tree was proclaimed Publisher of the Year at the 48th BMI Country Awards, with nine songs on the list of the 50 most performed songs of the past year. Onstage for the presentation are BMI's Roger Sovine, Sony/ATV Tree's Woody Bomar and Donna Hilley, BMI's Frances Preston and Sony/ATV Tree's Don Cook. |
"Amazed" earned writers Marv Green, Chris Lindsey and Aimee Mayo the 32nd Robert J. Burton Award as Most Performed Country Song of the Year. An unprecedented 8-weeks-at-#1-Billboard smash for RCA recording artists Lonestar, "Amazed" is published by Careers-BMG Music Publishing, Inc. (Nick Firth and Karen Conrad accepting); Golden Wheat Music (Scott Hendricks accepting); Silverkiss Music (Aimee Mayo accepting); Songs of Nashville DreamWorks (Chuck Kaye and James Stroud accepting) and Warner-Tamerlane Publishing Corp. (Les Bider and Tim Wipperman accepting).
 BMI's Roger Sovine, Al Anderson, Skip Ewing, Shania Twain, BMI's Frances Preston, Martie Seidel and BMI's Del Bryant |
Al Anderson, Skip Ewing, Martie Seidel and Shania Twain each placed three songs on the list of 50 to form a Country Songwriter of the Year quadrumvirate. Anderson and Ewing were presented with BMI Crystals inscribed with Songwriter of the Year; Seidel and Twain were gifted with the inaugural Songwriter/Artist Crystal.
 Stephony Smith and Toby Keith |
Al Anderson’s winning titles were "Powerful Thing," "Big Deal" and "Unbelievable" (the last two co-written with Jeffrey Steele). Anderson, former NRBQ guitarist who has written hits for Carlene Carter, Hal Ketchum and The Mavericks, previously earned BMI Awards for "All You Ever Do Is Bring Me Down" and "Should’ve Asked Her Faster."
Skip Ewing, who has scored hits for Kenny Chesney, Clint Black and Bryan White as well as for himself, brought his BMI Awards total to 14 citations with the success of "Put Your Hand In Mine," "Wish You Were Here" and "You Had Me From Hello."
Martie Seidel of the Dixie Chicks saw her first-ever BMI Awards — for "Cowboy Take Me Away," "Ready To Run" and "You Were Mine" — deliver a share of the night’s top songwriting prize. "You Were Mine" (composed with sister/Chick Emily Robison) is from the Monument trio’s 10-million-selling Wide Open Spaces album; the other two songs (with collaborator Marcus Hummon) were #1 hits from six-times-platinum album Fly.
Returning champ Shania Twain’s award-winning compositions were "Come On Over," "Man! I Feel Like A Woman" and "That Don’t Impress Me Much," all from the 17-times platinum Mercury release Come On Over (the best-selling album in country music history and the best-selling album ever by a female solo artist). The 1999 CMA Entertainer of the Year, who captured both BMI Country Songwriter and Song ("You’re Still The One") honors last year, was also crowned BMI Pop Songwriter of Year the past two years; she now owns 22 BMI Country and Pop Awards.
Sony/ATV Tree basked in the spotlight as BMI Country Publisher of the Year by accumulating the highest percentage of copyright ownership in award songs. Sony/ATV Tree Publishing President & CEO Donna Hilley and Sony/ATV Music Publishing President Richard Rowe accepted the BMI Crystal for the publisher, which placed nine songs on the most-performed list.
Highlights of the evening included the presentation of the President’s Award to Alabama; songwriter members Randy Owen and Teddy Gentry accepted the sterling silver loving cup. BMI created the President’s Award in 1993 to honor an exceptional person or persons in the entertainment industry deserving of special recognition. Presented tonight for only the fourth time, the honor has previously been bestowed on Harlan Howard, Brian Wilson and Earle Hagen. Preston also recognized the family of the late Faron Young on the eve of the BMI songwriter’s induction into the Country Music Hall of Fame.
The BMI Country Awards, the first songwriter awards event to be carried live on the internet, were made available to the world wide web audience through coverage by liveonthenet.com.
Of the 59 songwriters recognized, nine were double winners: Bill Anderson, Jim Collins, Andy Griggs, Marcus Hummon, Tony Martin, Jeffrey Steele, Steve Wariner and "Amazed" authors Aimee Mayo and Chris Lindsey.
Additional publishers collecting four or more awards were Warner-Tamerlane Publishing Corp; Universal Music Publishing Group (Songs of Universal, Inc. and Universal-Songs of PolyGram International, Inc.); EMI Music Publishing (Beechwood Music Corporation, EMI-Blackwood Music, Inc., EMI-Tower Street Music and EMI-Longitude Music); Careers-BMG Music Publishing, Inc.; and Mighty Nice Music.
Four songs were cited for the second time. The Nat Stuckey-penned "Pop A Top" picked up its first Country Award in 1968; "Stand Beside Me," "This Kiss" and "Unbelievable" each posted a previous win in 1999.
Among this year’s honorees, 31 songs have earned the status of BMI Million-Air (accumulating at least one million broadcast performances) for a total of over 36 million performances. "God Must Have Spent A Little More Time On You" and "Crazy Little Thing Called Love" have each reached the two million milestone; "Missing You" has hit the four million mark. All three songs have also previously garnered BMI Pop Awards. Based on an average length of three minutes, one million airplays is the equivalent of 50,000 hours or 5.7 years, continuously; Million-Airs on the 2000 Country list translate into 1.8 million hours or 205+ years of continuous airplay.
BMI’s Citations of Achievement are given annually in recognition of popularity in the field of country music, as measured by feature broadcast performances on American radio and television; the 2000 Country Awards eligibility period ran April 1, 1999 through March 21, 2000.
Founded in 1940, BMI is an American performing rights organization represent-ing more than 250,000 songwriters, composers and music publishers in all music genres. Through music performance and reciprocal agreements, it grants businesses and media access to its repertoire of more than 4.5 million musical works from around the world.
BMI Country Awards 2000
The 50 Most Performed Songs
ALL THINGS CONSIDERED
Tim Hunt
Smith Haven Music
Warner-Tamerlane Publishing Corp. Yankee Grey: Monument
AMAZED
Marv Green
Chris Lindsey
Aimee Mayo
Careers-BMG Music Publishing, Inc.
Golden Wheat Music
Silverkiss Music
Songs of Nashville DreamWorks
Warner-Tamerlane Publishing Corp.
Lonestar: BNA
BECAUSE YOU LOVE ME
Kostas
John Scott Sherrill
Nothing But The Wolf Music
Seven Angels Music
Sony/ATV Tree
Universal-Songs of PolyGram International, Inc.
Jo Dee Messina: Curb
BIG DEAL
Al Anderson
Jeffrey Steele
Al Andersongs
Mighty Nice Music
My Life's Work Music
Songs of Windswept Pacific
Yellow Desert Music
LeAnn Rimes: Curb
BREATHE
Stephanie Bentley
Hopechest Music
Universal-Songs of PolyGram International, Inc.
Faith Hill: Warner Bros.
COME ON OVER
Shania Twain
Loon Echo, Inc.
Universal-Songs of PolyGram International, Inc.
Shania Twain: Mercury
COWBOY TAKE ME AWAY
Marcus Hummon
Martie Seidel
Careers-BMG Music Publishing, Inc.
Floyd's Dream Music
Woolly Puddin' Music
Dixie Chicks: Monument
CRAZY LITTLE THING CALLED LOVE
Freddie Mercury (PRS)
Beechwood Music Corporation
Dwight Yoakam: Reprise
EVERYTIME I CRY
Karen Staley
Warner-Tamerlane Publishing Corp.
Terri Clark: Mercury
GOD MUST HAVE SPENT A LITTLE MORE TIME ON YOU
Evan Rogers
Carl Sturken
Bayjun Beat Music
Songs of Universal, Inc.
Alabama: RCA
View website
HANDS OF A WORKING MAN
Jim Collins
David Vincent Williams
Megalex Music
Sugar Bend Music
Warner-Tamerlane Publishing Corp.
Ty Herndon: Epic
HOW DO YOU LIKE ME NOW?!
Chuck Cannon
Toby Keith
Tokeco Tunes
Wacissa River Music, Inc.
Toby Keith: DreamWorks
HOW FOREVER FEELS
Wendell Mobley
New Works Music Co.
Warner-Tamerlane Publishing Corp.
Kenny Chesney: BNA
I CAN'T GET OVER YOU
Ronnie Dunn
Terry McBride
Constant Pressure Publishing
Showbilly Music
Sony/ATV Tree
Warner-Tamerlane Publishing Corp.
Brooks & Dunn: Arista
I'LL GO CRAZY
Andy Griggs
Zack Turner
Sony/ATV Tree
Andy Griggs: RCA
I'LL THINK OF A REASON LATER
Tony Martin
Tim Nichols
Baby Mae Music
EMI-Blackwood Music, Inc.
Hamstein Cumberland Music
Ty Land Music
Lee Ann Womack: Decca
I'M ALREADY TAKEN
Terry Ryan
Steve Wariner
Fleetside Music
Steve Wariner Music
Steve Wariner: Capitol
LESSONS LEARNED
Paul Nelson
Asifits Music
Sony/ATV Tree
Tracy Lawrence: Atlantic
LITTLE GOOD-BYES
Kenny Greenberg
Kent Greene Music
Sony/ATV Tree
SheDaisy: Lyric Street
LONELY AND GONE
Greg Crowe
Dave Gibson
Bill McCorvey, Jr.
House of Integrity Music
Little Tornadoes Music
Timberock Music
Universal-Songs of PolyGram International, Inc.
Warner-Tamerlane Publishing Corp.
Montgomery Gentry: Columbia
MAN! I FEEL LIKE A WOMAN!
Shania Twain
Loon Echo, Inc.
Universal-Songs of PolyGram International, Inc.
Shania Twain: Mercury
MISSING YOU
John Waite
Paperwaite Music
Brooks & Dunn: Arista
MY BEST FRIEND
Aimee Mayo
Bill Luther
Careers-BMG Music Publishing, Inc.
Tim McGraw: Curb
(NOW YOU SEE ME) NOW YOU DON'T
David Lee
Ken Ten Publishing, Inc.
Lee Ann Womack: MCA Nashville
ONE HONEST HEART
David Malloy
Malloy's Toys Music
Starstruck Angel Music, Inc.
Reba: MCA Nashville
PLEASE REMEMBER ME
Will Jennings
Blue Sky Rider Songs
Tim McGraw: Curb
POP A TOP
(2nd Award: 1968)
Nat Stuckey
Sony/ATV Tree
Alan Jackson: Arista
POWERFUL THING
Al Anderson
Al Andersongs
Mighty Nice Music
Trisha Yearwood: MCA Nashville
PUT YOUR HAND IN MINE
Skip Ewing
Acuff-Rose Music, Inc.
Write On! Music
Tracy Byrd: RCA
READY TO RUN
Marcus Hummon
Martie Seidel
Careers-BMG Music Publishing, Inc.
Floyd's Dream Music
Woolly Puddin' Music
Dixie Chicks: Monument
SHE THINKS MY TRACTOR'S SEXY
Jim Collins
Paul Overstreet
EMI-Blackwood Music, Inc.
Jelinda Music
Scarlet Moon Music, Inc.
Kenny Chesney: BNA
SHE'S IN LOVE
Keith Stegall
EMI-Tower Street Music
Little Cayman Music
Mark Wills: Mercury
SINGLE WHITE FEMALE
Shaye Smith
EMI-Blackwood Music, Inc.
Zomba Songs, Inc.
Chely Wright: MCA Nashville
SMILE
Chris Lindsey
Songs of Nashville DreamWorks
Lonestar: BNA
SOMETHING LIKE THAT
Rick Ferrell
Mr. Noise Music
We Make Music
Tim McGraw: Curb
STAND BESIDE ME
(2nd Award: 1999)
Stephen Allen Davis
Hamstein Cumberland Music
Jo Dee Messina: Curb
THAT DON'T IMPRESS ME MUCH
Shania Twain
Loon Echo, Inc.
Universal-Songs of PolyGram International, Inc.
Shania Twain: Mercury
THIS KISS
(2nd Award: 1999)
Robin Lerner
Puckalesia Songs
Warner-Tamerlane Publishing Corp.
Faith Hill: Warner Bros.
TWO TEARDROPS
Bill Anderson
Steve Wariner
Mr. Bubba Music, Inc.
Sony/ATV Tree
Steve Wariner Music
Steve Wariner: Capitol
UNBELIEVABLE
(2nd Award: 1999)
Al Anderson
Jeffrey Steele
Al Andersongs
EMI-Longitude Music
Mighty Nice Music
My Life's Work Music
Songs of Windswept Pacific
Yellow Desert Music
Diamond Rio: Arista
WHAT DO YOU SAY
Michael Dulaney
Dulaneyhouse Music
Ensign Music Corporation
Michael Dulaney Music
Reba: MCA Nashville
WHAT DO YOU SAY TO THAT
Jim Lauderdale
Melba Montgomery
Caroljac Music
Laudersongs
Mighty Nice Music
George Strait: MCA Nashville
WHATEVER YOU SAY
Ed Hill
Tony Martin
Baby Mae Music
Careers-BMG Music Publishing, Inc.
Hamstein Cumberland Music
Music Hill Music
Martina McBride: RCA
WHEN I SAID I DO
Clint Black
Blackened Music
Clint Black with Lisa Hartman Black: RCA
WISH YOU WERE HERE
Bill Anderson
Skip Ewing
Debbie Moore
Acuff-Rose Music, Inc.
Belton Uncle Music
Mr. Bubba Music, Inc.
Sony/ATV Tree
Write On! Music
Mark Wills: Mercury
WRITE THIS DOWN
Kent Robbins
Colter Bay Music
Irving Music
George Strait: MCA Nashville
WRONG NIGHT
Rick Bowles
Josh Leo
Hellmaymen Music
Starstruck Angel Music, Inc.
Warner-Tamerlane Publishing Corp.
Reba: MCA Nashville
YOU HAD ME FROM HELLO
Kenny Chesney
Skip Ewing
Acuff-Rose Music, Inc.
Roots and Boots Music
Write On! Music
Kenny Chesney: BNA
YOU WERE MINE
Emily Robison
Martie Seidel
Woolly Puddin' Music
Dixie Chicks: Monument
YOU WON'T EVER BE LONELY
Andy Griggs
Sony/ATV Tree
Andy Griggs: RCA
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