BMI Country Awards Honor Top Music Makers On November 4

Posted in News on October 14, 2003

The most popular country songs of the past year will be honored when performing rights organization BMI presents the 51st annual BMI Country Awards on Tuesday, November 4. The black-tie dinner and awards ceremony, staged at the company’s Music Row home, salute the songwriters of the 50 most performed songs of last year, and will culminate in the announcements of Songwriter of the Year, Publisher of the Year, and Most Performed Country Song of the Year (the Robert J. Burton Award). BMI President & CEO Frances Preston and BMI Nashville Vice President Paul Corbin are hosts of the invitation-only event, the oldest awards program recognizing country music creators.

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.

SOURCENews TAGS Country BMI Country Awards Artists Brooks & Dunn Sheryl Crow Vince Gill Merle Haggard Harlan Howard Toby Keith Kris Kristofferson Lonestar Martina McBride Richie McDonald Willie Nelson Frances Preston Rascal Flatts Tom Shapiro Trick Pony Travis Tritt Shania Twain Keith Urban Troy Verges Dwight Yoakam