Bob DiPiero Receives BMI Icon Award at 2017 BMI Country Awards
Reba, Brooks & Dunn, and Jon Pardi pay tribute to the songwriting legend; Keith Urban receives BMI Champion Award; Ross Copperman, Sony/ATV among honorees
BMI proudly presented its 2017 BMI Country Awards last night, honoring the prolific songwriting career of BMI Icon Award recipient Bob DiPiero, as well as the Country Songwriter, Song and Publisher of the Year. The 65th annual event, which is the genre’s oldest awards ceremony, also celebrated the songwriters and publishers of the most-performed country songs of the past year. In addition, country superstar Keith Urban was presented with the BMI Champion award for his work supporting the next generation of songwriters and music makers. BMI President and CEO Mike O’Neill hosted the ceremony at the Company’s office in Nashville, along with Jody Williams, BMI Vice President, Creative, Nashville.
DiPiero, who was named this year’s BMI Icon Award winner, joins an elite list of songwriters including Mac Davis, Dolly Parton, Vince Gill, Hank Williams, Jr., Willie Nelson, Merle Haggard, Charlie Daniels, Kris Kristofferson, and more. He was honored with a tribute concert from country heavy hitters Brooks & Dunn and Reba, as well as country newcomer, Jon Pardi. The BMI Icon Award is presented to songwriters who have distinctly and profoundly influenced the music industry. Brooks & Dunn gave a rocking performance of “You Can’t Take The Honky Tonk Out of The Girl,” and Reba serenaded the room of industry tastemakers with a heartfelt performance of the 1994 chart topper, “Till You Love Me.” Newcomer Jon Pardi brought the house down with “Daddy’s Money.”
Earlier in the evening, Keith Urban was presented with the BMI Champion award for his tireless commitment to numerous music education programs such as the CMA Foundation, the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum, the GRAMMY Foundation, the Mr. Holland’s Opus Fund, MusiCares, and others. Urban’s “All For The Hall” benefit concerts have raised more than $2.6 million for the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum, and since 2013, the proceeds from his new URBAN™ Guitar Collection have benefited both the GRAMMY Foundation and Mr. Holland’s Opus Fund. Maren Morris performed “But For The Grace of God” with help from the Nashville School of the Arts choir, who performed with URBAN™ Guitars donated to the school. The song was his first number one single.
Ross Copperman was named Songwriter of the Year for the second year in a row. His writing credits include six of the most-performed songs of the past year, including LOCASH’s “I Know Somebody,” Kenny Chesney’s “Noise” and “Setting The World On Fire,” Brett Eldredge’s “Wanna Be That Song,” Keith Urban’s “Break On Me,” A Thousand Horses’ “Smoke” and Luke Bryan’s “Strip It Down.”
The coveted Song of the Year award was given to “H.O.L.Y.,” written by busbee and Nate Cyphert. Published by BMG Platinum Songs US, BRRCOFFEE, and Pulse Ventures, the Florida Georgia Line track was the most-performed country song of the year.
Sony/ATV Music Publishing Nashville continued their incredible winning streak of more than a decade, again taking home the Publisher of the Year accolade. Responsible for 26 of the 50 most-performed songs of the year, Sony/ATV published megahits such as Keith Urban’s “Break On Me,” Cole Swindell’s “You Should Be Here,” Luke Bryan’s “Huntin’, Fishin’, and Lovin’ Every Day,” and many more. During the ceremony, BMI also saluted the songwriters and publishers of the 50 most-performed country songs of the previous year.
Congratulations to all! Here’s a complete list of the night’s winners:
SONG OF THE YEAR
H.O.L.Y.
busbee
Nate Cyphert
BMG Platinum Songs US
BRRCOFFEE
Pulse Ventures
SONGWRITER OF THE YEAR
ROSS COPPERMAN
American Country Love Song
Break On Me
I Know Somebody
Noise
Setting The World On Fire
Wanna Be That Song
PUBLISHER OF THE YEAR
SONY/ATV MUSIC PUBLISHING NASHVILLE
(EMI-Blackwood Music, Inc, Sony/ATV Acuff Rose, Sony/ATV Countryside and Sony/ATV Tree)
A Little More Summertime
American Country Love Song
Better Man
Break On Me
Dirt On My Boots
Head Over Boots
Huntin’, Fishin’ and Lovin’ Every Day
I Know Somebody
If The Boot Fits
Kill A Word
Livin’ The Dream
Middle Of A Memory
Mind Reader
Move
Nobody To Blame
Noise
Parachute
Record Year
Rock On
Setting The World On Fire
Sober Saturday Night
Star Of The Show
Think A Little Less
Think Of You
Wanna Be That Song
You Should Be Here
CHAMPION AWARD
KEITH URBAN
ICON AWARD
BOB DIPIERO
2017 COUNTRY AWARDS TOP 50 SONGS
80s MERCEDES
busbee
Maren Morris
7189 Music Publishing
BMG Platinum Songs US
International Dog Music
A GUY WITH A GIRL
Bryan Simpson
Clearbox Benefit
Spirit of Nashville One
Writers of Sea Gayle Music
A LITTLE MORE SUMMERTIME
Tony Martin
Wendell Mobley
Fonde Mountain Music
ole Casa Jaco Music
Sony/ATV Tree
Warner-Tamerlane Publishing Corp.
AMERICAN COUNTRY LOVE SONG
Ross Copperman
EMI-Blackwood Music, Inc.
Rezolant Music
BETTER MAN
Taylor Swift
Sony/ATV Tree
Taylor Swift Music
BREAK ON ME
Ross Copperman
EMI-Blackwood Music, Inc.
Rezolant Music
DIRT ON MY BOOTS
Rhett Akins
Jesse Frasure
EMI-Blackwood Music, Inc.
Rio Bravo Music
Telemitry Productions
Warner-Tamerlane Publishing Corp.
FIX
Sarah Buxton
Jesse Frasure
Big Loud Proud Crowd
Bux Tone Music
Rio Bravo Music
Round Hill Works
Telemitry Productions
FROM THE GROUND UP
Shay Mooney
Shay Mooney Music
Warner-Tamerlane Publishing Corp.
H.O.L.Y.
busbee
Nate Cyphert
BMG Platinum Songs US
BRRCOFFEE
Pulse Ventures
HEAD OVER BOOTS
Luke Laird
Jon Pardi
Creative Nation Music
Rancho Fiesta Publishing
Songs of Song Factory
Songs of Universal, Inc.
Sony/ATV Countryside
HOMETOWN GIRL
Daniel Tashian
International Dog Music
HOW I’LL ALWAYS BE
Chris Janson
Jamie Paulin
ole Red Vinyl Music
Songs of Universal, Inc.
HUMBLE AND KIND
Lori McKenna
Hoodie Songs
Songs of Universal, Inc.
HUNTIN’, FISHIN’ AND LOVIN’ EVERY DAY
Rhett Akins
Luke Bryan
Dallas Davidson
EMI-Blackwood Music, Inc.
Peanut Mill Songs
Round Hill Works
Sony/ATV Tree
Warner-Tamerlane Publishing Corp.
I KNOW SOMEBODY
Rhett Akins
Ross Copperman
EMI-Blackwood Music, Inc.
Rezolant Music
Warner-Tamerlane Publishing Corp.
IF THE BOOT FITS
Mitchell Tenpenny
Sony/ATV Countryside
IT ALL STARTED WITH A BEER
Neil Mason
Nevada House Music
Revelry Music
Songs of Kobalt Music Publishing, Inc.
IT DON’T HURT LIKE IT USED TO
Shy Carter
BMG Platinum Songs US
Primary Wave Brian
You Want How Much Of What Publishing
KILL A WORD
Eric Church
Luke Dick
Jeff Hyde
Emileon Songs
Little Louder Songs
Longer And Louder Songs
Mammaw’s Fried Okra Music
Songs of Kobalt Music Publishing, Inc.
Sony/ATV Tree
LIGHTS COME ON
Tyler Hubbard
Brian Kelley
Brad Warren
Brett Warren
Big Loud Brad Songs
Big Loud Brett Songs
Big Loud Mountain
Big Loud Proud Crowd
Pranch Ringle Music
Round Hill Works
T Hubb Publishing
LIVIN’ THE DREAM
Tom Douglas
Luke Laird
Creative Nation Music
Songs of Universal, Inc.
Sony/ATV Tree
TomDouglasMusic
LOVIN’ LATELY
Big Kenny
Tim McGraw
Big Love Music
Songs of Kobalt Music Publishing, Inc.
Spirit of Nashville One
MAY WE ALL
Rodney Clawson
Big Loud Proud Crowd
Round Hill Compositions
Round Hill Works
Shirt At Work
MIDDLE OF A MEMORY
Cole Swindell
Colden Rainey Music
Sony/ATV Tree
MIND READER
Rhett Akins
EMI-Blackwood Music, Inc.
Warner-Tamerlane Publishing Corp.
MOVE
Luke Bryan
Peanut Mill Songs
Sony/ATV Tree
MY CHURCH
busbee
Maren Morris
7189 Music Publishing
BMG Platinum Songs US
International Dog Music
NOBODY TO BLAME
Barry Bales
Ronnie Bowman
Never Wanted Nothing More Music
Quackhead Music
Sony/ATV Tree
NOISE
Kenny Chesney
Ross Copperman
Basuare Music
EMI-Blackwood Music, Inc.
Rezolant Music
Sony/ATV Acuff Rose
PARACHUTE
Jim Beavers
Don’tCallMeBrett Music
Sony/ATV Tree
PETER PAN
Jesse Lee
ole Purple Cape Music
RECORD YEAR
Eric Church
Jeff Hyde
Little Louder Songs
Longer And Louder Songs
Mammaw’s Fried Okra Music
Songs of Kobalt Music Publishing, Inc.
Sony/ATV Tree
ROAD LESS TRAVELED
Lauren Alaina
Jesse Frasure
Lylas Music
Rio Bravo Music
Warner-Tamerlane Publishing Corp.
ROCK ON
Casey Beathard
Tucker Beathard
Big Music Machine
Fayde 49 Music
Six Ring Circus Songs
Sony/ATV Acuff Rose
RUNNING FOR YOU
Blair Daly
Kip Moore
Troy Verges
Internal Combustion Music
Kickin’ Grids Music
Music of Atlas Holdings
Music of Stage Three, a BMG company
Roll Through Music
Songs From The Engine Room
Songs of Atlas Music Group
Songs of Cornman
Songs of Universal, Inc.
Southside Independent Music Publishing
SEEIN’ RED
Tully Kennedy
IrishSonMusic
Magic Mustang Music, Inc.
Warner-Tamerlane Publishing Corp.
SETTING THE WORLD ON FIRE
Ross Copperman
EMI-Blackwood Music, Inc.
Rezolant Music
SLEEP WITHOUT YOU
Kelly Archer
Downtown DMP Songs
Stars and Stripes and Maple Leaf Music
SOBER SATURDAY NIGHT
Brad Warren
Brett Warren
Chris Young
EMI-Blackwood Music, Inc.
Fam Love Music
Goodbye Pants LLC
Sagequinnjude Music
SOMEWHERE ON A BEACH
Alexander Palmer
BMG Platinum Songs US
STAR OF THE SHOW
Rhett Akins
Thomas Rhett
Cricket On The Line
EMI-Blackwood Music, Inc.
Warner-Tamerlane Publishing Corp.
THE WEEKEND
Brantley Gilbert
Indiana Angel Music
Warner-Tamerlane Publishing Corp.
THINK A LITTLE LESS
Barry Dean
Thomas Rhett
Country Paper
Creative Pulse Music
Cricket On The Line
EMI-Blackwood Music, Inc.
Pulse Nation
These Are Pulse Songs
THINK OF YOU
Chris Young
EMI-Blackwood Music, Inc.
Goodbye Pants LLC
T-SHIRT
Luke Laird
Creative Nation Music
Songs of Universal, Inc.
WANNA BE THAT SONG
Ross Copperman
Brett Eldredge
EMI-Blackwood Music, Inc.
Paris Not France Music
Rezolant Music
Sony/ATV Countryside
WASTED TIME
Keith Urban
Mary Rose Music
Songs of Universal, Inc.
YOU LOOK LIKE I NEED A DRINK
Rodney Clawson
Natalie Hemby
Big Loud Proud Crowd
Creative Pulse Music
HappyGoWrucke
Round Hill Compositions
Round Hill Works
Shirt At Work
These Are Pulse Songs
YOU SHOULD BE HERE
Cole Swindell
Colden Rainey Music
Sony/ATV Tree
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