Steve Cropper Receives BMI Icon Award at 2018 BMI Country Awards
John Legend, Luke Combs, Maggie Rose, and Lucie Silvas with Mike Farris and Kenny Greenberg pay tribute; Jesse Frasure and Warner-Tamerlane Music Publishing among other honorees
BMI proudly presented its 2018 BMI Country Awards this evening, honoring the prolific musical career of BMI Icon Award recipient Steve Cropper, as well as the Country Songwriter, Song and Publisher of the Year. The 66th 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. 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.
Cropper, who was named this year’s BMI Icon Award honoree, joins an elite list of songwriters including Mac Davis, Dolly Parton, Bob DiPiero, Vince Gill, Hank Williams, Jr., Loretta Lynn, Willie Nelson, Merle Haggard, Kris Kristofferson, and others who have distinctly and profoundly influenced the music industry. During the evening, heavy-hitter John Legend, CMA New Artist of the Year nominee Luke Combs, up-and-comer Maggie Rose, and Lucie Silvas with blues musician Mike Farris and guitarist Kenny Greenberg paid musical tribute to Cropper. Silvas, Farris, and Greenberg together gave a rocking mashup of “Soul Man” and “Hold On, I’m Comin’,” honoring both Cropper’s extraordinary guitar prowess and his musical contribution to the American classics. Maggie Rose gave a powerful performance of “In the Midnight Hour,” followed by Luke Combs’ rendition of “Knock on Wood.” Finally, GRAMMY award-winning singer-songwriter John Legend brought the house down with “(Sittin’ On) The Dock of the Bay.”
Also during the evening, Jesse Frasure was named 2018’s Country Songwriter of the Year. His writing credits include five of the most-performed songs of the past year, including Thomas Rhett’s “Marry Me” and “Unforgettable,” Easton Corbin’s “A Girl Like You,” Old Dominion’s “No Such Thing as a Broken Heart,” and LOCASH’s “Ring on Every Finger.”
The coveted Song of the Year award was given to “In Case You Didn’t Know,” written by Tyler Reeve and Trent Tomlinson. Published by Big Mosquito Music, Big Spaces Music, Brown Hound Publishing, Kirbfinder’s Mucho Love Music, and Smack of Ham Songs, the Brett Young track was the most-performed country song of the year.
Taking home the Publisher of the Year accolade was Warner-Tamerlane Publishing Group, which is responsible for 20 of the 50 most-performed songs of the year, including megahits “Meant to Be” by Bebe Rexha featuring Florida Georgia Line, as well as “When It Rains It Pours” and “Hurricane” by Luke Combs. The Group also publishes Keith Urban’s “The Fighter” and “I Could Use A Love Song” by Maren Morris. During the ceremony, BMI also saluted the songwriters and publishers of the 50 most-performed country songs of the previous year.
Here’s a list of the night’s winners. Congratulations to all!
SONG OF THE YEAR
IN CASE YOU DIDN’T KNOW
Tyler Reeve
Trent Tomlinson
Big Mosquito Music
Big Spaces Music
Brown Hound Publishing
Kirbfinder’s Mucho Love Music
Smack of Ham Songs
SONGWRITER OF THE YEAR
JESSE FRASURE
A Girl Like You
Marry Me
No Such Thing as a Broken Heart
Ring on Every Finger
Unforgettable
PUBLISHER OF THE YEAR
WARNER-TAMERLANE PUBLISHING CORP.
A Girl Like You
All on Me
All the Pretty Girls
Drinkin’ Problem
Every Little Thing
Every Time I Hear That Song
Greatest Love Story
Happens Like That
Hurricane
I Could Use a Love Song
It Ain’t My Fault
Meant to Be
More Girls Like You
No Such Thing as a Broken Heart
Small Town Boy
The Fighter
There’s a Girl
Unforgettable
When It Rains It Pours
You Look Good
ICON AWARD
STEVE CROPPER
2018 COUNTRY AWARDS TOP 50 SONGS
A GIRL LIKE YOU
Rhett Akins
Jesse Frasure
Downtown MB Songs
EMI-Blackwood Music, Inc.
Telemitry Productions
Warner-Tamerlane Publishing Corp.
ALL ON ME
Devin Dawson
Jacob Durrett
Austin Smith
Black Jeans Music
Green Goggles Music
Magic Mustang Music, Inc.
Neon Cross Music
Warner-Tamerlane Publishing Corp.
ALL THE PRETTY GIRLS
Nicolle Galyon
Tommy Lee James
BMG Platinum Songs US
Once In A Blue Tune
SWMBMGBMI
Warner-Tamerlane Publishing Corp.
ANY OL’ BARSTOOL
Josh Thompson
Big Music Machine
Two Laine Collections
ASK ME HOW I KNOW
Mitch Rossell
Me Gusta 30 Music
Rezemblance Music
Roy Rivers Publishing
Songs of Reehits
BLACK
Ross Copperman
EMI-Blackwood Music, Inc.
Rezolant Music
BROKEN HALOS
Michael Henderson
Straight Six Music
Wixen Music Publishing, Inc.
CRAVING YOU
Julian Bunetta
Dragon Bunny Music
Music of Big Family
Words & Music
DRINKIN’ PROBLEM
Cameron Duddy
Kitt Cass Pub. Co.
Warner-Tamerlane Publishing Corp.
EVERY LITTLE THING
busbee
Emily Shackelton
Better Boat Music
Songs of Endurance
Warner-Tamerlane Publishing Corp.
EVERY TIME I HEAR THAT SONG
Aimee Mayo
Brad Warren
Brett Warren
EMI-Blackwood Music, Inc.
Fam Love Music
Sagequinnjude Music
The Queen of Dot Dot Dot
Warner-Tamerlane Publishing Corp.
FAST
Luke Bryan
Rodney Clawson
Luke Laird
Big Loud Proud Crowd
Peanut Mill Songs
Round Hill Compositions
Round Hill Works
Shirt At Work
Songs of Universal, Inc.
Sony/ATV Tree
FIVE MORE MINUTES
Monty Criswell
Scotty McCreery
Dagum Music
Sony/ATV Tree
Spirit of Nashville One
FIX A DRINK
Chris Janson
Buckkilla Music
ole Red Vinyl Music
FLATLINER
Cole Swindell
Colden Rainey Music
Sony/ATV Tree
FOR HER
Kelly Archer
Sarah Buxton
Big Loud Proud Crowd
Bux Tone Music
Downtown DMP Songs
Round Hill Works
Stars and Stripes and Maple Leaf Music
GREATEST LOVE STORY
Brandon Lancaster
Concession 114 Music
Neon Cross Music
Warner-Tamerlane Publishing Corp.
HAPPENS LIKE THAT
Tyler Hubbard
Granger Smith
Big Loud Mountain
Climbing Windmills Music
Round Hill Works
T Hubb Publishing
Warner-Tamerlane Publishing Corp.
HEARTACHE ON THE DANCE FLOOR
Bart Butler
Jon Pardi
Bill Butler Music LLC
Rancho Fiesta Publishing
Songs of Song Factory
Sony/ATV Countryside
HURRICANE
Thomas Archer
Luke Combs
Taylor Phillips
50 Egg Music
Big Music Machine
BMG Platinum Songs US
Intune Nashville Music Publishing
Me Gusta 30 Music
Straight Dimes Publishing
TDP Publishing
Warner-Tamerlane Publishing Corp.
I COULD USE A LOVE SONG
Maren Morris
Laura Veltz
Big Music Machine
International Dog Music
Oh Denise Publishing
Warner-Tamerlane Publishing Corp.
IF I TOLD YOU
Ross Copperman
EMI-Blackwood Music, Inc.
Rezolant Music
I’LL NAME THE DOGS
Josh Thompson
Big Music Machine
Two Laine Collections
IN CASE YOU DIDN’T KNOW
Tyler Reeve
Trent Tomlinson
Big Mosquito Music
Big Spaces Music
Brown Hound Publishing
Kirbfinder’s Mucho Love Music
Smack of Ham Songs
IT AIN’T MY FAULT
Lee Thomas Miller
The Country And Western Music
Warner-Tamerlane Publishing Corp.
LIGHT IT UP
Luke Bryan
Peanut Mill Songs
Sony/ATV Tree
LIKE I LOVED YOU
Jesse Lee
ole Purple Cape Music
LOSING SLEEP
Chris Young
EMI-Blackwood Music, Inc.
Songs of Universal, Inc.
MAKE YOU MINE
Ben Stennis
BMG Platinum Songs US
MARRY ME
Jesse Frasure
Thomas Rhett
Cricket On The Line
Downtown MB Songs
EMI-Blackwood Music, Inc.
Telemitry Productions
MEANT TO BE
Tyler Hubbard
Joshua Miller
Bebe Rexha
Big Loud Mountain
BMG Platinum Songs US
Jack 10 Publishing
Kiss Me If You Can Music
Round Hill Works
Songs of the Corn
T Hubb Publishing
Warner-Tamerlane Publishing Corp.
MORE GIRLS LIKE YOU
Joshua Miller
Jack 10 Publishing
Songs of the Corn
Warner-Tamerlane Publishing Corp.
NO SUCH THING AS A BROKEN HEART
Jesse Frasure
Songs of Roc Nation Music
Telemitry Rhythm House
Warner-Tamerlane Publishing Corp.
OUTTA STYLE
Aaron Watson
Me Gusta 30 Music
Tunes from HTK
RING ON EVERY FINGER
Jesse Frasure
Thomas Rhett
Cricket On The Line
Downtown MB Songs
EMI-Blackwood Music, Inc.
Telemitry Productions
ROUND HERE BUZZ
Eric Church
Luke Dick
Jeff Hyde
Emileon Songs
Little Louder Songs
Longer And Louder Music
Mammaw’s Fried Okra Music
Songs of Kobalt Music Publishing, Inc.
Sony/ATV Tree
SHE’S WITH ME
Ben Stennis
Dead Aim Music
Songs of Kobalt Music Publishing, Inc.
The Stennis Mightier Music
SMALL TOWN BOY
Rhett Akins
Kyle Fishman
EMI-Blackwood Music, Inc.
Kyle Fishman Music
Play It Again Entertainment
Round Hill Compositions
Warner-Tamerlane Publishing Corp.
SOMEBODY ELSE WILL
Kelly Archer
Tebey Ottoh
BMG Platinum Songs US
Downtown DMP Songs
Songs For Elle
Stars and Stripes and Maple Leaf Music
THE FIGHTER
busbee
Keith Urban
Maroma Music
Songs of Universal, Inc.
Warner-Tamerlane Publishing Corp.
THE LONG WAY
Brett Eldredge
Paris Not France Music
Sony/ATV Countryside
THERE’S A GIRL
Trent Harmon
Laura Veltz
Big Music Machine
Oh Denise Publishing
Trent Harmon Publishing
Warner-Tamerlane Publishing Corp.
UNFORGETTABLE
Jesse Frasure
Thomas Rhett
Cricket On The Line
EMI-Blackwood Music, Inc.
Songs of Roc Nation Music
Telemitry Rhythm House
Warner-Tamerlane Publishing Corp.
WHAT IFS
Kane Brown
Kane Brown Music
Songs of Universal, Inc.
WHEN IT RAINS IT POURS
Luke Combs
Ray Fulcher
Jordan Walker
50 Egg Music
Big Music Machine
Extremely Combustible Music
Larkin Hill Publishing
Me Gusta 30 Music
Music of one77
On Cor Music
Paj Music Publishing Company
Songs of Kobalt Music Publishing, Inc.
Straight Dimes Publishing
Warner-Tamerlane Publishing Corp.
Works of RHA
YEAH BOY
Keesy Timmer
Me Gusta 30 Music
Songs of Blue Guitar
YOU BROKE UP WITH ME
Thomas Archer
Walker Hayes
Kylie Sackley (APRA)
Bike Music
BMG Platinum Songs US
Little Extra Music
Razor & Tie Music Publishing
Songs of Kobalt Music Publishing, Inc.
Songs of SMACK
Spark In Your Pocket
YOU LOOK GOOD
busbee
Ryan Hurd
Warner-Tamerlane Publishing Corp.
YOURS
Russell Dickerson
Parker Welling
BMG Platinum Songs US
Hillbilly Science and Research Publishing
Kailey’s Dream
Music That Is Russelled
Trailerparker Music
YOURS IF YOU WANT IT
Andrew Dorff
Morendorffin Music
Songs of Universal, Inc.
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