November 8, 2017

Bob DiPiero Receives BMI Icon Award at the 2017 BMI Country Awards

Broadcast Music, Inc.®, (BMI®), the global leader in music rights management, presented its 2017 BMI Country Awards this evening, 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.

For a complete list of 2017 BMI Country Awards winners, please visit
http://www.bmi.com/country.

Photo and video footage can be accessed
via the official EPK link early Wednesday morning:
http://www.epklink.com/bmicountryawards2017

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Media Contacts:

Lauren Branson
615.401.2737
.(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)

Courtney Craun
615.401.2735
.(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)

Songwriters Ross Copperman and Bob DiPiero pose for a photo onstage during the 65th Annual BMI Country Awards at BMI on November 7, 2017 in Nashville, Tennessee.

Photo by John Shearer/Getty Images for BMI

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Reba performs onstage during the 65th Annual BMI Country Awards at BMI on November 7, 2017 in Nashville, Tennessee.

Photo by John Shearer/Getty Images for BMI

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Ronnie Dunn and Kix Brooks of Brooks & Dunn perform onstage during the 65th Annual BMI Country Awards at BMI on November 7, 2017 in Nashville, Tennessee.

Photo by John Shearer/Getty Images for BMI

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Singer-songwriter Jon Pardi performs onstage during the 65th Annual BMI Country Awards at BMI on November 7, 2017 in Nashville, Tennessee.

Photo by John Shearer/Getty Images for BMI

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BMI President & CEO Mike O'Neill (R) presents Keith Urban with the BMI Champion Award onstage during the 65th Annual BMI Country Awards at BMI on November 7, 2017 in Nashville, Tennessee.

Photo by John Shearer/Getty Images for BMI

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Brett Eldredge attends the 65th Annual BMI Country Awards at BMI on November 7, 2017 in Nashville, Tennessee.

Photo by Erika Goldring/Getty Images for BMI

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LOCASH attends the 65th Annual BMI Country Awards at BMI on November 7, 2017 in Nashville, Tennessee.

Photo by Erika Goldring/Getty Images for BMI

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Singer-songwriter Maren Morris performs with the Nashville School of the Arts choir onstage during the 65th Annual BMI Country Awards at BMI on November 7, 2017 in Nashville, Tennessee.

Photo by John Shearer/Getty Images for BMI

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Keith Urban and Bob DiPiero attend the 65th Annual BMI Country Awards at BMI on November 7, 2017 in Nashville, Tennessee.

Photo by John Shearer/Getty Images for BMI

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Phillip Sweet, Kimberly Schlapman, Karen Fairchild, and Jimi Westbrook of Little Big Town pause for a photo with BMI Vice President Creative, Nashville, Jody Williams (center) and BMI President and CEO Mike O'Neill (far right) at the 65th Annual BMI Country Awards.

Photo by John Shearer/Getty Images for BMI

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BMI Vice President Creative, Nashville Jody Williams, singer-songwriter Keith Urban, and BMI President & CEO Mike O'Neill attend the 65th Annual BMI Country Awards at BMI on November 7, 2017 in Nashville, Tennessee.

Photo by John Shearer/Getty Images for BMI

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BMI Vice President Creative, Nashville Jody Williams, 2017 BMI Icon Bob DiPiero and BMI President & CEO Mike O'Neill attend the 65th Annual BMI Country Awards at BMI on November 7, 2017 in Nashville, Tennessee.

Photo by Erika Goldring/Getty Images for BMI

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Keith Urban accepts the 2017 Champion Award onstage during the 65th Annual BMI Country Awards at BMI on November 7, 2017 in Nashville, Tennessee.

Photo by Erika Goldring/Getty Images for BMI

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Singer-songwriter Lauren Alaina attends the 65th Annual BMI Country Awards at BMI on November 7, 2017 in Nashville, Tennessee.

Photo by Erika Goldring/Getty Images for BMI

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Maren Morris attends the 65th Annual BMI Country Awards at BMI on November 7, 2017 in Nashville, Tennessee.

Photo by Erika Goldring/Getty Images for BMI

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Singer-songwriter Thomas Rhett attends the 65th Annual BMI Country Awards at BMI on November 7, 2017 in Nashville, Tennessee.

Photo by Erika Goldring/Getty Images for BMI

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Singer-songwriter Luke Bryan attends the 65th Annual BMI Country Awards at BMI on November 7, 2017 in Nashville, Tennessee.

Photo by Erika Goldring/Getty Images for BMI

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Dan Smyers and Shay Mooney of Dan + Shay attend the 65th Annual BMI Country Awards at BMI on November 7, 2017 in Nashville, Tennessee.

Photo by Erika Goldring/Getty Images for BMI

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Singer-songwriter Cole Swindell attends the 65th Annual BMI Country Awards at BMI on November 7, 2017 in Nashville, Tennessee.

Photo by Erika Goldring/Getty Images for BMI

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Singer-songwriter Morgan Evans and Kelsea Ballerini attend the 65th Annual BMI Country Awards at BMI on November 7, 2017 in Nashville, Tennessee.

Photo by Erika Goldring/Getty Images for BMI

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Singer-songwriter Luke Combs attends the 65th Annual BMI Country Awards at BMI on November 7, 2017 in Nashville, Tennessee.

Photo by Erika Goldring/Getty Images for BMI

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