November 9, 2020
Ross Copperman named Songwriter of the Year
“Whiskey Glasses” by Ben Burgess received Song of the Year
Warner-Chappell Music Publishing awarded Publisher of the Year
The 50 Most-Performed Country Songs of the Previous Year Were Also Celebrated
Press Release
Nashville, TN (November 9, 2020) - Today, BMI (Broadcast Music, Inc.) paid tribute to the best in songwriting for its 68th Annual BMI Country Awards. The top songwriters, publishers and administrators of the previous year’s most-performed Country songs were celebrated across BMI’s digital and social channels. Major award winners for Song of the Year, Songwriter of the Year and Publisher of the Year were also announced. To honor these achievements, BMI created a special page on its website where fans can watch video messages, listen to award-winning music and learn more about their favorite Country songwriters. The special page also includes an exclusive video feature from BMI Icon Dolly Parton in conversation with some of our award-winning songwriters. For more information on BMI’s top country songwriters, go to bmi.com/country2020.
“The BMI Country Awards are always the pinnacle of our year, and we look forward to this time when we are able to applaud our creators,” says Clay Bradley, VP, Creative Nashville. “To celebrate the most successful songs in our genre, our songwriters, publishers, and our community is a huge honor. This year has been a challenge for all of Music City, but this community has adapted beautifully and supported one another so unfailingly. Though this ceremony may look different, BMI is as proud as ever to once again honor the most performed songs of the year.”
The in-demand award for Songwriter of the Year was given to hitmaker Ross Copperman, who received this honor for the fourth time. He penned six of the year’s most performed songs, including “Catch,” “Living,” “Love Ain’t,” “Love Someone,” “Tip of My Tongue,” and “What She Wants Tonight.”
The clever, classic country break-up song “Whiskey Glasses,” co-written by Ben Burgess, was awarded Song of the Year, nabbing Burgess his first BMI Country Award. The song has been certified three times platinum and was a multi-week number one single at country radio. The song also topped Billboard’s year-end charts (both Hot Country and Airplay) as the number one Country song of 2019.
Warner Chappell received the coveted Publisher of the Year designation for the third year in a row. The publishing powerhouse represented 21 of the previous year’s top 50 songs, including Song of the Year “Whiskey Glasses,” “The Bones,” “God’s Country,” “Beer Never Broke My Heart,” “10,000 Hours,” and “Good As You.”
BMI also celebrated the songwriters and publishers of the 50 most-performed Country songs of the previous year. This year’s group of honorees includes 20 first-time BMI Country award recipients, who have amassed over 19 million song performances collectively. Among the songs honored are “Heartache Medication,” ”Look What God Gave Her,” ”More Hearts Than Mine,” “Old Town Road (Remix),” and “Tip of My Tongue.” Additional award winners include Ed Sheeran, Ingrid Andress, Randy Montana, Kane Brown, and more.
For a complete list of 2020 BMI Country Award winners and to learn more about your favorite BMI songwriters, please visit bmi.com/country2020 and on social media go to @BMI and #BMICountryAwards to follow the conversation.
About BMI:
Celebrating over 80 years of service to songwriters, composers, music publishers and businesses, Broadcast Music, Inc.® (BMI®) is a global leader in music rights management, serving as an advocate for the value of music. BMI represents the public performance rights in over 17 million musical works created and owned by more than 1.1 million songwriters, composers, and music publishers. The Company negotiates music license agreements and distributes the fees it generates as royalties to its affiliated writers and publishers when their songs are performed in public. In 1939, BMI created a groundbreaking open-door policy becoming the only performing rights organization to welcome and represent the creators of blues, jazz, country, and American roots music. Today, the musical compositions in BMI’s repertoire, from chart toppers to perennial favorites, span all genres of music and are consistently among the most-performed hits of the year. For additional information and the latest BMI news, visit bmi.com, follow us on Twitter and Instagram @BMI or stay connected through Broadcast Music, Inc.‘s Facebook page. Sign up for BMI’s BMI’s The Weekly™ and receive our e-newsletter every week to stay up to date on all things music.
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