NASHVILLE, June 20, 2017 – Broadcast Music, Inc.® (BMI)®, the global leader in music rights management, honored the top 25 songs played on Christian radio during the past year at the 2017 BMI Christian Awards, tonight at BMI’s Nashville offices on Music Row. The annual event celebrates the songwriters and publishers of the past year’s most performed Christian rock, contemporary Christian, inspirational, southern and urban gospel songs on U.S. Christian radio.
“Each year, when we celebrate the incredible music of BMI’s Christian songwriters and their publishers, I think it can’t possibly get any better than this. And every year it does. I’m so impressed and moved by the uplifting songs we honored tonight,” noted Leslie Roberts, Executive Director, Writer/Publisher Relations, Nashville, “We’re privileged to have such a talented group as part of the BMI family.”
The invitation-only event featured special performances, including “Thy Will” by Emily Weisband and Bernie Herms, “Big Enough” by Joseph Habedank, “Fight For You” by Grayson & Reed and “I Am Not Alone” by Kari Jobe.
The Song of the Year title went to “Good Good Father,” written by Tony Brown and published by Capitol CMG Paragon and Common Hymnal Digital. The song was recorded by Chris Tomlin and nominated for a Billboard Music Award for Top Christian Song in 2016.
The Songwriter of the Year award went to Bernie Herms, who wrote “Christ In Me,” “Just Be Held,” “Tell Your Heart to Beat Again” and “Thy Will.”
Capitol CMG Publishing (Capitol CMG Paragon, Meaux Mercy Publishing, Songs of Universal, Inc., Sparrow Song, Universal Music-Brentwood Songs, Worship Together Music) took home the Publisher of the Year award. The company had the highest percentage of copyright ownership among the year’s most-performed songs, including the hits “Battle Cry,” “Cast My Cares,” “Christ In Me,” “Even So Come,” “Feel It,” “Forever,” “Good Good Father,” “Great Are You Lord,” “I Am Not Alone,” “Just Be Held,” “Move (Keep Walkin’),” “Tell Your Heart To Beat Again,” “There is Power” and “Thy Will.”
Mike O’Neill, President and CEO, Jody Williams, VP, Writer Publisher Relations, Nashville and Leslie Roberts, Executive Director, Writer/Publisher Relations, served as the evening’s hosts. A complete list of the 2017 BMI Christian Awards is available at www.bmi.com/christian.
