BMI proudly honored the top 25 songs played on Christian radio during the past year at the 2017 BMI Christian Awards, held 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, Vice President, Writer Publisher Relations, Nashville and Leslie Roberts, Executive Director, Writer/Publisher Relations, served as the evening’s hosts.
Below is a complete list of the 2017 BMI Christian Award winners.
SONG OF THE YEAR
Good Good Father Tony Brown Capitol CMG Paragon Common Hymnal Digital
SONGWRITER OF THE YEAR
Bernie Herms Christ In Me Just Be Held Tell Your Heart to Beat Again Thy Will
PUBLISHER OF THE YEAR
Capitol CMG Publishing (Capitol CMG Paragon, Meaux Mercy Publishing, Songs of Universal, Inc., Sparrow Song, Universal Music-Brentwood Songs, Worship Together Music)
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 Thy Will
Award Winning Songs
Air I Breathe Mat Kearney Façade Aside Music Sony/ATV Songs LLC
Battle Cry Lee Black Joel Lindsey Sue Smith Hefton Hill Music Universal Music-Brentwood Benson Songs
Cast My Cares Blake NeeSmith Songs of Gotee Universal Music-Brentwood Benson Songs
Christ In Me Bernie Herms G650 Music Pure Note Music Songs of Universal, Inc.
Even So Come Chris Tomlin Capitol CMG Paragon S.D.G. Publishing sixsteps Songs Worship Together Music
Everything Comes Alive Darren Mulligan Dayspring Music
Feel It Toby McKeehan Achtober Songs Capitol CMG Paragon
First Mia Fieldes (APRA) Be Essential Songs Upside Down Under
Forever Christa Joy Black Kari Jobe Bethel Worship Publishing Capitol CMG Paragon Kari Jobe Carnes Music Worship Together Music
Good Good Father Tony Brown Capitol CMG Paragon Common Hymnal Digital
Great Are You Lord Leslie Jordan Capitol CMG Paragon Integrity’s Praise! Music
I Am Blessed Karen Peck Kenna West Christian Taylor Music Clearbox Benefit Karen Peck Music
I Am Not Alone Austin Davis Benjamin Davis Mia Fieldes (APRA) Kari Jobe Grant Pittman Dustin Sauder Be Essential Songs Benjamin Davis Publishing Capitol CMG Paragon Kari Jobe Carnes Music Upside Down Under Watershed Music Publishing Worship Together Music
If We’re Honest Molly Reed Dayspring Music Goes Something Like This Music Warner-Tamerlane Publishing Corp.
It’s Not Over Yet Luke Smallbone Dayspring Music Kilns Music Warner-Tamerlane Publishing Corp.
Just Be Held Mark Hall Bernie Herms Be Essential Songs G650 Music My Refuge Music Pure Note Music Songs of Universal, Inc. Sparrow Song
Move (Keep Walkin’) Toby McKeehan Chris Stevens Achtober Songs Capitol CMG Paragon Meaux Mercy Publishing Moody Producer Music
Prodigal Dave Frey Ben McDonald Dayspring Music Pencil Prophet Publishing Run Run Milo
Put Out The Fire Rodney Griffin Songs of Greater Vision
Tell Your Heart to Beat Again Bernie Herms G650 Music Pure Note Music Songs of Universal, Inc.
The Beauty of the Blood Joseph Habedank Christian Taylor Music Clearbox Benefit Artist: Joseph Habedank
There Is Power Lincoln Brewster Mia Fieldes (APRA) Be Essential Songs Capitol CMG Paragon Integrity’s Praise! Music Upside Down Under Worldwide Echoes
Thy Will Bernie Herms G650 Music Pure Note Music Songs of Universal, Inc.
Worry Ends Where Faith Begins Sandy Blythe Blythe Music Group Jeff Whisnant Music
You Are Loved Josh Zegan Dayspring Music Music By Josh Zegan