Industry Pics: BMI, Don McLean, Warner Music Nashville, BMLG, Big Loud

BMI Honors Don McLean With Million-Air Certifications

Pictured (L-R): BMI’s Josh Tomlinson, Mason Hunter, Don McLean, BMI’s Jody Williams, MaryAnn Keen, and Leslie Roberts.

Don McLean was recently honored with two awards from BMI, recognizing his long-standing career and outstanding contributions to the music industry through the iconic hits “American Pie” and “Vincent (Starry, Starry Night).” Among the honors he received were five million certified airplays for “American Pie” and three million certified airplays for “Vincent (Starry, Starry Night).”

Don was presented with his Million-Air certifications at the BMI offices in Nashville, Tennessee and accepted the coveted awards from BMI executives Jody Williams, (VP, Creative) and Mason Hunter (Assistant VP, Creative). A Million-Air Award is given to songwriters, composers, and publishers whose songs accumulate over one million U.S. broadcast performances. The acknowledgement is a mark of praise. The two tracks honored, played back-to-back, would total nearly 56 years of continuous airplay.

Warner Music Nashville’s John Esposito Showcases Michael Ray Music

Photo ID (L to R): Shane Tarleton (SVP Artist Development, WMN); Scott Hendricks (EVP A&R, WMN); Lon Helton (Publisher/CEO, Country Aircheck); RJ Curtis (Country Editor, All Access); Clint Higham (President, Morris Higham Management); Sally Williams (SVP Programming & Artist Relations, Opry Entertainment + GM, Grand Ole Opry); Shanna Strassberg (Talent Executive); Michael Ray, John Esposito (Chairman & CEO, WMN); Robert Deaton (Co-Owner, Deaton Flanigen Productions); Rachel Whitney (Head of Country Programming, Pandora); Steve Buchanon (President, Opry Entertainment); Ann Powers (Critic + Correspondent, NPR Music); Beville Dunkerley (Industry Relations Director, Pandora); Buffy Cooper (VP Radio & Marketing, Morris Higham Management); Peter Cooper (Senior Director, Producer and Writer, Country Music Hall of Fame); Cris Lacy (SVP A&R, WMN); Sherod Robertson (Owner/Publisher, MusicRow Magazine)

Warner Music Nashville Chairman & CEO John Esposito hosted the inaugural installment of his new quarterly event series #LiveFromEspo’s last night at his home in Nashville. WMN executives and industry leaders came together to enjoy a 30-minute set from upcoming CRS New Faces artist Michael Ray, who treated the intimate crowd to a preview of his new album, due later this spring.

BMLG Records, Big Loud Celebrate Florida Georgia Line/Bebe Rexha Hit

Pictured (L-R): BMLG Records SVP of Promotion Matthew Hargis, BMLG Records President/BMLG EVP Jimmy Harnen, FGL’s Brian Kelley, BMLG President/CEO Scott Borchetta, Big Loud Partners Kevin ‘Chief’ Zaruk and Seth England, FGL’s Tyler Hubbard

Florida Georgia Line celebrates eight weeks running atop the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart for their collaboration “Meant to Be” with Bebe Rexha. The group was joined by their BMLG Records and Big Loud management family following a performance yesterday on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon.