Broadcast Music, Inc. (BMI) celebrated the songwriters and music publishers behind the past year’s most-performed songs in Christian music last night (6/19) during the organization’s annual Christian Music Awards, held at BMI’s Nashville offices on Music Row.
Consistent chart-topper tobyMac earned his third consecutive Christian Songwriter of the Year crystal and shares the 2012 honor with Casting Crowns frontman Mark Hall, singer/songwriter Matt Maher, Southern gospel staple Kyla Rowland and hit songwriter/producer Chris Stevens. The unusual five-way tie occurred because the hit-makers each wrote or co-wrote two of the songs on the year’s most-performed list.
Cross-format superstar Kirk Franklin earned Christian Song of the Year honors for his smash “I Smile,” published by Aunt Gertrude Music Publishing LLC and Bridge Building Music.
With the highest percentage of copyright ownership among the year’s most-performed songs, powerhouse EMI CMG Publishing clinched the Christian Publisher of the Year win.
During the ceremony, prolific family group the Isaacs, 2012 Dove Awards Artist of the Year Jason Crabb and dynamic contemporary Christian singer/songwriter Chris Tomlin each delivered inspirational performances.
Jody Williams, BMI Vice President, Writer/Publisher Relations, Nashville, and Associate Director Leslie Roberts served as the evening’s hosts alongside Phil Graham, BMI Senior Vice President, Writer/Publisher Relations.
All photos by John Russell
BMI Christian Awards 2012
Songwriters of the Year
Mark Hall
“Glorious Day (Living He Loved Me)”
“If We’ve Ever Needed You”
Matt Maher
“Hold Us Together”
“I Lift My Hands”
tobyMac
“Hold Me”
“Hold On”
Kyla Rowland
“Did I Mention”
“This Old Sinner Testifies”
Chris Stevens
“Hold Me”
“Stronger”
Song of the Year
“I Smile”
Kirk Franklin
Aunt Gertrude Music Publishing LLC
Bridge Building Music
Kirk Franklin
Publisher of the Year
EMI CMG Publishing
“Better Than A Hallelujah”
“He Wants It All”
“Hold Us Together”
“I Lift My Hands”
2012 BMI Christian Awards
Award-Winning Songs
“Better Than A Hallelujah”
Sarah Hart, Chapin Hartford
Chapin Hartford Music/Michael Puryear Music/River Oaks Music Company/Spiritandsong.com Publishing
Amy Grant
“Born Again”
Wesley Campbell, Michael Tait
Don’t Chase Music/Tait Music/Te Puke Publishing
Newsboys
“Did I Mention”
Kyla Rowland
Christian Taylor Music
The Perrys
“Glorious Day (Living He Loved Me)”
Mark Hall
My Refuge Music/Sony/ATV Tree
Casting Crowns
“He Wants It All”
Dominique Jones
Four Jones Publishing/Meaux Mercy Publishing
Forever Jones
“Hold Me”
Toby McKeehan, Chris Stevens
Achtober Songs/Regisfunk Music
Jamie-Grace featuring tobyMac
“Hold On”
Jesse Frasure, Toby McKeehan
Achtober Songs/Rio Bravo Music, Inc.
tobyMac
“Hold Us Together”
Matt Maher, Steve Wilson
Meaux Mercy Publishing/Skyline Apartments Music/Spiritandsong.com Publishing/Worship Together Music
Matt Maher
“I Believe”
Ay’Ron Lewis
Black Smoke Publishing/Straightchurch Publishing
James Fortune And Fiya feat. Zacardi
Cortez & Shawn McLemore
“I Choose To Worship”
Jonathan Brown, Wess Morgan
Wess Morgan Music
Wess Morgan
“I Lift My Hands”
Matt Maher, Chris Tomlin
Valley Of Songs Music/Worship Together Music
Chris Tomlin
“I Smile”
Kirk Franklin
Aunt Gertrude Music Publishing LLC/Bridge Building Music
Kirk Franklin
“If We’ve Ever Needed You”
Mark Hall, Bernie Herms
My Refuge Music/ Sony/ATV Tree
Casting Crowns
“I’ve Never Known A Day”
Van Mitchell, Jr.
True Testament Music
The Inspirations
“Lift Me Up”
Jordan Mohilowski
Miracle In My Hand Music Publishing
The Afters
“Listen To The Sound”
Jason Roy
Havery Publishing/Sony/ATV Tree
Building 429
“My Help Comes From The Lord”
Jon Abel, Barry Weeks
45 Degrees Music/Bridge Building Music
The Museum
“Rain On Us”
Daniel Moore, II; Daniel Moore, Sr.
Dem Two Music/S4Dt Publishing
Earnest Pugh
“Somebody Died For Me”
Kyle Matthews, Christy Sutherland
Catalytic Songs/Mattmoosic
Triumphant Quartet
“Starry Night”
Ed Cash
Alletrop Music
Chris August
“Stronger”
Chris Stevens
Regisfunk Music
Mandisa
“This Old Sinner Testifies”
Kyla Rowland
Christian Taylor Music/Lonesome Bend Publishing
The Perrys
“You Love Me Anyway”
Dave Frey, Ben McDonald
Dayspring Music
Sidewalk Prophets
“You Were Faithful Yesterday”
Rodney Griffin
Songs Of Greater Vision
Greater Vision
“Your Great Name”
Michael Neale
Integrity’s Praise! Music
Natalie Grant
Category: Artist, Awards, Featured, Organizations
About the Author
Sarah Skates has worked in the music business for more than a decade and is a longtime contributor to MusicRow.View Author Profile
