BMI PRESENTS “LOVE, ME” SONGWRITER MAX T. BARNES WITH MULTIPLE MILLION-AIR AWARDS

BMI recently presented country hitmaker Max T. Barnes with four “Million-Air” Awards, which includes one for his late father, Max D. Barnes’ “Chiseled In Stone,” which reached one million broadcasts. Max’s “A Night To Remember” and “How Your Love Makes Me Feel” have both received two million radio spins, while “Love, Me,” made famous by Collin Raye, has garnered a whopping four million radio plays.

The “Million-Air” Awards are given to songwriters, composers and publishers whose songs accumulate more than one million U.S. broadcast performances.

“This is a big surprise and an honor,” Barnes said. “I find it hard to imagine ‘Love, Me’ has been played four million times but I am very grateful. I know my dad received over a dozen of these but I know he would be thrilled, too!”

Max T. Barnes is a second generation hitmaker and son of Max D. Barnes, who wrote some of country music’s most iconic tunes like “Who’s Gonna Fill Their Shoes” by George Jones, CMA Song Of The Year “Look At Us” by Vince Gill, and of course, CMA song Of The Year “Chiseled In Stone” by Vern Gosdin. Between Father and son they have had 33 #1’s and hits and have sold over 70 million records. Barnes wrote his first major song at the age of 19, Vern Gosdin’s “Way Down Deep," and has been topping the charts ever since writing “Let Go of the Stone” (John Anderson), “At the Sound of the Tone” (John Schneider), “Before You Kill Us All” (Randy Travis) and “That’s How Your Love Makes Me Feel” (Diamond Rio) to name a few. “Love, Me,” the career launching hit for Collin Raye scored Max T. a CMA Song of the Year nomination. He most recently scored a cut on Trace Adkins new album titled “I’m Gone,” and tours frequently in Australia, Ireland, Belgium, Scotland, England, Sweden, Norway, Canada and the U.S. His new projects include a duet with Irish superstar Jonny Brady, a U.K. released single, “Hen Party” and a new single and video with Marty Haggard called “Way Back In The Mountains” a duet their fathers, Max D. Barnes and Merle Haggard, written over 20 years ago. He also produced a new album for Bobby Bare featuring all new songs and an appearance by Chris Stapleton on an amped up new version of “Detroit City.” For more information visit maxtbarnes.com.

LARRY GATLIN HONORED WITH BMI "MILLION-AIR" AWARDS

Gatlin Ranks as One of the Most Successful Songwriters in Country Music History

This past Saturday night before a sold-out crowd at the Franklin Theatre near Nashville, country music legend Larry Gatlin was honored on-stage when he was presented with two BMI "Million-Air" Awards. The honor is given to songwriters, composers and publishers whose songs accumulate over one million U.S. broadcast performances.

BMI's Perry Howard was on-hand to present Gatlin with awards for his self-penned hits, "Houston (Means I'm One Day Closer to You)" and "Broken Lady," both of which have surpassed two million radio spins, taking each song to the next plateau of the "Million-Air" Award.

"Except for God, my family, my friends, my fellow man and my country, my songs are the most important thing in the world to me. In truth, they are not really mine at all," says Gatlin. "They are gifts that I've shared with the world. The fact that radio stations would play the songs, that people would listen to the songs, buy records, and come to concerts to hear the songs, never ceases to amaze me and I am grateful more than I can say."

The "Million-Air" Award has been bestowed upon many of BMI's iconic songwriters, including Sir Paul McCartney, Dolly Parton, Isaac Hayes and Roy Orbison. The acknowledgment is a mark of respect and praise.

Gatlin has also received "Million-Air" Awards for "All The Gold in California," "I Just Wish You Were Someone I Love" and "The Lady Takes the Cowboy Everytime." "Houston (Means I'm One Day Closer to You)" and "Broken Lady" also received previous awards when the songs reached one million spins each.

Larry Gatlin has a proven track record as one of the most successful songwriters in country music history. On the Top 10 list for male and female country artists with the most self-penned Top 40 hits, Gatlin comes in at #5, tying with Buck Owens at 34 songs. He also ranks at #5 on the Top 10 list for male and female artists with the most self-penned Top 20 hits (ties with Tom T. Hall at 28 songs). Gatlin wrote all 8 of the #1 hit songs recorded by Larry Gatlin & the Gatlin Brothers.

TOP 10 MALE & FEMALE ARTISTS WITH THE MOST SELF-PENNED TOP 40 HITS:

(Excluding B-sides & Christmas Singles)

Merle Haggard (46) + (1 charting self-penned B-sides)

Marty Robbins (41) + (4 charting self-penned B-sides)

Hank Williams, Jr. (39)

Tom T. Hall (35)

Tie: Larry Gatlin (34) / Buck Owens (34)

Dolly Parton (33)

Don Gibson (30) + (4 charting self-penned B-sides)

Johnny Cash (28) + (5 charting self-penned B-sides)

Bill Anderson (27) + (2 charting self-penned B-sides) 

TOP 10 MALE & FEMALE ARTISTS WITH THE MOST SELF-PENNED TOP 20 HITS:

(Excluding B-sides & Christmas Singles)

Merle Haggard (43)

Marty Robbins (35)

Hank Williams Jr. (30)

Dolly Parton (29)

Tie: Larry Gatlin (28) / Tom T. Hall (28)

Buck Owens (26)

Bill Anderson (25)

Tie: Johnny Cash (22) / Alan Jackson (22)

*Research conducted by New York City music historian, John Alexander

SCOTTY MCCREERY ACCEPTS BMI AWARD ONE MONTH LATER

“See You Tonight” Singer/Songwriter Nabs a Coveted 

BMI Top 50 Country Song of the Year Award

Jody Williams (BMI Vice President, Writer and Publisher Relations), Scotty McCreery, 

Brian Wright (UMG Nashville Senior Vice President A&R), and 

Bradley Collins (BMI Executive Director, Writer-Relations).

Photographer: John Russell

 
After having to miss the BMI Country Music Awards in November due to a prior commitment performing at the CMA Marketing Summit, Scotty McCreery excitedly accepted his first BMI Award in person last Friday afternoon, Dec. 11, for writing one of BMI’s Top 50 Country Songs of 2015: his Platinum-selling Top Ten hit “See You Tonight.” BMI announced its list of Top 50 songs in November at its annual event, but with McCreery unavailable, he didn’t want to just “mail it in.” McCreery wrote the song with Ashley Gorley and Zach Crowell, and it served as the title cut of his second studio album and earned him a Top 10 hit on both Billboard and MediaBase. The multi-Platinum-selling singer/songwriter received his award in person in Nashville from Jody Williams, BMI Vice President, Writer and Publisher Relations and Bradley Collins, BMI Executive Director, Writer-Relations.

“This is my first-ever award for songwriting, and to be acknowledged for that is a huge honor for me,” said an excited McCreery. “I was so disappointed that I couldn’t be there to accept it in person during the BMI Awards in November. BMI graciously offered to send the award to my home, but it was important to me that I come back to Nashville as soon as I had a break in my tour schedule and thank Jody and Bradley in person for their continued support and encouragement of me and my songwriting. I’ve been writing songs since I was a boy playing my guitar in my bedroom. I enjoy the entire process and have spent a lot of time in Nashville over the last few years honing my craft and learning from some amazing talents. Receiving this recognition is a wonderful way to end my year.”

"We are so proud to have Scotty McCreery as a BMI songwriter and are very pleased to present him with his first, of many I am sure, BMI Country Award for ‘See You Tonight’,” said Williams.  “I cannot wait to see what Scotty does next."

NASH Country Weekly Magazine’s “Country Music’s Sexiest Man 2015” has been busy throughout this year touring during the summer and fall as the special guest on the Rascal Flatts RIOT 2015 Tour as well as performing at theaters on his own. In-between concerts he has been writing songs and recording his next album, which is expected to be in stores in 2016 with “Southern Belle” serving as the first single from the forthcoming release.  The ACM and CMT Award winner has also been busy writing his first book, Go Big or Go Home: The Journey Toward the Dream, which will be in-stores on May 3, 2016 and is available now for pre-sale orders at Amazon.com, Barnes & Noble, and wherever books are sold.

McCreery burst onto the national music scene in 2011 at age 17, quickly establishing himself as one of country music’s hottest new stars. Now just five years later, the talented singer/songwriter has sold more than 2.5 million albums and received both Platinum and Gold album certifications, debuted three consecutive albums at No. 1 on a Billboard chart, achieved one Gold and three Platinum-certified singles and two Top Ten hits, amassed more than three million followers on Facebook and Twitter, and received more than 150 million YouTube views. For tour schedules and more information, visit www.ScottyMcCreery.com.

#CMAFEST2015 COMPLETE ARTIST LINEUP AND PERFORMANCE SCHEDULES - BMI TAILGATE PARTY

The BMI Tailgate Party, located outside LP Field in the South Lawn, is a showcase of BMI songwriters and artists warming up the audience prior to the LP Field Stage nightly performances. This is a great place to catch artists you may not be familiar with. With DJ Du spinning the turntable of his unique style and music mixes, this place is gonna be the party place before the big shows! These shows are FREE however you cannot enter the stadium itself without a purchased pass.

THURSDAY, JUNE 11

DJ DU - 4:00pm - 4:15pm
   
MITCH ROSELLE - 4:20pm - 4:40pm
   
MAREN MORRIS - 4:45pm - 5:05pm
   
SUNDY BEST - 5:15pm - 5:45pm
   
DJ DU - 5:45pm - 6:00pm
   
JOSH DORR - 6:00pm - 6:40pm
   
DJ DU - 6:40pm - 6:50pm
   
WILL HOGE - 6:50pm - 7:30pm
   
DJ DU - 7:30pm - 7:45pm


FRIDAY, JUNE 12

DJ DU - 4:00pm - 4:15pm
   
EMI SUNSHINE - 4:20pm - 4:40pm
   
BRI BAGWELL - 4:45pm - 5:05pm
   
SONIA LEIGH - 5:15pm - 5:45pm
   
DJ DU - 5:45pm - 6:00pm
   
MUDDY MAGNOLIAS - 6:00pm - 6:40pm
   
DJ DU - 6:40pm - 6:50pm
   
RHETT AKINS - 6:50pm - 7:30pm
   
DJ DU - 7:30pm - 7:45pm

SATURDAY, JUNE 13

DJ DU - 4:00pm - 4:15pm
   
KANE BROWN - 4:20pm - 4:40pm
   
HANNAH BLAYLOCK - 4:45pm - 5:05pm
   
HALEY GEORGIA - 5:15pm - 5:45pm
   
DJ DU - 5:45pm - 6:00pm
   
CAITLYN SMITH - 6:00pm - 6:40pm
   
CHRIS LANE - 6:50pm - 7:30pm
   
DJ DU - 7:30pm - 7:45pm

SUNDAY, JUNE 14

DJ DU - 4:00pm - 4:15pm
   
SAMMY ARRIAGA - 4:20pm - 4:40pm
   
MITCHELL TENPENNY - 4:45pm - 5:05pm
   
TUCKER BEATHARD - 5:15pm - 5:45pm
   
DJ DU - 5:45pm - 6:00pm
   
DANIELLE BRADBERY - 6:00pm - 6:40pm
   
DJ DU - 6:40pm - 6:50pm
   
CHARLIE WORSHAM - 6:50pm - 7:30pm
   
DJ DU - 7:30pm - 7:45pm

LUKE LAIRD WINS SONGWRITER AND SONG OF THE YEAR AT THE BMI AWARDS IN NASHVILLE

Songwriter of the Year and Song of the Year honoree Luke Laird at the 2012 BMI Country Awards

Photo Credit: Courtesy of BMI

NASHVILLE, TN - (October 31, 2012) – Luke Laird went home with top honors at the 60th annual BMI Country Awards, held last night in Nashville, TN. The prolific writer shared BMI Country Songwriter of the Year honors with Dallas Davidson, while “Take a Back Road,” written by Laird and Rhett Akins, was named BMI Country Song of the Year.

Laird earned the prestigious Songwriter of the Year title thanks to writing five songs that ranked among the 50 most-performed country songs in the BMI catalogue over the past year: “A Little Bit Stronger” by Sara Evans; “Baggage Claim” by Miranda Lambert; “Drink in My Hand” by Eric Church; “You” by Chris Young; and “Take a Back Road,” recorded by Rodney Atkins.

Song of the Year “Take a Back Road” earned more than one million performances in 2011 alone – the equivalent of the song being performed back-to-back for six consecutive years – making it one of the most-performed songs of the year in any musical genre.

The BMI Country Awards ceremony honors capped off an incredible year for Laird, who recently scored his tenth No. 1 single with Little Big Town’s “Pontoon” and stepped behind the boards to produce Kacey Musgraves’ soon-to-be-released major label debut. The versatile hit-maker also continued to work with a diverse selection of the world’s top R&B, pop and rock songwriters and producers, and co-founded Creative Nation, an innovative music publishing and management company, with wife Beth Laird.

Billboard's No. 3 Hot Country Songwriter of 2011, Luke Laird grew up in the small farming town of Conneaut Lake, Pennsylvania. Pursuing a lifelong love of making music, he moved to Nashville in 1997 to attend Middle Tennessee State University. After graduation, he got a job as assistant tour manager for Brooks & Dunn and honed his songwriting ability on the road. Encouraged and mentored by established Nashville songwriter Bill Luther and music publisher Chris Oglesby, he landed a publishing deal with BMG Music Publishing in 2002. Laird's songs have been recorded by Tim McGraw, Carrie Underwood, Amy Grant, Rascal Flatts, Miranda Lambert, Luke Bryan, Sara Evans, Cassandra Wilson (duet feat. John Legend), Holly Williams, Trace Adkins, Little Big Town, Eric Church, Charlotte Church, Chris Young, Blake Shelton, Clay Walker, Emerson Drive, Jessica Simpson, Jannette McCurdy, Tyler Farr, Joe Nichols, Lee Ann Womack, Katharine McPhee, Francesca Battistelli, and Laura Bell Bundy, among others. A prolific and sought after writer, producer and collaborator, Laird's songs have been on more than 25 million albums sold.

For more information on Luke Laird and Creative Nation, visit www.creativenationmusic.com.