2004 BMI Christian Music Awards Presented

BMI saluted the writers and publisher's 2003's most performed Christian songs during the BMI Christian Music Awards held June 21 in Nashville. Joyce Rice, Director, Writer/Publisher Relations and Thomas Cain, Senior Director, Writer/Publisher Relations, awarded BMI Citations of Achievement to 31 songs in five categories - AC (Adult Contemporary), CHR (Christian Hit Radio), Contemporary/Traditional Gospel, Rock and Southern Gospel.

Song of the Year honors went to "To Ever Live Without Me," written by Joe Beck and Chad Chapin. Steven Curtis Chapman, Bob Herdman and Audio Adrenaline's Will McGinniss and Mark Stuart shared Songwriter of the Year honors for writing or co-writing two songs that received Citations of Achievement. Chapman, who also received this honor in 2001 and 2003, wrote the AC hits "All About Love" and "How Do I Love Her" and Herdman, McGinniss and Stuart collaborated on the Audio Adrenaline CHR hit songs "Ocean Floor" and "Pierced." EMI Music CMG Publishing, which published six of the songs on the most performed list, received the award for Christian Publisher of the Year. Click here for a complete list of the 2004 BMI Christian Music Awards recipients.

The evening also included special acknowledgment of "Three Wooden Crosses," which was written by Doug Johnson, a BMI member, and Kim Williams. The first song released by a Christian music company to reach No. 1 on the country charts, "Three Wooden Crosses" was named Song of the Year by Academy of Country Music (ACM), the Country Music Association (CMA) and the Nashville Songwriters Association International (NSAI) and "Country Recorded Song of the Year" at the GMA's 35th Annual Music Awards in April. Johnson was presented with a Citation of Appreciation in recognition of the song's message, which has "renewed faith in millions of listeners around the world."

BMI Executive Vice President Del Bryant also made a special presentation to the GMA in recognition of its 40th anniversary. GMA President John W. Styll accepted the commemorative sliver piece on the organization's behalf.

The program featured special performances by Lemmie Battles and the quartet Mercy's Mark for the 200 writers, artists and executives in attendance.

Founded in 1939, BMI is an American performing rights organization that represents approximately 300,000 songwriters, composers and music publishers.