BMI Honors Christian Music's Best at Annual Awards Ceremony

Pictured (L-R): BMI’s Jody Williams, Capitol CMG’s Jimi Williams and Casey McGinty, BMI’s Leslie Roberts, BMI Songwriter Phil Wickham, Seems Like Music’s Mark Nicholas, BMI Songwriter of the Year Chris Stevens, Sing My Songs’ Peter Kipley, BMI President & CEO Mike O’Neill, BMI’s Phil Graham. Photo: Steve Lowry

Song of the Year: “This is Amazing Grace”

Christian Songwriter of the Year: Chris Stevens

Christian Publisher of the Year: Capitol CMG Publishing

Chris Stevens was one of the big winners last night (June 23) at BMI’s 2015 Christian Awards, taking home Songwriter of the Year honors. The annual awards ceremony at the PRO’s Nashville offices recognized the past year’s most-performed Christian rock, contemporary, inspirational, southern and urban gospel songs played on Christian radio.

The invitation-only event kicked off with Jason Crabb performing “He Knows What He’s Doing” off his upcoming album. Additionally, Kenna West and Michael Farren offered the award-winning track “Say Amen.”

“This is Amazing Grace” received the Song of the Year award. Penned by Phil Wickham, Josh Farro, and Jeremy Riddle, and published by Phil Wickham Music, Seems Like Music, and Sing My Songs, the track topped the Billboard Christian Airplay chart and was performed by Wickham during the evening’s festivities.

Grammy award-winning writer/producer/engineer Stevens received his third Christian Songwriter of the Year nod, having received the honor previously in 2010 and 2012. Stevens penned the hits “Beautiful Day,” “Overcomer,” and “Slip On By.”

Capitol CMG Publishing was named Christian Publisher of the Year as the publisher with the highest percentage of copyright ownership of the year’s most-performed songs. Capitol CMG published hits “All The People Said Amen,” “All You’ve Ever Wanted,” “Beautiful Day,” “Hope In Front Of Me,” “Overcomer,” “Slip On By,’ and “Your Grace Finds Me.”

“We’re thrilled to be able to honor these songwriters and composers,” noted Jody Williams, Vice President, Writer/Publisher Relations. “They’ve made the top Christian music of the past year, earning considerable airplay all while spreading a positive message.”

Williams and BMI Director, Writer/Publisher Relations Leslie Roberts served as the evening’s hosts.

A complete list of the 2015 BMI Christian Awards is available at www.bmi.com/christian.

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Lorie Hollabaugh

Hollabaugh, a staff writer at MusicRow magazine, has over 20 years of music business experience and has written for publications including American Profile, CMA Close Up, Nashville Arts And Entertainment, The Boot and Country Weekly. She has a Broadcast Journalism and Speech Communication degree from Texas Christian University, (go Horned Frogs), and welcomes your feedback or story ideas at lhollabaugh@musicrow.com.

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