BMI 2023 Christian Music Awards Honors Top Creators

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Pictured (L-R): BMI’s Publisher of the Year/Capitol CMG Publishing Rep. Brad O’Donnell, BMI Songwriter of the Year Jeff Pardo, BMI’s Publisher of the Year/Capitol CMG Publishing Rep. Karrie Dawley, BMI’s Spotlight Award recipient Dottie Leonard Miller, BMI’s Leslie Roberts. Photo: Steve Lowry for BMI

The annual BMI Christian Awards took place Tuesday night (June 20) at the company’s Music Row office. BMI’s AVP of Creative, Nashville, Leslie Roberts and BMI’s VP of Creative, Nashville, Clay Bradley, hosted the invitation-only ceremony.

The evening celebrated BMI’s top Christian songwriters and music publishers as BMI’s Christian Song, Songwriter and Publisher of the Year winners were revealed. Additionally, the ceremony honored 15 first-time winners for their hand in writing some of the top 25 most-performed Christian songs of the previous year.

“Jireh,” written by BMI songwriters Chris Brown, Steven Furtick, Chandler Moore and Naomi Raine, was named the 2023 Song of the Year. The Gold-certified track was recorded by contemporary worship bands, Elevation Worship and Maverick City. In addition to being the most-performed Christian Song of the Year, “Jireh” reached the top spot on the Hot Gospel Songs Chart and garnered multiple nominations from the Grammy Awards, Billboard Music Awards and GMA Dove Awards.

The coveted Songwriter of the Year award was presented to Jeff Pardo, who had a hand in writing five of this year’s award-winning songs. Pardo’s credits include “Come What May,” “In Jesus Name (God of Possible),” “My Jesus,” “Yes He Can” and “Gospel Song,” which he serves as the sole writer.

Capitol CMG Publishing took home the accolade for Publisher of the Year. The company is responsible for 11 of the 25 most-performed songs of the year, including “Because He Lives,” “Child of Love,” “Come What May,” “Goodness of God,” “Gospel Song,” “In Jesus Name (God of Possible),” “In the House,” “My Jesus,” “Promised Land,” “Promises” and “Yes He Can.”

Throughout the ceremony, BMI named the top 25 most-performed Christian songs such as “Because He Lives,” “Child of Love,” “Fires,” “Goodness of God,” “House of the Lord,” “I Choose Joy,” “My Jesus,” “Promised Land,” “What If” and more.

Pictured (L-R): BMI’s Leslie Roberts with BMI’s Spotlight Award recipient Dottie Leonard Miller. Photo: Steve Lowry for BMI

This year’s BMI Christian Music Awards also paid special tribute to Dottie Leonard Miller. She took home the BMI Spotlight Award for her meaningful contributions to the genre, marking the first time this accolade was presented at this ceremony.

Miller is the CEO/Founder of Daywind Music Group and New Day Christian Distributors. She was treated to a surprise performance by contemporary southern gospel trio Southbound, as she played an instrumental role in their career. In receiving the BMI Spotlight Award, Miller joins an exclusive group of honorees including Randy Edelman, Frank Gari and Mike Post.

Additional performances included The Voice contestant Brennley Brown, who performed her new song “Miracle Story” as well as Jon Reddick, who shared a special rendition of his multi-week hit, “God Turn It Around.” Katy Nichole, a first-time winner last night, served as the final performer with “In Jesus Name (God of Possible),” which became the fastest-rising debut single from any female artist in the history of the Billboard Christian Airplay chart.

For a complete list of 2022 BMI Christian Awards winners, visit bmi.com/christian2023.

Pictured (L-R): BMI’s Leslie Roberts, BMI Songwriter of the Year Jeff Pardo, BMI Songwriter Anne Wilson, BMI’s Publisher of the Year/Capitol CMG Publishing’s Karrie Dawley and BMI’s MaryAnn Keen celebrate one of the Top 25 most-performed songs of the year, “My Jesus.” Photo: Steve Lowry for BMI

Katy Nichole, who was a first-time winner, performed “In Jesus Name (God of Possible),” which became the fastest-rising debut single from any female artist in the history of the Billboard Christian Airplay chart. Photo: Steve Lowry for BMI

Pictured (L-R): BMI’s Leslie Roberts, Maverick City Publishing’s Johnathan Jay, Heritage Worship Music Publishing’s Matt Lopez, BMI Songwriter Dante Bowe, BMI Songwriter Carrington Gaines, BMI’s Publisher of the Year/Capital CMG Publishing’s Raegan Corcoran, Be Essential Songs’ Josh Schiftman and BMI’s MaryAnn Keen celebrate one of the Top 25 most-performed songs of the year, “Promises.” Photo: Steve Lowry for BMI

Austin Filengo Trio opened the BMI Christian Awards with instrumental music while attendees enjoyed dinner. Photo: Steve Lowry for BMI

LB Cantrell
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