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Broadcast
Music, Inc.® (BMI)® presented its 2022 BMI Christian Awards this evening,
honoring the prolific musical career of BMI Icon Award recipient Steven
Curtis Chapman and the Christian Songwriters, Song, and Publisher of
the Year. The annual event, held in BMI’s Music Row office, also celebrated
the songwriters and publishers of the 25 most-performed Christian songs of
the previous year. BMI President and CEO Mike O’Neill hosted the
ceremony at the Company’s office in Nashville, along with Leslie Roberts,
AVP, Creative, Nashville.
Chapman, who was named the first Christian BMI Icon Award
honoree, was celebrated for his unique and indelible influence on
generations of music makers. During the evening, country star and member of
Lady A Hillary Scott and Christian country trio CAIN paid
musical tribute to Chapman. Scott brought her signature voice to
“Who You Say We Are” while CAIN serenaded the crowd with “Great
Adventure” and “I Will Be Here.” In receiving this award, Chapman joins an
elite list of songwriters including Barry Manilow, Brian Wilson, Carole
King, Dolly Parton, Kris Kristofferson, Merle Haggard, Sting, Nile Rodgers.
In addition to the performances in honor of Chapman,
attendees were also treated to performances by The Four: Battle for Stardom on FOX winner Evvie and Provident
recording artist Ben Fuller. Evvie gave a powerhouse rendition of
her song “Do It Again,” followed by Fuller with a powerful version of his
latest single “Who I Am.”
The coveted Songwriter of the Year award was
presented to first-time winner Jason Cox and Ethan Hulse, who
took home the honor for the fourth consecutive year in a row. Cox and Hulse
are each responsible for three of this year’s award-winning songs. Jason
Cox’s writing credits include The Crabb Family’s “I See Revival,” The
Nelons’ “If God Pulled Back the Curtain,” and the Tribute Quartet’s “The
Healer Hasn’t Lost His Touch.” Hulse, who also took the title this year, is
responsible for Andrew Ripp’s “Jericho,” Jeremy Camp’s “Out Of My Hands,”
and CAIN’s “Rise Up (Lazarus).”
“There Was Jesus” was named the 2022 BMI Christian Song
of the Year. Written by BMI Songwriters Casey Beathard, Jonathan Smith,
and Zach Williams, the immensely successful track, performed by Dolly
Parton and Zach Williams, was the most-performed Christian song of the
year. The song previously won a Grammy Award for Best Contemporary
Christian Music Performance/Song at the 2021 Grammy Awards.
Taking home the Publisher of the Year accolade was Essential
Music Publishing, which is responsible for 11 of the 25 most-performed
songs of the year, including “Alive & Breathing,” “Amen,” “Battle
Belongs,” “Famous For (I Believe),” “Graves into Gardens,” “Jericho,” “Less
Like Me,” “Out of My Hands,” “Peace Be Still,” “Rise Up (Lazarus),” and
“There Was Jesus.” During the ceremony, BMI also saluted the songwriters
and publishers of the 25 most-performed Christian songs of the year.
For a complete list of 2022 BMI Christian
Awards winners, please visit https://www.bmi.com/christian2022
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