Amid a busy week in Nashville, songwriters and artists gathered for the 72nd Annual BMI Country Awards, celebrating the genre’s leading songwriters and music publishers behind this year’s most-performed songs, while also honoring country legend Randy Owen with the prestigious BMI Icon Award.
Hosted by BMI President & CEO Mike O’Neill and BMI Nashville’s VP, Creative, Clay Bradley, the evening recognized the 50 most-performed songs of the past year, including Chayce Beckham’s “23,” Chris Janson’s “All I Need Is You,” Kane Brown’s “Bury Me In Georgia,” Jelly Roll’s “Need a Favor,” Cody Johnson’s “The Painter,” Luke Combs’ “Where the Wild Things Are,” and more.
The prestigious BMI Icon Award was presented to Randy Owen following a few memorable musical tributes. Riley Green added a southern touch to “My Home’s in Alabama,” Luke Bryan delivered his own take on “Feels So Right,” and Blake Shelton wrapped up the tribute with a performance of the timeless classic, “Mountain Music.”
Owen took to the stage to deliver a short, yet heartfelt speech.
“I want to thank BMI… thank y’all for the call. When y’all called me and said the Icon Award I cried. It is so special. All the songs that I had written, had it not been for Teddy [Gentry], coming up with the harmonies and making ’em work, still being my closest friend, it never would’ve worked out. So I’m very grateful to Teddy and I love you. I appreciate you being here tonight. It means the world to me and my family, and I appreciate you and we’re still rocking.”
With this award, Owen joins the likes of songwriting legends Toby Keith, Loretta Lynn, Willie Nelson, Merle Haggard, Dolly Parton, Kris Kristofferson, Dean Dillon, Hank Williams, Jr., Bill Anderson and Vince Gill who are previous BMI Icon Award recipients.
Chase McGill and Zach Bryan shared the prestigious BMI Songwriter of the Year honor, each contributing to six of Country music’s most-performed songs. McGill’s songwriting credits include Morgan Wallen’s “Ain’t That Some,” Luke Bryan’s “But I Got a Beer in My Hand,” Conner Smith’s “Creek Will Rise,” Russell Dickerson’s “God Gave Me a Girl,” Jordan Davis’ “Next Thing You Know,” and Thomas Rhett’s “Mamaw’s House.” Meanwhile, Bryan penned hits such as “Burn, Burn, Burn,” “Dawns,” “Hey Driver,” “I Remember Everything,” “Oklahoma Smokeshow,” and “Sun to Me.”
The 2024 BMI Country Song of the Year was Morgan Wallen’s “Last Night,” published by Big Loud Mountain, John Byron Music, Sony/ATV Songs LLC and Warner-Tamerlane Publishing Corp. “Last Night” held the No. 1 spot on the Billboard Hot 100 for a record-breaking 16 nonconsecutive weeks, marking the longest run ever for a solo song.
BMI awarded the Publisher of the Year honor to Warner-Tamerlane Publishing Corp., which published 34 of the 50 most-performed songs of the year. Those include Parker McCollum’s “Burn It Down,” Tyler Hubbard’s “Dancin’ in the Country,” Riley Green’s “Different ‘Round Here,” Warren Zeiders’ “Pretty Little Poison,” Bailey Zimmerman’s “Religiously,” and more.
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