Performing rights organization BMI saluted the writers and publishers of the past year’s most performed Christian songs on Christian radio and television during the BMI Christian Music Awards Saturday night at the company’s Music Row offices in Nashville. BMI named Casting Crowns’ Voice of Truth Song of the Year, while the group’s frontman Mark Hall earned the prestigious Songwriter of the Year title. BMI Vice President Jody Williams, along with Senior Director Thomas Cain and Associate Director Beth Mason, of BMI’s Writer/Publisher Relations department in Nashville, presented awards for 25 songs in five categories: Christian Rock, Contemporary Christian, Inspirational, Urban Gospel and Southern Gospel.

Left to right: BMI’s Beth Mason, Kirk Franklin, Casting Crowns’ Mark Hall, Steven Curtis Chapman, BMI V.P. Jody Williams, BMI Sr. V.P. Phil Graham

Gospel star Kirk Franklin, Christian rock outfit Sanctus Real and Casting Crowns’ Mark Hall delighted the packed room by delivered scorching performances of their award-winning songs.

Longtime Christian music pacesetters Steven Curtis Chapman and Mark Hall took home BMI Song of the Year crystals for their stirring composition, Voice of Truth. Recorded by Hall’s award-winning band Casting Crowns, Voice of Truth was published by Club Zoo Music, Inc., My Refuge Music, Peach Hill Songs, Sparrow Song and SWECS Music.

It was a good night for the lead singer of Casting Crowns, who also earned his second BMI Christian Songwriter of the Year honour. Mark Hall’s hits Lifesong, Praise You in This Storm (co-written with GMA Canada Covenant Award Producer of the Year nominee Bernie Herms) and Voice of Truth, all recorded by Casting Crowns, garnered three BMI Christian Awards in both the Contemporary and Inspirational categories.

Trevor McNevan of TFK, Tyson Paoletti of Tooth & Nail Records, and BMI V.P. Jody Williams

Other Canadians honoured included the members of Thousand Foot Krutch for This Is The Call and Relient K’s Matt Thiessen for Who I Am Hates Who I’ve Been, both in the Christian Rock song category.

The ceremony also feted Publisher of the Year Songs of Greater Vision. The award is determined by the highest percentage of copyright ownership in award songs. The company’s two honoured songs, Do You Want To Be Forgiven and Don’t Let The Sandals Fool Ya, secured individual BMI Christian Awards for their adroit writer, Rodney Griffin.

Some of the night’s other big winners included 2007 Trailblazers of Gospel honouree Yolanda Adams; prolific producer/songwriter Ed Cash; Urban Gospel star Kirk Franklin; premier producer, arranger and musician Jay Joyce; innovative songwriter/producer Kenny Greenberg; Gospel favourites Israel Houghton and Percy James Bady; songwriting heavyweight Fred Douglas Washington, Jr.; the Crabb Family’s Gerald Crabb; hot new songwriter/artist Aaron Shust; producer/songwriter/author Matt Bronleewe; and brothers Henry, JoJo and Ringo Garza. Songwriters Marcia Henry, George Jordan, Sandy Knight, Doug McKelvey and Kevin Keith Walker, along with Day of Fire’s Greg Hionis, songwriter/producers Ian Eskelin and Liz Hooper, Sanctus Real producer Chris Stevens and Sanctus Real member Dan Gartley each took home their first BMI Christian Music Award.

BMG Music Group (Bridge Building Music/Careers-BMG Music Publishing/Zomba Songs Inc.) took home four BMI Christian Awards, while publishers Club Zoo Music, Inc., My Refuge Music and SWECS Music earned three awards each. Publishers garnering two honors were EMI Music Publishing (EMI-Blackwood Music, Inc./Sparrow Song) and Gotee Music, Inc.

A complete list of the 2007 BMI Christian Awards is available on bmi.com www.BMI.com.

Photo Gallery:

Sanctus Real

Kirk Franklin

Kirk Franklin receiving the award for Urban Gospel song Looking For You

Mark Hall (left) and his award for Praise You In This Storm

The night’s big winners share songwriting tips

Erin and Trevor McNevan

Just like the first day they met. Steven Curtis and Mary Beth Chapman

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