NASHVILLE, TN. (Top40 Charts/ BMI) - U.S. performing right organization BMI saluted the writers and publishers of the past year's most performed songs on Christian radio and television during the BMI Christian
Music Awards tonight 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.
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.
Christian music's Steven Curtis Chapman and Mark Hall took home BMI Song of the Year crystals for 'Voice of Truth.' Recorded by Hall's Casting Crowns, the song was published by Club Zoo Music, Inc., My Refuge Music, Peach Hill Songs, Sparrow Song and SWECS Music.
Casting Crowns lead singer Mark Hall, also earned his second BMI Christian Songwriter of the Year honor. His hits 'Lifesong,' 'Praise You in This Storm' and 'Voice of Truth,' garnered three BMI Christian Awards in both the Contemporary and Inspirational categories.
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 honored 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 honoree Yolanda Adams; producer/songwriter Ed Cash; Urban Gospel star Kirk Franklin; producer, arranger and musician Jay Joyce; songwriter/producer Kenny Greenberg; Gospel favorites Israel Houghton and Percy James Bady; songwriter Fred Douglas Washington, Jr.; the Crabb Family's Gerald Crabb; songwriter/artist Aaron Shust. 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.
A complete list of the 2007 BMI Christian Awards is available on bmi.com.
