BMI Christian Music Award Winners 2013: Jason Roy Of Building 429, Carroll L. McGruder, And Dayspring Music/ Word Music Publishing

This year's BMI Christian Awards were held on June 18 and saw a number of winners including Building 429's Jason Roy, who received the award for 'Christian Song of the Year,' for his song, 'Where I Belong.'  Other winners included Carroll L. McGruder who earned 'Christian Songwriter of the Year,' with his recent hits, 'I'm Going Home with Jesus' and 'Saved By Grace,' Dayspring Music (a.k.a. Word Music Publishing) which won 'Christian Publisher of the Year,' and industry veteran, Jim Van Hook, who won an honor for 'Special Citation of Appreciation.'

The awards took place at the Broadcast Music, Inc. office in Nashville, Tennessee.  It is an annual award ceremony that honors songwriters and publishers of this year's most popular contemporary Christian, Christian rock, inspirational, southern gospel, urban gospel and U.S. Christian radio music.

"We are continually inspired by the messages of hope and faith spread through the Christian music community," said Jody Williams, BMI Vice President, Writer/Publisher Relations and awards co-host, according to the BMI website.  "BMI is privileged to represent and honor the best and brightest at our annual BMI Christian Awards."  Williams served as host for the evening alongside Leslie Roberts, Associate Director, Writer/Publisher Relations.  Awards for the evening were presented by Phil Graham, President, Writer/Publisher Relations, and many other members of the BMI staff.

Performers at the event included top Christian artists, Building 429, Brandon Heath and Steven Curtis Chapman.  Building 429 opened the night and delivered a very memorable performance of their award-winning song, 'Where I Belong.'

"This award is just another way that God has shown an incredible amount of favor to Building429 in a year that has been amazing to say the least," Roy said after the awards, according to Today's Christian Music.  "It was a privilege to share the stage with Stephen Curtis Chapman and Brandon Heath to perform at the ceremony for a room full of prolific hit writers, and a memory we will not soon forget. We also count it an honor to carry the banner of BMI Song of the Year as we continue to expect even greater things as our new record, We Won't Be Shaken, begins to take flight. Thank you to BMI and all the incredible staffers, writers, artists, and publishers represented last night."

Building 429's 'Where I Belong,' appeared on their 2011 album, 'Listen To The Sound.'  The song was co-written by Roy and award-winning producer/songwriter, Jason Ingram.  It also became Billboard's Christian Song of the Year in 2012 and marked the longest running No. 1 single in Billboard's NCA chart history, holding on for a whole fifteen weeks. Building 429 has recently wrapped up their five-week promotional tour for their newest album, 'We Won't Be Shaken,' which was released on May 31, and has already seen overwhelming success.  The band plans to continue touring throughout the summer and beyond.

Other Award Nominees Included [according to BMI.com]:

10,000 REASONS (BLESS THE LORD)
Jonas Myrin
EMI CMG Publishing
Matt Redman

BE STILL
Yolanda Adams
Irving Music
Jam Yo Music
Yolanda Adams

CARRY ME TO THE CROSS
Mark Stuart
Jason Walker
68 Guns
Dayspring Music (BMI Christian Publisher of the Year)
Integrity's Praise! Music
Kutless

COURAGEOUS
Mark Hall
My Refuge Music
Sony/ATV Tree
Casting Crowns

DO EVERYTHING
Steven Curtis Chapman
One Blue Petal Music
Primary Wave Brian
Steven Curtis Chapman

HE SAID
Manuel Reyes
Blanca Reyes Callahan
Dayspring Music (BMI Christian Publisher of the Year)
Group 1 Crew featuring Chris August

I FEEL GOOD
Phillip Feaster
Fred Hammond
Jonathan Miller
Calvin Rodgers
CJMS Music
Derek's Kids
Face's Launching Pad Publishing
Music Feast Productions
Universal Music-Brentwood Benson Songs
Fred Hammond

I NEED YOUR GLORY
Earnest Pugh
Black Smoke Publishing
Pughspen Music Publishing Co.
Earnest Pugh

I THIRST
Beverly Lowry
Homeward Bound Music
Ernie Haase & Signature Sound (a tribute to Cathedral Quartet)

I'M GOING HOME WITH JESUS
Carroll L. McGruder (BMI Christian Songwriter of the Year)
Best Of Zion Music
the Worship Crew

KEEP YOUR EYES OPEN
Bo Rinehart
Bear Rinehart
Needtobreathe Music
Needtobreathe

LIVE LIKE THAT
Dave Frey
Ben McDonald
Dayspring Music (BMI Christian Publisher of the Year)
Sidewalk Prophets

LOVE CAME CALLING
Wayne Haun
Joel Lindsey
Hefton Hill Music
PsalmSinger Music
Universal Music-Brentwood Benson Songs
Triumphant Quartet

LOVE COME TO LIFE
Jeremy Redmon
Jim Scherer
Dayspring Music (BMI Christian Publisher of the Year)
Red 91 Music
Songs Of Whizbang
Big Daddy Weave

ME WITHOUT YOU
Toby McKeehan
Chris Stevens
Achtober Songs
Chriscendo Music
Meaux Mercy Publishing
tobyMac

MY HEART SAYS YES
Troy Sneed
Shytro Publishing
Troy Sneed

REACH
Andrew Fromm
Southern Yankee Publishing
Peter Furler

SAVED BY GRACE
Carroll L. McGruder (BMI Christian Songwriter of the Year)
Rex Nelon Music Company
Triumphant Quartet

SOMETIMES I CRY
Gerald Crabb
Christian Taylor Music
Gerald Crabb's Songs
Jason Crabb

SPIRITUAL
Donald Lawrence
Q W Publishing
Donald Lawrence

TURN AROUND
Matt Maher
EMI CMG Publishing
Valley Of Songs Music
Matt Maher
WE ARE
Chuck Butler
Ed Cash
Hillary McBride
James Tealy
HillaryMcBrideMusic
Jord A Lil Music
Wondrously Made Songs
Kari Jobe

WHAT A SAVIOR
Jeremiah Jones
Fair Trade Global Songs
Giant Impact LLC
Laura Story

WHEN THE STARS BURN DOWN (BLESSING AND HONOR)
Jennie Riddle
Integrity's Praise! Music
Phillips, Craig & Dean

WHERE I BELONG (BMI Christian Song of the Year)
Jason Roy
Havery Publishing
Sony/ATV Tree
Building 429