Kirk Franklin, Travis Greene and Tamela Mann were named BMI Songwriter of the Year at the 2024 BMI Trailblazers of Gospel Music Awards, held at Flourish in Atlanta on Thursday, March 28. Each songwriter wrote two of the most performed gospel songs of the year. Franklin was honored for “Bless Me” and “Kingdom,” Greene for “Finished” and “Tent Revival,” and Mann for “Finished” and “He Did It for Me.”
Franklin won a runner-up award for “Kingdom,” which was named BMI Gospel Song of the Year. Franklin co-wrote the song with Jonathan Jay, Chandler Moore and Jacob Poole. The song, which was recorded by Maverick City Music X Kirk Franklin, won a Grammy for Best Gospel Performance/Song at the 65th Annual Grammy Awards in February 2023.
BMI's Gospel Publisher of the Year went to Essential Music Publishing for the second year in a row.
Throughout the lunchtime event, BMI saluted the Top 25 most performed gospel acts of the previous year. The private ceremony was hosted by Mike O'Neill, President & CEO of BMI, and Catherine Brewton, Vice President, Creative, Atlanta.
As previously announced, gospel legend and evangelist Dorinda Clark-Cole of the acclaimed Clark Sisters has been honored as a Pioneer of Gospel Music. Upon receiving the honor, Clark-Cole offered this advice to songwriters: “When you're at your lowest, that's when God can get the best of you… keep writing, keep being inspired by God because somebody's being blessed.”
Crystal Aikin, Tasha Page-Lockhart, Yolanda Adams, Lisa Knowles-Smith and Clark-Cole's niece Kierra Sheard performed songs to honor Clark-Cole.
Jonathan McReynolds received the BMI Champion Award, the first time this honor has been presented at this ceremony. DOE, Tyree Miller, Darrel Walls and Jason Nelson sang tributes to McReynolds.
Tim Bowman, Jr., Kim Burrell and Faith City Music and Zacardi Cortez also performed at the event.
from our partners at https://www.billboard.com/music/awards/2024-bmi-trailblazers-of-gospel-music-awards-1235646083/
