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 Nashville, TN, October 6, 2005: The American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers (ASCAP) announced today that it will present Kenny Chesney with the ASCAP Voice of Music Award during the 43rd Annual ASCAP Country Music Awards gala. The invitation-only awards show will take place on Monday, October 17, 2005 at the Ryman Auditorium in Nashville, Tennessee. The event will also honor the songwriters and publishers of ASCAP's most performed country songs of 2004.
The prestigious Voice of Music Award is given to recognized artists and songwriters whose music gives people's lives a voice through song. Kenny Chesney joins a select group of four songwriters who have previously received this award: Garth Brooks, George Strait, Diane Warren and Amy Grant.
"Kenny is a unique artist who has the ability to captivate millions with songs that are honest, heartfelt and entertaining," says ASCAP President and Chairman of the Board Marilyn Bergman. "He is a superstar, yes, but he is a songwriter first."
Kenny Chesney, the star from Luttrell, Tennessee is the reigning Country Music Association and Academy of Country Music Entertainer of the Year. In the past year, he has sold more concert tickets than any other artist in any genre, with the exception of Prince. He is the only country artist to headline stadiums this summer, rocking Pittsburgh, Boston and Washington, DC. His Greatest Hits, No Shoes, No Shirt, No Problems and the CMA album of the Year When The Sun Goes Down all certified quadruple platinum. Furthermore his deeply introspective, million-plus-selling Be As You Are: Song From An Old Blue Chair debuted at #1 on Billboard's all-genre Top 200 Album chart. Chesney has obviously struck a chord with the American public with sales exceeding 20 million units.
Chesney's concerts and recordings have always been about reflecting the way he lives his life - and in turn, it tells the truth about the way his fans live theirs. To that end, songs like "There Goes My Life," "Young," "When The Sun Goes Down," "The Good Stuff," and "Anything But Mine" were all multiple week #1's, with his own "Keg In The Closet" and "I Go Back" also resonating with the fans over the past few years.
After his arrival in Nashville, Chesney became a staff writer for Acuff-Rose Music Publishing. Along the way, he developed a deep respect for songs and songwriting, which shines through his music. Today BNA Records artist Kenny Chesney is the fan-voted American Music Award Favorite Artist.
"Kenny brings a special magic to the stage. When he performs, you feel as if he is your best friend, speaking directly to you through each song. His music celebrates the every day things in life, things we hold dear to our hearts," says ASCAP Senior Vice President Connie Bradley.
The 2005 Country Music Awards will also honor the songwriters and publishers of ASCAP's most performed songs of 2004. Special awards will be given to "Songwriter of the Year," "Songwriter/Artist of the Year," "Song of the Year," and "Publisher of the Year."
About ASCAP
Established in 1914, ASCAP is the first and leading Performing Rights Organization in the U.S., representing the world's largest repertory which totals over 8 million copyrighted musical works of every style and genre from more than 220,000 composer, lyricist and music publisher members. Additionally, ASCAP represents the works in the repertories of 70 affiliated foreign performing rights organizations created by many thousand affiliated international members. ASCAP is committed to protecting the rights of its members by licensing and collecting royalties for the public performance of their copyrighted works, and then distributing these fees to the Society's members based on performances. Unlike the other American Performing Rights Organizations, ASCAP's Board of Directors is made up solely of writers and publishers, elected by the membership every two years. www.ascap.com
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