Back row front: BMI’s Shannon Sanders, BMI’s Mason Hunter, BMI’s MaryAnn Keen, BMI’s Clay Bradley, BMI’s Josh Tomlinson; Front row front: Lori McKenna (BMI), Liz Rose (BMI), Parker McCollum (BMI), Hillary Lindsey (ASCAP). Photo: Aubrey Wise for BMI.

BMI opened the doors to its Nashville location on Wednesday, September 25 to celebrate MCA Nashville hitmaker Parker McCollum’s fourth No. 1 platinum-certified hit, “Burn It Down.” The CMA Song of the Year-nominated song reunited McCollum with his co-writer, The Love Junkies, which included 2024 Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame nominee Liz Rose (BMI), 3X GRAMMY-winning songwriter Lori McKenna (BMI) and 2024 songwriters Hall of Fame inductee Hillary Lindsey (ASCAP). McCollum is the first MCA Nashville artist to have every single release reach the top of the charts.

The event was hosted by BMI and ASCAP and moderated by BMI’s Mason Hunter. The gathering was sponsored by Studio Bank, where Ron Cox held a special donation presentation on behalf of McCollum and the songwriters in support of Folds of Honor. The organization provides educational scholarships for children and spouses of fallen service members and first responders.

Hunter capped the evening by surprising McCollum with three BMI Million-Air Awards, certificates given to songwriters whose works have achieved the rare feat of being aired on U.S. radio more than a million times, for his consecutive chart-toppers “Handle On You” (2 million), “Pretty Heart” (2 million) and “To Be Loved By You” (2 million).

BMI’s Parker McCollum and Mason Hunter pose with three BMI Million-Air Awards for “Pretty Heart,” “To Be Loved By You” and “Handle On You,” each of which has received more than two million airplays on U.S. radio. Photo: Aubrey Wise for BMI.