Pictured (left to right, back row): Brad Kennard of Concord, Dave Pacula of Liz Rose Music, Mason Hunter of BMI, Miranda McDonald of MCA Nashville, Mike Sistad of ASCAP, Jessi Stevenson of Warner Chappell and Emily Furman of Creative Nation. (L-R, front row): Lori McKenna (BMI), Liz Rose (BMI), Parker McCollum (BMI), Hillary Lindsey (ASCAP) and Ron Cox of Studio Bank. Photo: Aubrey Wise for BMI

“Long live the love junkies!” A publisher reported from the BMI stage, where the industry had gathered to celebrate Parker McCollumThe fourth hit in a row was “Burn It Down” earlier this week.

Written by McCollum and Junkies Liz Rose, Lori McKenna And Hillary Lindseythe CMA Song of the Year nominee brought happy revelers together. The party was hosted by BMI and ASCAP.

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

BMIs Mason Hunter presided. Highlighting the BMI partners, he shared that Rose will be inducted into the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame next month and McKenna is a three-time Grammy winner. He later surprised McCollum with three BMI Million-Air Awards – certificates given to songwriters whose works have achieved the rare feat of being aired more than a million times on US radio – for his back-to-back chart-topping “Handle On You” (two million), “Pretty Heart” (two million) and “To Be Loved By You” (two million).

ASCAPs Mike Sistad shared words about Lindsey and reminded the crowd that she was inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame in New York earlier this year.

A number of top publishers, including Concord’s, spoke about the hitmakers Brad KennardLiz Rose Music’s Dave PaculaWarner Chappell’s Jessie Stevenson and Creative Nation’s Emily Furman. They all praised the Love Junkies’ generosity and excellence and recognized McCollum for his dedication to writing and recording quality country songs.

MCA Nashville Miranda McDonald She congratulated her radio promotion team and said that McCollum was the first MCA Nashville artist to have every single release reach the top of the charts. She also shared that “Burn It Down” is the only song that McCollum specifically identified as a radio single.

Studio Banks Ron Cox made a special donation presentation on behalf of McCollum and the songwriters to support Folds of Honor. The organization provides educational scholarships for children and spouses of fallen service members and first responders.

When it came time for the makers of “Burn It Down” to speak, they bragged about each other and McCollum and thanked their teams.

Pictured (left to right): John Nix Arledge of MusicRow; Lori McKenna, Liz Rose, Parker McCollum and Hillary Lindsey pose with their MusicRow No. 1 Challenge Coins; LB Cantrell from MusicRow. Photo: Aubrey Wise for BMI

“Most of all, I want to thank Parker for being such a songwriter and artist,” Rose shared. “I love the way you are so careful and respectful towards the songwriters and your songs. The fact that we get to write with you is truly amazing. We appreciate it because we know how careful you are and how much you care about your songs, your music and what you say.”

“It’s hard not to write a song with (Parker) because he radiates so much. We were lucky to be in the room that day,” Lindsey said. “It was a magical day. I’m so grateful.”

“Parker, you’re a love junkie,” McKenna said. “We call ourselves Hocus pocus when we’re with Parker. We stayed at his house (in Texas) for a few days and he took us to local restaurants. Everyone in town could be seen watching Parker and three old women walk by. It was pretty much Parker and Hocus pocus.”

“You know you’re in good company when your wife goes to her parents’ house for a week and three women come over,” McCollum joked. “To be on stage with three of the best songwriters country music has ever seen and have a No. 1 with them… is incredible.”

“I care deeply about the people in front of me and the opinions of the songwriters I look up to about every song I write,” McCollum added. “I’ve always been very hard on myself when it comes to writing songs that stand the test of time and are good for country music. I hope one day Steve Earle, Chris Knight, James McMurtry and George Strait hear them and stop talking about them.”

“Burn It Down” by McCollum, Rose, Linsey and McKenna will compete for Song of the Year at the 58th Annual CMA Awards on Wednesday, November 20th.

LB Cantrell is Editor/Operations Manager at MusicRow Magazine where she oversees, manages and executes all company operations. LB oversees all MusicRow-related content, including the publication’s six annual print editions and online news. She is a Georgia native and a graduate of Middle Tennessee State University’s Recording Industry Management program.

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