BMI honors Paul Rodgers with 'Million Air' Award

BMI HONORS PAUL RODGERS WITH “MILLION AIR” AWARD

FREE’S “ALL RIGHT NOW” SURPASSES FOUR MILLION AIRPLAYS IN THE U.S.


Los Angeles, CA – November 4, 2010 – BMI has presented Paul Rodgers, singer songwriter and founding member of Free with a new “Million Air” award to acknowledge four million performances of Free’s hit song "All Right Now." Million Air awards are presented to songwriters in recognition of songs that receive two million or more U.S. radio and television performances. A radio staple for 40 years, the song has also surpassed a massive 2,000,000 radio plays in the UK (as of 2000). “All Right Now” appeared on the band’s “Fire and Water” album in mid-1970. The single was an international #1 hit in over 20 territories and landed at #2 on the UK charts and #4 on Billboard Hot 100.

“When I started writing ‘All Right Now’ the lyrics and the melody flowed easily. It felt special and it’s still special to me and the fans. It’s a ‘must play’ in my solo set,” said Paul Rodgers.

Recently, “All Right Now” topped the UK’s Planet Rock radio fan poll as the “Greatest Rock Single,” in “one of the most decisive polls” they’ve ever run beating out 39 international chart-topping hit songs from artists such as Led Zeppelin, Nirvana, AC/DC, The Eagles, Queen and Guns and Roses. Previous Planet Rock polls placed “All Right Now” on the “Best Summer Rock Song,” “Greatest Rock Riff of All Time” and “Ultimate Driving Songs” charts.

After a five-year skyrocketing run of success, Free would disband in 1973 and Paul Rodgers would go on to form and front another legendary rock band, Bad Company. Earlier this year, “The Very Best of Free and Bad Company featuring Paul Rodgers” greatest hits collection, featuring Rodgers’ greatest works during the legendary ’68-’73 era of Free and ’73-’82 era of Bad Company, became Bad Company's first top 10 chart appearance since 1979, Free's first since 1991 and was Rodgers’ return to the charts following his 2007 certified Gold debut solo DVD “Live in Glasgow” which charted at #1 in Canada, #2 in Japan, #3 in the US and #4 in the UK.

Following a U.S. summer tour run, Paul Rodgers and Bad Company recently wrapped their first concert tour of Japan in over 30 years culminating with a three night stand in Tokyo.