All Feature Articles

BMI Makes It Rain with Mitchell Tenpenny and Gone West

by Rich and Laura Lynch

BMI - otherwise known as Broadcast Music, Inc. (BMI) - has been making it rain for songwriters, composers, and music publishers since its founding in 1939. In the world of collecting royalties they are one of the kings who are instrumental in raking in cash for performing artists. For example, in 2018 BMI collected $1.199 billion in licensing fees and distributed $1.12 billion in royalties for their repertoire that includes over 900,000 songwriters and catalogue of 14 million compositions.

BMI Makes It Rain with Mitchell Tenpenny and Gone West
Nashville's own Mitchell Tenpenny is on top of the world in Music City.

So, a little rain and an inclement forecast wasn't going to get in the way of the season finale of BMI Rooftop on the Row held on August 20, 2019 at the BMI building located on 10 Music Square East in Nashville. In fact, despite a few drops from a slow steady rain during the headliner's set - no one was going anywhere. Of the handful of these events (one that remains one of Music City's favorite VIP parties held multiple times every spring and summer) that we have attended - this one drew the largest crowds that we have seen to date.

BMI Makes It Rain with Mitchell Tenpenny and Gone West
Mitchell Tenpenny and his five piece band - worth every penny!

The rooftop revelers came out for local boy made good Mitchell Tenpenny who achieved national attention with his 2018 charting single "Drunk Me" released on Columbia Records Nashville. Tenpenny - along with his five-piece band - played a solid set that also featured fan favorites "Truck" and the humorously titled "Alcohol You Later" and exited the stage just before the downpour became a bit more intrusive.

BMI Makes It Rain with Mitchell Tenpenny and Gone West
Gone West is Jason Reeves, Nelly Joy, Colbie Caillat and Justin Young.

If you're like us and were wondering what Grammy-award winning Colbie Caillat is up to - that was answered in Nashville. She has formed the country rock quartet Gone West with her husband and friends and they put the resulting work on display in Music City. The song "Gone West" tells their tale well while "Realize" - a Callait hit from her days as a breakout MySpace artist - worked perfectly in this new configuration. The end result? A successful way to close out the event's third season to make fans and sponsors (George Dickel Tennessee Whisky, Topo Chico, Sam Adams, Texas Roadhouse, Cumulus Media, Lyft, Delta Air Lines, First Tennessee Bank and Yeti) all very happy. See y'all next year at BMI Rooftop on the Row!

BMI Makes It Rain with Mitchell Tenpenny and Gone West
Colbie Caillat - "Coco" returns to the spotlight in Gone West.

Related Links: For more information on BMI ROOFTOP ON THE ROW and the other organizations mentioned please visit the following links -- BMI | Mitchell Tenpenny | Gone West | Colbie Caillat | BMI Rooftop on the Row Is the Place to Go


.





Did you know that MCN Founder Rockin' Rich Lynch hosts some of the world's top musicians and songwriters on his regularly scheduled webcast - watch all the episodes here - and please share the links far and wide!





Do you like MCN??? Did you know that the easiest way to support this site is to BUY our founder's Latest Single on BANDCAMP? At check out you can even throw in a bit more to really say "we appreciate you"! Thanks!!!





Beauty From Ashes: A Night of Worship, Witness and Unshakable Hope at the 2026 K‑LOVE Fan Awards



Frist Art Museum Presents Surrealism Retrospective and Agha's Immersive Light Works in Nashville



A Homecoming in Stories and Song: Volume 1 of Richie Owens' Mountain Saga



A Thousand Steps to a New Downtown: Nashville Yards Reaches Its Defining Moment



Cheekwood Keeps On Rollin' as It Gears Up for America's 250th Birthday Celebration



Still Soaring: The Eagles Deliver a Night of Timeless Magic in Nashville



Full Disclosure at the Ryman: SATCHVAI Confirm That Guitar Aliens Are Real



Inside The Putting Zone: Nashvilles New Arena for Precision, Play and Performance



Multi Ultra and Bluphoria Raise a Banner For Indie Rock on May Day in Nashville



What We Learned at the Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony: The Importance of Influence, Inspiration and Infrastructure in Music



From Jubilee to Jesus Rock: Inside the Museum Preserving the Soul of America's Sacred Music



A Jurassic Jam: Nashville Zoo's Sips for Species Serves Drinks, Dinos and After‑Hours Magic



The Palomino Makes Historic Nashville Debut After Seven Years in the Making



Gov't Mule and Larkin Poe Were in Peak Form at The Pinnacle in Nashville



Daniel Leyes Marks 4/20 With a Weed‑Themed Double Single at the Late Todd Snider's East Nashville Compound



When It Comes to Dolly's DNA and Dynasty, There's More Where That Came From via OwePar Records



Just Call It the SV SG: Sadler Vaden Unveils His Signature Model at the Gibson Garage in Nashville



Music Valley Is on the Rise With New Shops, Upgrades and an Annual Easter Service as Spring Has Sprung in Nashville



Celtic Woman Casts a New Era Spell Over The Fisher Center in Nashville



Music City Blitz 2026: Where Inclusion Took the Field and Nashville Brought the Noise





• Meet Rich and Laura Lynch.

© 2026 MusicCityNashville.net
All Rights Reserved