Shown are (l-r): BMI’s Linda Livingston, Bill Medley, Cynthia Weil and Barry Mann.

BMI songwriters Barry Mann and Cynthia Weil who co-wrote “You’ve Lost That Loving Feeling” with Phil Spector, attended the event. The 1964 Righteous Brothers rendition is the most played song in the history of radio. Medley’s son Darrin stepped into late partner Bobby Hatfield’s shoes to sing the famous duet alongside his father.

BMI recognizes the songwriters, composers and music publishers of its million and multi-million performance status songs with “Million-Air” performance certificates. Over 3900 songs have been awarded Million-Air certificates, which range from one million performances to over 12 million performances. To be included in this exclusive roster, a song with an average length of three minutes must have been broadcast over one million times. This definition equals at least 50,000 broadcast hours, which equals more than 5.7 years of continuous airplay.

Shown are (l to r): BMI’s Linda Livingston, Lynne, BMI’s Phil Graham.

Some of BMI’s top Million-Air songwriters include Barry Mann, Cynthia Weil, Phil Spector, Ben E. King, Holland-Dozier-Holland, Donald and Richard Addrisi, Calvin Lewis, Andrew J. Wright, Sting (PRS), Barrett Strong, Norman Whitfield, Steve Cropper, Otis Redding, Bill Dees, Roy Orbison and many more.

Established in 1977, the Fulfillment Fund has three main goals: helping disadvantaged students graduate from high school; increasing the number who go on to college; and helping them successfully complete college and transition into the working world. The Fund provides two programs that together provide over ten years of critical support for students, starting in the ninth grade and continuing through college, jointly producing systematic change.

Standing, left to right: Stanley S. Hubbard, Chairman and CEO Hubbard Broadcasting; Bruce Reese, Joint Chairman of the NAB and President and CEO Bonneville International Corporation; Cecil L Walker, Chairman, BMI Board of Directors; FCC Commissioner Deborah Taylor Tate; NAB President & CEO David Rehr; Sitting: Del Bryant, BMI President and CEO; Dolly Parton; Craig A. Dubow, Chairman, President & CEO, Gannett Co., Inc. photo by Lester Cohen

Saluted for a “lifetime of brilliant performances that have delighted and entertained broadcast audiences across America,” Parton was recognized as a songwriter whose enormous entertainment contributions have shaped American music and culture. “It is rare that a songwriter of such immense talent is also able to deliver those songs on record, on the air and in concert in a way that thrills audiences and has brought her to the pinnacle of professional success in our industry,” said Bryant. “The management and Board of Directors chose her for this salute because of her impact across all media and genres, and the diversity and scope of her talent as a songwriter, recording artist, actress, entrepreneur, and philanthropist.”

left to right: Cecil L. Walker, Chairman, BMI Board of Directors; Dolly Parton; and Del Bryant, BMI President and CEO. photo by Randall Michaelson

Also at the dinner were legendary BMI songwriters Jeff Barry (“Be My Baby,” “Chapel of Love”), Holland/Dozier/Holland (“Stop In The Name of Love,” “Reach Out and I’ll Be There”), and Barry Mann and Cynthia Weill (“You’ve Lost That Lovin Feelin’,” “Here You Come Again”); BMI’s Board of Directors, executives and Board members of the NAB, and FCC commissioners.

left to right: BMI Songwriter Eddie Holland; Del Bryant, BMI President and CEO; BMI Songwriters Brian Holland, Jeff Barry, Dolly Parton, Barry Mann, Cynthia Weill, Lamont Dozier; and Cecil L Walker, Chairman, BMI Board of Directors. photo by Randall Michaelson

SHOF inductees Robert and Richard Sherman, Towering Song Award winners Barry Mann and Cynthia Weil, BMI's Del Bryant, and SHOF inductees David Porter, Isaac Hayes and Steve Cropper

Also honored was "You've Lost That Lovin' Feelin'," written by BMI writers Phil Spector, Barry Mann and Cynthia Weil. The Righteous Brothers' classic received this year's Towering Song Award. "Lovin' Feelin'" recently surpassed the 10 million performance plateau and was recognized at BMI's 2005 Pop Awards held in May.

Gathered before the induction ceremony are (back row) EMI Publishing's Marty Bandier, BMI's Del Bryant, SHOF President Linda Moran, SHOF inductee Steve Cropper, performer Lalah Hathaway, SHOF inductees John Fogerty, Smokey Robinson, and Bill Withers, Motown founder Berry Gordy Jr., songwriter Jimmy Webb, SHOF Chairman Hal David, Gibson Guitar Chairman Henry Juszkiewicz , Towering Song Award winner Cynthia Weil, (kneeling) performers Debra Gibson and Ryan Cabrera, Towering Song Award winner Barry Mann, and SHOF inductees Les Paul and Richard Sherman

Dedicated to recognizing the work and lives of those composers and lyricists who create popular music around the world, National Academy of Popular Music/Songwriters Hall of Fame was founded in 1969 by songwriter Johnny Mercer and publishers Abe Olman and Howie Richmond. The NAPM/SHOF is also devoted to the development of new songwriting talent through workshops, showcases and scholarships. BMI is a long-time supporter of the Songwriters Hall of Fame.

SHOF inductees David Porter, Isaac Hayes and Steve Cropper

SHOF inductees David Porter, Les Paul and Isaac Hayes, BMI former President & CEO Frances Preston, Towering Song Award winners Barry Mann and Cynthia Weil, and SHOF Chairman Hal David

BMI President and CEO Del Bryant (right) congratulates brothers Richard and Robert Sherman

photos by Gary Gershoff

Pop Awards Photo Slideshow

2005 BMI Pop Awards Song List

Paul Simon's BMI Awards List

2005 Lennon Scholarship Winners

Del Bryant, President & CEO, and Barbara Cane, Vice President & General Manager, Writer/Publisher Relations, Los Angeles, hosted the dinner event. The writers and publishers of the 50 most performed songs of the past year were recognized, plus the overall song, songwriter and publisher winners. A highlight of the gala, staged at the Regent Beverly Wilshire Hotel in Beverly Hills, was a tribute to songwriter/artist Paul Simon, who was named a BMI Icon.

3 Doors Down	Lil Jon

"Here Without You" won the title of BMI Pop Song of the Year, with songwriters Brad Arnold, Todd Harrell, Chris Henderson and Matt Roberts of the group 3 Doors Down accepting; this distinction is given to the song tallying the most feature broadcast performances during the eligibility period. Published by Escatawpa Songs and Songs of Universal, Inc. and included on 3 Doors Down's Republic/Universal CD Away From the Sun, "Here Without You" has already been certified as a BMI Million-Air (with two million broadcast performances) and was previously honored as BMI's 2004 Most Performed Song on College Radio. Lead singer Brad Arnold was also named Songwriter of the Year at the 2002 BMI Pop Awards.

Nickelback	Paul Simon

Lil Jon wrote four songs on the Most Performed List of 50 to collect the BMI Pop Songwriter of the Year crown. The songs earning him the title were "Damn!" (YoungBloodZ featuring Lil Jon), "Freek-A-Leek" (Petey Pablo), "Get Low" (Lil Jon & the East Side Boyz featuring the Ying Yang Twins) and "Yeah!" (Usher featuring Ludacris and Lil Jon).

Of the 88 songwriters who received 2005 BMI Pop Awards, two were triple winners: Chad Kroeger (SOCAN) of Nickelback and Sham. Other writer/artists earning awards included Michelle Branch, Five for Fighting, Linkin Park, Sarah McLachlan, Pete Townshend (PRS), Shania Twain, Maroon 5, Los Lonely Boys, R. Kelly, Seal (PRS), Lil' Kim, Evanescence, the White Stripes, Fountains of Wayne, Mario Winans and the Black Eyed Peas.

Paul Simon was saluted as a BMI Icon for his "unique and indelible influence on generations of music makers." In a career dating back to the 1950s, Paul Simon has established himself among the best and most popular songwriters of the rock era. His songs have bookmarked moments in the lives of millions, whether with words of love, longing, humor, politics or, above all, hope. He has incorporated the rhythms of his native New York with those from as far away as Brazil and South Africa.

For his efforts, he is a 12-time Grammy winner, a two-time Rock & Roll Hall of Fame inductee (as Simon & Garfunkel and as a solo artist), the recipient of the Kennedy Center Honors and the Recording Academy Lifetime Achievement Award, an Oscar nominee, an Emmy Award winner, and the much-honored co-founder of the Children's Health Fund. His songwriting catalog has earned 39 BMI Awards -- including multiple citations for "Bridge Over Troubled Water," "Mrs. Robinson," "Scarborough Fair" and "The Sound of Silence" -- and amassed nearly 75 million broadcast airplays, according to BMI surveys.

After a video tribute, the musical salute to Simon featured performances by 2004 Icon recipient Brian Wilson (who sang "The Sound of Silence"), British sensation Joss Stone ("Mother and Child Reunion"), Adam Levine and James Valentine of the Grammy-winning band Maroon 5 ("Homeward Bound") and soul gospel diva Yolanda Adams ("Bridge Over Troubled Water").

Simon enters the elite company of previously praised BMI Icons, including Bill Anderson, James Brown, Chuck Berry, Little Richard, Bo Diddley, Isaac Hayes, Holland-Dozier-Holland, Loretta Lynn, Carlos Santana, Dolly Parton, Al Green, Van Morrison and Brian Wilson.

EMI Music Publishing (EMI-Blackwood Music, Inc./EMI-Stone Agate Music), with 11 award songs, claimed the BMI Pop Publisher of the Year prize, given to the publishing concern with the highest percentage of copyright ownership in award songs. EMI's winning songs were "100 Years," "Bright Lights," "Damn!," "Freek-A-Leek," "Get Low," "Heaven," "I Don't Wanna Know," "I Heard It Through the Grapevine," "Into You," "Unwell" and "Where Is the Love." EMI Chairman & CEO Martin Bandier accepted the crystal trophy.

Other publishers garnering three or more awards were Universal Music Publishing (Irving Music/Songs of Universal, Inc./Universal-Songs of PolyGram International, Inc.); Warner/Chappell Music Group (Warner-Tamerlane Publishing Corp. and Rick's Music, Inc.); Careers-BMG Music Publishing, Inc./Loco De Amor Music/Zomba Songs Inc.; and White Rhino Music.

In addition to Song of the Year "Here Without You," BMI recognized the performance achievements of two other songs. "Someday" by Nickelback earned Most Performed Song on College Radio kudos for songwriters Chad Kroeger, Mike Kroeger, Ryan Peake and Ryan Vikedal of the group and publisher Warner-Tamerlane Publishing Corp. "You've Lost That Lovin' Feelin'," the most performed composition in BMI's repertoire of 6.5 million musical works, was certified as a 10 Million-Air, meaning it has been broadcast 10 million times. "You've Lost That Lovin' Feelin'" was written by Phil Spector, Barry Mann and Cynthia Weil, and published by ABKCO Music, Inc., Mother Bertha Music, Inc., and Screen Gems-EMI Music, Inc.

Phil Spector	Barry Mann and Cynthia Weil

Another special presentation was the announcement of the First Place winner of the 2005 John Lennon Scholarship Awards. Sydney Price, a 17-year-old junior at Booker T. Washington High School for the Visual and Performing Arts in