BMI staged its 55th Annual Pop Awards on May 15, honoring the Bee Gees as Pop Icons; Kara DioGuardi and Sean Garrett as Songwriters of the Year; “Because of You” as Song of the Year; and Warner/Chappell Music as Publisher of the Year. Hosted by BMI President & CEO Del Bryant and BMI Vice President/General Manager, Los Angeles, Barbara Cane and held at the Regent Beverly Wilshire Hotel in Beverly Hills, the black-tie, invitation-only dinner recognized the writers and publishers of the past year’s 50 most performed pop songs from BMI’s catalog of more than 6.5 million compositions.

BMI Pop Awards Song List

A highlight of the ceremony was the musical tribute to legendary singing trio the Bee Gees. The brothers Gibb were honored as BMI Icons for their “unique and indelible influence on generations of music makers.” Accepting the awards were Barry and Robin Gibb, and Yvonne Gibb, wife of the late Maurice Gibb. The tribute saw American Idol finalist Katharine McPhee perform “Immortality,” Bebe Winans singing a medley of “Nights on Broadway” and “How Deep Is Your Love” and Kelly Rowland performing “Emotion.” The musical partnership of Barry, Robin and Maurice Gibb has produced some of the most timeless songs ever written, including “Night Fever,” “How Can You Mend a Broken Heart,” “Staying Alive,” “I Started a Joke,” “How Deep Is Your Love,” “Jive Talkin,” “You Should Be Dancing” and “Run To Me.” The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductees signature three-part harmony has endured for more than four decades, and with this award they join an elite list of previous BMI Icons that includes Crosby, Stills & Nash, Paul Simon, James Brown, Brian Wilson, Isaac Hayes, Dolly Parton and Carlos Santana.

Kara DioGuardi and Sean Garrett tied for the coveted BMI Songwriter of the Year title, placing three songs each in the most performed list of 50. The trio of tracks earning DioGuardi her first Songwriter of the Year Crystal includes “Real Thing” (Bo Bice),“Walk Away” (Kelly Clarkson) and “I’m Feeling You” (Santana featuring The Wreckers). Tonight marked her seventh BMI award; she received a BMI Latin Award in March. Garrett picked up his first Pop Songwriter of the Year Crystal for penning “Run It!” (Chris Brown), “Check On It” (Beyoncé featuring Slim Thug) and “Grillz” (Nelly featuring Paul Wall, Ali & Gipp). Garrett now holds 12 BMI Awards in both the Pop and Urban categories, including being named one of the BMI Top 10 Urban Producers at last year’s honors.

“Because of You,” co-written by BMI songwriters Ben Moody and David Hodges, along with Kelly Clarkson, and published by 12:06 Publishing, Smellslikemetal Publishing, EMI-Blackwood Music, Inc. and Dwight Frye Music, Inc., was named BMI Pop Song of the Year for scoring the most airplay of any song on the most-performed list during the award period. “Because of You” earned the trio a huge top ten Billboard Hot 100 hit and the #1 spot on Top 40 radio, where it spent six weeks at the peak position, and was included on Clarkson’s second release, Breakaway.

Warner/Chappell Music (Warner-Tamerlane Publishing Corp. & Unichappell Music, Inc) claimed its BMI Pop Publisher of the Year prize with 11 songs on the top 50 list and the highest percentage of copyright ownership of this year’s awards. Warner/Chappell Music CEO Dave Johnson accepted the company’s 13th BMI Pop Publisher of the Year Crystal.

BMI also recognized the performance achievements of two other songs: “Miss Murder,” which earned Most Performed Song on College Radio kudos for AFI’s Hunter Burgan, Adam Carson, Davey Havok, Jade Puget and Ex Noctem Nacimur Music (publishers); and “You’re Beautiful,” BMI’s Internet Song of the Year award for songwriters James Blunt (PRS), Amanda Ghost (PRS), Sacha Skarbek (PRS), and David Platz Music, Inc., EMI-Blackwood Music, Inc., Universal-Songs of PolyGram International, Inc., for tallying the most hits on BMI-licensed web sites during the award period.

Taking home two BMI Pop Awards each were Fall Out Boy’s Andrew Hurley, Patrick Stump, Joe Trohman and Pete Wentz; Mariah Carey; Ne-Yo; and Nickelback members Daniel Adair, Chad Kroeger, Mike Kroeger and Ryan Peake (all SOCAN). Publishing companies EMI-Blackwood Music, Inc., Universal Music Publishing (Irving Music/Songs of Universal, Inc./Universal-Songs of Polygram International, Inc.), BMG Music Group (Killer Tracks/Zomba Songs), Sony/ATV Songs LLC, K’Stuff Publishing, Chicago X Softcore Songs, Rye Songs, and Super Sayin’ Publishing were each cited for multiple award-winning songs.

The BMI Foundation’s 10th Annual John Lennon Scholarship was presented to 21-year-old Berklee College of Music student Emily Shackelton. A native of Northern Minnesota, she was awarded a $10,000 scholarship for her song “Goodbye” by the Foundation. Established in 1997 by Yoko Ono in conjunction with the BMI Foundation and matched by generous donations from Gibson Musical Instruments, the John Lennon Scholarship program recognizes the talent of young songwriters between the ages of 15 and 24.

High-resolution photos will be available on May 16 at press.bmi.com. To request access, please contact mediarelations@bmi.com.

BMI Icons are selected because of their “unique and indelible influence on generations of music makers.” The Bee Gees join an elite list that includes Crosby, Stills & Nash, Paul Simon, Merle Haggard, Brian Wilson, James Brown, Carlos Santana and Dolly Parton, to name just a few.

Collectively, Barry, Maurice and Robin Gibb boast 109 BMI Pop, Country and Latin Awards. Barry received four BMI Songwriter of the Year awards; Robin shared two of these with him. The trio claims four BMI Song of the Year wins for “Night Fever,” “Too Much Heaven” and the Kenny Rogers and Dolly Parton duet “Islands in the Stream,” which won in both the pop and country categories. The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame members have earned international industry accolades, including the prestigious Grammy “Legend” Award. Maurice Gibb’s passing in 2003 led to the Gibbs’ decision to cease performing as the Bee Gees, but their music lives on, enriching generation after generation.

In addition to the Icon, BMI will recognize Song, Songwriter and Publisher of the Year during the evening, along with the recipient of the BMI Foundation’s John Lennon Scholarship. Pop Award winners from previous years include Maroon 5, R. Kelly, Nickelback, 3 Doors Down, Pharrell Williams, Michelle Branch, Lil Jon, the Foo Fighters, Linkin Park, and Sheryl Crow.

Maurice Gibb is seen here at the 2002 BMI Latin Awards receiving a certificate from BMI's Frances Preston for the Bee Gees' penned Oscar de la Hoya hit "Ven A Mi."

The group's bassist, keyboardist and occasional drummer, Gibb's background vocals played a major role in the instantly recognizable falsetto harmonies for which the Bee Gees are renowned.

The British-born brothers began singing together in 1955 at the encouragement of their drummer and bandleader father, Hugh Gibb, and their mother Barbara, who was a singer. Short for the Brothers Gibb (Maurice, fraternal twin brother Robin and older brother Barry), the Bee Gees got their start in 1958 playing talent shows and hosting a weekly TV show in Australia. They had their first string of hits between 1967 and 1971 after moving back to England, with ballads like "How Can You Mend a Broken Heart" and "To Love Somebody." They are perhaps most famous for the soundtrack to the 1977 movie "Saturday Night Fever," which included some of the biggest hits of the disco era like "You Should Be Dancing" and "Stayin' Alive." That soundtrack later became the best-selling album of its time (until it was surpassed by Michael Jackson's Thriller in 1982).

Gibb is survived by his second wife, Yvonne Spenceley, and their two children, Adam and Samantha, as well as the other Bee Gees and their mother, Barbara. The Bee Gees' younger brother, Andy Gibb, died in 1988 at the age of 30 from a heart infection.]]> 2003-01-12T17:00:00-05:00 http://www.bmi.com/podcasts/container/132858 Maurice Gibb discusses how long it takes to write a song Gibb, Maurice, Latin, In Their Own Words, Video, 2002, BMI Latin Awards 2002-05-13T18:00:00-05:00 http://www.bmi.com/news/entry/233114 Bee Gees, The, Estefano, Gibb, Maurice, Intocable, Juanes, Quintero, Mario, Rivera, Lupillo, Santander, Kike, Shakira, Latin, BMI Latin Awards En Espanol

BMI presented its 9th Annual Latin Awards on May 8 with top honors going to songwriter/producer Estefano, “Enséñame A Olvidarte,” and publisher Sony/ATV Latin Music Publishing LLC. The black-tie ceremony, hosted by BMI President and CEO Frances W. Preston and Assistant Vice President of Latin Music Diane J. Almodovar, honored the top writers and publishers of the most performed Latin songs on U.S. radio and television at a 400-plus person gala dinner at the Diplomat Hotel & Resort in Hollywood, Florida. The event coincided with the Billboard Latin Music Conference, which runs until May 9 at the nearby Eden Roc Resort in Miami.

Estefano Songwriter of the Year

Luis Gerardo Padilla Riojas Song of the Year

Writer/producer Estefano was named Latin Songwriter of the Year for the second time by placing the most songs on the most performed list. The four songs are: “El Ultimo Adiós” and “Y Yo Sigo Aquí” by Paulina Rubio, “Ni Una Lágrima Más” by Noelia, and “Yo Te Amo” by Chayanne. In 2000, he shared the Songwriter of the Year title with Marco Antonio Pérez, Mario Quintero, Kike Santander and Shakira.

Repeat BMI Latin Songwriter of the Year Estefano, BMI President and CEO Frances W. Preston, BMI Award Winner Juanes, and Sony/ATV Latin Music Publishing's Richard Rowe.

“Enséñame A Olvidarte” (“Teach Me How to Forget You”), written by Luis Gerardo Padilla Riojas and published by SER-CA Publishing, Inc., earned Song of the Year accolades as the most performed song in the BMI Latin catalog. The Tex-Mex hit, recorded by Tejano/Norteño fusion band Intocable, spent several weeks in the top 10 on the Billboard Hot Latin Tracks chart.

BMI President and CEO Frances W. Preston and BMI Award Winner Maurice Gibb of the Bee Gees.

BMI Award Winning Songwriters Lupillo Rivera and Juanes.

BMI's Del Bryant, Ramon Gonzalez Mora, Marco Antonio Perez

Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC was named Publisher of the Year with eight songs on the most performed list, including all four of Estefano’s award winning songs.

Juanes, Certificate of Achievement recipient

Kike Santander, multiple award winner

Mario Quintero, multiple award winner

A special highlight of the gala evening included a special Certificate of Achievement presentation to Colombian recording artist Juanes in recognition of his contributions to the evolution and worldwide success of Latin music. The BMI-affiliated songwriter won three Latin Grammys last year out of an impressive seven nominations.

Eduardo Garcia, Diego Montalvo, BMI's Diane Almodovar, BMI President and CEO Frances W. Preston, Jesus Melendez, BMI's Del Bryant

Other multiple award-winning songwriters included three-time Songwriter of the Year Kike Santander with three songs on the most performed list, and Armando Manzanero Canche (SACM) and 2000 Songwriter of the Year Mario Quintero with two songs each. Publishers earning two or more Citations of Achievement were Foreign Imported Productions and Publishing, Inc., peermusic, and World Deep Music Publishing Corporation (4); EMI-Blackwood Music, Inc. and SER-CA Publishing, Inc. (3); and D’Nico International, Editora Arpa Musical, El Conquistador Music Publishing, Elzaz Music Co., M�s Flamingo Music and Tigres del Norte Ediciones Musicales (2).

High-resolution photos of the 2002 BMI Latin Awards will be available for downloading at press.bmi.com.

Juanes, Barry Gibb, Estefano

BMI's Diane Almodovar, Nestor Rodriguez, Patricia Chavez, BMI President and CEO Frances W. Preston, Martin Buenrostro

Jorge Reynoso, Pilar Montenegro, Kike Santander

Juan Marquez, Richard Rowe, Estefano, Carmen Alfanno, BMI's Diane Almodovar, BMI President and CEO Frances W. Preston, Marcello Azevedo, Ivan Alvarez, Oscar Rodriguez, BMI's Del Bryant