T.I., Ne-Yo and Mr. ColliPark each earned Songwriter of the Year titles, “Check On It” secured Song of the Year honors for co-writers Slim Thug and Sean Garrett, and a special presentation officially recognized legendary MC Joseph “Rev Run” Simmons of Run DMC as the newest BMI Icon.

Song List: BMI Award Winners

The night’s other big winners included Pharrell Williams, who earned the Producer of the Year title; EMI Music Publishing, named Urban Publisher of the Year; and T-Pain’s “I’m N Luv (Wit A Stripper),” which nabbed the BMI Urban Ringtone Award. Executives from music trade magazine Billboard were also on hand to give out No. 1 Awards to the BMI songs that reached the top spot on its urban music charts.

T.I., Ne-Yo and Mr. ColliPark each composed four songs on BMI’s most-performed list, and all three of the hitmakers acquired their first BMI Songwriter of the Year crowns. T.I. co-wrote hits “My Love” and “What You Know,” along with Lil' C’s “Shoulder Lean” and Nelly’s “Grillz”; Ne-Yo co-penned Beyoncé’s “Irreplaceable” and his own “Sexy Love,” “So Sick” and “When You’re Mad”; and Mr. ColliPark co-wrote the Ying Yang Twins’ “Badd,” Diddy’s “Come to Me,” Bubba Sparxxx’s “Ms. New Booty” and David Banner’s “Play.”

Slim Thug and Sean Garrett’s “Check On It” earned Song of the Year. Published by Publisher of the Year EMI-Blackwood Music, Inc., “Check On It” was recorded by Beyoncé and featured the vocal stylings of co-writer Slim Thug.

As one third of Run-DMC, Rev Run helped change the sound of rap by simultaneously being more street and rock & roll than his contemporaries. From the boom-box classic single “Sucker MCs” (1983) to their standard-setting discs Run-DMC, King of Rock, Raising Hell and Tougher Than Leather, Run-DMC defined a new level of cool for the world. Dressed in their trademark black hats and outfits to match, Run-DMC stayed at the top of the pop charts for most of the ’80s and knocked open the doors to commercial freedom for the rap generation. A multi-media star — he stars in his own television show, Run’s House — Rev Run continues to create music, having just released his CD Distortion on the Russell Simmons Music Group (RSMG).

Pharrell Williams earned his third BMI Producer of the Year title for logging the most producer credits on charting songs. The BMI Top Urban Producers list also included Rodney Jerkins, Polow Da Don, Jazze Pha, Kanye West, will.i.am, Lil Jon, Sean Garrett and T-Pain.

EMI Music Publishing was named BMI Urban Publisher of the Year by scoring the highest percentage of copyright ownership in award songs. The publishing giant’s hits included chart toppers “Irreplaceable,” “Déjà Vu,” “Money Maker,” “Snap Yo Fingers” and more.

“I’m N Luv (Wit A Stripper),” co-written and performed by BMI Top Urban Producer T-Pain and Mike Jones and published by Warner-Tamerlane Publishing Corp. and Zomba Songs, received the BMI Urban Ringtone Award for tallying the most downloads during the award period.

In addition to the BMI performance awards, Billboard recognized the BMI-affiliated writers whose songs reached No. 1 on the R&B/Hip-Hop Songs, Hot Rap Tracks, Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Airplay and Hot 100 charts during the past year.

Big Oomp, CEO of Big Oomp Records, took home the coveted Legends of ATL Award, presented by BMI’s Catherine Brewton, DJ Jelly, DJ Montay and friends. This award recognizes an individual’s accomplishments and contributions to Atlanta’s urban music community.

BMI Unsigned Urban Finalists Nikkiya, Young ACE Scrilla, Six20, and Dain Harris took the stage first, performing for a set of elite industry judges. Young ACE Scrilla emerged as the winner, taking home a prize package that includes two 12-hour sessions in Studio A at Tree Sound Studio with an engineer, two tickets to the 2007 BMI Urban Awards in Las Vegas, two Delta round-trip airfare tickets and one hotel room for two nights in Las Vegas during the BMI Urban Awards, two Gibson/Epiphone guitars, photo shoot with photographer Ben Rose, a $1,000 cash prize and a complete style makeover, including hair, makeup and clothing, provided by Seven Over Escape.

Click here for more info.

BMI’s Byron Wright, Heist, DJ Toomp and BMI’s Catherine Brewton

The 30 attendees participated in a Q&A moderated by BMI’s Byron Wright and toured the studio, while DJ Toomp, who is currently working on Kanye West and Mariah Carey’s next projects, spoke about topics ranging from how he got started in the business to what his preferred production tools are. The 10 selected producers were each able play one of their tracks and get feedback and tips from DJ Toomp.

BMI’s Byron Wright, BMI’s Catherine Brewton, DJ Toomp, Tree Sound’s Mali and Owner of Tree Sound, Paul Diaz

Up-and-coming producer Heist drove down from Baltimore to be a part of the event. Jazze Pha, Mannie Fresh and Rodney Jerkins, all whom have lent their support to the Producer Power Workshop, are possible participants in the next installment.

DJ Toomp

Hosted by Jazze Pha & Hot 107.9’s Rashan Ali, the show will feature headliners T-Pain, Yung Joc and Fat Joe. Doors open at 8 p.m. with the show scheduled to begin at 9. Admission is $20 before 11 p.m. and you must be 21 and have proper ID to gain entry.

Finalists:

BMI's Richard Conlon (right) congratulates BMI Top 10 Urban Producer Jazze Pha on receiving the Most Performed Ringtone Award for his song "1, 2 Step"

	BMI Urban Awards Photo Slideshow
	BMI Urban Awards Song List
	Billboard No. 1s

Mariah Carey took home two of the night's top honors, including Song of the Year for her smash "We Belong Together" and Songwriter of the Year, which she shared with Miami-based producers Bigg D and Jim Jonsin. A highlight of the gala event was a special presentation to prolific songwriting and production team Kenneth "Babyface" Edmonds and Antonio "L.A." Reid, who were named BMI Icons for their "enduring influence on generations of music makers."

Mariah Carey	Babyface	L.A. Reid

Other big winners included rapper Kanye West, who earned the Producer of the Year title for the second consecutive year; Warner/Chappell Music Group, named Urban Publisher of the Year; and Jazze Pha's "1, 2 Step," which nabbed the BMI Urban Ringtone Award. Executives from music trade magazine Billboard were also on hand to give out No. 1 Awards to the BMI songs that reached the top spot on its urban music charts.

Bigg D	Jim Jonsin

Song of the Year "We Belong Together," which Carey co-wrote, ruled the top of multiple charts for months after its release in 2005, relaunching the five-octave singer's career back into superstardom. BMI writers Darnell Bristol, Sid "Uncle Jamz" Johnson, Patrick Moten, Sandra Sully, Bobby Womack and BMI Icon Babyface were also recognized with the Urban Awards' top song prize, as were the song's publishers - ABKCO, Ballads by Design, Hip Chic Music, Mister Johnson's Jams Music, Rye Songs, Songs of Universal, Sony/ATV and Warner-Tamerlane.

Kanye West	Jazze Pha

As the best-selling female performer of the 1990s, Carey stood apart by composing all her own material, and was twice before named Songwriter of the Year (1993 and 1999). She takes the top songwriter prize for the third time this year by placing three of her own hits on the most-performed list - "Don't Forget About Us," "Shake It Off" and "We Belong Together" - all from last year's comeback release, The Emancipation of Mimi. Carey, who also wrote 1992's Pop Song of the Year, "Love Takes Time," has a total of 23 BMI Awards and 15 "Million-Air" songs that have had one million or more broadcast performances.

Sharing the Urban Songwriter of the Year spotlight were producers Bigg D and Jim Jonsin, who also had three songs on the most-played list with the co-writes "Let's Go" by Trick Daddy (featuring Lil Jon & Twista), and Pretty Ricky's "Grind With Me" and "Your Body." Formerly known as the Unusual Suspects, this Dirty South production duo has been cranking out the hits, LPs, soundtracks and re-mixes for such heavy-hitters as Trick Daddy, Pretty Ricky, Trina, Jacki-O, Cee-Lo and Pitbull since 2000.

Multiple Grammy Award-winning songwriter/producers Babyface and L.A. Reid then took the stage to accept their BMI Icon honors. As co-founders of LaFace, the record label they started in 1989, the longtime writing partners are responsible for launching the careers of such multi-platinum artists as Toni Braxton, TLC, Usher and Pink. With a vast catalog of hits recorded by such A-listers as Madonna, Mary J. Blige, Celine Dion, Eric Clapton, Boyz II Men, Michael Jackson, Whitney Houston, Outkast, Dido, Ciara, Jay-Z and Songwriter of the Year Mariah Carey, songs penned by Babyface and L.A. have accumulated more than 40 million airplays on American radio and television.

In addition to his behind-the-scenes talent, Babyface has enjoyed his own success as a recording artist, with 11 albums that have produced more than 15 Top 10 hits. He has been named BMI Songwriter of the Year a record seven times (90, 91, 92, 95, 96, 97, 98), more than any other pop writer in the history of the company. They add to the more than 50 BMI Awards displayed on his trophy shelf, which now features his first Urban Award and his third Song of the Year Crystal received tonight as co-writer of "We Belong Together." His other Song of the Year awards include Toni Braxton's "Breathe Again" (1995) and Boyz II Men's "I'll Make Love to You" (1996). This year's top song win ties him with the Bee Gees as writer of the most Pop Songs of the Year.

With his exceptional ability to spot and develop new talent, L.A. Reid is currently Chairman of the Island Def Jam Music Group. He also served as President & CEO of Arista Records from 2000 to 2004, and is president of his own publishing company, Hitco Music, which tonight earned a pair of BMI Urban Awards for the Chris Brown smash "Run It!" and Fantasia's No. 1 hit "Truth Is." The 18-time BMI Award-winning hitmaker, who in 1990 shared the Pop Songwriter of the Year spotlight with fellow BMI Icon Babyface, most recently guided the release of Mariah Carey's Mimi CD, the mega-selling album that spawned this year's Song of the Year.

BMI Producer of the Year honors went to Kanye West for the second year in a row for logging the most producer credits on charting songs. The BMI Top Urban Producers list also included Mr. Collipark, Pharrell Williams, Lil Jon, R. Kelly, Sean Garrett, Jazze Pha, Cool & Dre, Rodney Jerkins, and Songwriters of the Year Bigg D and Jim Jonsin.

Top producers Sean Garrett, Lil Jon and Andre "Dre" Lyon also made the list of double winners, picking up two BMI Urban Awards apiece, as did The Game and Pretty Ricky members Marcus "Pleasure" Cooper, Corey "Slick'Em" Mathis, Diamond "Baby Blue" Smith, Joseph "Blue" Smith and Spectacular Smith.

Warner/Chappell Music Group was named BMI Urban Publisher of the Year by scoring the highest percentage of copyright ownership in award songs (through its companies Unichappell Music, Inc. and Warner-Tamerlane Publishing Corp.). This is the twelfth BMI Publisher Crystal for Warner/Chappell, which boasted eight songs on the most-performed list, including Song of the Year "We Belong Together" and Ringtone Award winner "1, 2 Step."

Other publishers recognized for multiple award-winning songs were Black Boy Hatchet Music, Dade Co. Project Music, Inc., Dimensional Songs of the Knoll, EMI-Blackwood Music, Inc., Ensign Music LLC, Hitco Music, Jimi Mac Music/OG Music, Rye Songs, Songs of TVT, Sony/ATV Songs LLC, Universal Music Publishing (Irving Music/Songs of Universal, Inc.) and Zomba Songs.

"1, 2 Step," written by BMI Top 10 Urban Producer Jazze Pha and published by Bubba Gee Music, Noontime Tunes and Warner-Tamerlane Publishing Corp., received the BMI Urban Ringtone Award for tallying the most downloads during the award period. The Ciara hit was also named BMI's very first Internet Song of the Year at the 2006 Pop Awards.

In addition to the BMI performance awards, Billboard recognized the BMI-affiliated writers whose songs reached No. 1 on the R&B/Hip-Hop Songs, Hot Rap Tracks, Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Airplay and Hot 100 charts during the past year. Kanye West's "Gold Digger," featuring Jamie Foxx and writing credits by Renald Richard and the late Ray Charles, topped all four charts.]]> 2006-08-30T05:00:00-05:00 http://www.bmi.com/news/entry/534256 3 Doors Down, Arnold, Brad, Baby Gerry, Babyface, Batson, Mark, Bell, Thom, Ben-Ari, Miri, Bennett, Michael, Black Eyed Peas, Bock, Jerry, Bowlegged Lou, Busta Rhymes, Carey, Mariah, Counting Crows, Day, Howie, DeGraw, Gavin, DioGuardi, Kara, Edelman, Randy, Fat Joe, Fratantuno, Mike, Gamble, Kenneth, Garrett, Sean, Gessle, Per, Harrison, Rich, Huff, Leon, Hugo, Chad, Jazze Pha, Jerkins, Rodney, Jones, Daron, Juvenile, Lee, Amy, Lifehouse, Lil Flip, Lil Jon, Linkin Park, Los Lonely Boys, Love, Craig D., Lyttle, Kevin, M'Jestie, Maroon 5, McBride, Martina, McGraw, Tim, Milian, Christina, Ne-Yo, Nichols, Tim, Nichols, Tim, Nickelback, Persson, Mats, Rihanna, Roberts, Matt, Seether, Sir Mix-A-Lot, Slater, James, Sloan, Ed, Snoop Dogg, Usher1, Walker, Butch, Weezer, West, Kanye, Williams, Lenny, Williams, Pharrell, Ying Yang Twins, Yoshiaki, Terence, Pop 1, 2 STEP (Internet Song of the Year)
Jazze Pha
Bubba Gee Music
Noontime Tunes
Warner-Tamerlane Publishing Corp.
Ciara featuring Missy Elliott
Sho'Nuff Records

1985
John Allen
Eastside Johnny No Ass Music
EMI-Blackwood Music, Inc.
Bowling For Soup
Silvertone/Jive/Zomba

ACCIDENTALLY IN LOVE
David Bryson
Adam Duritz
David Immergluck
Matthew Malley
Daniel Vickrey
EMI-Blackwood Music, Inc.
Jones Falls Music
Songs of DWA
Counting Crows
Geffen Records

BEVERLY HILLS (College Song of the Year)
Rivers Cuomo
E. O. Smith Music
Weezer
Geffen Records

BREAKING THE HABIT
Chester Bennington
Rob Bourdon
Brad Delson
Dave Farrell
Joe Hahn
Mike Shinoda
Big Bad Mr. Hahn Music
Chesterchaz Publishing
Kenji Kobayashi Music
Nondisclosure Agreement Music
Pancakey Cakes Music
Rob Bourdon Music
Zomba Songs
Linkin Park
Warner Bros. Records

BROKEN
Shaun Morgan
Dale Stewart
Dwight Frye Music, Inc.
Seether Publishing
Seether featuring Amy Lee
Wind-Up Records

CHARIOT
Gavin DeGraw
G. DeGraw Music, Inc.
Warner-Tamerlane Publishing Corp.
Gavin DeGraw
J Records

COLD
Ed Sloan
Sony/ATV Songs LLC
Sugarstar Publishing
Crossfade
Columbia Records

COLLIDE
Howie Day
Kevin Griffin
HKD Music
Tentative Music, Inc.
Howie Day
Epic Records

DIP IT LOW
Teedra Moses
Paul Poli
Paul Poli Music
Ras-N-Taj Music
Christina Milian
Def Soul Records

DISCO INFERNO
Phillip Pitts aka "Bangout"
Songs of Universal, Inc.
50 Cent
Aftermath

DON'T CHA
Busta Rhymes
Cee-Lo Green
Sir Mix-A-Lot
Ensign Music LLC
Nottinghill Music, Inc.
Tziah Music
Pussycat Dolls featuring Busta Rhymes
Interscope Records

DON'T PHUNK WITH MY HEART
Paul Anthony
Baby Gerry
Cleveland Bell IV
B-Fine
Bowlegged Lou
Curt-T-T
Indeewar (IPRS)
Victor May
George Pajon, Jr.
Printz Board
Anandji V. Shah (IPRS)
Kalyanji V. Shah (IPRS)
Shy-Shy
will.i.am
Careers-BMG Music Publishing
Cherry River Music Co.
El Cubano Music
EMI-Blackwood Music, Inc.
Forceful Music
Henstone Publishing
Musicworks
Printz Polar Publishing
Saregama Music, United States
Songs of Universal, Inc.
will.i.am music, inc.
Zomba Songs
Black Eyed Peas
Interscope Records

DROP IT LIKE IT'S HOT
Chad Hugo
Snoop Dogg
Pharrell Williams
Careers-BMG Music Publishing
EMI-Blackwood Music, Inc.
My Own Chit Publishing
Raynchaser Music
Waters of Nazareth Publishing
Snoop Dogg featuring Pharrell
Star Trak/Geffen/Interscope Records

FEELIN' WAY TOO DAMN GOOD
Chad Kroeger (SOCAN)
Mike Kroeger (SOCAN)
Ryan Peake (SOCAN)
Ryan Vikedal (SOCAN)
Warner-Tamerlane Publishing Corp.
Nickelback
Roadrunner/IDJMG Records

GOODIES
Sean Garrett
Lil Jon
Craig D. Love
Zachary Wallace
C'Amore Music
EMI-Blackwood Music, Inc.
Ishmoot Music
Songs of TVT
Swizole Music
Warner-Tamerlane Publishing Corp.
Ciara featuring Petey Pablo
Sho'Nuff Records

HEAVEN (2nd Award)
Henry Garza
Jojo Garza
Ringo Garza
Either Or Music
EMI-Blackwood Music, Inc.
Garza Bros. Music
Los Lonely Boys
Epic Records

HOLLABACK GIRL
Pharrell Williams
EMI-Blackwood Music, Inc.
Waters of Nazareth Publishing
Gwen Stefani
Interscope Records

I DON'T WANT TO BE
Gavin DeGraw
G. DeGraw Music, Inc.
Warner-Tamerlane Publishing Corp.
Gavin DeGraw
J Records

I'LL BE AROUND (2nd Award)
Thom Bell
Phil Hurtt
Warner-Tamerlane Publishing Corp.
Hall and Oates
DKE/U-WATCH

IN MY DAUGHTER'S EYES
James Slater
Dimensional Songs of the Knoll
Diversion Music
Martina McBride
RCA Records

LADY
Craig Ross
Wigged Music
Lenny Kravitz
Virgin Records
LEAN BACK
Fat Joe
Joey And Ryan Music
Warner-Tamerlane Publishing Corp.
Terror Squad
SRC/Universal Records

LEAVE (GET OUT)
Alex Cantrall
Kenneth Karlin
Soulshock
Phillip "Whitey" White
Alley Gadfly Music
Dimensional Songs of the Knoll
EMI-Blackwood Music, Inc.
Full of Soul Music
Soulvang Music
JoJo
Blackground/Universal

LET ME GO
Brad Arnold
Todd Harrell
Chris Henderson
Matt Roberts
Escatawpa Songs
Songs of Universal, Inc.
3 Doors Down
Republic/Universal Records

LET ME LOVE YOU
Shaffer "Ne-Yo" Smith
Bridge Apartments Music
Super Sayin' Publishing
Zomba Songs
Mario
3rd Street Records

LET'S GET IT STARTED
Apl.de.ap
Mike Fratantuno
Terence Yoshiaki Graves
George Pajon, Jr.
Taboo
will.i.am
Cherry River Music Co.
El Cubano Music
EMI-Blackwood Music, Inc.
Hisako Songs
Jeepney Music, Inc.
Nawasha Networks Publishing
Tuono Music
will.i.am music, inc.
Black Eyed Peas
A & M/Interscope Records

LISTEN TO YOUR HEART (2nd Award)
Per Gessle (STIM)
Mats Persson (STIM)
EMI-Blackwood Music, Inc.
D. H. T.

LIVE LIKE YOU WERE DYING
Tim Nichols
Nichols Worth Music
Warner-Tamerlane Publishing Corp.
Tim McGraw
Curb Records

LOSE MY BREATH
Sean Garrett
Fred Jerkins
Rodney Jerkins
EMI-Blackwood Music, Inc.
Ensign Music LLC
Fred Jerkins Publishing
Rodney Jerkins Productions, Inc.
Destiny's Child
Columbia Records

LOVERS AND FRIENDS
Lil Jon
Michael Sterling
Irving Music
Persevere Publishing
Songs of TVT
Lil Jon & the East Side Boyz feat Usher & Ludaris
TVT Records

MOVE YA BODY
Paul Anthony
Baby Gerry
B-Fine
Bowlegged Lou
Curt-T-T
Shy-Shy
Careers-BMG Music Publishing
Mokojumbi Music
Zomba Songs
Nina Sky featuring Jabba
J Time/Next Plateau

MY HAPPY ENDING
Butch Walker
EMI-Blackwood Music, Inc.
Sonotrock Music, Inc.
Avril Lavigne
Arista Records

MY PLACE
Randy Edelman
Kenneth Gamble
Leon Huff
Dorian (Doe) Moore
EMI-Hastings Catalog, Inc.
Warner-Tamerlane Publishing Corp.
Nelly featuring Jaheim
Derrty/Fo Reel/Universal Records

OVERNIGHT CELEBRITY
Miri Ben-Ari
Michael Bennett
Kanye West
Lenny Williams
EMI-Blackwood Music, Inc.
EMI-Stone Diamond Music Corporation
Len-Lon Music Publishing
Mirimode Music
Please Gimme My Publishing, Inc.
Songs of Universal, Inc.
Twista
Atlantic Records

PIECES OF ME
Kara DioGuardi
K'Stuff Publishing
Ashlee Simpson
Geffen Records

PON DE REPLAY
Alisha "M'Jestie" Brooks
Evan Rogers
Carl Sturken
AMP Group Publishing LLC
Bayjun Beat Music
Below Da Belt Music
Songs of Universal, Inc.
Rihanna
SRP/Def Jam/ID Jmg

RICH GIRL
Mark Batson
Jerry Bock
Kara DioGuardi
Sheldon M. Harnick
Bat Future Music
Jerry Bock Enterprises
K'Stuff Publishing
Mayerling Productions Ltd.
Songs of Universal, Inc.
Gwen Stefani featuring Eve
Interscope Records

SALT SHAKER
D-Roc (Ying Yang Twins)
Kaine (Ying Yang Twins)
Lil Jon
Collipark Music
Da Crippler Publishing
E W C Publishing Co.
EMI-Blackwood Music, Inc.
Songs of TVT
Ying Yang Twins featuring Lil Jon
Collipark/TVT Records

SHE WILL BE LOVED (Song of the Year)
Jesse Carmichael
Ryan Dusick
Adam Levine
Mickey Madden
Careers-BMG Music Publishing
February Twenty-Second Music
Maroon 5
Octone/J Records

SLOW MOTION
Juvenile
Breka Music
EMI-Blackwood Music, Inc.
Money Mack Music
Juvenile featuring Soulja Slim
Cash Money Records

SOLDIER
Sean Garrett
Rich Harrison
Dam Rich Music
EMI-Blackwood Music, Inc.
Destiny's Child
Columbia Records

SUNDAY MORNING
Jesse Carmichael
Ryan Dusick
Adam Levine
Mickey Madden
Careers-BMG Music Publishing
February Twenty-Second Music
Maroon 5
Octone/J Records

SUNSHINE
Carlos Hassan of The Synphony
Sandy Lal of The Synphony
Lil Flip
Careers-BMG Music Publishing
Carlos Hassan Publishing
Clover G Music
Reach Global Songs
Sandy Lal Music Publishing
Lil Flip featuring Leá
Sucka Free/Loud/Columbia Records

SWITCH
L. Bennett aka Kel Spencer
Kwamé
Irving Music
Kwamétheboygenius Music
Love-N-Loyalty Music
Will Smith
Interscope Records

THIS LOVE (2nd Award)
Jesse Carmichael
Ryan Dusick
Adam Levine
Mickey Madden
Careers-BMG Music Publishing
February Twenty-Second Music
Maroon 5
Octone/J Records

TRUE
Sheppard Solomon
Jumbo Boom Boom Publishing
Ryan Cabrera
Evla/Atlantic

TURN ME ON
Daron Jones
Kevin Lyttle
Raeon Primus (COTT)
EMI-Blackwood Music, Inc.
Kevin Lyttle
Atlantic Records

WE BELONG TOGETHER
Darnell Bristol
Mariah Carey
Kenneth "Babyface" Edmonds
Sid "Uncle Jamz" Johnson
Patrick L. Moten
Sandra Sully
Bobby Womack
ABKCO Music, Inc.
Ballads By Design Publishing
Hip Chic Music
Mister Johnson's Jams Music
Rye Songs
Songs of Universal, Inc.
Sony/ATV Songs LLC
Warner-Tamerlane Publishing Corp.
Mariah Carey
Island Records

YOU AND ME
Jude Cole
Jason Wade
Dimensional Songs of the Knoll
G-Chills Music
Jude Cole Music
Warner-Tamerlane Publishing Corp.
Lifehouse
Geffen Records

BMI staged its 54th Annual Pop Awards on May 16, with top honors given to BMI Icons Crosby, Stills & Nash; Jesse Carmichael, Ryan Dusick, Adam Levine and Mickey Madden of Maroon 5 and Lil Jon as Songwriters of the Year; "She Will Be Loved" as Song of the Year; and EMI Music as Publisher of the Year. Hosted by BMI President/ CEO Del Bryant and Los Angeles VP/GM Barbara Cane at the Regent Beverly Wilshire Hotel, the black-tie 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 Photo Slideshow
	BMI Icon Tribute
	2006 BMI Pop Awards song list
	Crosby, Stills, & Nash Bio

A highlight of the gala ceremony featured a musical tribute to legendary singing trio Crosby, Stills & Nash, who were honored as BMI Icons for their "unique and indelible influence on generations of music makers." The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductees, whose signature three-part harmony has endured for more than three decades, join an elite list of previous BMI Icons that includes Paul Simon, James Brown, Brian Wilson, Isaac Hayes, Dolly Parton and Carlos Santana.

Martin Bandier and his EMI Music Publishing team accept the publisher of the year award

The musical partnership of David Crosby, Stephen Stills and Graham Nash has produced some of the most timeless rock songs ever written, including "Marrakesh Express," "Suite: Judy Blue Eyes," "Helplessly Hoping," "Guinnevere," "Teach Your Children," "Wooden Ships," "Dark Star" and "Just a Song Before I Go." Called "the voice of an entire generation," CSN has just announced a summer reunion tour with Neil Young.

Maroon 5	Lil Jon	Crosby, Stills & Nash

Pop-rockers Maroon 5 were joined on stage by rapper Lil Jon to collect their BMI Songwriter of the Year Crystals for placing three songs each on the most performed list of 50. The trio of tracks earning Maroon 5 members Jesse Carmichael, Ryan Dusick, Adam Levine and Mickey Madden the prestigious title were "Sunday Morning," their two-time BMI Pop Award-winning smash, "This Love," and Song of the Year "She Will Be Loved."

Lil Jon picked up his third Songwriter of the Year win - he was both BMI's top Pop and Urban writer in 2005 - for penning "Lovers and Friends" (Lil Jon & the East Side Boyz featuring Usher & Ludacris), "Goodies" (Ciara featuring Petey Pablo) and "Salt Shaker" (Ying Yang Twins featuring Lil Jon), the latter two of which also made the list of top songs at the 2005 BMI Urban Awards. He was also honored at that ceremony as writer of the Song of the Year ("Yeah!"), as well as named one of BMI's Top 10 Urban Producers.

Included on Maroon 5's multi-platinum debut, Songs About Jane, "She Will Be Loved" 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. Co-written by the band's four BMI members, and published by Careers-BMG Music Publishing and February Twenty-Second Music, "She Will Be Loved" earned Maroon 5 their second Grammy this past February for Best Pop Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal; they were named Best New Artist the previous year.

EMI Music Publishing (EMI-Blackwood Music, Inc./EMI-Hastings Catalog, Inc./Stone Diamond Music) claimed its second consecutive BMI Pop Publisher of the Year prize with 18 songs on the top 50 list, giving the publishing giant the highest percentage of copyright ownership in award songs. EMI Chairman & CEO Martin Bandier accepted the company's 11th BMI Pop Publisher Crystal.

In addition to the Song of the Year, BMI also recognized the performance achievements of two other songs: "Beverly Hills" earned Most Performed Song on College Radio kudos for songwriter Rivers Cuomo of Weezer and publisher E.O. Smith Music, and "1, 2 Step," written by BMI Top 10 Urban Producer Jazze Pha and published by Bubba Gee Music, Noontime Tunes and Warner-Tamerlane Publishing Corp., received BMI's very first Internet Song of the Year award by tallying the most hits on BMI-licensed web sites during the award period.

Three other songs besides "This Love" took home a second BMI Pop Award, including "Heaven" by Los Lonely Boys, which also won last year; D.H.T.'s version of "Listen to Your Heart," which earned a Pop Award in 1990 for the recording by Roxette; and the Hall & Oates remake of "I'll Be Around," which won a Pop Award in 1972 for the original Spinners hit written by Thom Bell and Phil Hurtt.

Songwriters Gavin DeGraw, Kara DioGuardi, George Pajon, Jr., will.i.am of the Black Eyed Peas, Pharrell Williams of the Neptunes, and Full Force members Paul Anthony, Baby Gerry, B-Fine, Bowlegged Lou, Curt-T-T and Shy Shy each scored two BMI Pop Awards, while publishers Careers-BMG Music Publishing/Zomba Songs, Cherry River Music Co., Dimensional Songs of the Knoll, El Cubano Music, Ensign Music LLC, February Twenty-Second Music, Forceful Music/Mokojumbi Music, G. DeGraw Music, Inc., K'Stuff Publishing, Songs of TVT, Sony/ATV Songs LLC, Universal Music Publishing Group (Songs of Universal, Inc./Irving Music), Warner-Tamerlane Publishing Corp., Waters of Nazareth Publishing and will.i.am music, inc. were each cited for multiple award-winning songs.

Another of the ceremony's highlights included a special presentation to 21-year-old Catawba College student Dennis E. Reed, Jr., first place winner of the BMI Foundation's 9th Annual John Lennon Scholarship Awards. The Charlotte, North Carolina native, who got to share the stage with some of music's biggest stars, went home with a $10,000 scholarship for his song, "Out of Control." 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.