Graham Gouldman and Top Songwriters Honored at 2015 BMI London Awards
‘Stay With Me’ wins Song of the Year for Sam Smith; Ed Sheeran, John Newman and Hozier also recognized
Last night, BMI honored internationally-celebrated songwriter Graham Gouldman as a BMI Icon at the 2015 BMI London Awards. In addition, music industry guests including John Newman, Wayne Hector and Don Black OBE filled London’s Dorchester Hotel to celebrate the U.K. and European songwriters and publishers behind the most-performed songs of 2014 on U.S. radio and television.
Gouldman was named BMI Icon because of his “unique and indelible influence on generations of music makers.” With this award, he joins an illustrious list of past honorees that includes Sir Tim Rice, John Lydon, Queen, Ray Davies, Don Black OBE and Bryan Ferry. To celebrate Gouldman’s incredible and enduring career, the new Icon and Lisa Stansfield took to the stage for a duet rendition of “I’m Not In Love”. It was the first time the pair have performed together and it was truly a magical moment. Graham also performed his mega hit “Bus Stop.”
BMI presented Sam Smith with the Song of the Year Award (The Robert S. Musel Award) for “Stay With Me,” which was the most-performed song of 2014 by U.K. or European writers in the BMI catalog on U.S. radio and television. The track beat stiff competition from Ed Sheeran and Hozier, who were also recognized. Sam Smith also won Pop Awards for “Stay With Me,” “I’m Not the Only One,” “Latch,” and his contribution to “La, La, La.”
During the ceremony, BMI honored many British songwriters and co-writers of the most-performed songs on U.S. radio and television. John Newman received Pop Awards for the BRIT Award-nominated tracks “Love Me Again” and “Blame.” Songwriting powerhouse Wayne Hector was presented with an award for “Red Lights,” performed by Tiësto, as well as “Me and My Broken Heart,” which was co-written with longstanding collaborator Steve Mac and made famous by Rixton.
Mick Jagger and Keith Richards received a BMI Million-Air Award to honor the nine million combined radio plays of “(I Can’t Get No) Satisfaction,” while other writers received awards for five million plays including The Bee Gees for “Islands In The Stream,” Sting for “Roxanne” and Des’ree for her hit “You Gotta Be.” Ray Davies was also awarded for a Kinks sample used in “Move That Doh.”
Also recognized were the legendary songwriters behind classics that have generated more than three million U.S. radio and TV performances, as well as the composers of the most-watched and highest-grossing television programs and films.
Here’s a complete list of the 2015 BMI London Award winners. Congratulations to all!
BMI Icon
Graham Gouldman
Song of the Year
The Robert S. Musel Award
STAY WITH ME
Sam Smith (PRS)
Naughty Words, Ltd.
Sony/ATV Music Publishing (PRS)
Stellar Songs Ltd.
Dance Award
WAVES
Dennis Stehr (BUMA)
Left Lane Music (BUMA)
2015 London Pop Award Songs
AM I WRONG
Vincent Dery “Vinz”
Kahouly Nicolay Sereba “Nico”
ANGEL IN BLUE JEANS
Amund Bjørklund
Espen Lind
Sony/ATV Music Publishing
Stellar Songs Ltd.
BEG FOR IT
George Astasio (BMI)
Kurtis McKenzie (BMI)
Jason Pebworth (BMI)
Jon Shave (BMI)
John Turner (BMI)
Lateral MGMT London Stockholm AB
Sony/ATV Music Publishing
Turn First Music Publishing Ltd.
Universal Music Publishing
BLAME
John Newman
B-Unique Music
CAN’T REMEMBER TO FORGET YOU
Daniel Ledinsky
Rihanna (BMI)
Shakira (BMI)
Sony/ATV Music Publishing Scandinavia
DON’T
Ed Sheeran
Benjamin “Benny Blanco” Levin (BMI)
Dawn Robinson (BMI)
Sony/ATV Music Publishing
FANCY
George Astasio (BMI)
Kurtis McKenzie (BMI)
Jason Pebworth (BMI)
Jon Shave (BMI)
John Turner (BMI)
Sony/ATV Music Publishing
Turn First Music Publishing Ltd.
Universal Music Publishing
HABITS (STAY HIGH)
Daniel Ledinsky
Sony/ATV Music Publishing Scandinavia
HEROES (WE COULD BE)
David Bowie
Brian Eno
Alessandro “Alesso” Lindblad
Refune Music Ltd.
Sony/ATV Music Publishing
Universal Music Publishing
HEY BROTHER
Salem Al Fakir
Tim Bergling a.k.a Avicii
Ash Pournouri
Pompadore Publishing AB
Sony/ATV Music Publishing Scandinavia
I’M NOT THE ONLY ONE
Sam Smith
Naughty Words Ltd.
Sony/ATV Music Publishing
Stellar Songs Ltd.
IN YOUR ARMS
Vincent Dery “Vinz”
Kahouly Nicolay Sereba “Nico”
LA LA LA
Komi Al-Hakam
Jonny Coffer
Sam Smith
B-Unique Music
Naughty Words Ltd.
Sony/ATV Music Publishing
Stellar Songs Ltd.
LATCH
Sam Smith
Naughty Words Ltd.
Sony/ATV Music Publishing
Stellar Songs Ltd.
LOVE ME AGAIN
John Newman
B-Unique Music
LOVE ME HARDER
Peter Svensson
PS Publishing
ME AND MY BROKEN HEART
Wayne Hector
Steve Mac
Benjamin “Benny Blanco” Levin (BMI)
Ammar Malik (BMI)
Rockstone Music
Warner/Chappell Music Ltd.
MOVE THAT DOH
Ray Davies
Casino (BMI)
Future (BMI)
Pusha T (BMI)
Pierre Ramon Slaughter (BMI)
Edward Kassner Music Co. Ltd.
RATHER BE
Grace Chatto
Nicole Marshall
Jack Patterson
Sony/ATV Music Publishing
REALLY DON’T CARE
Carl Falk
Cher Lloyd
RED LIGHTS
Carl Falk
Wayne Hector
Warner/Chappell Music Ltd.
RIGHT THERE
Carmen Reece
Al Sherrod “A-Rod” Lambert (BMI)
Jeff Lorber (BMI)
James “J-Doe” Smith (BMI)
SING
Ed Sheeran
Sony/ATV Music Publishing
SKY FULL OF STARS
Tim Bergling a.k.a Avicii
Sony/ATV Music Publishing Scandinavia
STAY WITH ME
Sam Smith
Naughty Words Ltd.
Sony/ATV Music Publishing
Stellar Songs Ltd.
SUPERHEROES
Daniel O’Donoghue
Mark Sheehan
Global Talent Publishing
TAKE ME TO CHURCH
Andrew Hozier-Byrne
The Evolving Music Co. Ltd.
THE MAN
Elton John
Sam Barsh (BMI)
DJ Khalil (BMI)
Bernie Taupin
Universal Music Publishing
UPTOWN FUNK
New Songs Administration Ltd.
WAVES
Dennis Stehr
Left Lane Music
Academy Award Winner
THE GRAND BUDAPEST HOTEL
Alexandre Desplat (SACEM)
Film Music Award
GODZILLA
Alexandre Desplat (SACEM)
LUCY
Eric Serra (SACEM)
TAKEN 3
Nathaniel Mechaly (SACEM)
THE AMAZING SPIDER-MAN 2
Johnny Marr
Tom Holkenborg aka Junkie XL (BMI)
Andrew Kawczynski (BMI)
THE EQUALIZER
Harry Gregson-Williams (BMI)
THE IMITATION GAME
Alexandre Desplat (SACEM)
UNBROKEN
Alexandre Desplat (SACEM)
Television Music Awards
AMERICA’S GOT TALENT
Jos Jorgensen (BMI)
Andy Love (BMI)
CHICAGO FIRE
Atli Örvarsson (BMI)
CSI
Pete Townshend
GREY’S ANATOMY
Carim Clasmann
Galia Durant Pike
HOW TO GET AWAY WITH MURDER
Photek (BMI)
The Good Wife
David Buckley (PRS)
Cable Television Music Awards
K.C. UNDERCOVER
Andy Love (BMI)
Bert Selen (BMI)
Million Performance Songs
4 Million
ANOTHER ONE BITES THE DUST
John Deacon
Queen Music Ltd.
Sony/ATV Music Publishing
LET ME BE THERE
John Rostill
Petal Music Ltd.
PINBALL WIZARD
Pete Townshend
Fabulous Music Ltd.
THE LONG AND WINDING ROAD
John Lennon
WE ARE THE CHAMPIONS
Freddie Mercury
Queen Music Ltd.
Sony/ATV Music Publishing
5 Million
ISLANDS IN THE STREAM
Barry Gibb
Maurice Gibb
Robin Gibb
Crompton Songs (BMI)
Gibb Brothers Music (BMI)
Universal Music Publishing
Warner/Chappell Music Ltd.
ROXANNE
Sting
GM Sumner
Sony/ATV Music Publishing
YOU GOTTA BE
Des’ree
Ashley Ingram
Ashley Ingram Music
Sony/ATV Music Publishing
Universal Music Publishing
6 Million
BAKER STREET
Gerry Rafferty
Stage Three Music Publishing, a BMG Company
EVERYBODY WANTS TO RULE THE WORLD
Roland Orzabal
Ian Stanley
BMG 10 Music Ltd.
BMG VM Music Ltd.
7 Million
THIS MAGIC MOMENT
Mort Shuman (SACEM)
Doc Pomus (BMI)
TIME OF THE SEASON
Rod Argent
Verulam Music Co. Ltd.
9 Million
(I CAN’T GET NO) SATISFACTION
Mick Jagger
Keith Richards
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