Close

Sting and Top Songwriters Honored at 2016 BMI London Awards

“Thinking Out Loud” wins Song of the Year for Ed Sheeran

Posted in News on October 10, 2016

BMI proudly honored internationally-celebrated songwriter Sting as a BMI Icon today at the 2016 BMI London Awards. Music industry guests including Hozier, Rudimental, Snow Patrol, Disciples and Wayne Hector filled London’s Dorchester hotel to celebrate the UK and European songwriters, producers and publishers of the most-performed songs of 2015 on U.S. radio and television.

Sting was named a BMI Icon because of his “unique and indelible influence on generations of music makers,” joining a list of past honorees that includes Graham Gouldman, Sir Tim Rice, John Lydon, Queen, Ray Davies and Bryan Ferry, among others. He was presented with the prestigious award by BMI President and CEO Mike O’Neill before taking to the ballroom stage for a special acoustic rendition of “Message In A Bottle.” He then treated the invited guests to the first-ever performance of “Heading South On The Great North Road,” taken from his forthcoming album 57th & 9th. He closed the show with “Every Breath You Take,” for which he also received a BMI Million-Air Award earlier in the evening, to honor 13 million combined radio plays.

Upon accepting the award Sting said: “…your real job as a songwriter is to provide a soundtrack to people’s emotional lives, touchstones for their emotional landscapes, their memories. And that’s an unexpected and unanticipated honor as well as a privilege.”

BMI also honored Ed Sheeran with the Song of the Year award (The Robert S. Musel Award) for “Thinking Out Loud.” The trophy is given to the most performed song of 2015 by UK or European writers in the BMI catalog on U.S. radio. In addition, “Hey Mama” was awarded the prestigious Dance Song of the Year. The hit was written by Giorgio Tuinfort, Afrojack, Sean Douglas, Ester Dean and Alan & John Lomax, and made famous by David Guetta, featuring Nicki Minaj and Bebe Rexha.

Throughout the night, BMI also celebrated many other British songwriters and co-writers of the most performed songs on U.S radio and television. Among them was Rudimental, who were presented with a Pop Award for “Lay It On Me,” which was also co-written by Ed Sheeran. Hozier was presented with an award for “Someone New,” while One Direction proved they had another unbeatable year in 2015, with songwriting powerhouses Wayne Hector and Ed Drewett receiving awards for co-writing “Steal My Girl,” and Jamie Scott winning for “Night Changes” and “Drag Me Down.”

In addition, Snow Patrol received a BMI Million-Air Award to honor the combined radio plays of the BRIT Award-nominated “Chasing Cars.” Also receiving Million-Air Awards were Sir Paul McCartney for ”Live and Let Die,” Ray Davies for ”Lola” and ”You Really Got Me,” Howard Jones for ”No One Is To Blame” and Elton John for “Don’t Go Breaking My Heart” and ”Goodbye Yellow Brick Road.”

Below is the full list of winners.

Icon

Sting

Song of the Year

(The Robert S. Musel Award)

THINKING OUT LOUD
Ed Sheeran
Sony/ATV Music Publishing

Dance Award

HEY MAMA
Afrojack (BUMA)
Giorgio Tuinfort *
Ester Dean *
Sean Douglas *
Alan Lomax *
John A. Lomax, Sr. *
Nicki Minaj *
Bebe Rexha
David Guetta *
BMG/Talpa Music
DLG Publishing
Piano Songs

2016 London Pop Award Songs

APPARENTLY
Filippo Trecca
J Cole *
Jeff “Gitty” Gitelman *
Warner/Chappell Music Ltd.

BODY LANGUAGE
Magnus Høiberg
Tinashe *
Sony/ATV Music Publishing

BUDAPEST
George Ezra
BMG Rights Management (UK) Limited

CLASSIC MAN
George Astasio
Kurtis McKenzie
Jason Pebworth
Jasbir Sehra “Beast”
Jon Shave
Jidenna *
Madam Kateri *
Nana Kwabena Tuffuor *
John Turner *
Milan Wiley *
Astasio Music Ltd.
Pebworth Music Ltd.
Sony/ATV Music Publishing
Turnfirst Limited
Universal Music Publishing

COULD HAVE BEEN ME
Adam Slack
Luke Spiller

DANGEROUS
Giorgio Tuinfort
Jason Evigan *
BMG/Talpa Music
Piano Songs

DRAG ME DOWN
Jamie Scott
Julian Bunetta *
John Ryan *
Sony/ATV Music Publishing

HABIBI (I NEED YOUR LOVE)
Mohombi
Faydee
Shaggy *

HELLO
Adele
Melted Stone Publishing Ltd.
Universal Music Publishing

HEY MAMA
Afrojack
Giorgio Tuinfort
Ester Dean *
Sean Douglas *
Alan Lomax *
John A. Lomax, Sr. *
Nicki Minaj *
Bebe Rexha *
BMG/Talpa Music
DLG Publishing
Piano Songs

HOLD BACK THE RIVER
Iain Archer
James Bay
Kobalt Music Publishing Limited
Spirit B-Unique

HOLD MY HAND
Janee Bennett
Jack Patterson
Ina Wroldsen
Reservoir/Reverb Music Ltd.
Sony/ATV Music Publishing
Universal Music Publishing

HOW DEEP IS YOUR LOVE
Nathan Duvall
Gavin Harryman Koolmon
Ina Wroldsen
Fly Eye Publishing Ltd.
Phrased Differently Music Ltd.
Reservoir/Reverb Music Ltd.
Sony/ATV Music Publishing

LAY IT ALL ON ME
Piers Agget
Amir Amor
Kesi Dryden
Jonny Harris
Max McElligott
Lasse Petersen
Leon Rolle
Ed Sheeran
Gavin Slater
James Wood
Bucks Music Group Ltd.
Mensch Music Limited
Silva Screen Music (Publishers) Ltd.
Sony/ATV Music Publishing

LAY ME DOWN
Sam Smith
Naughty Words Limited
Sony/ATV Music Publishing
Stellar Songs Ltd.

LEAN ON
MØ aka Karen Ørsted
Reservoir/Reverb Music Ltd.

LEVELS
Talay Riley
Sean Douglas *
Jordan Johnson *
Ian Kirkpatrick *
Marcus Lomax *
Sony/ATV Music Publishing
LIKE I CAN
Sam Smith
Naughty Words Limited
Sony/ATV Music Publishing
Stellar Songs Ltd.

LOSE MY MIND
Gian Piero Reverberi
Gianfranco Reverberi
Ross Copperman *
Brett Eldredge *
CeeLo Green *
Heather Morgan *
Universal Music Publishing Ricordi SRL
Warner/Chappell Music Publishing Ltd.

NIGHT CHANGES
Niall Horan
Zayn Malik
Liam Payne
Jamie Scott
Harry Styles
Louis Tomlinson
Julian Bunetta *
John Ryan *
PPM Music Ltd.
Sony/ATV Music Publishing

ON MY MIND
Ellie Goulding
Global Talent Publishing Ltd.

ONE LAST TIME
Giorgio Tuinfort
BMG/Talpa Music
Piano Songs

OUTSIDE
Ellie Goulding
Global Talent Publishing Ltd.

PERFECT
Harry Styles
Louis Tomlinson
Julian Bunetta *
John Ryan *
PPM Music Ltd.

PHOTOGRAPH
Johnny McDaid
Ed Sheeran
Polar/Spirit B-Unique
Sony/ATV Music Publishing

SLEDGEHAMMER
Jonas Jeberg
Sean Douglas *
BMG Rights Management (UK) Limited

SOMEONE NEW
Sallay-Matu Garnett
Andrew Hozier-Byrne
Sony/ATV Music Publishing
The Evolving Music Co. Ltd.

STEAL MY GIRL
Ed Drewett
Wayne Hector
Liam Payne
Louis Tomlinson
Julian Bunetta *
John Ryan *
PPM Music Ltd.
Warner/Chappell Music Publishing Ltd.

THINKING OUT LOUD
Ed Sheeran
Sony/ATV Music Publishing

UMA THURMAN
Liam O’Donnell
Andy Hurley *
Jack Marshall *
Robert L. Mosher *
Jake Sinclair *
Patrick Stump *
Joe Trohman *
Pete Wentz *
Spirit B-Unique

TV Music Awards

AMERICA’S GOT TALENT
Jos Jorgensen
Andy Love *

CHICAGO FIRE
Atli Örvarsson

CHICAGO MED
Atli Örvarsson

CHICAGO P.D.
Atli Örvarsson

GREY’S ANATOMY
Carim Clasmann
Galia Durant Pike

THE GOOD WIFE
David Buckley
Cable AWARDs
GIRL MEETS WORLD
Shridhar Solanki
Matthew Tishler *

NINJAGO: MASTERS OF SPINJITZU
Jeppe Riddervold
Michael Kramer *
Jay Vincent *
FILM MUSIC AWARDS
THE MARTIAN
Harry Gregson-Williams

THE PERFECT GUY
Atli Örvarsson

Academy Award Winner

“WRITING’S ON THE WALL” FROM SPECTRE
Sam Smith

Million Performance Songs

3 Million

ALL DAY AND ALL OF THE NIGHT
Ray Davies
Edward Kassner Music Co. Ltd

DREAMS
Noel Hogan
Dolores O’Riordan
Warner/Chappell Music Ltd.

NO ONE IS TO BLAME
Howard Jones
Howard Jones Music Ltd.

SHOUT
Roland Orzabal
Ian Stanley
BMG 10 Music Limited
BMG VM Music Limited

STRONGER (WHAT DOESN’T KILL YOU)
Jörgen Elofsson
Ali Tamposi *
Perfect Storm Music Group
Universal Music Publishing

TUBTHUMPING
Jude Abbott
Dunstan Bruce
Paul Greco
Harry Hamer
Danbert Nobacon
Alice Nutter
Lou Watts
Boff Whalley
Sony/ATV Music Publishing

UNDER MY THUMB
Mick Jagger
Keith Richards

UPTOWN FUNK
Jeff Bhasker *
Devon Gallaspy *
Trinidad James *
Mark Ronson *
Lonnie Simmons *
Rudy Taylor *
Charlie Wilson *
Ronnie Wilson *
Robert Wilson *
New Songs Administration Ltd.

WAKE ME UP
Tim Bergling a.k.a Avicii
Sony/ATV Music Publishing

WALKING ON SUNSHINE
Kimberley Rew
BMG Rights Management (UK) Limited
Kyboside Ltd.

WISH YOU WERE HERE
David Gilmour
Roger Waters
BMG Rights Management Ltd.
Imagem Music U.K.
Pink Floyd Music Publishers Ltd.
Roger Waters Music Overseas Ltd.

4 Million

A SUMMER SONG
Clive Metcalfe
Keith Noble
David Stuart *
Sony/ATV Music Publishing

CHASING CARS
Nathan Connolly
Gary Lightbody
Jonny Quinn
Tom Simpson
Paul Wilson
Universal Music Publishing

HERE I GO AGAIN
Bernie Marsden
Sony/ATV Music Publishing

HEY, SOUL SISTER
Amund Bjørklund
Espen Lind
Sony/ATV Music Publishing
Stellar Songs Ltd.

(I JUST) DIED IN YOUR ARMS
Nick Van Eede
Sony/ATV Music Publishing

LOLA
Ray Davies
Carlin Music Corp.
Davray Music Limited

ROLLING IN THE DEEP
Adele
Paul Epworth
Melted Stone Publishing Ltd.
Sony/ATV Music Publishing
Universal Music Publishing

STAYIN’ ALIVE
Maurice Gibb
Robin Gibb
Barry Gibb
Crompton Songs
Universal Music Publishing
Warner/Chappell Music Ltd.

THE SIGN
Jenny Berggren
Jonas Berggren
Linn Berggren
Ulf Ekberg
Megasong Publishing A/S c/o Warner/Chappell Music Denmark A/S

5 Million

GET BACK
John Lennon

IN YOUR EYES
Peter Gabriel
Real World Music Ltd.

LIVE AND LET DIE
Paul McCartney
MPL UK Publishing
Sony/ATV Music Publishing

STRANGER ON THE SHORE
Acker Bilk
Robert Mellin *
Sony/ATV Music Publishing

WE WILL ROCK YOU
Brian May
Queen Music Ltd.
Sony/ATV Music Publishing

6 Million

DON’T GO BREAKING MY HEART
Elton John
HST Publishing Ltd.
Universal Music Publishing

GOODBYE YELLOW BRICK ROAD
Elton John
Bernie Taupin
Universal Music Publishing

TAKE ME HOME TONIGHT
Mick Leeson
Peter Vale
C & D Music Ltd.
Warner/Chappell Music Ltd.

7 Million

YOU REALLY GOT ME
Ray Davies
Edward Kassner Music Co. Ltd.

12 Million

BROWN EYED GIRL
Van Morrison
Universal Music Publishing

13 Million

EVERY BREATH YOU TAKE
Sting
GM Sumner
Sony/ATV Music Publishing

* BMI Affiliate

News View All

promo image

Calendar View All

promo image

Subscribe

The Weekly

Each week, Learn, Listen, Watch, Discover and Share with BMI! From must-see videos, to creative inspiration and dynamic playlists we’re excited about, BMI’s The Weekly is dedicated to delivering specially curated content designed for music creators and music fans alike!

Join BMI Live

BMI Live
Back to Top