First time winners include Mark Ronson for British Male Solo Artist, who also performed “Valerie” with Amy Winehouse; Adele (PRS) for Critics Choice; and Mika for British Breakthrough Act. Previous Brit Award winner Kanye West walked away with his second International Male Solo Artist honor and the Foo Fighters won awards for International Album and International Group.

Established in 1977, the Brit Awards is a charity event that donates all proceeds to the British Record Industry Trust, better known as the Brit Trust, an organization that encourages the exploration and pursuit of the educational, cultural and therapeutic benefits of music.

BMI Icons are selected because of their “unique and indelible influence on generations of music makers.” As BMI Icons, Daryl Hall & John Oates will join elite ranks that include the Bee Gees, Crosby, Stills & Nash, Paul Simon, Merle Haggard, Brian Wilson, Willie Nelson, James Brown, Ray Davies, Carlos Santana and Dolly Parton.

The effervescent popularity of Daryl Hall and John Oates’s magical collaborations springs from the duo’s devout passion for Philly soul and buoyant pop harmonies. Warmly accessible and expertly polished, Daryl Hall & John Oates’s smooth production utilizes undeniable hooks and innate contemporary lyrical sensibility. The resulting eight no. 1 singles, three double-platinum and two platinum albums catapulted the pair into pop superstardom; in 1987, Daryl Hall & John Oates became the #1 selling duo in pop music, according to the RIAA. Skilled songwriters, Daryl Hall & John Oates are both members of the Songwriters Hall of Fame, together boasting 24 BMI Pop Awards and a catalog studded with 14 BMI Million-Air award songs, including “She’s Gone,” “Everytime You Go Away,” “Kiss On My List,” “Maneater” and “Sara Smile.” They have prompted a surge of interest and homage from a diverse bevy of new artists, who cite the pair as definitive influences. Restless creators, Daryl Hall & John Oates have spent much of the last decade touring throughout the world.

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.

Check out live photos from the event

Full BMI Grammy Award Winners List

Unable to attend the ceremony due to a tardy issuance of her visa, Winehouse watched, accepted awards and performed twice via satellite in London. Her innate vintage cool and authentic emotion echoed through her performances of Record and Song of the Year, “Rehab,” along with “I’m No Good.” After claiming the most Grammys of any artist throughout the evening, including Best New Artist, Best Female Pop Vocal Performance and Best Pop Vocal Album, Winehouse’s ubiquitous artistic shadow was most certainly in attendance.

Charismatic rap star Kanye West further emphasized his staying power with wins in Rap Album and Solo Rap Performance of the Year. Honored both as a songwriter and recording artist, West also earned Rap Song of the Year bragging rights for “Good Life.” In addition to garnering accolades for his solo work, West claimed Best Rap Performance by a Duo or Group for his collaboration with Common on “Southside.”

“What a beautiful day this is in Los Angeles!” Herbie Hancock’s visible surprise while accepting his Album of the Year trophy provided a sublimely extemporaneous moment during the telecast. The first jazz project in 43 years to win Album of the Year, Hancock’s River: The Joni Letters features collaborations with numerous contemporary stylists, including Norah Jones and Corinne Bailey Rae. The project also garnered Best Contemporary Jazz Album honors.

BMI’s preeminent rock family enjoyed a successful night as well. The unfaltering Foo Fighters took home Best Hard Rock Performance honors for driving single “The Pretender,” while their Echoes, Silence, Patience and Grace earned Rock Album of the Year. Critical darlings and rock purists The White Stripes claimed Best Rock Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocals for the title track to Icky Thump, which also garnered Best Alternative Album bragging rights for the enigmatic duo.

Beloved jazz saxophonist and composer Michael Brecker received posthumous awards for Best Jazz Instrumental Album (Individual or Group) and Best Jazz Instrumental Solo. Perennial favorites The Clark Sisters also secured honors for Best Gospel Performance and Best Gospel Song.

Additional winners included Carrie Underwood for Best Female and Keith Urban for Best Male Country Vocal Performances; Calle 13 for Best Latin Urban Album; Ray Price and Willie Nelson for Best Country Collaboration with Vocals; Juan Luis Guerra for Best Tropical Latin Album; Vince Gill’s These Days for Best Country Album; Rihanna’s “Umbrella” for Best Rap/Sung Collaboration; Maroon 5 for Best Pop Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocals; and Alison Krauss for Best Pop Collaboration with Vocals.

Leona Lewis, 2006 X Factor winner, scored nods for British Female Solo Artist and British Breakthrough, which she’ll be vying for with Mika, who is up for British Single and British Male Solo Artist among others. Producer/DJ/artist, Mark Ronson received three nominations, including British Album, and British Single for “Valerie” featuring Amy Winehouse.

The Brit Awards also acknowledged a few stateside BMI songwriters in the international categories, including Kanye West (International Male Solo Artist) and Rihanna (International Female Artist). U.S. singer/songwriters up for two nods include the Eagles, the Foo Fighters and Kings of Leon vying for awards in the International Group and International Album categories.

Additional BMI 2008 Brit Award nominees include KT Tunstall, Editors, Klaxon, Newton Faulkner, Sugababes, James Blunt, and Mutya Buena.

Established in 1977, the Brit Awards is a charity event that donates all proceeds to the British Record Industry Trust, better known as the Brit Trust, an organization that encourages the exploration and pursuit of the educational, cultural and therapeutic benefits of music.

BMI 2008 Brit Award nominees:

Leona Lewis
British Female Solo Artist
British Breakthrough
British Single
British Album

Mika
British Male solo Artist
British Breakthrough
British Single
British Album

KT Tunstall
British Female Solo Artist

Editors
British Group

Klaxons
British Breakthrough
British Live Act

Mark Ronson
British male solo artist
British single (featuring Amy Winehouse)
British Album

Newton Faulkner
British Male Solo Artist

Sugababes
British Single

James Blunt
British single

Mutya Buena
British single

Kanye West
International Male Solo Artist

Rihanna
International Female Solo Artist

Eagles
International Group
International Album

Foo Fighters
International Group
International Album

Kings of Leon
International Group
International Album

West, a previous six-time Grammy winner, garnered the most nods including Album of the Year, Best Rap Album and Best Rap Solo Performance. His songwriting expertise is being recognized twice in the Best Rap Song category for “Good Life” and “Can’t Tell Me Nothing”.

Amy Winehouse, up for six, goes head-to-head with Kanye in the Album of the Year category. Winehouse received nominations including Song of the Year for “Rehab” and the coveted Best New Artist, which she’ll compete with BMI newcomer Taylor Swift.

BMI singer/songwriters dominated the Album of the Year category obtaining all five nominations with the Foo Fighters Echoes, Silence, Patience & Grace; Vince Gill’s These Days; Herbie Hancock’s River: The Joni Letters; Kanye West’s Graduation; and Amy Winehouse’s Back to Black.

In addition, T-Pain received his first-ever Grammy recognition garnering five nods in categories including Best R&B Performance By A Duo or Group With Vocals and Best Rap Song. Ne-Yo also scored five nominations, including Best Contemporary R&B Album mention for Because of You.

Daughtry, Tim McGraw, Rihanna and Feist scored four nominations each. Daughtry’s explosive self-titled album is up for Best Rock Album; McGraw’s Let It Go received a Best Country Album nod; Rihanna’s “Umbrella” earned a Record of the Year nomination; and Feist scored a Best New Artist nod.

Producer Mark Ronson received three nominations including Producer of the Year, Non-Classical and Record of the Year for his contributions to Winehouse’s Back to Black. Jack White of the White Stripes and Casting Crown's Mark Hall were also cited three times, as were Herbie Hancock, DJ Toomp and Common.

The Recording Academy will also honor Max Roach, The Band and Earl Scruggs with Lifetime Achievement Awards, as well as Jac Holzman and Willie Mitchell with Trustee Awards.

BMI attained a sizable percentage of the rock field achieving four-of-five nominations in the Best Rock Song and the Best Rock Album categories. The domination continued with BMI’s traditional strength in the Latin, Rap & R&B, Gospel, Jazz categories, and sweeps in the New Age and Traditional Blues categories.

S O S
Evan Bogart
Edward Cobb
Jonathan "JR" Rotem
Embassy Music Corporation
Here's Lookin' At You Kidd Music
Jonathan Rotem Music
Reach Global Songs
Southside Independent Music Publishing LLC
Rihanna
SRP/Def Jam/IDJMG

SAVIN' ME
Daniel Adair (SOCAN)
Chad Kroeger (SOCAN)
Mike Kroeger (SOCAN)
Ryan Peake (SOCAN)
Warner-Tamerlane Publishing Corp.
Nickelback
Roadrunner/IDJMG Records

SHAKE IT OFF
Mariah Carey
Rye Songs
Songs of Universal, Inc.
Mariah Carey
Island Records

SHE SAYS
Howie Day
HKD Music
Howie Day
Epic Records

SO SICK
Ne-Yo
Super Sayin' Publishing
Zomba Songs
Ne-Yo
Def Jam/IDJMG

SOUL SURVIVOR
Young Jeezy
EMI-Blackwood Music, Inc.
Young Jeezy Music
Young Jeezy featuring Akon
Corporate Thugs/Def Jam Records

STICKWITU
Franne Golde
Kasia Livingston
Robert Palmer
Franne Gee Music
Myia’s Koala Bear Music Publishing
Notting Hill Music, Inc.
Parchi Music
Sony/ATV Songs LLC
Pussycat Dolls
A & M Records

SUGAR (GIMME SOME)
David Byrne
Trick Daddy
First and Gold Publishing
Warner-Tamerlane Publishing Corp.
Trick Daddy featuring Ludacris & Cee-Lo
Slip-N-Slide/Atlantic

SUGAR, WE'RE GOIN' DOWN
Andrew Hurley
Patrick Stump
Joe Trohman
Pete Wentz
Chicago X Softcore Songs
Sony/ATV Songs LLC
Fall Out Boy
IDJMG/Fueled By Ramen/Island

TALK
Karl Bartos (GEMA)
Warner-Tamerlane Publishing Corp.
Coldplay
Capitol Music Group

UNFAITHFUL
Ne-Yo
Super Sayin' Publishing
Zomba Songs
Rihanna
SRP/Def Jam/IDJMG

UNWRITTEN
Natasha Bedingfield (PRS)
Danielle Brisebois
EMI-Blackwood Music, Inc.
Gator Baby
Natasha Bedingfield
Epic Records

WALK AWAY
Kara DioGuardi
K'Stuff Publishing
Kelly Clarkson
RCA/RMG

WHAT HURTS THE MOST
Jeffrey Steele
Gottahaveable Music
Songs of Windswept Pacific
Rascal Flatts
Lyric Street

WHEN THE STARS GO BLUE
Ryan Adams
Barland Music
Tim McGraw
Curb Records

WHERE'D YOU GO
Mike Shinoda
Kenji Kobayashi Music
Zomba Songs
Fort Minor featuring Holly Brook & Jonah Matranga
Machine Shop/WB

YOU AND ME (2nd Award)
Jude Cole
Jason Wade
Dimensional Songs of the Knoll
G-Chills Music
Jude Cole Music
Warner-Tamerlane Publishing Corp.
Lifehouse
Geffen Records

YOU 'RE BEAUTIFUL
James Blunt (PRS)
Amanda Ghost (PRS)
Sacha Skarbek
David Platz Music, Inc.
EMI-Blackwood Music, Inc.
Universal-Songs of PolyGram International, Inc.
James Blunt
Atlantic Records

YOUR BODY
Bigg D
Marcus "Pleasure" Cooper
Jim Jonsin
Corey "Slick' Em" Mathis
Diamond "Baby Blue" Smith
Joseph "Blue" Smith
Spectacular Smith
Black Boy Hatchet Music
EMI-Blackwood Music, Inc.
Warner-Tamerlane Publishing Corp.
Pretty Ricky
Atlantic Records

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.

It’s all going according to plan so far: The group’s debut album, Extreme Behavior (Universal Republic), effortlessly cracked the Billboard Top 10 and went platinum. The band’s mix of bedrock influences — ranging from Aerosmith and AC/DC to Buckcherry and the Foo Fighters — blends Winkler’s raspy “Blower” Garvey and Mark King, vocals with an arena-rock approach led by guitarists Joe anchored by bassist Mike Rodden and drummer Cody Hanson.

Hinder was formed in Oklahoma City in 2001, when Garvey and Hanson discovered Winkler singing for a cover band at a college dorm party. “I heard him and was blown away,” says Hanson. “He has the kind of charisma very few people have and that unique voice.”

The group’s dynamics quickly came together in rehearsals, as its members realized they shared the same goals. “We didn’t want to be just another faceless rock band playing depressing, ‘I hate my dad’s music’,” says Hanson, who writes most of Hinder’s material with Winkler. “We wanted to go out there and kick ass like they did in the ’80s.”

Sex and drugs (and of course rock & roll) flow freely through Extreme Behavior, from lead single “Get Stoned” (which Winkler describes as “Let’s get wasted and go have some make-up sex”), to party anthem “Room 21,” and even the ’80s hair-metal/power ballad pastiche “Lips of an Angel.”

“That’s what rock is supposed to be about: rebellion and having fun,” Hanson says. “We’ve been blessed with the opportunity to play music as a career, so we might as well take advantage of it and have a good time.”

Admission is free; please R.S.V.P. to RSVP@bmi.com with the panel date in the subject.

This new panel series, modeled after a program created in 2006 by the BMI Los Angeles staff, offers an inside look into the making and marketing of music. Noted industry taste-makers will provide insight on hot topics affecting songwriters, musicians, managers and the industry at large. In addition to the inaugural “Music in Film” panel, future topics include:

April 10:  “Building Your High-Octane Team”
June 12:  “A&R: Getting Their Attention”
Aug. 14:  “Groups That Support You and Your Music”
Oct. 9:  “Publishing 101: You’ve Got a Hit, Now What”

The New York “Industry Insider” series will launch on Feb. 13 with tips and tricks from established film music executives, who will discuss soundtrack placements, networking and how to make the perfect pitch in a moderated Q&A format. Panelists include music supervisors Jim Dunbar and Janice Ginsberg; Karen Lamberton, VP, Soundtracks and Film & TV Music, RCA Music Group; Gillian Morris, Senior VP, Film & Television Music/Licensing, Wind-Up Records; and moderator Steven Scharf; Senior VP, Creative, Carlin America & President, Steven Scharf Entertainment.

Janice Ginsberg’s 20-plus year career includes working with artists of all genres as a talent acquisition executive, music supervisor, music publisher and producer. Ginsberg’s experience encompasses many credits in radio, TV, feature films and soundtrack albums. Consultancies have included her acting as U.S. representative for Italy’s CAM Original Soundtracks (Il Postino), a joint venture with music publisher Carlin America and Greene Street Films for whom she established a music publishing division. Presently, Ginsberg is developing a music department for the Edward R. Pressman Film Corporation. Her production credits include Standing in the Shadows of Motown-The Story of the Funk Brothers, Strange Brew: The Story of Cream and Let the Good Times Roll: The Roots of American Music...New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival. Music supervisor and consultant credits include Sisters, The Hip-Hop Project and Snow Angels.

Jim Dunbar is a New York-based music supervisor and producer. His credits include Kimberley Peirce’s Boys Don’t Cry, Richard Linklater’s School of Rock, Wes Anderson’s The Life Aquatic With Steve Zissou and Martin Scorsese’s The Aviator. Among his current projects are Todd Haynes’ I’m Not There, Shari Springer Berman and Robert Pulcini’s The Nanny Diaries, and an untitled project by Kimberley Peirce. Prior to working in film, Dunbar was a senior A&R executive at Capitol, Columbia and Geffen Records, and worked as a DJ for radio stations WHFS and KUSF.

Gillian Morris is currently Senior Vice President of Film & Television Music/Licensing at Wind-Up Records, responsible for licensing Wind-Up’s master and publishing rights for film and TV placement, as well as overseeing the company’s soundtrack division. Prior to joining Wind-Up in 2000, Morris was an independent music supervisor for a series of independent films in New York City, and prior to that, oversaw the film and television licensing department at Arista Records in Los Angeles.

Music executive Karen Lamberton started her career at Thorn EMI in Los Angeles, later becoming an assistant at Gorfaine/Schwartz Agency where she worked with such top composers as Ennio Morricone, Hank Zimmer and Michael Kamen. Other experience includes positions at Capitol Records, Worlds End and Quincy Jones’ music publishing company, where she rose to VP. She joined J Records in 2001 as VP of Soundtracks and Film/TV Music, establishing a licensing division and overseeing the procurement and making of soundtrack albums. She also worked with such artists as Maroon 5, Alicia Keys and Gavin DeGraw at J, and after the BMG merger, she took on the additional responsibility of working the RCA roster, which included Foo Fighters, Kelly Clarkson and Christina Aguilera, among others. She is currently VP of Soundtracks and Film & TV Music at RCA Music Group, overseeing a vibrant staff and a roster of artists well-represented in the area of soundtrack albums and film, TV, and advertising.

Steven Scharf’s 38 years in the recording industry has covered areas of record producing, A&R, music publishing, and the management of record producers, film and TV composers, and artists. In 1991, he founded Steven Scharf Entertainment, a producer management company representing a wide array of talent, including producers Julius “Juice” Butty and Rob Friedman, composers Mark Suozzo and Barry Goldberg, and artists Ali Eskandarian, Intercooler and 46bliss, among others. He has also ventured with legendary music publisher Freddy Bienstock of Carlin America Inc., where he is currently Senior VP of Creative, concentrating on all film/TV/advertising and song placements.

The “Industry Insider” series was created by the BMI Los Angeles Writer/Publisher Relations team in conjunction with Gibson Guitar and Billboard to provide BMI songwriters with music industry insider resources essential for success. Moderated by a rotating group of professionals from the three companies, the panel series offers a direct link to the inner-workings of the music business from the perspective of established music professionals. Educational support for the creative community is a cornerstone of BMI’s songwriter outreach programs, and through such programs, BMI fosters networking and career-developing skills and talents.

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Now in its 111th year, Billboard is the world’s premier weekly music, video and digital entertainment publication and a diverse digital, events and brand, content and data licensing platform. Billboard publishes the most trusted charts and offers unrivaled reporting about the latest music, video, gaming, media, digital and mobile entertainment issues and trends. Billboard is the flagship property for the Billboard Information Group, which also includes www.Billboard.com, www.Billboard.biz, Billboard Chart Alert, Billboard Information Network (BIN), Billboard Directories, Billboard Books, Billboard Licensing & Events and Billboard Radio Monitor.