Nozuka’s compose-by-numbers approach came to an abrupt end at age 15, after the singer experienced his first heartbreak. Consumed by pain, Nozuka penned a bittersweet ballad that heralded his creative awakening. Entitled “Supposed To Grow Old,” the song’s mature lyrics provide insight into the lovesickness that unlocked Nozuka’s expressiveness: “Lock the pictures away, hide the letters too/anything to get my mind off you… there's no way that you could have forgotten all of the memories I thought we shared /we were supposed to grow old.”

“That was at the start of my real writing,” said Nozuka. “… it was real, you know what I mean?”

Today, nearly three years after that musical epiphany, Nozuka is winning international accolades for his courtly original songs, including fan favorites like “Don’t Listen To a Word,” “Mr. Therapy Man” and “After Tonight.” Initially released in Europe in 2007, Nozuka’s debut album, Holly, showcases the singer’s urgent tenor voice, which combines the lounge-soul sensibilities of John Legend with the dreamy vocal mannerisms of the late Jeff Buckley.

Holly was an immediate hit with critics. In an enthusiastic 4-star review, the BBC described Nozuka’s album as, "eleven impressive pieces of thoughtful acoustic-soul . . . filled with understated melodies, minimal production and an interesting, sometimes dark take on song-craft.” The UK-based Q Magazine called Nozuka’s album, “superior acoustic soul.”

Now, with the recent U.S. release of Holly, stateside fans can finally hear what all the shouting is about. While many of his troubadour peers hide behind frilly metaphors, Nozuka delivers sentimental lyrics like “a day without you is a day without the sun” with soulful urgency. Like the blues singers of yore, Nozuka seems to understand that simple lyrics and deep-felt performances trump arty contrivance.

The son of a Japanese father and an American mother, Nozuka grew up gorging on the sounds of Motown, Lauryn Hill and various pop, rap, jazz and reggae artists. In his mid-teens, Nozuka became a regular on the Toronto coffeehouse/club scene. A recent graduate of Toronto’s Etobicoke School of the Arts, he hails from a creative family. His mother, actress Holly Sedgwick, is the sister of TV/movie star Kyra Sedgwick, while his brothers are r&b singer George Nozuka and actor Philip Nozuka.

This apparent inborn ability helps explain Justin Nozuka’s ease on stage. Having performed on bills with greats like John Cale, Crowded House and Ziggy Marley, Nozuka speaks of the stage with almost churchly reverence. “It’s like a sacred place,” the Canadian wunderkind says. “When I’m on stage… I’m in my own world.”

When Amy Winehouse’s (pictured, top) Back to Black debuted at No. 7 on the Billboard 200 albums chart in March, it marked the highest bow by a British female solo artist ever. A few weeks later, Joss Stone’s Introducing Joss Stone smashed her record by debuting at No. 2. James Blunt, Corrine Bailey Rae, KT Tunstall and Snow Patrol are striking gold, if not platinum, in the U.S.

“The current British invasion is due to a number of factors,” posits Evan Lamberg, EMI Music Publishing EVP of Creative for North America. “Top 40 radio is playing less and less hip-hop and rap. This is leaving more opportunity for great non-urban songwriters. VH-1 has done a tremendous job being early champions of these British acts. [Also], these acts are coming over to the U.S. again and again. Nothing replaces the good old-fashioned way of getting your hands in the dirt and taking your music to the people.”

Universal Republic president Monte Lipman, whose label handles Winehouse, Mika and Katie Melua in the U.S., calls these acts “a breath of fresh air. They don’t have a formula.”

For many of these artists, the first point of exposure for U.S. fans has been the Internet. “The industry has democratized where artists are empowered at a grassroots level like myspace,” says David Sinclair, a London-based journalist who writes for The Times.

The latest wave started in 2004 when Snow Patrol quietly crept onto U.S. shores with Final Straw. The Scottish-Irish quintet, with its often intense, always melodic, alternative rock, toured frequently in the U.S., slowly building an audience. By the time Eyes Open came out in the U.S. in May 2006, Americans were ready to hear more. That album’s “Chasing Cars” became the go-to song for hip TV shows, airing on outlets like Grey’s Anatomy, and leading the track to take up residency in the upper reaches of Billboard’s Adult Top 40 and Adult Contemporary charts. According to Universal Music International, the album has sold close to four million copies worldwide.

Scotland is responsible for much more than one-half of Snow Patrol and has also given us KT Tunstall. The Scottish lass began promoting herself in the U.S. long before her Relentless/Virgin debut came out in February 2006. Among her memorable gigs was a stirring acoustic set at BMI/Billboard’s SXSW brunch in March 2005.

Her big break in the U.K. came when she performed “Black Horse & the Cherry Tree” on the influential British TV program Later with Jools Holland with less than 24 hours’ notice after another act cancelled. Eye to the Telescope, which had come out to little fanfare, was re-released and eventually shot up to No. 3 on the British album charts.

In the U.S., “Black Horse” has spent more than a year on Billboard’s Adult Contemporary Chart while the second single, “Suddenly I See,” has been locked in the upper reaches of the chart for more than four months. Eye to the Telescope has been on the Billboard 200 for more than 65 weeks.

The latest Scottish imports impacting in the U.S. are The Fratellis. The first major U.S. exposure for the Scottish trio, all of whom have adopted bassist Barry Fratelli’s last name, came from iTune’s use of the utterly infectious “Flathead” in television ads. The trio’s debut, Costello Music (Cherry Tree/Interscope), revels in retro music that sounds instantly recognizable while new at the same time. The group can also be heard on the soundtrack to the movie Hot Fuzz.

While bands like Snow Patrol and the Fratellis are having their day, solo artists like former British Army captain James Blunt are leading the charge.

While many of the U.K.-based acts come to the U.S. via the American label’s U.K. affiliate, Blunt’s entry point was through Linda Perry’s Custard imprint. Perry signed the singer/songwriter after he’d linked with EMI Music Publishing in London. By the time Back to Bedlam came out in the U.S on Custard/Atlantic, the album had already hit No. 1 in the U.K. The first U.S. single, “You’re Beautiful,” reached No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100, making it the first song by a British performer to top that chart in 10 years.

Blunt rode the success of Bedlam and “Beautiful” to five Grammy nominations.

Like Blunt, fellow Brit Corinne Bailey Rae had already hit No. 1 in her native U.K. when she came over here with her sweetly nuanced, mellow tunes. Her self-titled chart topper made her only the fourth female singer in the history of the British charts to debut at No. 1 with her first album. In the U.S., her rise has been no less spectacular, bolstered by major TV exposure via outlets like “Oprah Winfrey.” Rae snared three Grammy nominations, including the coveted best new artist. Her debut has surpassed the platinum mark here, pushed by first single “Put Your Records On.”

While Rae has gotten her share of press, seldom has an artist caused quite the media stir as Amy Winehouse. She’s a critical darling as famous for her beehive and tattoos as her shimmery, soulful, girl-group musical style.

The Enfield, England native’s Back to Black has already sold more than 1.2 million in the U.K. and helped Winehouse capture the Brit Award for best British female artist in February.

“She’s one part soul diva, one part jazz singer and one part rock star,” says Lamberg. “A deadly combo.”

“Fortunately for us, Amy loves to tour,” says Lipman, who notes she’ll play U.S. dates in June and this fall.

Winehouse’s U.S. labelmate Katie Melua was born in the former Soviet republic of Georgia, but ultimately settled in Surrey, England. At 15, Melua won a televised talent competition and was on her way. The classic pop singer released Call off the Search in 2003 and the album went on to sell 1.2 million copies in the U.K. alone. Her second album, Piece by Piece, moved 1.8 million copies in the U.K., with worldwide sales of more than 3 million.

Like Melua, Mika is another British immigrant. His music was created out of the unending loneliness that Mika says often engulfed him after his family moved from Beirut to Paris and, ultimately, to London. Vocally, he’s a cross between Freddie Mercury (whom he references on his first single, “Grace Kelly”) and Robbie Williams. The colorful ’70s, psychedelic pop images that are the album art for Life in Cartoon Motion and his videos are as much a part of his image as his delectable, pop music.

“With Mika, the key word is different,” says Lipman. “Even though people respect the success you’re having, people [at pop radio] look at us kind of sideways and say ‘You expect me to play that?’ and we say your listeners have spoken.” Indeed, the album racked up several consecutive weeks as the No. 1 pop album on iTunes.

Like Mika, Lily Allen’s personality is as big as her music. Her music is classic pop, but she ties in ska, rap and her other influences to create a thoroughly modern and invigorating sound. Not surprisingly, Alright, Still has gone double platinum in her native England and platinum in Europe. It debuted at No. 20 on the Billboard 200 and continues to sell well.

Part of the strength of the current British invasion is its diversity. British rapper Lady Sovereign caused waves of excitement when she became the first non-American female signed to Jay-Z’s Def Jam label.

The press excitement has outweighed sales so far, but Sinclair says that’s not surprising given how outside the mainstream her music is. “She’s a grime queen, it’s deep hardcore. It’s like East London rap, drum and bass.” But that edge is what has made the Wembley, England native such a phenomenon at 21. “She’s very alternative,” Sinclair continues. “She’s a name that people like to drop and frequently do.”

Her debut album, Public Warning, entered the Billboard Top 200 at No. 48, but her popularity is sure to rise when she opens for Gwen Stefani this summer.

Similar to Lady Sovereign, Don Corleon relies on street rhythms to propel his sound. The leading Jamaican dancehall artist/producer has helped advance the dancehall movement in the U.S. through his work with such acts as Sean Paul, Rihanna, Beenie Man, Capleton, Bounty Hunter and Wayne Wonder. Kartel, noting a resemblance between the two, allegedly gave Donovan Bennett the Don Corleon moniker, as a takeoff on Marlon Brando’s “Godfather” character, Don Corleone.

As these artists continue to make inroads in America, Sinclair expects today’s success to continue to swell: “Everyone in Britain is trying to make a record,” he says, with only a little overstatement. “It’s a river that’s burst its banks and it’s flowing in all directions.”

The “early-bird” $100 registration fee has been extended until the end of May. For more information, including a list of the songwriters and top industry representatives expected to attend and to register for the Festival, visit kauaimusicfestival.com. Unlike many other expos and conferences, registration to the Kauai Music Festival is limited to allow our small group of registrants more personal attention.  As a result, it will fill up quickly... so early registration is strongly suggested to guarantee participation.

The staff of songwriters and executives participating are among the best in the business, including multi-platinum writers who have penned hits for Christina Aguilera, Rascal Flatts, Hinder, Avril Lavigne, Daughtry, Faith Hill, Brandy, Meredith Brooks, N'Sync, Joss Stone, and Jojo, plus executives from Interscope, A&M, Atlantic Records, peermusic, BMI and more. BMI is proud to support the festival, which will feature Jason Blume, Charles Brotman, Barbara Cane, John Cruz, Beau Dozier, Adam Gorgoni, Brian Howes, Tony Kilbert, Michael Laskow, Myles Lewis, Steven Melrose, William G. Meyer III, Mollie Moore, David Pack, Shelly Peiken, Jeff Peterson, Jeffrey Steele, David Tickle, Harry Witz and more.

The Hal David Starlight Award, created in 2004, was renamed in honor of the SHOF Chairman for his longtime support of young songwriters. The Hal David Starlight Award recipients are gifted songwriters in the early years of their careers who are making a significant impact in the music industry via their original songs. John Legend joins the prestigious company of Rob Thomas, Alicia Keys and John Mayer as past recipients of the Hal David Starlight Award.

The astounding success of John Legend comes as no surprise to the Songwriters Hall of Fame. In 2002, the Hall recognized the then-named John Stephens, awarding him with its Abe Olman Scholarship for Excellence in Songwriting as the BMI-sponsored artist that year. He had already been attracting attention in Philadelphia, where he was going to the University of Pennsylvania, making his own music and, eventually, playing and writing with such artists as Alicia Keys, Kanye West, Twista and Janet Jackson. West, a collaborator and friend since the two were introduced in 2001, became a John Legend champion, signing him in 2003 as the first artist to his G.O.O.D. Music, Columbia Records-distributed label.

In 2004, Legend stepped into the solo spotlight as a premier singer-songwriter-pianist-performer in his own right with his debut album Get Lifted. Driven in part by the hit singles "Ordinary People" and "Used To Love U," Get Lifted was a critical and commercial triumph, earning Legend eight Grammy nominations. He took the statue home for Best New Artist, Best Male R&B Vocal Performance ("Ordinary People") and Best R&B album, and Get Lifted went on to sell more than three million copies worldwide. No stranger to winning Grammys, this year he claimed his fourth and fifth Grammy award for Best R&B Vocal Performance for his most recent album, Once Again, and for Best R&B Performance by a Duo Or Group for his collaboration with Van Hunt and Joss Stone on the Sly Stone Tribute album, Family Affair.

Commenting on the award to Legend, Hal David said, “John Legend is an outstanding, talented songwriter. He is well-deserving of the Starlight Award, not only shining as a writer with a unique vision, but as an expressive performer as well. We recognized John’s talent in his earlier years, and we are now pleased to honor him with this prestigious award.”

Tickets for the Songwriters Hall of Fame begin at $1000 each, and are available through Buckley Hall Events, (212) 573-6933. Net proceeds from the event will go towards the Songwriters Hall of Fame programs.

Shown are (front row): songwriter Josiah Bell; BMI’s June Neira; songwriter/artists Matthew Mayfield, Frankie Storm and Duncan Sheik; composer Steven Sater; and songwriter/artists Lady GaGa and Lanz; (back row): BMI’s Ben Tischker and Wardell Malloy; songwriter Claude Kelly; songwriter/artist Brent Smith of Shinedown; BMI’s Charlie Feldman; songwriters Curtis Richardson and Dave Katz; and BMI’s Samantha Cox.

Josiah Bell
Songwriter/producer/engineer; signed first production deal to M2 Entertainment at 14-years-old; produced and wrote six songs for Stellar Award and Grammy-nominated gospel artist Vickie Winans at age 15; produced and wrote two songs for gospel artist Smokie Norful, including the hit single, “Can’t Nobody”; Smokie’s CD went Gold and won a Grammy for Gospel Album of the Year. Josiah is currently working on a solo project.

Dave Katz
Prolific songwriter for bands like Coheed + Cambria, Gym Class Heroes, Boys Like Girls; wrote and produced “Bring It (Snakes on a Plane)” for the Snakes on a Plane soundtrack; worked with Roger Daltry on his 1992 release, Rocks in the Head.

Claude Kelly
Singer/songwriter/vocal arranger for artists like Carl Thomas, Trey Songz, DJ Clue, Ray J, Danity Kane, Brooke Hogan, Frankie J

Lady GaGa
Singer/songwriter and N.Y. native, GaGa was chosen by the Songwriter’s Hall of Fame as one of nine performers in the 2006 New Songwriter’s Showcase, and as result, was signed to a production deal with Sony’s multi-platinum producer, Rob Fusari; since then GaGa has been in the midst of a label and industry frenzy!

Lanz
Songwriter/rapper; by 13, Lanz was already making an impression on New York’s underground rap scene, performing at clubs around town. At 16, her razor sharp lyrics and delivery on tough issues caught the attention of Interscope/Geffen/A&M Chairman Jimmy Iovine, who signed her. Currently finishing up her debut CD.

Matthew Mayfield
Lead vocalist/guitarist for Moses Mayfield who was writing his own songs by 12. For him, songwriting is about connecting on a personal, emotional level, “dealing with my own demons and other peoples’ demons, vicariously.” Moses Mayfield has opened for Switchfoot, The Fray, My Morning Jacket and will be opening for Pete Yorn in early ’07. Debut release on Columbia set for March 27.

Curtis Richardson
Has written for Jennifer Lopez and LL Cool J (No. 1 hit “All I Have”), Joss Stone, Rihanna, Sharissa. Coming up in ’07, Curtis will be writing with Craig David, Kelly Clarkson, Carrie Underwood and Chaka Khan.

Steven Sater
A multiple threat with projects in theatre, film, music and television. Sater makes his Broadway debut with the book and lyrics to Spring Awakening. His partner, Duncan Sheik, wrote the music to the smash musical, which topped some of 2006’s Ten Best lists from Time Magazine, USA Today, New York Magazine and both critics from Time-Out New York and The New York Times, placing Spring Awakening among the front-runners for this year. In just a matter of weeks, the CD is already No. 3 on the Billboard charts for Cast Albums and Virgin’s No. 1 best seller for Cast Albums.

Duncan Sheik
Grammy-nominated singer/songwriter/recording artist who scored for film and the stage; produced Gold records for himself and his peers; year-long ride on the pop charts with “Barely Breathing”; new CD White Limousine. Broadway debut with writing partner Steve Sater of critically acclaimed Spring Awakening, the new musical based on Frank Wedekind’s controversial 1891 play about a young person’s sexual awakening.

Brent Smith
Lead singer and songwriter for Atlantic platinum recording artists, Shinedown. Brent currently co-wrote the album cut, “There and Back Again” with RCA chart-topping American Idol finalist Daughtry and is currently co-writing in all genres, including rock, pop and country.

Frankie Storm
Philly-based 24-year-old singer/songwriter currently working with production teams like Stargate, Soul Shock and Karlin and the Underdogs.

FOUR AWARDS
Red Hot Chili Peppers
Best Rock Performance by Duo or Group with Vocal
Best Rock Song
Best Rock Album
Best Boxed or Special Limited Edition Package

TWO AWARDS
George Benson
Best Pop Instrumental Performance
Best Traditional R&B Vocal Performance

Michael Brecker
Best Jazz Instrumental Solo
Best Large Jazz Ensemble Album

Chick Corea
Best Jazz Instrumental Album, Individual or Group
Best Instrumental Arrangement

The Flaming Lips
Best Rock Instrumental Performance
Best Engineered Album, Non-Classical

Kirk Franklin
Best Gospel Song
Best Contemporary R&B Gospel Album

Gnarls Barkley
Best Alternative Music Album
Best Urban/Alternative Performance

John Legend
Best Male R&B Vocal Performance
Best R&B Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocals

T.I.
Best Rap Solo Performance
Best Rap/Sung Collaboration

Carrie Underwood
Best New Artist
Best Female Country Vocal Performance

John Williams
Best Score Soundtrack Album
Best Instrumental Composition

OTHER WINNERS
Yolanda Adams
Best Gospel Performance

Pepe Aguilar
Best Mexican/Mexican-American Album

Christina Aguilera
Best Female Pop Vocal Performance

Chente Barrera y Taconazo
Best Tejano Album

The Black Eyed Peas
Best Pop Performance by Duo or Group with Vocal

Randy Brecker
Best Large Jazz Ensemble Album

T Bone Burnett
Best Compilation Soundtrack Album

Enya (PRS)
Best New Age Album

Peter Erskine
Best Large Jazz Ensemble Album

Béla Fleck & the Flecktones
Best Contemporary Jazz Album

Dave Fridmann
Best Engineered Album, Non-Classical

Bob Gaudio
Best Musical Show Album

Vince Gill
Best Male Country Vocal Performance

Osvaldo Golijov
Best Classical Contemporary Composition

Bill Harley
Best Spoken Word Album for Children

Van Hunt
Best R&B Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocals

Israel & New Breed
Best Traditional Gospel Album

Al Jarreau
Best Traditional R&B Vocal Performance

Klezmatics
Best Contemporary World Music Album

Krayzie Bone
Best Rap Performance by a Duo or Group

Will Lee
Best Large Jazz Ensemble Album

The Bryan Lynch/Eddie Palmieri Project
Best Latin Jazz Album

Maná
Best Latin Rock, Alternative or Urban Album

OK Go
Best Short Form Music Video

Joss Stone (PRS)
Best R&B Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocals

Jimmy Sturr and His Orchestra
Best Polka Album

Irma Thomas
Best Contemporary Blues

Los Tigres Del Norte
Best Norteño Album

Ike Turner
Best Traditional Blues Album

Julieta Venegas
Best Latin Pop Album

Doc Watson
Best Country Collaboration with Vocals

Pharrell Williams
Best Rap Song

Wolfmother (APRA)
Best Hard Rock Performance

In addition to Legend, scheduled participants include BMI hit songwriters Cee-Lo (Gnarls Barkley), Dallas Austin, Patrick Stump (Fall Out Boy), Sean Garrett, Kara DioGuardi, Butch Walker and Jeffrey Steele. The panel will be moderated by BMI Writer/Publisher Relations VP Catherine Brewton and Los Angeles Times chief music critic Ann Powers. Each panelist will perform one of their hit songs as well as answer questions about the business of songwriting and music.

Three-time Grammy winner John Legend, formerly known as an in-demand studio session man, stepped into the solo spotlight in 2004 as a singer, songwriter, pianist and performer in his own right with his debut album, Get Lifted. Driven in part by the hit singles “Ordinary People” and “Used To Love U,” Get Lifted was a critical and commercial triumph, earning John an astounding eight Grammy nominations—he won Best New Artist, Best Male R&B Vocal Performance and Best R&B album—and selling more than three million copies worldwide. With his new album, Once Again, he continues to craft intelligent, intuitive and sensual songs that showcase his pop/soul singer/songwriter abilities. Nominated in three Grammy categories this year (Best Male Pop Vocal Performance for “Save Room,” Best Male R&B Vocal Performance for “Heaven,” and Best R&B Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocals for “Family Affair” [with Joss Stone and Van Hunt]), Legend will be performing at the 49th Annual Grammy ceremony with John Mayer and Corinne Bailey Rae.

Pop Awards Photo Slideshow

2005 BMI Pop Awards Song List

Paul Simon's BMI Awards List

2005 Lennon Scholarship Winners

Del Bryant, President & CEO, and Barbara Cane, Vice President & General Manager, Writer/Publisher Relations, Los Angeles, hosted the dinner event. The writers and publishers of the 50 most performed songs of the past year were recognized, plus the overall song, songwriter and publisher winners. A highlight of the gala, staged at the Regent Beverly Wilshire Hotel in Beverly Hills, was a tribute to songwriter/artist Paul Simon, who was named a BMI Icon.

3 Doors Down	Lil Jon

"Here Without You" won the title of BMI Pop Song of the Year, with songwriters Brad Arnold, Todd Harrell, Chris Henderson and Matt Roberts of the group 3 Doors Down accepting; this distinction is given to the song tallying the most feature broadcast performances during the eligibility period. Published by Escatawpa Songs and Songs of Universal, Inc. and included on 3 Doors Down's Republic/Universal CD Away From the Sun, "Here Without You" has already been certified as a BMI Million-Air (with two million broadcast performances) and was previously honored as BMI's 2004 Most Performed Song on College Radio. Lead singer Brad Arnold was also named Songwriter of the Year at the 2002 BMI Pop Awards.

Nickelback	Paul Simon

Lil Jon wrote four songs on the Most Performed List of 50 to collect the BMI Pop Songwriter of the Year crown. The songs earning him the title were "Damn!" (YoungBloodZ featuring Lil Jon), "Freek-A-Leek" (Petey Pablo), "Get Low" (Lil Jon & the East Side Boyz featuring the Ying Yang Twins) and "Yeah!" (Usher featuring Ludacris and Lil Jon).

Of the 88 songwriters who received 2005 BMI Pop Awards, two were triple winners: Chad Kroeger (SOCAN) of Nickelback and Sham. Other writer/artists earning awards included Michelle Branch, Five for Fighting, Linkin Park, Sarah McLachlan, Pete Townshend (PRS), Shania Twain, Maroon 5, Los Lonely Boys, R. Kelly, Seal (PRS), Lil' Kim, Evanescence, the White Stripes, Fountains of Wayne, Mario Winans and the Black Eyed Peas.

Paul Simon was saluted as a BMI Icon for his "unique and indelible influence on generations of music makers." In a career dating back to the 1950s, Paul Simon has established himself among the best and most popular songwriters of the rock era. His songs have bookmarked moments in the lives of millions, whether with words of love, longing, humor, politics or, above all, hope. He has incorporated the rhythms of his native New York with those from as far away as Brazil and South Africa.

For his efforts, he is a 12-time Grammy winner, a two-time Rock & Roll Hall of Fame inductee (as Simon & Garfunkel and as a solo artist), the recipient of the Kennedy Center Honors and the Recording Academy Lifetime Achievement Award, an Oscar nominee, an Emmy Award winner, and the much-honored co-founder of the Children's Health Fund. His songwriting catalog has earned 39 BMI Awards -- including multiple citations for "Bridge Over Troubled Water," "Mrs. Robinson," "Scarborough Fair" and "The Sound of Silence" -- and amassed nearly 75 million broadcast airplays, according to BMI surveys.

After a video tribute, the musical salute to Simon featured performances by 2004 Icon recipient Brian Wilson (who sang "The Sound of Silence"), British sensation Joss Stone ("Mother and Child Reunion"), Adam Levine and James Valentine of the Grammy-winning band Maroon 5 ("Homeward Bound") and soul gospel diva Yolanda Adams ("Bridge Over Troubled Water").

Simon enters the elite company of previously praised BMI Icons, including Bill Anderson, James Brown, Chuck Berry, Little Richard, Bo Diddley, Isaac Hayes, Holland-Dozier-Holland, Loretta Lynn, Carlos Santana, Dolly Parton, Al Green, Van Morrison and Brian Wilson.

EMI Music Publishing (EMI-Blackwood Music, Inc./EMI-Stone Agate Music), with 11 award songs, claimed the BMI Pop Publisher of the Year prize, given to the publishing concern with the highest percentage of copyright ownership in award songs. EMI's winning songs were "100 Years," "Bright Lights," "Damn!," "Freek-A-Leek," "Get Low," "Heaven," "I Don't Wanna Know," "I Heard It Through the Grapevine," "Into You," "Unwell" and "Where Is the Love." EMI Chairman & CEO Martin Bandier accepted the crystal trophy.

Other publishers garnering three or more awards were Universal Music Publishing (Irving Music/Songs of Universal, Inc./Universal-Songs of PolyGram International, Inc.); Warner/Chappell Music Group (Warner-Tamerlane Publishing Corp. and Rick's Music, Inc.); Careers-BMG Music Publishing, Inc./Loco De Amor Music/Zomba Songs Inc.; and White Rhino Music.

In addition to Song of the Year "Here Without You," BMI recognized the performance achievements of two other songs. "Someday" by Nickelback earned Most Performed Song on College Radio kudos for songwriters Chad Kroeger, Mike Kroeger, Ryan Peake and Ryan Vikedal of the group and publisher Warner-Tamerlane Publishing Corp. "You've Lost That Lovin' Feelin'," the most performed composition in BMI's repertoire of 6.5 million musical works, was certified as a 10 Million-Air, meaning it has been broadcast 10 million times. "You've Lost That Lovin' Feelin'" was written by Phil Spector, Barry Mann and Cynthia Weil, and published by ABKCO Music, Inc., Mother Bertha Music, Inc., and Screen Gems-EMI Music, Inc.

Phil Spector	Barry Mann and Cynthia Weil

Another special presentation was the announcement of the First Place winner of the 2005 John Lennon Scholarship Awards. Sydney Price, a 17-year-old junior at Booker T. Washington High School for the Visual and Performing Arts in