Kinks Frontman Ray Davies Takes Top Honor at BMI London Awards

Posted in News on October 3, 2006

BMI saluted the top European songwriters, composers and publishers at its 2006 London Awards, staged Oct. 3 in the Ballroom of London's Dorchester Hotel. In addition to honoring the past year's most-played songs on U.S. radio and television, the gala dinner and awards ceremony also recognized Kinks frontman and legendary songwriter Ray Davies (PRS) as a BMI Icon for his "enduring influence on generations of music makers."

London Awards Event Photos

Ray Davies: BMI Icon Feature Story

Davies is co-founder, lead singer and rhythm guitarist of the Kinks, one of the most long-lived and influential rock groups of the British Invasion. As the band's chief songwriter, he is the pen behind such Kinks classics as "You Really Got Me," "All Day and All of the Night," "A Well Respected Man," "Waterloo Sunset," "Tired of Waiting For You," "Sunny Afternoon," "Lola" and "Come Dancing."

In a written tribute to Davies that was read at the event, Who guitarist Pete Townshend called Davies "the true laureate of British popular music." In addition to Townshend, who credits his sound to the 40-plus year music vet, artists as diverse as Morrissey, Blur and Oasis also claim Davies as their main influence.

"Listen to Your Heart," written by Per Gessle and Mats Persson, and published by Jimmy Fun Music (all STIM), was named Song of the Year and received one of the organization's highest accolades, the Robert S. Musel Award. Recorded by Belgium-based duo D.H.T., the song was originally a No. 1 hit for Roxette in 1989 and received the BMI Dance Award at last year's ceremony.

"Feel Good Inc.," co-written by Gorillaz members Damon Albarn and Jamie Hewlett (both PRS), along with De La Soul's David Jolicoeur, was named BMI's College Song of the Year for tallying the most performances on American college radio. The Grammy Award-winning hit is from the Gorillaz' Demon Days CD, which went double platinum in the U.S. and triple platinum in the U.K.

The BMI Dance Award went to "Everytime We Touch," written by Stuart MacKillop, Maggie Reilly (both PRS) and Peter Risavy (GEMA), and published by Mambo/Sony/ATV Music Publishing Germany (GEMA). The infectious tune by Euro-dance trio Cascada was a worldwide smash, including in America, where it topped the dance charts and made it into the Top Ten of the pop charts.

"Million-Air" certificates were also presented throughout the evening in recognition of those songs that have achieved over three million U.S. radio and television performances - or the equivalent of more than 17 years of continuous airplay. Topping the list was the theme to Mondo Cane, "More," which earned a seven million performance award for songwriters Marcello Ciorciolini (SIAE), Norman Newell (PRS), Nino Oliviero (SIAE) and Riz Ortolani (SIAE). "You're Still the One," written and recorded by 2004 BMI London Awards Song of the Year winner Shania Twain (PRS), reached the six million performance plateau. Other "Million-Air" recipients included Elton John, Eric Clapton, the Bee Gees, Sting, Seal, Pink Floyd's Roger Waters, Peter Gabriel and Paul Rodgers of Free (all PRS).

Below is the complete list of 2006 BMI London Award winners:

THE ROBERT S. MUSEL AWARD (SONG OF THE YEAR)
LISTEN TO YOUR HEART
Per Gessle (STIM)
Mats Persson (STIM)
Jimmy Fun Music (STIM)
Roxette

COLLEGE AWARD
FEEL GOOD INC.
Damon Albarn (PRS)
Jamie Hewlett (PRS)
David Jolicoeur *
EMI Music Publishing Ltd. (PRS)
Gorillaz

DANCE AWARD
EVERYTIME WE TOUCH
Stuart MacKillop (PRS)
Maggie Reilly (PRS)
Peter Risavy (GEMA)
Mambo/Sony/ATV Music Publishing Germany (GEMA)
Cascada

MILLION-AIR AWARDS

7 Million
MORE
Marcello Ciorciolini (SIAE)
Norman Newell (PRS)
Nino Oliviero (SIAE)
Riz Ortolani (SIAE)
Creazioni Artistiche Musicali (SIAE)
Kai Winding (theme from Mondo Cane)

6 Million
YOU'RE STILL THE ONE
Shania Twain (PRS)
Shania Twain

5 Million
CROCODILE ROCK
Sir Elton John (PRS)
Bernie Taupin *
HST Management Ltd./Universal Music Publishing Ltd. (PRS)
Elton John

HOW DEEP IS YOUR LOVE
Barry Gibb (PRS)
Robin Gibb (PRS)
Maurice Gibb (PRS)
Crompton Songs
Gibb Brothers Music/BMG Music Publishing Ltd. (PRS)
Bee Gees

TIME OF THE SEASON
Rod Argent (PRS)
Verulam Music Co. Ltd. (PRS)
Zombies

4 Million
BLACK MAGIC WOMAN
Peter Green (PRS)
Bourne Music Ltd. (PRS)
Santana

COME TOGETHER
John Lennon (PRS)
The Beatles

DON'T GO BREAKING MY HEART
Sir Elton John (PRS)
HST Management Ltd./Universal Music Publishing Ltd. (PRS)
Elton John & Kiki Dee

DON'T STAND SO CLOSE TO ME
Sting (PRS)
GM Sumner/EMI Music Publishing Ltd. (PRS)
Police

ISLANDS IN THE STREAM
Barry Gibb (PRS)
Robin Gibb (PRS)
Maurice Gibb (PRS)
Crompton Songs
Gibb Brothers Music/BMG Music Publishing Ltd. (PRS)
Dolly Parton and Kenny Rogers

KISS FROM A ROSE
Seal (PRS)
Perfect Songs Ltd. (PRS)
Seal

MONEY FOR NOTHING
Sting (PRS)
GM Sumner/EMI Music Publishing Ltd. (PRS)
Dire Straits

WONDERFUL TONIGHT
Eric Clapton (PRS)
E. C. Music Ltd. (PRS)
Warner/Chappell Music International Ltd. (PRS)
Eric Clapton

3 Million
ALL RIGHT NOW
Paul Rodgers (PRS)
Andy Fraser *
Blue Mountain Music Ltd. (PRS)
Free

ANOTHER BRICK IN THE WALL
Roger Waters (PRS)
Roger Waters Music Overseas Ltd. (PRS)
Pink Floyd

CAN YOU FEEL THE LOVE TONIGHT
Sir Elton John (PRS)
Sir Tim Rice (PRS)
Elton John

I FEEL FINE
John Lennon (PRS)
The Beatles

I'LL NEVER LOVE THIS WAY AGAIN
Richard Kerr (PRS)
Will Jennings *
Dionne Warwick

IN YOUR EYES
Peter Gabriel (PRS)
Real World Music Ltd. (PRS)
Peter Gabriel

LISTEN TO YOUR HEART
Per Gessle (STIM)
Mats Persson (STIM)
Jimmy Fun Music (STIM)
Roxette

RED RUBBER BALL
Bruce Woodley (APRA)
Paul Simon *
Universal Music Publishing Ltd. (PRS)
Cyrkle

SAVE TONIGHT
Eagle-Eye Cherry (STIM)
Kobalt Music Publishing Limited (PRS)
Eagle-Eye Cherry

STUCK IN THE MIDDLE WITH YOU
Gerry Rafferty (PRS)
Stage Three Music Ltd. (PRS)
Stealers Wheel

TOO MUCH HEAVEN
Barry Gibb (PRS)
Robin Gibb (PRS)
Maurice Gibb (PRS)
Bee Gees

WHOSE BED HAVE YOUR BOOTS BEEN UNDER?
Shania Twain (PRS)
Shania Twain

POP AWARDS
CRAZY (2nd Award)
Seal (PRS)
Guy Sigsworth (PRS)
Beethoven Street Music Ltd. (PRS)
Perfect Songs Ltd. (PRS)
Seal

DIAMONDS FROM SIERRA LEONE
Don Black (PRS)
John Barry *
Kanye West *
Kanye West

DON'T PHUNK WITH MY HEART
Indeewar (IPRS)
Anandji V. Shah (IPRS)
Kalyanji V. Shah (IPRS)
Paul Anthony *
Baby Gerry *
Cleveland Bell IV *
B-Fine *
Printz Board *
Bowlegged Lou *
Curt-T-T *
Victor May *
George Pajon, Jr. *
Shy-Shy *
will.i.am *
Saregama India PLC (IPRS)
Black Eyed Peas

EVERYBODY'S CHANGING
Tom Chaplin (PRS)
Richard Hughes (PRS)
BMG Music Publishing Ltd. (PRS)
Keane

FEEL GOOD INC.
Damon Albarn (PRS)
Jamie Hewlett (PRS)
David Jolicoeur *
EMI Music Publishing Ltd. (PRS)
Gorillaz

INSIDE YOUR HEAVEN
Savan Kotecha *
Bo Bice and Carrie Underwood

LISTEN TO YOUR HEART (2nd Award)
Per Gessle (STIM)
Mats Persson (STIM)
Jimmy Fun Music (STIM)
Roxette

N DEY SAY
Gary Kemp (PRS)
Reformation Publishing Co. Ltd. (PRS)
Nelly

THESE WORDS
Natasha Bedingfield (PRS)
Andrew Frampton (PRS)
Wayne Wilkins (PRS)
EMI Music Publishing Ltd. (PRS)
In-Genius Songs Ltd. (PRS)
Natasha Bedingfield

UNWRITTEN
Natasha Bedingfield (PRS)
Danielle Brisebois *
EMI Music Publishing Ltd. (PRS)
Natasha Bedingfield

YOU'RE BEAUTIFUL
James Blunt (PRS)
Amanda Ghost (PRS)
Sacha Skarbek (PRS)
Bucks Music Group Ltd. (PRS)
EMI Music Publishing Ltd. (PRS)
James Blunt

LATIN AWARDS
ANDAR CONMIGO
Julieta Venegas (SGAE)
Julieta Venegas

LA NEGRA TOMASA
Guillermo Rodr’guez FiffŽ (SACEM)
peermusic (UK) Ltd. (PRS)
DJ Kane

LENTO
Julieta Venegas (SGAE)
Julieta Venegas

TARDES NEGRAS
Tiziano Ferro (SIAE)
EMI Music Publishing Italia S.r.l. (SIAE)
NISA S.r.l. (SIAE)
Tiziano Ferro

URBAN AWARD
HERE WE GO
Steve Scipio (PRS)
Bigg D *
Josh Burke *
Jim Jonsin *
Ted Lucas *
Teedra Moses *
Cymande Music (PRS)
Trina featuring Kelly Rowland

COUNTRY AWARDS
IT'S A HEARTACHE (2nd Award)
Ronnie Scott (PRS)
Steve Wolfe (PRS)
BMG Music Publishing Ltd. (PRS)
Lojo Music Ltd. (PRS)
Trick Pony

MY OLD FRIEND
Steve McEwan (PRS)
BMG Music Publishing Ltd. (PRS)
Trinifold Music Ltd. (PRS)
Tim McGraw

PARTY FOR TWO
Shania Twain (PRS)
Shania Twain

FILM MUSIC AWARDS
FAILURE TO LAUNCH
Rolfe Kent (PRS)

FOUR BROTHERS
David Arnold (PRS)

SAHARA
Clint Mansell (PRS)

THE CHRONICLES OF NARNIA: THE LION, THE WITCH AND THE WARDROBE
Harry Gregson-Williams (PRS)
THE RING TWO
Henning Lohner (GEMA)
Martin Tillmann (SUISA)

WEDDING CRASHERS
Rolfe Kent (PRS)

TV MUSIC AWARDS
CSI
Pete Townshend (PRS)

CSI: MIAMI
Pete Townshend (PRS)

CSI: NY
Pete Townshend (PRS)

GREY'S ANATOMY
Carim Clasmann (PRS)
Galia Durant (PRS)

HOUSE
Robert Del Naja (PRS)
Grantley Marshall (PRS)
Andrew Vowles (PRS)

* Share licensed directly through BMI

SOURCENews TAGS Rock Los Angeles BMI Europe BMI London Awards Eric Clapton Ray Davies De La Soul Peter Gabriel Per Gessle Gorillaz Elton John Oasis Mats Persson Pink Pink Floyd Seal Sting Pete Townshend Shania Twain