BMI Honors The Jacksons, T-Pain and Many More at Urban Awards in Los Angeles

Posted in News on September 5, 2008

BMI saluted the world’s premier r&b, rap and hip-hop songwriters, producers and publishers September 4 at its Urban Awards. BMI President & CEO Del Bryant and Vice President, Writer/Publisher Relations, Atlanta Catherine Brewton hosted the annual ceremony at the Wilshire Theatre in Beverly Hills.

The industry’s hottest songwriter/artist T-Pain earned the coveted Songwriter of the Year crown and shared the Producer of the Year trophy with crossover king Jonathan “J.R.” Rotem and hip-hop visionary Kanye West. Song of the Year honors went to Beyoncé’s “Irreplaceable,” co-written by Ne-Yo, Amund Bjøerklund (TONO) and Espen Lind (TONO), while Universal Music Publishing Group secured the Publisher of the Year title.

The night’s festivities culminated with the presentation of the prestigious BMI Icon Award to legends The Jacksons, whose achievements were celebrated with a musical tribute. Throughout the ceremony, the audience also enjoyed live performances of many of the award-winning songs by music’s biggest stars including Rick Ross, T-Pain, Lil’ Wayne, Ray J, LLOYD, Mario, JoJo, Keri Hilson and Yung Berg.

T-Pain’s resounding claim to the Songwriter of the Year title is buoyed by his jaw-dropping seven contributions to BMI’s most-performed list: “Bartender,” “Buy U a Drank (Shawty Snappin’),” “Cyclone,” “Good Life,” “I’m a Flirt,” “Kiss Kiss,”“Low” and “Shawty.” The past year found T-Pain everywhere, as he collaborated with hip-hop’s elite including Yung Joc, Akon, Baby Bash, Kanye West, R. Kelly, T.I., Chris Brown, Flo Rida and Plies. Flo Rida’s “Flow” featuring T-Pain became an international smash, topping charts in a diverse slew of countries including Finland, Ireland and Australia.

Song of the Year “Irreplaceable” also topped charts all over the world, reigning at the no. 1 spot on the Billboard Hot 100 for ten consecutive weeks. Co-penned by Ne-Yo, along with songwriters Amund Bjøerklund and Espen Lind (both members of Norwegian performing right society TONO and represented in the U.S. by BMI), and published by EMI-Blackwood Music, Inc., Super Sayin’ Publishing and Universal Music-Z Songs, Beyoncé’s “Irreplaceable” was certified multi-platinum and became the United States’ best-selling single of 2007.

One of pop music’s most influential quintets, The Jacksons blazed a trail for r&b and pop music, creating a sound and musical image that is emulated to this day. Hailing from Gary, Indiana, and formed in 1966, the Jackson brothers—Jackie, Tito, Jermaine, Marlon, Michael and, joining in 1976, younger brother Randy—were a true American success story, transcending race and redefining the sound of pop and r&b music. They were the first group to have their first four singles hit no. 1, and they remain one of the most globally influential pop and r&b groups in history. The Jackson 5 were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1997. In addition to being premier recording and performing artists, the Jacksons wrote multiple hits, including the ’80s “Shake Your Body (Down to the Ground),” “2300 Jackson Street,” “Can You Feel It,” and “State of Shock.”

T-Pain, Jonathan “J.R.” Rotem and Kanye West shared the Producer of the Year win thanks to individually logging the most producer credits on charting songs over the past year. The BMI Top Urban Producers list also included DJ Montay, Mr. ColliPark, Polow Da Don, Rodney Jerkins, Soulja Boy Tell’em and will.i.am.

Universal Music Publishing Group earned the BMI Urban Publisher of the Year trophy by scoring the highest percentage of copyright ownership in award songs. The publishing giant’s twenty hits on the most-performed list include “Throw Some D’s” recorded by Rich Boy featuring Polow Da Don; Song of the Year “Irreplaceable;” Flo Rida’s “Low” featuring T-Pain; “You” recorded by LLOYD featuring Lil’ Wayne and Ciara’s “Promise.”

In addition to the BMI performance awards, trade publication Billboard recognized the BMI-affiliated writers whose songs reached No. 1 on the R&B/Hip-Hop Songs, Hot Rap Tracks, Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Airplay and Hot 100 charts during the past year.

Below is the complete list of 2008 BMI Urban Awards winners:

A BAY BAY
Hurricane Chris
Phunk Dawg
Building 2 Music
Christopher Dooley Publishing
Phunky Dawg Music
Hurricane Chris
Polo Grounds

BARTENDER
T-Pain
Nappypub Music
Universal Music-Z Songs
T-Pain featuring Akon
Konvict/Nappy Boy/Jive/Zomba

BECAUSE OF YOU
Ne-Yo
Super Sayin' Publishing
Universal Music-Z Songs
Ne-Yo
Def Jam/IDJMG

BED
L.O.S. DA MYSTRO
Sony/ATV Melody
J. Holiday
MLG/Capitol

BUY U A DRANK (SHAWTY SNAPPIN')
T-Pain
Yung Joc
Basement Funk South
Granny Man Publishing
Malik and Mekhi Music
Nappypub Music
Universal Music-Z Songs
Warner-Tamerlane Publishing Corp.
T-Pain featuring Yung Joc
Konvict/Nappy Boy/Jive/Zomba

CHAIN HANG LOW
Jovan "Jibbs" Campbell
Lamont “Birdie” McClendon, II
King Jibbs Publishing
Songs of Universal, Inc.
Jibbs
Geffen/Interscope

CRANK THAT (SOULJA BOY)
Soulja Boy Tell'em
Soulja Boy
ColliPark/Interscope

CYCLONE
Baby Bash
Lil Jon
Craig D. Love
T-Pain
C'Amore Music
EMI-Blackwood Music, Inc.
Latino Velvet Music
Lil Jizzel Music Publishing
Nappypub Music
Songs of Universal, Inc.
Swizole Music
Universal Music-Z Songs
Baby Bash featuring T-Pain
Arista/RMG

DON'T MATTER
Tony Love
Lawsongs
Akon
Konvict/Upfront/SPC/Universal

GET IT SHAWTY
LLOYD
Big Zak Wallace
Goldie's Playhouse Publishing
Ishmoot Music
Warner-Tamerlane Publishing Corp.
LLOYD
The Inc./Universal Motown

GOOD LIFE
Michael Dean
DJ Toomp
James Ingram
John Legend
T-Pain
Kanye West
Cherry River Music Co.
EMI-Blackwood Music, Inc.
Hen-Al Publishing Company
John Legend Publishing
Kings Road Music
Nappypub Music
Please Gimme My Publishing, Inc.
Reach Global Songs
Toompstone Publishing
Universal Music-Z Songs
Warner-Tamerlane Publishing Corp.
Kanye West featuring T-Pain
Roc-A-Fella/Def Jam/IDJMG

ICE BOX
Ezekiel Lewis
Patrick "j.Que" Smith
Christopher Matthew Music
Ezeke International Music
Hitco Music
Omarion
T.U.G./Epic/Sum

I'M A FLIRT
R. Kelly
T.I.
T-Pain
Crown Club Publishing
Nappypub Music
R. Kelly Publishing, Inc.
Universal Music-Z Songs
Warner-Tamerlane Publishing Corp.
R. Kelly featuring T.I. and T-Pain
Jive/Zomba

IRREPLACEABLE (2nd Award)
Amund Bjøerklund (TONO)
Espen Lind (TONO)
Ne-Yo
EMI-Blackwood Music, Inc.
Super Sayin' Publishing
Universal Music-Z Songs
Beyoncé
Columbia Records

KISS KISS
Chris Brown
T-Pain
Culture Beyond Ur Experience Publishing
Nappypub Music
Songs of Universal, Inc.
Universal Music-Z Songs
Chris Brown featuring T-Pain
Jive/Zomba

LAST NIGHT
Slam
Mario Winans
EMI-Blackwood Music, Inc.
Irving Music
Janice Combs Music
Marsky Music
ZXS Publishing
Diddy featuring Keyshia Cole
Badd Boy/Atlantic

LET IT GO
Kimberly "Lil Kim" Jones
James Mtume
Mtume Music
Notorious Kim Music
Keyshia Cole featuring Missy Elliot and Lil Kim
A & M/Interscope

LIKE A BOY
Calvin "Calvo Da Gr8" Kenon
Ezekiel Lewis
Patrick "j.Que" Smith
Christopher Matthew Music
EMI-Blackwood Music, Inc.
Ezeke International Music
Hitco Music
Revolutionary Gr8ness
Ciara
LaFace/Zomba

LOW
DJ Montay
Korey "Big Oomp" Roberson
Howard "MC Assault" Simmons
T-Pain
Nappypub Music
Sony/ATV Songs LLC
Top Quality Publishing
Universal Music-Z Songs
Flo Rida featuring T-Pain
Poe Boy/Atlantic

MAKE IT RAIN
Fat Joe
Lil Wayne
Reach Global Songs
Warner-Tamerlane Publishing Corp.
Young Money Publishing, Inc.
Fat Joe featuring Lil Wayne
Terror Squad/Virgin

MAKE ME BETTER
Ne-Yo
Super Sayin' Publishing
Universal Music-Z Songs
Fabolous featuring Ne-Yo
Desert Storm/Def Jam/IDJMG

ON THE HOTLINE
Marcus "Pleasure P" Cooper
Corey "Slickadelaphante" Mathis
Diamond Blue Smith
Joseph "Bluestar" Smith
Spectacular Smith
Warner-Tamerlane Publishing Corp.
Pretty Ricky
Bluestar/Atlantic

PARTY LIKE A ROCKSTAR
Jason "Pit" Pittman
Preciate That Music
Shop Boyz
On Deck

POP, LOCK & DROP IT
Calvin Miller
Notting Hill Music, Inc.
Huey
Huey/Jive/Zomba

PROMISE
Jasper Cameron
Polow Da Don
Elvis Williams
Elvis Lee Music
EMI-Blackwood Music, Inc.
My Diet Starts Tomorrow, Inc.
Pretty Girls and Big Love Songs
Songs of Universal, Inc.
Ciara
LaFace/Zomba

ROCK YO HIPS
Diamond
Lil' Scrappy
Dime Piece Collection
EMI-Blackwood Music, Inc.
Prince of Crunk Publishing, Inc.
Swizole Music
Crime Mob featuring Lil' Scrappy
Crunk/BME/Reprise/Warner Bros.

RUNAWAY LOVE
Doug E. Fresh
Polow Da Don
Slick Rick
Entertaining Music
My Diet Starts Tomorrow, Inc.
Slick Rick Music Corp.
Songs of Universal, Inc.
Ludacris featuring Mary J. Blige
Def Jam

SHAWTY
Ferrell “Ensayne” Miles
Plies
T-Pain
First and Gold Publishing
Nappypub Music
Universal Music-Z Songs
Warner-Tamerlane Publishing Corp.
Waynee Baynee Music
Plies featuring T-Pain
Slip-N-Slide Records

SHAWTY IS A 10
L.O.S. DA MYSTRO
Sony/ATV Melody
The-Dream
Def Jam/IDJMG

STRONGER
Thomas Bangalter
Michael Dean
Guy-Manuel de Homem-Christo
Kanye West
EMI-Blackwood Music, Inc.
Please Gimme My Publishing, Inc.
Reach Global Songs
Universal Music-Z Songs
Kanye West
Roc-A-Fella/Def Jam/IDJMG

TAKE ME AS I AM
Ezekiel Lewis
Lonnie Liston Smith
Cosmic Echoes Publishing Co.
Ezeke International Music
Mary J. Blige
Matriarch/Geffen/Interscope

THIS IS WHY I'M HOT
Leon Haywood
Lil Jon
Curtis Lundy
Shawn MIMS
Prodigy
Joseph "Rev Run" Simmons
Earl "E-40" Stevens
Curwan Music, Inc.
EMI-Blackwood Music, Inc.
Heavy On The Grind Entergament Music
Jim-Edd Music
P. Noid Publishing
Shawn Mims Publishing
Songs of TVT
Sony/ATV Songs LLC
Swizole Music
Universal Music-Careers
Shawn MIMS
Capitol/American King/Urban Box Office

THROW SOME D'S
Polow Da Don
Rich Boy
My Diet Starts Tomorrow, Inc.
Songs of Universal, Inc.
Street Rich Music
Rich Boy featuring Polow Da Don
Zone 4/Interscope

WALK IT OUT
DJ Montay
DJ Unk
Korey "Big Oomp" Roberson
Howard "MC Assault" Simmons
Top Quality Publishing
DJ Unk
Big Oomp/Koch

WE FLY HIGH
Zukhan Bey
Jim Jones
Art In The Fodder Music
Sally Ruth Esther Publishing, Inc.
Songs of Universal, Inc.
Jim Jones
Diplomats/Koch

YOU
Jasper Cameron
Gary Kemp
Lil Wayne
Pretty Girls and Big Love Songs
Reformation Publishing USA
Songs of Universal, Inc.
Warner-Tamerlane Publishing Corp.
Young Money Publishing, Inc.
LLOYD featuring Lil Wayne
Sho'Nuff

SOURCENews TAGS R&B / Hip-Hop BMI R&B / Hip-Hop Awards Baby Bash Del Bryant The Jacksons Rodney Jerkins JoJo R. Kelly Lloyd Mario Mr. Collipark Ne-Yo Polow Da Don Rich Boy Rick Ross T-Pain Kanye West Will.I.Am