Carole King Named BMI Icon at 60th Annual BMI Pop Awards
Ester Dean, Benny Blanco and Pitbull share Songwriter of the Year crown; “Firework” named Song of the Year; Universal Music Publishing Group earns Publisher of the Year
Global music rights leader Broadcast Music, Inc. (BMI) honored the songwriters and music publishers behind the year’s most-performed songs on Tuesday, May 15 at the organization’s 60th annual Pop Awards, held at the Beverly Wilshire Hotel in Beverly Hills.
Carole King received the BMI Icon Award recognizing the “unique and indelible influence on generations of music makers” she has made through her incomparable catalog as a songwriter and recording artist.
Ester Dean, Benny Blanco and Pitbull all earned the coveted BMI Pop Songwriter of the Year title. Dean, Blanco and Pitbull each contributed five songs to the year’s most performed list. Dean composed “What’s My Name?,” “Rude Boy,” “S&M,” “Super Bass” and “Firework”; Blanco wrote “Blow,” “Please Don’t Go,” “Teenage Dream,” “We R Who We R” and “Dynamite”; and Pitbull penned “DJ Got Us Fallin’ In Love,” “Give Me Everything,” “Hey Baby (Drop It to the Floor),” “I Like It” and “On the Floor.”
Dean enjoyed an especially big night, as “Firework” clinched BMI Pop Song of the Year honors for her and co-writer Sandy Vee, as well as publishers Dat Damn Dean Music and peermusic III, Ltd.
With 10 songs among the year’s most-performed, Universal Music Publishing Group claimed the prestigious BMI Pop Publisher of the Year crystal.
The all-star tribute to King featured promising young talent, an international star, and a golden-age pop idol, reflecting the broad appeal of King’s extraordinary work. 19 Recordings/Interscope Records recording artist and American Idol alumna Haley Reinhart delivered an inspiring performance of “Beautiful”; Universal Republic recording artist Colbie Caillat offered a soulful rendition of “Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow”; and Peter Noone of Herman’s Hermits capped off the tribute with “I’m into Something Good,” the debut smash for Herman’s Hermits in 1964.
As a BMI Icon, King joins an elite list that includes David Foster, John Fogerty, Kris Kristofferson, the Jacksons, the Bee Gees, Crosby, Stills & Nash, Paul Simon, Merle Haggard, Brian Wilson, Willie Nelson, James Brown, Carlos Santana, Dolly Parton, and others.
King was born in Brooklyn, and her songwriting career ignited nearby in Manhattan with Don Kirshner’s Aldon Music in the early 60s. With writing partner and then-husband Gerry Goffin, King topped charts with the Shirelles’ “Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow,” then Bobby Vee’s “Take Good Care of My Baby.” A flood of hits followed: Little Eva’s “Loco-Motion,” the Chiffons’ “One Fine Day,” the Monkees’ “Pleasant Valley Sunday,” the Drifters’ “Up on the Roof,” Aretha Franklin’s “(You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman,” the Crystals’ “He Hit Me (And it Felt Like a Kiss)” and more. When she released her own album Tapestry in 1971, breathtaking songs such as “So Far Away,” “It’s Too Late,” “I Feel the Earth Move” and “You’ve Got a Friend” (also recorded by close friend James Taylor) propelled King to four Grammy wins and fueled the album’s six-year stay on the charts. King became a superstar, and Tapestry became the biggest-selling album of the era. To date, more than 400 of King’s timeless compositions have been recorded by more than 1000 artists, resulting in 100 hit singles, many reaching No. 1. She has won 31 BMI songwriting awards spanning pop, r&b and country categories, and 18 of her compositions have earned more than one million performances. King is a member of the Songwriters Hall of Fame and Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
The 60th annual BMI Pop Awards were hosted by BMI President & CEO Del Bryant, along with Barbara Cane, BMI Vice President/General Manager, Los Angeles, and Phil Graham, BMI Senior Vice President, Writer/Publisher Relations.
2012 BMI Pop Awards
BMI Icon
CAROLE KING
Pop Songwriters of the Year
BENJAMIN “BENNY BLANCO” LEVIN
“Blow”
“Dynamite” (2nd Award)
“Please Don’t Go”
“Teenage Dream”
“We R Who We R”
ESTER DEAN
“Firework”
“Rude Boy”
“S&M”
“Super Bass”
“What’s My Name? ”
ARMANDO “PITBULL” PEREZ
“DJ Got Us Fallin’ In Love”
“Give Me Everything”
“Hey Baby (Drop It to the Floor) ”
“I Like It”
“On the Floor”
Pop Song of the Year
“FIREWORK”
Ester Dean
Sandy Vee
Dat Damn Dean Music
peermusic III, Ltd.
Katy Perry
Pop Publisher of the Year
UNIVERSAL MUSIC PUBLISHING GROUP
“For The First Time”
“Hey Baby (Drop It To The Floor)”
“Never Gonna Leave This Bed”
“Nothin’ On You”
“Rolling In The Deep”
“September”
“Super Bass”
“Tonight (I’m Lovin’ You)”
“Waiting For The End”
“Yeah 3X”
Award-winning Songs
ALL IN
Jude Cole
Jason Wade
Jason Wade Music
Jeseth Music
Lifehouse
ANIMAL
Chris Allen
Elaine Bradley
Branden Campbell
Tyler Glenn
Tim Pagnotta
Downtown DMP Songs
Neon Trees
BLOW
Ke$ha
Benjamin “Benny Blanco” Levin
Dynamite Cop Music
Matza Ball Music
Where Da Kasz At?
Ke$ha
BORN THIS WAY
Fernando Garibay
Lady Gaga
Garibay Music Publishing
House of Gaga Publishing, Inc.
Sony/ATV Songs LLC
Warner-Tamerlane Publishing Corp.
Lady Gaga
CLUB CAN’T HANDLE ME
Kasia Livingston
Giorgio Tuinfort
Art In The Fodder Music
Dad’s Dreamer
Sony/ATV Songs LLC
Flo Rida featuring David Guetta
DJ GOT US FALLIN’ IN LOVE
Savan Kotecha
Armando “Pitbull” Perez
Johan “Shellback” Schuster (STIM)
EMI-Blackwood Music, Inc.
Oh Suki Music, Inc.
Pitbull’s Legacy
Songs of Kobalt Music Publishing
Usher featuring Pitbull
DYNAMITE (2nd Award)
Benjamin “Benny Blanco” Levin
Bonnie McKee
Bonnie McKee Music
CYP Two Publishing
Matza Ball Music
Where Da Kasz At?
Taio Cruz
EDGE OF GLORY
Fernando Garibay
Lady Gaga
Garibay Music Publishing
House of Gaga Publishing, Inc.
Sony/ATV Songs LLC
Warner-Tamerlane Publishing Corp.
Lady Gaga
FIREWORK
Ester Dean
Sandy Vee
Dat Damn Dean Music
peermusic lll, Ltd.
Katy Perry
FOR THE FIRST TIME
Daniel O’Donoghue (PRS/IMRO)
Mark Sheehan (PRS/IMRO)
Universal Music-Z Songs
The Script
FORGET YOU
Cee Lo Green
BMG Chrysalis
God Given Music
Cee Lo Green
GIVE ME EVERYTHING
Afrojack (BUMA)
Armando “Pitbull” Perez
Sony/ATV Songs LLC
Tenyor Music
Pitbull featuring Ne-Yo, Afrojack & Nayer
GOOD LIFE
Noel Zancanella
Songs of Patriot Games
OneRepublic
GRENADE
Claude Kelly
Andrew Wyatt
Downtown DMP Songs
Studio Beast Music
Warner-Tamerlane Publishing Corp.
Bruno Mars
HEY BABY (DROP IT TO THE FLOOR)
Armando “Pitbull” Perez
T-Pain
Sandy Vee
Nappypub Music
Pitbull’s Legacy
Ultra Empire Music
Universal Music-Z Songs
Pitbull featuring T-Pain
I LIKE IT
Armando “Pitbull” Perez
RedOne
Pitbull’s Legacy
Songs of RedOne
Sony/ATV Songs LLC
Enrique Iglesias featuring Pitbull
JAR OF HEARTS
Christina Perri
Miss Perri Lane Publishing
Christina Perri
JUST A DREAM
David Ryan Harris
Jim Jonsin
EMI-Blackwood Music, Inc.
Jimipub Music
Peace Pourage Music
Nelly
JUST CAN’T GET ENOUGH
apl.de.ap
Rodney Jerkins
Stephen Shadowen
Taboo
will.i.am
apl.de.ap publishing, llc
BMG Sapphire Songs
i.am.composing llc
Rodney Jerkins Productions, Inc.
Tab Magnetic Publishing
Black Eyed Peas
KEEP YOUR HEAD UP
Andy Grammer
S-Curve Songs Worldwide
Andy Grammer
LAST FRIDAY NIGHT (T.G.I.F.)
Bonnie McKee
Bonnie McKee Music
CYP Two Publishing
Where Da Kasz At?
Katy Perry
LIKE A G6
Jae “j-Splif” Choung
James “Prohgress” Roh
Fmonyourdial Publishing
Hunnypot Happenings
Far East Movement featuring The Cataracts & Dev
MARRY ME
David Katz
EMI-Blackwood Music, Inc.
Reptillian Music
Train
MAYBE
Emma Anzai (APRA)
Marti Frederiksen
Shimon Moore (APRA)
Sienna Sienna Songs
Songs of Kobalt Music Publishing
Sick Puppies
MINE
Taylor Swift
Sony/ATV Songs LLC
Taylor Swift Music
Taylor Swift
NEVER GONNA LEAVE THIS BED
Jesse Carmichael
Adam Levine
Mickey Madden
February Twenty-Second Music
Universal Music-Careers
Maroon 5
NOTHIN’ ON YOU
B.o.B
Ham Squad Music
Songs of Universal, Inc.
B.o.B featuring Bruno Mars
OMG
will.i.am
BMG Sapphire Songs
i.am.composing llc
Usher featuring will.i.am
ON THE FLOOR
Bilal “The Chef” Hajji
Kinda Hamid (STIM)
Achraf “AJ Junior” Jannusi
Armando “Pitbull” Perez
RedOne
Geraldo “Teddy Sky” Sandell (STIM)
2101 Songs
Pitbull’s Legacy
Songs of RedOne
Sony/ATV Songs LLC
Jennifer Lopez featuring Pitbull
ONLY GIRL (IN THE WORLD)
Sandy Vee
Ultra Empire Music
Rihanna
PERFECT
P!nk
Johan “Shellback” Schuster (STIM)
EMI-Blackwood Music, Inc.
P!nk Inside Publishing
Songs of Kobalt Music Publishing
P!nk
PLEASE DON’T GO
Benjamin “Benny Blanco” Levin
Matza Ball Music
Where Da Kasz At?
Mike Posner
PUMPED UP KICKS
Mark Foster
Smims Coffee and Tea Music Publishing
Foster the People
RAISE YOUR GLASS
P!nk
Johan “Shellback” Schuster (STIM)
EMI-Blackwood Music, Inc.
P!nk Inside Publishing
Songs of Kobalt Music Publishing
P!nk
ROCKETEER
Jae “j-Splif” Choung
James “Prohgress” Roh
Ray Romulus
Jonathan Yip
Fmonyourdial Publishing
Hunnypot Happenings
Music For Milo
Please Enjoy The Music
Sony/ATV Songs LLC
Warner-Tamerlane Publishing Corp.
Far East Movement featuring Ryan Tedder
ROLLING IN THE DEEP
Adele (PRS)
Paul Epworth
EMI-Blackwood Music, Inc.
Universal-Songs of PolyGram International, Inc.
Adele
RUDE BOY
Ester Dean
Makeba Riddick
Rihanna
Rob Swire (PRS)
Annarhi Music LLC
BMG Chrysalis
Dat Damn Dean Music
EMI-Blackwood Music, Inc.
Janice Combs Music
peermusic lll, Ltd.
Yoga Flames Publishing
Rihanna
S&M
Ester Dean
Sandy Vee
Dat Damn Dean Music
peermusic lll, Ltd.
Ultra Empire Music
Rihanna
SEPTEMBER
Chris Daughtry
Josh Steely
Steelysongs
Surface Pretty Deep Ugly Music
Universal Music-Careers
Daughtry
SING
Frank Iero
Ray Toro
Gerard Way
Mikey Way
Better Living Industries
My Chemical Romance
SUPER BASS
Ester Dean
Daniel “Kane Beatz” Johnson
Nicki Minaj
Artist 101 Publishing Group
Dat Damn Dean Music
Harajuku Barbie Music
Money Mack Music
peermusic lll, Ltd.
Songs of Universal, Inc.
Nicki Minaj
TEENAGE DREAM
Benjamin “Benny Blanco” Levin
Bonnie McKee
Bonnie McKee Music
CYP Two Publishing
Matza Ball Music
Where Da Kasz At?
Katy Perry
TILL THE WORLD ENDS
Ke$ha
Dynamite Cop Music
Where Da Kasz At?
Britney Spears
TONIGHT (I’M LOVIN’ YOU)
Lauren Christy
Lauren Christy Songs
Universal Music-Careers
Enrique Iglesias featuring Ludacris and DJ Frank E.
TONIGHT TONIGHT
Evan Bogart
Ryan Keith Follese
Nash Overstreet
Here’s Lookin’ At You Kidd Music
Magic Midas
Nash O Music
Scarlet Moon Music, Inc.
Sleep When I’m Rich Music
Sony/ATV Songs LLC
Hot Chelle Rae
WAITING FOR THE END
Chester Bennington
Rob Bourdon
Brad Delson
Dave Farrell
Joe Hahn
Mike Shinoda
Big Bad Mr. Hahn Music
Chesterchaz Publishing
Kenji Kobayashi Music
Nondisclosure Agreement Music
Pancakey Cakes Music
Rob Bourdon Music
Universal Music-Z Songs
Linkin Park
WE R WHO WE R
Ke$ha
Benjamin “Benny Blanco” Levin
Dynamite Cop Music
Matza Ball Music
Where Da Kasz At?
Ke$ha
WHAT THE HELL
Johan “Shellback” Schuster (STIM)
Songs of Kobalt Music Publishing
Avril Lavigne
WHAT’S MY NAME?
Ester Dean
Drake (SOCAN)
Dat Damn Dean Music
EMI-Blackwood Music, Inc.
Live Write LLC
peermusic lll, Ltd.
Rihanna featuring Drake
YEAH 3X
Chris Brown
Kevin McCall, Jr.
Culture Beyond Ur Experience Publishing
Kmacnificent
Songs of Universal, Inc.
Chris Brown
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