August 29, 2015
Nile Rodgers Honored With BMI Icon Award at the 2015 BMI R&B/Hip-Hop Awards
John Legend, DJ Mustard and Universal Music Publishing Group Among Honorees at Ceremony in Beverly Hills
Broadcast Music, Inc.®, (BMI®), the global leader in music rights management, presented the BMI Icon Award to GRAMMY-winning songwriter, composer, producer, arranger and guitarist, Nile Rodgers, at the 2015 BMI R&B/Hip-Hop Awards, held at the Saban Theatre in Beverly Hills on August 28. The star-studded event celebrates the songwriters, producers and publishers of the most-performed R&B/hip-hop songs of the previous year.
Rodgers was honored for his unique and indelible influence on generations of music makers and his ability to connect people through song and defy musical expectations. As the 2015 BMI Icon Award recipient, Rodgers joins an elite list of previous honorees that includes The Jacksons, Snoop Dogg, George Clinton, James Brown, Isaac Hayes, Little Richard and Al Green, to name a few.
The evening featured a slew of performances: B.o.B opened with a medley of hits, followed by IloveMakonnen who kept the energy going with “Tuesday.” Backed by music director Rickey Minor, as well as band and Donald Lawrence’s vocals, the high-powered Icon tribute was kicked off by R&B chanteuses Kelly Price covering “Upside Down,” Deborah Cox’s delivery of “I’m Coming Out,” Kathy Sledge and the Company offering a rousing rendition of “We Are Family,” and Empire’s V. Bozeman’s vibrant version of “I Want Your Love.” The celebration continued with CeeLo Green’s dynamic performance of “Let’s Dance.” The night concluded with the top honoree taking the stage to perform fan favorites “Good Times” and “Rappers Delight,” with hip-hop legend Chuck D joining Rodgers.
Additional top honors presented at the awards ceremony: John Legend “All of Me” earned the Song of the Year prize; DJ Mustard was crowned the Songwriter of the Year for penning hits “2 On,” “Don’t Tell ‘Em,” “I Don’t F**ck With You,” “Main Chick,” “My Hitta,” “Na Na,” “No Mediocre,” “Paranoid,” “Show Me,” and “Who Do You Love?” DJ Mustard also won the coveted Producer of the Year award for the second year in a row, while Universal Music Publishing Group accepted the prestigious Publisher of the Year crystal for having 18 of the most-performed songs from the previous year. BMI also recognized top producers Kanye West, J Cole, Jim Jonsin, Michael “Finatik” Mulé and Isaac De Boni.
SoMo won the BMI Social Star Award. Selected by fans voting via Twitter and Instagram, the award salutes the BMI R&B/hip-hop songwriter who has best demonstrated the power of social media to showcase their songwriting talents.
BMI President and CEO Mike O’Neill and Vice President, Writer/Publisher Relations, Atlanta, Catherine Brewton shared the evening’s hosting duties with R&B artist and actor Ray J.
Guests celebrated and mingled while enjoying Red Bull cocktails during the evening’s festivities. BMI partnered with HD Radio, TW Steel, Provider Inc. and KIND Snacks to present the 2015 BMI R&B/Hip-Hop Awards.
For a complete list of 2015 BMI R&B/Hip-Hop winners, please visit: https://www.bmi.com/news/entry/2015_bmi_rb_hip_hop_awards.
Photo and video footage, including interviews, performances and the Icon Award acceptance speech can be accessed via the official EPKlink:
http://www.epklink.com/bmirbhiphopawards2015
High-resolution photos will be available at 10 a.m. EST on August 29.
Visit http://www.bmi.com/press. Username: bmimedia; Password: songwriter
(L-R) Recording artist DJ Mustard, BMI President & CEO Mike O'Neill 2015 BMI Icon Award recipient Nile Rodgers and BMI Vice President, Writer/Publisher Relations, Atlanta, Catherine Brewton onstage at the 2015 BMI R&B/Hip-Hop Awards at Saban Theatre on August 28, 2015 in Beverly Hills, California.
Photo by Lester Cohen/Getty Images for BMI
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Recording artist Justine Skye attends the 2015 BMI R&B/Hip-Hop Awards at Saban Theatre on August 28, 2015 in Beverly Hills, California.
Photo by Lester Cohen/Getty Images for BMI
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Recording artist RJ, DJ Mustard and recording artist Choice attend the 2015 BMI R&B/Hip-Hop Awards at Saban Theatre on August 28, 2015 in Beverly Hills, California.
Photo by Lester Cohen/Getty Images for BMI
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DJ Mustard attends the 2015 BMI R&B/Hip-Hop Awards at Saban Theatre on August 28, 2015 in Beverly Hills, California.
Photo by Lester Cohen/Getty Images for BMI
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Recording artist Chuck D attends the 2015 BMI R&B/Hip-Hop Awards at Saban Theatre on August 28, 2015 in Beverly Hills, California.
Photo by Lester Cohen/Getty Images for BMI
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BMI President & CEO Mike O'Neill (L) and recording artist Snoop Dogg attend the 2015 BMI R&B/Hip-Hop Awards at Saban Theatre on August 28, 2015 in Beverly Hills, California.
Photo by Lester Cohen/Getty Images for BMI
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Recording artists Cee Lo Green (L) and Snoop Dogg attend the 2015 BMI R&B/Hip-Hop Awards at Saban Theatre on August 28, 2015 in Beverly Hills, California.
Photo by Lester Cohen/Getty Images for BMI
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Honoree Nile Rodgers poses with the 2015 BMI Icon Award during the 2015 BMI R&B/Hip-Hop Awards at Saban Theatre on August 28, 2015 in Beverly Hills, California.
Photo by Lester Cohen/Getty Images for BMI
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2015 BMI Icon Award recipient Nile Rodgers autographs signage during the 2015 BMI R&B/Hip-Hop Awards at Saban Theatre on August 28, 2015 in Beverly Hills, California.
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(L-R) Recording artist Kathy Sledge, honoree Nile Rodgers, music director Rickey Minor, recording artists Cee Lo Green, Snoop Dogg and Deborah Cox, BMI Vice President, Writer/Publisher Relations, Atlanta, Catherine Brewton and recording artist Grace pose with the 2015 BMI Icon Award onstage during the 2015 BMI R&B/Hip-Hop Awards at Saban Theatre on August 28, 2015 in Beverly Hills, California.
Photo by Lester Cohen/Getty Images for BMI
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Honoree Nile Rodgers (L) and recording artist Snoop Dogg pose with the 2015 BMI Icon Award during the 2015 BMI R&B/Hip-Hop Awards at Saban Theatre on August 28, 2015 in Beverly Hills, California.
Photo by Lester Cohen/Getty Images for BMI
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(L-R) BMI President & CEO Mike O'Neill, honoree Nile Rodgers, recording artist Snoop Dogg, BMI Vice President, Writer/Publisher Relations, Atlanta, Catherine Brewton and music director Rickey Minor pose with the 2015 BMI Icon Award during the 2015 BMI R&B/Hip-Hop Awards at Saban Theatre on August 28, 2015 in Beverly Hills, California.
Photo by Lester Cohen/Getty Images for BMI
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Recording artist Cee Lo Green (L) and 2015 BMI Icon Award recipient Nile Rodgers pose onstage at the 2015 BMI R&B/Hip-Hop Awards at Saban Theatre on August 28, 2015 in Beverly Hills, California.
Photo by Lester Cohen/Getty Images for BMI
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Record producer DJ Mustard (L), winner of the BMI Songwriter of the Year and Producer of the Year awards and 2015 BMI Icon Award recipient Nile Rodgers pose onstage at the 2015 BMI R&B/Hip-Hop Awards at Saban Theatre on August 28, 2015 in Beverly Hills, California.
Photo by Lester Cohen/Getty Images for BMI
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(L-R) BMI Executive Director, Writer/Publisher Relations, Los Angeles, Wardell Malloy, BMI Senior Vice President, Writer/Publisher Relations, Phil Graham, record producer DJ Mustard, winner of Songwriter of the Year and Producer of the Year, BMI President & CEO Mike O'Neill, 2015 BMI Icon Award recipient Nile Rodgers, BMI Vice President, Writer/Publisher Relations, Atlanta, Catherine Brewton and record executive Jerry Greenberg pose onstage at the 2015 BMI R&B/Hip-Hop Awards at Saban Theatre on August 28, 2015 in Beverly Hills, California.
Photo by Lester Cohen/Getty Images for BMI
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(L-R) Recording artist Donald Lawrence, recording artist V. Bozeman, BMI Senior Vice President, Writer/Publisher Relations, Phil Graham, music executive Jerry Greenberg, recording artist Kathy Sledge, BMI President & CEO Mike O'Neill, record producer DJ Mustard, winner of the Songwriter of the Year and Producer of the Year awards, 2015 BMI Icon Award honoree Nile Rodgers, recording artist Deborah Cox, BMI Vice President, Writer/Publisher Relations, Atlanta, Catherine Brewton, recording artist Ray J and music director Rickey Minor pose onstage during the 2015 BMI R&B/Hip-Hop Awards at Saban Theatre on August 28, 2015 in Beverly Hills, California.
Photo by Lester Cohen/Getty Images for BMI
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Honoree Nile Rodgers poses with the 2015 BMI Icon Award onstage during the 2015 BMI R&B/Hip-Hop Awards at Saban Theatre on August 28, 2015 in Beverly Hills, California.
Photo by Lester Cohen/Getty Images for BMI
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Recording artist Chuck D (L) and 2015 BMI Icon Award honoree Nile Rodgers perform onstage at the 2015 BMI R&B/Hip-Hop Awards at Saban Theatre on August 28, 2015 in Beverly Hills, California.
Photo by Lester Cohen/Getty Images for BMI
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Record producer DJ Mustard accepts the BMI Producer of the Year award from BMI President & CEO Mike O'Neill (L) and BMI Vice President, Writer/Publisher Relations, Atlanta, Catherine Brewton (R) onstage at the 2015 BMI R&B/Hip-Hop Awards at Saban Theatre on August 28, 2015 in Beverly Hills, California.
Photo by Lester Cohen/Getty Images for BMI
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Universal Music Publishing Group accepts the BMI Publisher of the Year award from BMI President & CEO Mike O'Neill and BMI Vice President, Writer/Publisher Relations, Atlanta, Catherine Brewton onstage at the 2015 BMI R&B/Hip-Hop Awards at Saban Theatre on August 28, 2015 in Beverly Hills, California.
Photo by Lester Cohen/Getty Images for BMI
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(L-R) Recording artist B.o.B and record producer DJ Mustard accept the award for "Paranoid" from BMI Vice President, Writer/Publisher Relations, Atlanta, Catherine Brewton and recording artist Ray J onstage at the 2015 BMI R&B/Hip-Hop Awards at Saban Theatre on August 28, 2015 in Beverly Hills, California.
Photo by Lester Cohen/Getty Images for BMI
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Record producer Dallas Austin accepts awards onstage at the 2015 BMI R&B/Hip-Hop Awards at Saban Theatre on August 28, 2015 in Beverly Hills, California.
Photo by Lester Cohen/Getty Images for BMI
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(L-R) Recording artist Ray J, BMI Vice President, Writer/Publisher Relations, Atlanta, Catherine Brewton, Executive Director, Writer/Publisher Relations, Los Angeles Wardell Malloy, singer songwiter SoMo and BMI Director Ian Holder onstage at the 2015 BMI R&B/Hip-Hop Awards at Saban Theatre on August 28, 2015 in Beverly Hills, California.
Photo by Lester Cohen/Getty Images for BMI
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Recording artist Cee Lo Green performs onstage at the 2015 BMI R&B/Hip-Hop Awards at Saban Theatre on August 28, 2015 in Beverly Hills, California.
Photo by Lester Cohen/Getty Images for BMI
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Actor Evan Ross (L) and honoree Nile Rodgers attend the 2015 BMI R&B/Hip-Hop Awards at Saban Theatre on August 28, 2015 in Beverly Hills, California.
Photo by Lester Cohen/Getty Images for BMI
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Recording artist Kathy Sledge performs onstage at the 2015 BMI R&B/Hip-Hop Awards at Saban Theatre on August 28, 2015 in Beverly Hills, California.
Photo by Lester Cohen/Getty Images for BMI
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Recording artist Kelly Price performs onstage at the 2015 BMI R&B/Hip-Hop Awards at Saban Theatre on August 28, 2015 in Beverly Hills, California.
Photo by Lester Cohen/Getty Images for BMI
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Recording artist V. Bozeman performs onstage at the 2015 BMI R&B/Hip-Hop Awards at Saban Theatre on August 28, 2015 in Beverly Hills, California.
Photo by Lester Cohen/Getty Images for BMI
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Recording artist Deborah Cox performs onstage at the 2015 BMI R&B/Hip-Hop Awards at Saban Theatre on August 28, 2015 in Beverly Hills, California.
Photo by Lester Cohen/Getty Images for BMI
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Recording artist B.o.B performs onstage at the 2015 BMI R&B/Hip-Hop Awards at Saban Theatre on August 28, 2015 in Beverly Hills, California.
Photo by Lester Cohen/Getty Images for BMI
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2015 BMI Icon Award honoree Nile Rodgers performs onstage at the 2015 BMI R&B/Hip-Hop Awards at Saban Theatre on August 28, 2015 in Beverly Hills, California.
Photo by Frazer Harrison/Getty Images for BMI
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Recording artist Snoop Dogg (L) and producer DJ Mustard accept awards onstage at the 2015 BMI R&B/Hip-Hop Awards at Saban Theatre on August 28, 2015 in Beverly Hills, California.
Photo by Frazer Harrison/Getty Images for BMI
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Recording artist ILoveMakonnen performs onstage at the 2015 BMI R&B/Hip-Hop Awards at Saban Theatre on August 28, 2015 in Beverly Hills, California.
Photo by Frazer Harrison/Getty Images for BMI
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Recording artist SoMo accepts an award onstage at the 2015 BMI R&B/Hip-Hop Awards at Saban Theatre on August 28, 2015 in Beverly Hills, California.
Photo by Frazer Harrison/Getty Images for BMI
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Recording artist Snoop Dogg attends the 2015 BMI R&B/Hip-Hop Awards at Saban Theatre on August 28, 2015 in Beverly Hills, California.
Photo by Frazer Harrison/Getty Images for BMI
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Recording artist Tyrese attends the 2015 BMI R&B/Hip-Hop Awards at Saban Theatre on August 28, 2015 in Beverly Hills, California.
Photo by Frazer Harrison/Getty Images for BMI
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Recording artist Kelly Price attends the 2015 BMI R&B/Hip-Hop Awards at Saban Theatre on August 28, 2015 in Beverly Hills, California.
Photo by Frazer Harrison/Getty Images for BMI
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Honoree Nile Rodgers (L) and BMI Vice President, Writer/Publisher Relations, Atlanta, Catherine Brewton attend the 2015 BMI R&B/Hip-Hop Awards at Saban Theatre on August 28, 2015 in Beverly Hills, California.
Photo by Frazer Harrison/Getty Images for BMI
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Recording artist Ray J attends the 2015 BMI R&B/Hip-Hop Awards at Saban Theatre on August 28, 2015 in Beverly Hills, California.
Photo by Frazer Harrison/Getty Images for BMI
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Record producer Dallas Austin attends the 2015 BMI R&B/Hip-Hop Awards at Saban Theatre on August 28, 2015 in Beverly Hills, California.
Photo by Frazer Harrison/Getty Images for BMI
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Actor Evan Ross attends the 2015 BMI R&B/Hip-Hop Awards at Saban Theatre on August 28, 2015 in Beverly Hills, California.
Photo by Frazer Harrison/Getty Images for BMI
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Recording artist Sevyn Streeter attends the 2015 BMI R&B/Hip-Hop Awards at Saban Theatre on August 28, 2015 in Beverly Hills, California.
Photo by Frazer Harrison/Getty Images for BMI
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Recording artists B.o.B (L) and Sevyn Streeter attend the 2015 BMI R&B/Hip-Hop Awards at Saban Theatre on August 28, 2015 in Beverly Hills, California.
Photo by Frazer Harrison/Getty Images for BMI
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Recording artist B.o.B attends the 2015 BMI R&B/Hip-Hop Awards at Saban Theatre on August 28, 2015 in Beverly Hills, California.
Photo by Frazer Harrison/Getty Images for BMI
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Recording artist V Bozeman attends the 2015 BMI R&B/Hip-Hop Awards at Saban Theatre on August 28, 2015 in Beverly Hills, California.
Photo by Frazer Harrison/Getty Images for BMI
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Recording artist Deborah Cox attends the 2015 BMI R&B/Hip-Hop Awards at Saban Theatre on August 28, 2015 in Beverly Hills, California.
Photo by Frazer Harrison/Getty Images for BMI
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Honoree Nile Rodgers (L) and Nancy Hunt attend the 2015 BMI R&B/Hip-Hop Awards at Saban Theatre on August 28, 2015 in Beverly Hills, California.
Photo by Frazer Harrison/Getty Images for BMI
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Honoree Nile Rodgers attends the 2015 BMI R&B/Hip-Hop Awards at Saban Theatre on August 28, 2015 in Beverly Hills, California.
Photo by Frazer Harrison/Getty Images for BMI
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Honoree Nile Rodgers (L) and BMI President & CEO Mike O'Neill attend the 2015 BMI R&B/Hip-Hop Awards at Saban Theatre on August 28, 2015 in Beverly Hills, California.
Photo by Frazer Harrison/Getty Images for BMI
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Recording artist Kathy Sledge attends the 2015 BMI R&B/Hip-Hop Awards at Saban Theatre on August 28, 2015 in Beverly Hills, California
Photo by Frazer Harrison/Getty Images for BMI
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Recording artist Rick Ross attends the 2015 BMI R&B/Hip-Hop Awards at Saban Theatre on August 28, 2015 in Beverly Hills, California
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Recording artist E-40 attends the 2015 BMI R&B/Hip-Hop Awards at Saban Theatre on August 28, 2015 in Beverly Hills, California
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