Mariah Carey, Drake, Lil Wayne, EMI Music Publishing & More Honored at BMI Urban Awards
Ester Dean, Kane Beatz, Nicki Minaj and Pop Wansel also take top honors
Urban music’s premier songwriters, producers and music publishers came together to celebrate one another tonight during the BMI Urban Awards at the Saban Theatre in Beverly Hills. The annual, star-powered event toasts the creative teams behind the past year’s most-performed R&B, rap, pop and hip-hop songs in BMI’s deep repertoire.
Mariah Carey was named a BMI Icon in recognition of her prolifically successful and influential songwriting career. A jaw-dropping tribute, which included producer Jermaine Dupri; gospel siren Karen Clark Sheard, who performed “Anytime You Need a Friend”; R&B crooner Joe, delivering “We Belong Together”; soul troubadour Eric Benet, who offered “One Sweet Day”; and American Idol alum Fantasia belting out “Hero,” paid homage to Carey.
BMI honors songwriters who have had a “unique and indelible influence on generations of music makers” as Icons. Mariah Carey joins a list of past honorees that includes The Jacksons, Snoop Dogg, George Clinton, James Brown, Isaac Hayes, Little Richard, Al Green, The Bee Gees, Willie Nelson and Dolly Parton, to name a few.
Drake and Lil Wayne shared the Songwriter of the Year crown by each writing seven songs that rank among the year’s most-performed. The win marks the second consecutive Songwriter of the Year title for Drake, whose top contributions include “Aston Martin Music,” “Headlines,” “Moment 4 Life,” and “What’s My Name?,” as well as “Right Above It,” “I’m On One” and “She Will,” which he co-wrote with Lil Wayne. Lil Wayne’s four additional smashes include “6 Foot 7 Foot,” “How to Love,” “Look at Me Now,” and “Motivation.”
Nicki Minaj’s inescapable “Super Bass” earned Song of the Year honors for its writers Minaj, Ester Dean and Kane Beatz, as well as publishers Artist 101 Publishing Group, Dat Damn Dean Music, Harajuku Barbie Music, Money Mack Music, peermusic III, Ltd. and Songs of Universal, Inc.
Pop Wansel earned the Producer of the Year crystal. The incredible songwriter/producer has helmed boards for hits by Trey Songz and Drake, Nicki Minaj, Busta Rhymes, Fantasia, Ginuwine, Lil Wayne, Kelly Rowland, and Britney Spears, among many others. In addition to Wansel, BMI also recognized Top Producers Warren “Oak” Felder, Jim Jonsin, R. Kelly, Lexus “Lex Luger” Lewis, Polow Da Don, Troy Taylor, Kanye West, and Tyler “T-Minus” Williams.
With 17 songs among the most-performed, EMI Music Publishing clinched the prestigious Publisher of the Year crown.
Mac Miller won the first-ever BMI Social Star Award, presented by Spotify. Voted on by fans via Twitter, the award salutes the BMI urban songwriter who has best demonstrated the power of social media to showcase their songwriting talents.
During the ceremony, BMI also recognized the songwriters of Billboard No. 1 singles on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Airplay, Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs and Hot Rap Songs charts over the past year.
BMI President & CEO Del Bryant and Catherine Brewton, Vice President, Writer/Publisher Relations, Atlanta, hosted the 2012 BMI Urban Awards.
2012 BMI Urban Music Awards
BMI Icon
MARIAH CAREY
Urban Songwriters of the Year
DRAKE
“Aston Martin Music”
“Headlines”
“I’m On One”
“Moment 4 Life”
“Right Above It”
“She Will”
“What’s My Name?”
LIL WAYNE
“6 Foot 7 Foot”
“How to Love”
“I’m On One”
“Look At Me Now”
“Motivation”
“Right Above It”
“She Will”
Urban Song of the Year
“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 III, Ltd.
Songs of Universal, Inc.
Nicki Minaj
Urban Publisher of the Year
EMI MUSIC PUBLISHING
“5 O’Clock”
“All of the Lights”
“Aston Martin Music”
“Can’t Be Friends”
“Far Away”
“Good Feeling”
“Headlines”
“How to Love”
“I’m On One”
“Moment 4 Life”
“Motivation”
“Ni**as In Paris”
“Out Of My Head”
“Right Above It”
“She Will”
“What’s My Name?”
“Work Out”
Urban Producer of the Year
ANDREW “POP” WANSEL
Top Urban Producers
WARREN “OAK” FELDER
JIM JONSIN
R. KELLY
LEXUS “LEX LUGER” LEWIS
POLOW DA DON
TROY TAYLOR
KANYE WEST
TYLER “T-MINUS” WILLIAMS
Social Star Award Presented by Spotify
MAC MILLER
2012 BMI Urban Music Awards
Award-Winning Songs
5 O’CLOCK
Lily Rose Cooper (PRS)
Howard Paul Donald (PRS)
Jason Orange (PRS)
T-Pain
Wiz Khalifa
EMI-Blackwood Music, Inc.
Nappypub Music
Universal Music-Z Songs
Universal-Songs of PolyGram International, Inc.
Warner-Tamerlane Publishing Corp.
Wiz Khalifa Publishing
T-Pain feat. Wiz Khalifa & Lily Allen
6 FOOT 7 FOOT
Cory Gunz
Shondrae “Bangladesh” Crawford
Lil Wayne
BMG Platinum Songs
Cory Gunz Music
Galassi Foreign Floss Publishing, Inc.
Warner-Tamerlane Publishing Corp.
Young Money Publishing, Inc.
Lil Wayne feat. Cory Gunz
ALL OF THE LIGHTS
Jeff Bhasker
Warren Trotter
Kanye West
EMI-Blackwood Music, Inc.
Please Gimme My Publishing, Inc.
Songs MP
Sony/ATV Songs LLC
Way Above Music
Kanye West
ASTON MARTIN MUSIC
Kevin “Colione” Crowe (J.U.S.T.I.C.E. League)
Drake (SOCAN)
Erik “Rook” Ortiz (J.U.S.T.I.C.E. League)
Rick Ross
4 Blunts Lit At Once Publishing
EMI-Blackwood Music, Inc.
First and Gold Publishing
Live Write LLC
Sony/ATV Songs LLC
Warner-Tamerlane Publishing Corp.
Rick Ross feat. Drake & Chrisette Michele
BEST THING I NEVER HAD
Kenneth “Babyface” Edmonds
Patrick “j.Que” Smith
Christopher Matthew Music
Faze 2 Music
Hitco Music
Songs of Universal, Inc.
Beyoncé
CAN’T BE FRIENDS
Michael Carlos Jones
Troy Taylor
Trey Songz
Mario Winans
April’s Boy Music LLC
Downtown DMP Songs
EMI-Blackwood Music, Inc.
Janice Combs Music
Marsky Music
No Quincydence Music Publishing
Warner-Tamerlane Publishing Corp.
Young Jones
Trey Songz
DOWN ON ME
Mick Schultz
Mick Schultz Publishing
Songs of Universal, Inc.
Jeremih feat. 50 Cent
FAR AWAY
Marsha Ambrosius
Lamont Dozier
Brian Holland
Eddie Holland
EMI-Stone Agate Music
SPZ Music, Inc.
Marsha Ambrosius
FLY
Nicki Minaj
Clemm Rishad Penton
JR Rotem
BELUGA HEIGHTS MUSIC
Harajuku Barbie Music
Irving Music
Jonathan Rotem Music
Money Mack Music
Songs of Universal, Inc.
Sony/ATV Songs LLC
Nicki Minaj feat. Rihanna
GIVE ME EVERYTHING
Afrojack (BUMA)
Armando “Pitbull” Perez
Sony/ATV Songs LLC
Tenyor Music
Pitbull feat. Ne-Yo, Afrojack & Nayer
GOOD FEELING
Tim “Avicii” Bergling (STIM)
Breyan Isaac
Etta James
Pearl W. Johnson
Leroy Kirkland
Arash Pournouri
EMI-Blackwood Music, Inc.
EMI-Longitude Music
Naz Sect Media
Flo Rida
HEADLINES
Drake (SOCAN)
EMI-Blackwood Music, Inc.
Live Write LLC
Drake
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 feat. T-Pain
HOW TO LOVE
Marcus “Max Lux” Boyd
Noel “Detail” Fisher
Lil Wayne
LaMar Seymour
LaNelle Seymour
Bryan “Baby” Williams
Drummah Boyz Worldwide LLC
EMI-Blackwood Music, Inc.
If You Need Me Don’t Leave Me
Imani Knows Hits
Money Mack Music
Songs of Universal, Inc.
Warner-Tamerlane Publishing Corp.
Young Money Publishing, Inc.
Lil Wayne
I’M ON ONE
DJ Khaled
Drake (SOCAN)
Lil Wayne
Rick Ross
Tyler “T-Minus” Williams (SOCAN)
4 Blunts Lit At Once Publishing
Brother Bagz Publishing
DJ Khaled Publishing
EMI-Blackwood Music, Inc.
First and Gold Publishing
Live Write LLC
Money Mack Music
Songs of Universal, Inc.
Sony/ATV Songs LLC
Warner-Tamerlane Publishing Corp.
Young Money Publishing, Inc.
DJ Khaled feat. Drake, Rick Ross & Lil Wayne
LIGHTERS
Eminem
Isaac Jones
Ryan “Royce da 5’9” Montgomery
Phil Thornton
Artegia Music
Phillionaire Worldwide Publishing
Platinum Ike Publishing
Shroom Shady Music
Songs of Universal, Inc.
Warner-Tamerlane Publishing Corp.
Bad Meets Evil feat. Bruno Mars
LOOK AT ME NOW
Afrojack (BUMA)
Chris Brown
Ryan Buendia (DJ Replay)
Busta Rhymes
Lil Wayne
Culture Beyond Ur Experience Publishing
Ryan Buendia Music
Songs of Universal, Inc.
Tenyor Music
Tziah Music
Warner-Tamerlane Publishing Corp.
Young Money Publishing, Inc.
Chris Brown feat. Lil Wayne & Busta Rhymes
MOMENT 4 LIFE
Drake (SOCAN)
Nicki Minaj
Tyler “T-Minus” Williams (SOCAN)
Brother Bagz Publishing
EMI-Blackwood Music, Inc.
Harajuku Barbie Music
Live Write LLC
Money Mack Music
Songs of Universal, Inc.
Warner-Tamerlane Publishing Corp.
Nicki Minaj feat. Drake
MOTIVATION
Jim Jonsin
Lil Wayne
Danny Morris
EMI-Blackwood Music, Inc.
Hypnotic Beats, Inc.
Jimipub Music
Warner-Tamerlane Publishing Corp.
Young Money Publishing, Inc.
Kelly Rowland feat. Lil Wayne
MY LAST
Big Sean
FF to Def Publishing LLC
Songs of Universal, Inc.
Big Sean featuring Chris Brown
NI**AS IN PARIS
Mike Dean
Chauncey “Hit Boy” Hollis
Kanye West
EMI-Blackwood Music, Inc.
Please Gimme My Publishing, Inc.
Songs of Universal, Inc.
U Can’t Teach Bein’ The Shhh, Inc.
Unichappell Music, Inc.
Kanye West & Jay-Z
OUT OF MY HEAD
Jerry “Wonder” Duplessis
Lupe Fiasco
EMI-Blackwood Music, Inc.
Heavy As Heaven Music
Te-Bass Music, Inc.
Universal Music-Careers
Lupe Fiasco feat. Trey Songz
RIGHT ABOVE IT
Drake (SOCAN)
Daniel “Kane Beatz” Johnson (BMI-No Pay)
Lil Wayne
EMI-Blackwood Music, Inc.
Live Write LLC
Warner-Tamerlane Publishing Corp.
Young Money Publishing, Inc.
Lil Wayne feat. Drake
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 feat. Ryan Tedder
SHE AIN’T YOU
Chris Brown
Ryan Buendia (DJ Replay)
Kevin McCall
Brian Alexander Morgan (ASCAP-Pay)
Bam Jams Music
Culture Beyond Ur Experience Publishing
Kmacnificent
Meloists Music
Songs of Universal, Inc.
Chris Brown
SHE WILL
Drake (SOCAN)
Lil Wayne
Tyler “T-Minus” Williams (SOCAN)
Brother Bagz Publishing
EMI-Blackwood Music, Inc.
Live Write LLC
Warner-Tamerlane Publishing Corp.
Young Money Publishing, Inc.
Lil Wayne feat. Drake
THE SHOW GOES ON
Jonathan K. Brown
Lupe Fiasco
Daniel “Kane Beatz” Johnson (BMI-No Pay)
Heavy As Heaven Music
Universal Music-Careers
Lupe Fiasco
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 III, Ltd.
Songs of Universal, Inc.
Nicki Minaj feat. Drake
WHAT’S MY NAME?
Ester Dean
Drake (SOCAN)
Dat Damn Dean Music
EMI-Blackwood Music, Inc.
Live Write LLC
peermusic lll, Ltd.
Rihanna feat. Drake
WORK OUT
Miri Ben-Ari
J Cole
John Legend
Kanye West
BMG Sapphire Songs
EMI-Blackwood Music, Inc.
John Legend Publishing
Mirimode Music
Please Gimme My Publishing, Inc.
Songs of Universal, Inc.
J Cole
BMI Urban Billboard No. 1 Singles
July 1, 2011 – July 15, 2012
Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Airplay &
Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs
CLIMAX
Sean “Elijah Blake” Fenton
LOTUS FLOWER BOMB
Jerrin Howard
Usher
MAKE ME PROUD
Drake (SOCAN)
Tyler “T-Minus” Williams (SOCAN)
Drake
MARVIN & CHARDONNAY
Big Sean
Mike Dean
Kanye West
Big Sean
THE MOTTO
Drake (SOCAN)
Lil Wayne
Sir Mix-A-Lot
Tyler “T-Minus” Williams (SOCAN)
Drake feat. Lil Wayne & Tyga
NI**AS IN PARIS
Mike Dean
Chauncey “Hit Boy” Hollis
Kanye West
Jay-Z & Kanye West
SHE WILL
Drake (SOCAN)
Lil Wayne
Tyler “T-Minus” Williams (SOCAN)
Lil Wayne feat. Drake
Hot Rap Songs
CASHIN’ OUT
Johnmichael Gibson
Cash Out
DRANK IN MY CUP
Raul Gonzalez (DJ Ryu)
Brandon Tillman (Pyro)
Kirko Bangz
HEADLINES
Drake (SOCAN)
Drake
MAKE ME PROUD
Drake (SOCAN)
Tyler “T-Minus” Williams (SOCAN)
Drake feat. Nicki Minaj
THE MOTTO
Drake (SOCAN)
Lil Wayne
Sir Mix-A-Lot
Tyler “T-Minus” Williams (SOCAN)
Drake feat. Lil Wayne & Tyga
NI**AS IN PARIS
Mike Dean
Chauncey “Hit Boy” Hollis
Kanye West
Jay-Z & Kanye West
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