Sting, Imagine Dragons and Martin Bandier Honored at BMI’s 67th Annual Pop Awards

BMI paid tribute to the best in songwriting at its 67th Annual BMI Pop Awards held at the Beverly Wilshire Hotel in Beverly Hills, California. World-renowned singer/songwriter and musician Sting was celebrated for “Every Breath You Take” becoming the Most Performed Song in BMI’s repertoire of over 14 million musical works, GRAMMY Award-winning band Imagine Dragons received the BMI President’s Award and legendary music publishing executive Martin Bandier was named a BMI Icon. The private event, hosted by BMI President and CEO Mike O’Neill and Vice President, Worldwide Creative Barbara Cane, also saluted the songwriters and publishers of the past year’s most-performed Pop songs in the United States from BMI’s extensive catalog.

The night’s first honor went to Sting for penning the timeless hit “Every Breath You Take,” which is now BMI’s most performed song with nearly 15 million radio plays. O’Neill commemorated Sting’s milestone, noting that “the enduring success of ‘Every Breath You Take’ is truly a spectacular achievement that now has a singular place in songwriting history.” Upon receiving the honor, Sting commented, “I am so deeply proud to be a member of this community of songwriters.  There’s a rare nobility in this profession that is more than just mere entertainment, and I believe it has something to do with the form of a song.”  The rock icon went on to give an intimate acoustic performance of his signature single, which first became a hit in 1983 with The Police before its 1995 resurgence with “I’ll Be Missing You” by P. Diddy, Faith Evans and 112.

Imagine Dragons received the BMI President’s Award in honor of their incredible creative accomplishments and commitment to philanthropic efforts that bring awareness to social injustice. In receiving this award, the band joins an illustrious group of previous recipients including Luis Fonsi, P!nk, Adam Levine, Taylor Swift, Kenny Chesney and Ludacris, among others. In addition to the BMI President’s Award, two of the band’s singles, “Thunder,” which recently reached a milestone of more than one billion streams, and “Whatever It Takes” from the group’s third album Evolve, were recognized among the evening’s top-performed songs of the past year.  Imagine Dragons took to the stage after receiving their awards for an acoustic version of some of their biggest hits, including “It’s Time,” “Believer” and “Radioactive.”

Marking the first time a music publisher has been named a BMI Icon, Martin Bandier received the honor in recognition of his many contributions to the industry at large including his tireless work to advocate for songwriters’ rights. Under his leadership, Sony/ATV became the largest music publisher in the world and home to some of the biggest names in music, including BMI songwriters Lady Gaga, Ed Sheeran, P!nk, Carole King, Sting and Taylor Swift.  Bandier accepted the honor with “humble gratitude” commenting, “Just as BMI backed me and believed in me at the start of my career, I hope that I have offered the same support and mentorship to those with whom I’ve worked with along the way.” Singer/songwriter Steve Tyrell graced the stage to honor Bandier with a dedicated performance of “Stand By Me.”

BMI’s 50 best-performing songs were also named throughout the evening, leading up to the announcement of the BMI Pop Song of the Year, which went to Bebe Rexha, Joshua Miller and Florida Georgia Line’s Tyler Hubbard for their massive hit, “Meant to Be.” It was a four-way tie for the prestigious Songwriter of the Year award, with Adam “Frank Dukes” Feeney, Taylor Swift, Ali Tamposi and Andrew Watt each writing four of the year’s most-performed songs, and Sony/ATV Music Publishing scored the esteemed BMI Pop Publisher of the Year crystal with 28 of the year’s most-performed songs.

Here is the complete list of 2019 winners:

Song of the Year

Meant To Be
Tyler Hubbard
Joshua Miller
Bebe Rexha
Big Loud Mountain
BMG
Jack 10 Publishing
Kiss Me if You Can Music
Round Hill Works
Songs of the Corn
T Hubb Publishing
Warner-Tamerlane Publishing Corp.

Songwriter of the Year

Frank Dukes (SOCAN)
Better Now
Havana
Never Be The Same
Pray For Me

Austin Rosen
Better Now
Psycho
rockstar
Wolves

Taylor Swift
Delicate
End Game
Look What You Made Me Do
Ready For It

Ali Tamposi
Havana
Let Me Go
Wolves
Youngblood

Andrew Watt
Havana
Let Me Go
Wolves
Youngblood

Publisher of the Year

Sony/ATV Music Publishing
Bad At Love
Beautiful Trauma
Better Now
Delicate
End Game
Finesse (Remix)
FRIENDS
Girls Like You
Havana
I Like It
In My Blood
Lights Down Low
Look What You Made Me Do
Love Lies
Never Be The Same
Perfect
Pray For Me
Praying
Psycho
Ready For It
Sit Next to Me
Sorry Not Sorry
Tell Me You Love Me
The Middle
Too Good At Goodbyes
What About Us
Whatever It Takes
Youngblood

President’s Award

Imagine Dragons

Special Salute To

Sting

Icon Award

Martin Bandier

Award Winning Songs

BACK TO YOU
Micah Premnath
Trackside
BMG Platinum Songs US
Extra Legroom Publishing
Mason Jar Moonshine Music Publishing
Songs By PAW
Selena Gomez

BAD AT LOVE
Rogét Chahayed
Halsey
Ricky Reed
Justin Tranter
17 Black Music
Frederic and Ried Music
Justin’s School For Girls
Songs From The Boardwalk
Songs of Universal, Inc.
Sony/ATV Songs LLC
Warner-Tamerlane Publishing Corp.
Halsey

BEAUTIFUL TRAUMA
Jack Antonoff
P!nk
Ducky Donath Music
EMI-Blackwood Music, Inc.
P!nk Inside Publishing
Sony/ATV Songs LLC
P!nk

BETTER NOW
Adam “Frank Dukes” Feeney (SOCAN)
Post Malone
Electric Feel Music
EMI-Blackwood Music, Inc.
MYNY Music
Posty Publishing
Sam Fam Beats
Songs of Universal, Inc.
Sony/ATV Songs LLC
Post Malone

BROKEN
Mitchy Collins
Christian Medice
BMG Platinum Songs US
Green and Bloom Talent
Mitchy Collins Music
Topline Titles
lovelytheband

DELICATE
Taylor Swift
Sony/ATV Tree
Taylor Swift Music
Taylor Swift

DON’T GO BREAKING MY HEART
Jamie Hartman
Wrabel
Reservoir 416
These Are Pulse Songs
WrabelWritten
Backstreet Boys

END GAME
Future
Ed Sheeran (PRS)
Taylor Swift
Irving Music
Nayvadius Maximus Music
Sony/ATV Songs LLC
Sony/ATV Tree
Taylor Swift Music
Taylor Swift feat. Ed Sheeran and Future

FINESSE (REMIX)
Ray Romulus
Jonathan Yip
Music for Milo
Please Enjoy the Music
Sony/ATV Songs LLC
Warner-Tamerlane Publishing Corp.
Bruno Mars featuring Cardi B

FRIENDS
Eden Anderson (PRS)
Anne-Marie (PRS)
Rick Boardman (PRS)
Marshmello
EMI-Blackwood Music, Inc.
Marshmello Music
Songs of Kobalt Music Publishing
Universal-Songs of PolyGram International, Inc.
Marshmello & Anne-Marie

GIRLS LIKE YOU
Jason Evigan
Adam Levine
Jorden “Pardison Fontaine” Thorpe
Bad Robot
BMG Platinum Songs US
Songs of Universal, Inc.
Sony/ATV Ballad
Sudgee 2 Music
Maroon 5 featuring Cardi B

GOD’S PLAN
Daveon “Yung Exclusive” Jackson
Brock “Marciano” Korsan
Annuity Songs
Nasrok Music Publishing
Songs of Kobalt Music Publishing
Yex Publishing
Drake

GOOD OLD DAYS
Ben Haggerty
Andrew Joslyn
Bengal Yucky Publishing
D.B. Joslyn Music
Songs of Kobalt Music Publishing
Macklemore featuring Kesha

HAVANA
Camila Cabello
Adam “Frank Dukes” Feeney (SOCAN)
Brian Lee
Ali Tamposi
Andrew Watt
Young Thug
300 Rainwater Music
Artist 101 Publishing Group
Atlantic Songs
EMI-Blackwood Music, Inc.
Milamoon Songs
MYNY Music
Reservoir 416
Sam Fam Beats
Songs From The Dong
Songs of Kobalt Music Publishing
Sony/ATV Songs LLC
Warner-Tamerlane Publishing Corp.
Young Stoner Life Publishing LLC
Camila Cabello featuring Young Thug

HIM & I
Dakarai
Edd
Halsey
17 Black Music
BMG Platinum Songs US
Cider Sounds
Songs of Kobalt Music Publishing
Songs of Universal, Inc.
G-Eazy & Halsey

HOW LONG
Charlie Puth
Artist 101 Publishing Group
Charlie Puth Music Publishing
Songs of Kobalt Music Publishing
Charlie Puth

I LIKE IT
J Balvin
Edd
Luian Malave
Marcos Masís “Tainy”
Tony Pabon
Manny Rodriguez
Jorden “Pardison Fontaine” Thorpe
Anthony “J.White Did It” White
BMG Platinum Songs US
EMI-Blackwood Music, Inc.
EMI-Longitude Music Co.
Songs of Kobalt Music Publishing
Songs of LVS Music Publishing
Sony/ATV Ballad
Universal-Música Unica Publishing
Cardi B, Bad Bunny & J Balvin

I LIKE ME BETTER
Lauv
Michael Matosic
A5B Music
Matosic Music
Songs of Kobalt Music Publishing
Where Da Kasz At?
Lauv

IDGAF
Jason Dean
Joseph Kirkland
Larzz Principato
Skyler Stonestreet
Music By Whiskey Water
Stonestreet Works
Warner-Tamerlane Publishing Corp.
Whiskey Water
Dua Lipa

IN MY BLOOD
Teddy Geiger
Scott Harris Friedman
Shawn Mendes (SOCAN)
Geoff Warburton (SOCAN)
BIG DEAL Beats
Gerty Tunes
Songs of Universal, Inc.
Sony/ATV Ballad
TG Worldwide Publishing
Warner-Tamerlane Publishing Corp.
Words & Music
Shawn Mendes

LET ME GO
Brian Lee
Alessandro “Alesso” Lindblad (STIM)
Ali Tamposi
Andrew Watt
Reservoir 416
Songs From The Dong
Songs of Kobalt Music Publishing
Universal-Songs of PolyGram International, Inc.
Warner-Tamerlane Publishing Corp.
Hailee Steinfeld & Alesso feat.Florida Georgia Line & watt

LET YOU DOWN
NF
Capitol CMG Paragon
NF Real Publishing
NF

LIGHTS DOWN LOW
MAX
Nathaniel Motte
Liam O’Donnell (PRS)
Dick Jams
EMI-Blackwood Music, Inc.
Second Minor Entertainment
Songs of Kobalt Music Publishing
Spirit B-Unique Hits
MAX featuring gnash

LOOK WHAT YOU MADE ME DO
Jack Antonoff
Fred Fairbrass (PRS)
Richard Fairbrass (PRS)
Rob Manzoli (PRS)
Taylor Swift
Ducky Donath Music
Sony/ATV Songs LLC
Sony/ATV Tree
Spirit One Music
Taylor Swift Music
Taylor Swift

LOVE LIES
Charlie Handsome
Khalid
Normani
Tayla Parx
EMI-Blackwood Music, Inc.
Songs of NKH
Songs of Universal, Inc.
Sony/ATV Songs LLC
Stellar Songs Limited
Taylor Monet Music
Warner-Tamerlane Publishing Corp.
Khalid & Normani

MEANT TO BE
Tyler Hubbard
Joshua Miller
Bebe Rexha
Big Loud Mountain
BMG Platinum Songs US
Jack 10 Publishing
Kiss Me If You Can Music
Round Hill Works
Songs of the Corn
T Hubb Publishing
Warner-Tamerlane Publishing Corp.
Bebe Rexha featuring Florida Georgia Line

MINE
Bazzi
Artist 101 Publishing Group
Songs of Kobalt Music Publishing
Zipendat Music
Bazzi

NEVER BE THE SAME
Camila Cabello
Adam “Frank Dukes” Feeney (SOCAN)
Noonie Bao (STIM)
Sasha Sloan
EMI-Blackwood Music, Inc.
Milamoon Songs
Mod Junkie
MYNY Music
Sam Fam Beats
Sasha Sloan Publishing
Sony/ATV Songs LLC
Warner-Tamerlane Publishing Corp.
Camila Cabello

NEW RULES
Caroline Ailin (PRS)
Ian Kirkpatrick
BMG Platinum Songs US
Buckley Tenenbaum Publishing
Warner-Tamerlane Publishing Corp.
Dua Lipa

NO ROOTS
Alice Merton
BMG Platinum Songs US
Alice Merton

PERFECT
Ed Sheeran (PRS)
Sony/ATV Songs LLC
Ed Sheeran

PRAY FOR ME
Adam “Frank Dukes” Feeney (SOCAN)
Kendrick Lamar
Anthony “Top Dawg” Tiffith
EMI-Blackwood Music, Inc.
MYNY Music
Sam Fam Beats
Songs of Kobalt Music Publishing
Sony/ATV Songs LLC
the Weeknd and Kendrick Lamar

PRAYING
Ben Abraham (APRA)
Andrew Joslyn
Ryan Lewis
BMG Platinum Songs US
D.B. Joslyn Music
Sony/ATV Ballad
Spokane Boy Music
Warner-Tamerlane Publishing Corp.
WGBR Music
Kesha

PSYCHO
Post Malone
Ty Dolla $ign
Electric Feel Music
EMI-Blackwood Music, Inc.
Its Drugs Publishing
Posty Publishing
Songs of Universal, Inc.
Post Malone featuring Ty Dolla $ign

…READY FOR IT?
Taylor Swift
Sony/ATV Tree
Taylor Swift Music
Taylor Swift

rockstar
Post Malone
Jo-Vaughn Virginie
Electric Feel Music
JoeyBad Publishing
Posty Publishing
Reservoir 416
Songs of Universal, Inc.
Post Malone featuring 21 Savage

SAY SOMETHING
Larrance Dopson
Blue Nike Publishing
peermusic lll, Ltd.
Songs of Volume Ventures
Justin Timberlake featuring Chris Stapleton

SILENCE
Khalid
Marshmello
Marshmello Music
Songs of Kobalt Music Publishing
Marshmello featuring Khalid

SIT NEXT TO ME
Mark Foster
Lars Stalfors
Oxcart Publishing
Smims Coffee and Tea Music Publishing
Songs of Kobalt Music Publishing
Sony/ATV Songs LLC
Foster the People

SORRY NOT SORRY
Sean Douglas
Oak Felder
Crow’s Tree Publishing
Eastman Pond Publishing
Sony/ATV Ballad
Sony/ATV Songs LLC
Demi Lovato

TELL ME YOU LOVE ME
Ajay Bhattacharyya (SOCAN)
EMI-Blackwood Music, Inc.
Demi Lovato

THE MIDDLE
Sarah Aarons (APRA)
Jordan Johnson
Marcus Lomax
Kyle Trewartha
Michael Trewartha
BMG Platinum Songs US
R8D Music Publishing
Solo Ace Publishing
Songs of BBMG
Songs of Universal, Inc.
Sony/ATV Songs LLC
Zedd, Maren Morris and Grey

THUNDER
Alex Da Kid
Ben McKee
Daniel Platzman
Dan Reynolds
Wayne “Wing” Sermon
Imagine Dragons Publishing
KIDinaKORNER2 Publishing
Songs for KIDinaKORNER
Songs of Universal, Inc.
Imagine Dragons

TOO GOOD AT GOODBYES
Sam Smith (PRS)
EMI-Blackwood Music, Inc.
Sony/ATV Songs LLC
Stellar Songs Limited
Sam Smith

WAIT
Adam Levine
Ammar Malik
John Ryan
BMG Platinum Songs US
Bob Erotik Music
Maru Cha Cha
Music of BIG DEAL
Songs of Kobalt Music Publishing
Songs of Universal, Inc.
Sudgee 2 Music
The Family Songbook
Where Da Kasz At?
Maroon 5

WHAT ABOUT US
Johnny McDaid
P!nk
EMI-Blackwood Music, Inc.
P!nk Inside Publishing
Spirit One Music
P!nk

WHAT LOVERS DO
Ben Billions
Jason Evigan
Adam Levine
Dyo (PRS)
SZA
Bad Robot
Billions Enterprises
BMG Platinum Songs US
Songs of Kobalt Music Publishing
Songs of Universal, Inc.
Sudgee 2 Music
Warner-Tamerlane Publishing Corp.
Maroon 5 featuring SZA

WHATEVER IT TAKES
Joel Little (APRA)
Ben McKee
Daniel Platzman
Dan Reynolds
Wayne “Wing” Sermon
EMI-Blackwood Music, Inc.
Imagine Dragons Publishing
Songs for KIDinaKORNER
Songs of Universal, Inc.
Imagine Dragons

WOLVES
Brian Lee
Marshmello
Ali Tamposi
Andrew Watt
Briyunlee Songs
Electric Feel Music
Marshmello Music
Reservoir 416
Songs of Kobalt Music Publishing
Songs of Universal, Inc.
Selena Gomez and Marshmello

YOUNGBLOOD
Luke Hemmings (APRA)
Calum Hood (APRA)
Ashton Irwin (APRA)
Ali Tamposi
Andrew Watt
Reservoir 416
Songs of Kobalt Music Publishing
Sony/ATV Songs LLC
5 Seconds of Summer