BMI Salutes its Top Songwriters for the 2020 BMI Pop Awards

Khalid and Post Malone tie for Songwriter of the Year; “Without Me” by Halsey and Delacey receives Song of the Year; SONY/ATV Music Publishing awarded Publisher of The Year

The 50 most-performed Pop songs of the previous year were also celebrated

Posted in News on July 13, 2020

BMI paid tribute to the best in songwriting for its 68th Annual BMI Pop Awards. The top songwriters, publishers and administrators of the previous year’s most-performed pop songs in the United States were celebrated across all BMI digital and social channels. Major award winners for Song of the Year, Songwriter of the Year and Publisher of the Year were also announced. To honor these achievements, BMI created a special page on its website where fans can watch video messages, listen to award-winning music and learn more about their favorite pop songwriters. For more information on BMI’s top pop songwriters, click here.

“We’re so proud to recognize BMI’s incomparable family of pop songwriters and music publishers whose talent, originality and creativity helped inspire many of the most popular songs of the past year,” said Barbara Cane, Vice President, Worldwide Creative. “With unique artistry and fearless authenticity, their music has the ability to inspire, uplift and empower us to drive the positive change that is so needed right now. We thank our community of music creators for sharing their gift of songwriting, and we look forward to celebrating with everyone in person at next year’s ceremony.”

Honors for Songwriter of the Year were shared by global superstars Khalid and Post Malone, who each penned four of BMI’s top-performing songs of 2019. Khalid’s “Beautiful People,” “Better,” “Eastside” and “Talk” dominated the airways and the charts, alongside Post Malone’s “Goodbyes,” “Jackie Chan,” “Sunflower” and “Wow.” The two songwriting heavyweights enjoyed a successful year, accruing numerous accolades and media praise between them. The catchy hit single “Talk” earned over 186 million streams on Spotify, making Khalid the most listened to artist on the platform, and garnered a GRAMMY nomination for Record of the Year, his sixth nod to date. Post Malone teamed up with fellow BMI songwriter Swae Lee for “Sunflower,” which peaked at number one on the Billboard Hot 100 and charted in the top ten for a total of 33 weeks. The smash single received two GRAMMY nominations for Record of the Year and Best Pop Duo/Group Performance. Post Malone was also named BMI’s R&B/Hip-Hop Songwriter of the Year in 2019.

The poignant break-up anthem “Without Me,” co-written by pop powerhouse Halsey and singer/songwriter Delacey, was awarded Song of the Year, nabbing Halsey her sixth BMI Pop Award and the first for Delacey. A reflection on lost love and one-sided relationships, the single marked the first time Halsey ditched her moniker and wrote under her given name, Ashley Frangipane. The intimate lyrics and departure from her character resonated with fans, driving the mega-hit to number one on the Billboard Hot 100 chart, becoming Halsey’s first number-one single as a lead artist.

Sony/ATV Music Publishing received the coveted Publisher of the Year designation for the eighth time. The publishing giant represented 25 of the previous year’s top 50 songs, including “Dancing with a Stranger,” “High Hopes,” “Old Town Road (Remix),” “Señorita,” “Truth Hurts” and “You Need To Calm Down,” among others.

BMI also celebrated the songwriters and publishers of the 50 most-performed Pop songs of the previous year. This year’s group of honorees includes 47 first-time BMI Pop award recipients, who have amassed over 25 million song performances collectively. Among the songs honored are Taylor Swift’s “ME!” (feat. Brendon Urie of Panic! At The Disco) co-written by GRAMMY Award-winner Joel Little, the Billboard Hot 100 mega-smash “7 Rings” co-written by Tayla Parx, Michael Foster and Kaydence, top-charting single “Sucker” co-written by Mustafa Ahmed, Adam “Frank Dukes” Feeney, Homer Steinweiss and co-written and performed by the Jonas Brothers, “Done For Me” co-written by John Ryan and co-written and performed by hitmaker Charlie Puth, and Marshmello’s “Happier,” which spent a record 69 weeks at number one on the US Dance/Electronic Songs chart. Additional award-winners include P!nk, Camila Cabello, Billy Ray Cyrus, Teddy Geiger, Lady Gaga, Lizzo, Bazzi, Ricky Reed, Young Thug, Mark Ronson and more.

SONG OF THE YEAR

Without Me
Delacey
Halsey
17 Black Music
Delacey Music
Songs of Universal, Inc.

SONGWRITER OF THE YEAR

Khalid
Beautiful People
Better
Eastside
Talk

Post Malone
Goodbyes
Jackie Chan
Sunflower
Wow

PUBLISHER OF THE YEAR

Sony/ATV Music Publishing
Beautiful
Beautiful People
Better
Consequences
Dancing with a Stranger
Eastside
High Hopes
I Don’t Care
If I Can’t Have You
ME!
Never Really Over
No Excuses
Old Town Road (Remix)
Señorita
Shallow
Someone You Loved
Sucker
Sunflower
Talk
This Feeling
Truth Hurts
Walk Me Home
Who Do You Love
Wow
You Need to Calm Down

Award Winning Songs

7 RINGS
Michael Foster
Kaydence
Tayla Parx
BMG Platinum Songs US
Taylor Monet Music
Tenyor Music
The District 4 12
Warner-Tamerlane Publishing Corp.
Xeva Music

BAD LIAR
Ben McKee
Jorgen Odegard
Daniel Platzman
Dan Reynolds
Wayne “Wing” Sermon
Aja Volkman
Imagine Dragons Publishing
Red Inside
Songs of Universal, Inc.
Warner-Tamerlane Publishing Corp.

BEAUTIFUL
Bazzi
Camila Cabello
Kevin White
Artist 101 Publishing Group
Milamoon Songs
Songs of Kobalt Music Publishing
Sony/ATV Songs LLC
Zipendat Music

BEAUTIFUL PEOPLE
Khalid
Ed Sheeran (PRS)
Sony/ATV Songs LLC

BETTER
Charlie Handsome
Khalid
Songs of Universal, Inc.
Sony/ATV Songs LLC

BODY
Joseph De Pace
Andrew Fedyk
Quiet Poverty Music, Inc.
Songs of Kobalt Music Publishing

BURN THE HOUSE DOWN
Adam Met
Jack Met
Ryan Met
AMAB Songs
Songs of Kobalt Music Publishing

CLOSE TO ME
Khalif “Swae Lee” Brown
Ellie Goulding
Songs of Kobalt Music Publishing
Warner-Tamerlane Publishing Corp.

CONSEQUENCES
Camila Cabello
Nicolle Galyon
Milamoon Songs
Sony/ATV Songs LLC
Warner-Tamerlane Publishing Corp.

COOL
Joe Jonas
Kevin Jonas
Nick Jonas
Joseph Jonas Publishing
Nick Jonas Publishing
Paul Kevin Jonas II Publishing
Songs of Universal, Inc.

DANCING WITH A STRANGER
Normani
Sam Smith (PRS)
EMI-Blackwood Music, Inc.
Songs of NKH
Sony/ATV Songs LLC
Stellar Songs Limited

DONE FOR ME
Charlie Puth
John Ryan
Artist 101 Publishing Group
Charlie Puth Music Publishing
Don Wyan Music
Music of BIG FAMILY
Songs of Kobalt Music Publishing
Words & Music International

DREW BARRYMORE
JP Clark
Nolan Lambroza
Julia Michaels
Bryce Vine
BMG Platinum Songs US
DJ Awesomepark
For The Kids Platinum
Thanks For The Songs Richard
Warner-Tamerlane Publishing Corp.

EASIER
Charlie Puth
Ali Tamposi
Andrew Watt
Artist 101 Publishing Group
Charlie Puth Music Publishing
Reservoir 416
Songs of Kobalt Music Publishing

EASTSIDE
Halsey
Khalid
Happy Perez
Ed Sheeran (PRS)
17 Black Music
Songs of Universal, Inc.
Sony/ATV Songs LLC

ELECTRICITY
Diana Gordon
Mark Ronson
Concord
Legend Of Music
Songs of Zelig
Warner-Tamerlane Publishing Corp.

GOODBYES
Val Blavatnik
Jessie Lauren Foutz
Brian Lee
Post Malone
Young Thug
300 Rainwater Music
Artist 101 Publishing Group
Atlantic Songs
Dong Hoe Music
Jessie Lauryn Music
Posty Publishing
Reservoir 416
Songs of Universal, Inc.
Warner-Tamerlane Publishing Corp.
Young Stoner Life Publishing LLC

HAPPIER
Marshmello
Marshmello Music
Songs of Kobalt Music Publishing

HERE WITH ME
Marshmello
Marshmello Music
Songs of Kobalt Music Publishing

HEY LOOK MA, I MADE IT
Michael Angelakos
Morgan Kibby
Jake Sinclair
BIG DEAL Beats
Boat Builder Music Publishing LLC
Sinclair Empire
Songs of Universal, Inc.
Third Side Us Publishing
Words & Music International

HIGH HOPES
Ilsey Juber
Will Lobban-Bean
LOLO
Tayla Parx
Jake Sinclair
Artist 101 Publishing Group
BIG DEAL Beats
Lolopritch Music
Sinclair Empire
Songs By Cook Classic
Songs of Kobalt Music Publishing
Sony/ATV Songs LLC
Sparko Phone Music
Taylor Monet Music
Warner-Tamerlane Publishing Corp.
Words & Music International

I DON’T CARE
Ed Sheeran (PRS)
Sony/ATV Songs LLC

IF I CAN’T HAVE YOU
Teddy Geiger
Shawn Mendes (SOCAN)
Nate Mercereau
BIG DEAL Beats
Gerty Tunes
Nice Life Songs
Poslaniec Publishing
Songs From The Boardwalk
Songs of Universal, Inc.
Sony/ATV Songs LLC
TG Worldwide Publishing
Words & Music International

I’M A MESS
Meredith Brooks
Jussi “Jussifer” Karvinen
Shelly Peiken
Bebe Rexha
Justin Tranter
BMG Bumblebee
Justin’s School For Girls
Kiss Me If You Can Music
Kissing Booth Music, Inc.
ROR Songs
Songs of Kobalt Music Publishing
Warner-Tamerlane Publishing Corp.

JACKIE CHAN
Post Malone
Preme (SOCAN)
Posty Publishing
Songs of Kobalt Music Publishing
Songs of Universal, Inc.

LIE
NF
Capitol CMG Paragon
NF Real Publishing

LOVE SOMEONE
James Alan Ghaleb
Annamylove Music
Martin Shadowski Music Group
Songs of Kobalt Music Publishing

ME!
Joel Little (APRA)
Taylor Swift
EMI-Blackwood Music, Inc.
Sony/ATV Tree
Taylor Swift Music

NATURAL
Ben McKee
Daniel Platzman
Dan Reynolds
Wayne “Wing” Sermon
Justin Tranter
Imagine Dragons Publishing
Justin’s School For Girls
Songs of Universal, Inc.
Warner-Tamerlane Publishing Corp.

NEVER REALLY OVER
Gino Barletta
Jason Gill (STIM)
Leah Haywood (APRA)
Daniel James (APRA)
Hayley Warner (APRA)
Gino Barletta Music
Marquise Cut Publishing
Sony/ATV Songs LLC
Warner-Tamerlane Publishing Corp.

NO EXCUSES
Andrew Wells
Andrew Wells Music
Sony/ATV Ballad

OLD TOWN ROAD (REMIX)
Billy Ray Cyrus
Lil Nas X
Atticus Ross
YoungKio
Songs In The Key Of Mink
Songs of Kobalt Music Publishing
Songs of Universal, Inc.
Sony/ATV Songs LLC
Sunnageronimo Publishing, Inc.

SEÑORITA
Camila Cabello
Magnus August Høiberg aka Cashmere Cat (TONO)
Shawn Mendes (SOCAN)
Jack Patterson
Ali Tamposi
Andrew Watt
Back Hair Music Publishing
EMI-Blackwood Music, Inc.
Infinite Stripes
Milamoon Songs
Reservoir 416
Songs of Kobalt Music Publishing
Songs of Universal, Inc.
Sony/ATV Songs LLC

SHALLOW
Lady Gaga
Mark Ronson
Andrew Wyatt
Concord
Downtown Music Publishing
SG Songs Worldwide
Songs of Universal, Inc.
Songs of Zelig
Sony/ATV Songs LLC
Warner-Barham Music LLC

SOBER UP
River Cuomo
Adam Met
Jack Met
Ryan Met
AMAB Songs
Leg Warmers Music
Songs of Kobalt Music Publishing

SOMEONE YOU LOVED
Tom Barnes
Sam Roman
BMG Platinum Songs US
Sony/ATV Songs LLC

SUCKER
Adam “Frank Dukes” Feeney (SOCAN)
Joe Jonas
Kevin Jonas
Nick Jonas
Homer Steinweiss
BMG Platinum Songs US
Electric Feel Music
EMI-Blackwood Music, Inc.
Joseph Jonas Publishing
MYNY Music
Nick Jonas Publishing
Paul Kevin Jonas II Publishing
Sam Fam Beats
Songs of Universal, Inc.
Sony/ATV Songs LLC

SUNFLOWER
Khalif “Swae Lee” Brown
Carter Lang
Post Malone
Electric Feel Music
Posty Publishing
Songs of Universal, Inc.
Sony/ATV Songs LLC
Twenty Fifteen Boulevard Music, Inc.
Warner-Tamerlane Publishing Corp.
Zuma Tuna LLC

SWEET BUT PSYCHO
Will Lobban-Bean
Artist 101 Publishing Group
Songs By Cook Classic
Songs of Kobalt Music Publishing

TALK
Khalid
Sony/ATV Songs LLC

THANK U, NEXT
Michael Foster
Kaydence
Tayla Parx
BMG Platinum Songs US
Taylor Monet Music
Tenyor Music
The District 4 12
Warner-Tamerlane Publishing Corp.
Xeva Music

THE WAY I AM
Charlie Puth
Artist 101 Publishing Group
Charlie Puth Music Publishing
Songs of Kobalt Music Publishing

THIS FEELING
Alexander Pall
Navy Gold LLC
Sony/ATV Ballad

TRAMPOLINE
Maxwell Ernst
Spencer Ernst
Chelsea Lee
Alex Mendoza
Alexandermendozamusic
Ultra Empire Music

TRUTH HURTS
Lizzo
Ricky Reed
Jesse Saint John
Frederic And Ried Music
Jesse SJ Music
Lizzo Music Publishing
Songs From The Boardwalk
Sony/ATV Ballad
Sony/ATV Songs LLC
Warner-Tamerlane Publishing Corp.

WALK ME HOME
P!nk
EMI-Blackwood Music, Inc.
P!nk Inside Publishing

WHO DO YOU LOVE
Michael Clifford (APRA)
Sean Douglas
Oak Felder
Luke Hemmings (APRA)
Calum Hood (APRA)
Ashton Irwin (APRA)
Alexander Pall
Talay Riley
Crow’s Tree Publishing
Eastman Pond Publishing
Lion’s Key Publishing
Songs of Universal, Inc.
Sony/ATV Ballad
Sony/ATV Songs LLC

WITHOUT ME
Delacey
Halsey
17 Black Music
Delacey Music
Songs of Universal, Inc.

WOW
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

YOU NEED TO CALM DOWN
Joel Little (APRA)
Taylor Swift
EMI-Blackwood Music, Inc.
Sony/ATV Tree
Taylor Swift Music

SOURCENews TAGS Pop BMI Awards BMI Pop Awards