Daryl Hall and John Oates named BMI Icons at 56th Annual Pop Awards

Posted in News on May 21, 2008

'Lips of an Angel' Earns Song of the Year, Polow Da Don Takes Home Songwriter of the Year & EMI-Blackwood Secures Publisher of the Year Honors

BMI held its 56th Annual Pop Awards tonight, May 20, honoring Daryl Hall and John Oates as BMI Icons. Famed songwriter and producer Polow Da Don earned the coveted Songwriter of the Year crown, Hinder's ubiquitous "Lips of an Angel" garnered Song of the Year honors and Publisher of the Year went to EMI-Blackwood Music, Inc. Held at the Beverly Wilshire Hotel in Los Angeles, the invitation-only ceremony was hosted by BMI President & CEO Del Bryant and BMI Vice President/General Manager, Los Angeles, Barbara Cane and also recognized the writers and publishers of the past year's 50 most-performed pop songs from BMI's extensive catalog of more than 6.5 million compositions.

The evening's capstone took the form of a musical tribute to Daryl Hall and John Oates, who were named BMI Icons in recognition of their "unique and indelible influence on generations of music makers." With this award, they join an elite list of previous BMI Icons that includes the Bee Gees, Crosby, Stills & Nash, Paul Simon, James Brown, Brian Wilson, Isaac Hayes, Dolly Parton and Carlos Santana.

The effervescent popularity of Daryl Hall and John Oates's magical collaborations springs from the duo's devout passion for Philly soul and buoyant pop harmonies. Warmly accessible and expertly polished, Daryl Hall and John Oates's smooth production utilizes undeniable hooks and innate contemporary lyrical sensibility. The resulting eight no. 1 singles, three double-platinum and two platinum albums catapulted the pair into pop superstardom; in 1987, Daryl Hall and John Oates became the best-selling rock duo of all time. Skilled songwriters, they are both members of the Songwriters Hall of Fame, together boasting 24 BMI Pop Awards and a catalog studded with 14 BMI Million-Air award songs, including "She's Gone," "Everytime You Go Away," "Kiss On My List," "Maneater" and "Sara Smile." They have prompted a surge of interest and homage from a diverse bevy of new artists, who cite the pair as definitive influences. Restless creators, Daryl Hall and John Oates have spent much of the last decade touring throughout the world.

Polow Da Don's resounding claim to the BMI Songwriter of the Year title stems from penning four songs among the year's top 50: the Pussycat Dolls' "Buttons," featuring Snoop Dogg; Fergie's "London Bridge" and "Glamorous," featuring Ludacris; and "Runaway Love," recorded by Ludacris and featuring Mary J. Blige. Fergie's emphatic shout, "Polow!" in "London Bridge" embedded Da Don's first name in the pop culture psyche, while his hit-making expertise catapulted him to behind-the-scenes impresario. Polow Da Don's first BMI Pop Songwriter of the Year win arrives on the shoulders of his first four BMI Awards, underscoring his unparalleled breakout success in 2007.

Hinder's "Lips of an Angel" garnered Song of the Year bragging rights thanks to generating the most airplay of any tune on BMI's most-performed pop song list during the designated award period. Co-written and recorded by BMI songwriters and Hinder band members Blower, Cody Hanson, Mark King, Michael Weston Rodden and Austin Winkler, along with producer Brian Howes (SOCAN), the wistful tune climbed to the no. 1 slot of Billboard's Pop 100, Hot Digital Songs and Top 40 Mainstream charts, achieving broad crossover success. Country artist Jack Ingram's recording of the song also resonated, reaching the top 20 tier of Billboard's Hot Country Singles chart. Published by EMI-Blackwood Music, Inc. and Hinder Music Co., "Lips of an Angel" also earned the Internet Song of the Year win as the most performed song on the Internet during the award period.

EMI-Blackwood Music, Inc. claimed its BMI Pop Publisher of the Year crown with a staggering 14 award songs and highest percentage of copyright ownership among the year's top 50. In addition to publishing Song of the Year "Lips of an Angel," EMI-Blackwood's catalog includes award-winners "Money Maker" (Ludacris feat. Pharrell), "Break It Off" (Rihanna feat. Sean Paul), "Glamorous" (Fergie feat. Ludacris), "Hurt" (Christina Aguilera), "Nothing Left to Lose" (Mat Kearney), "The Riddle" (Five for Fighting) and "U + Ur Hand" (Pink).

Nickelback also enjoyed a big night as members Chad Kroeger, Mike Kroeger, Ryan Peake and Dan Adair (all SOCAN) each took home three BMI Pop Awards; songwriters earning two awards each included Christina Aguilera; Hinder's Blower, Cody Hanson, Michael Rodden, Mark King and Austin Winkler; Snoop Dogg, Chris Daughtry; Sean Garrett; Three Days Grace's Adam Gontier, Barry Stock, Brad Walst and Neil Sanderson (all SOCAN); Brian Howes (SOCAN); Fall Out Boy's Pete Wentz, Patrick Stump, Joe Trohman and Andrew Hurley; Ne-Yo; Pink; and will.i.am.

Publishing companies Universal Music Publishing Group (Irving Music/Songs of Universal, Inc./Universal Music-Careers/Universal Music-Z Songs), Sony/ATV Songs LLC, Warner/Chappell Music Group (Warner-Tamerlane Publishing Corp./Unichappell Music, Inc.), Songs of Windswept Pacific, Cherry River Music Co., Chicago X Softcore Songs, Hinder Music Co., Hitco Music, My Own Chit Publishing, Pink Inside Publishing, Super Sayin' Publishing, Surface Pretty Deep Ugly Music, Team S Dot Publishing, will.i.am music, inc. and Xtina Music each garnered multiple awards.

The BMI Foundation's 11th Annual John Lennon Scholarship was presented to burgeoning jazz/pop songwriter Travis Knapp for his song "Before You Go."  A recent graduate of Ithaca College where he studied music and anthropology, Knapp is currently recording his sophomore collection of original music. Established in 1997 by Yoko Ono in conjunction with the BMI Foundation and matched by generous donations from Gibson Musical Instruments, the prestigious John Lennon Scholarship program recognizes and fosters auspicious young songwriters between the ages of 15 and 24.

Below is the complete list of 2008 BMI Pop Music Awards winners:

AIN'T NO OTHER MAN
Christina Aguilera
Kara DioGuardi
Harold Thomas
K'Stuff Publishing
The Clyde Otis Music Group, Inc.
Universal Music-Careers
Xtina Music
Christina Aguilera
RCA/RMG

ANIMAL I HAVE BECOME
Adam Gontier (SOCAN)
Neil Sanderson (SOCAN)
Barry Stock (SOCAN)
Brad Walst (SOCAN)
EMI-Blackwood Music, Inc.
Mean Music Publishing, Inc. (SOCAN)
Three Days Grace
Jive/Zomba

BEAUTIFUL GIRLS
Ben E. King
Jonathan "JR" Rotem
Jonathan Rotem Music
Sony/ATV Songs LLC
Southside Independent Music Publishing LLC
Sean Kingston
Epic Records

BETTER THAN ME
Blower
Cody Hanson
Brian Howes (SOCAN)
Mark King
Michael Rodden
Austin Winkler
EMI-Blackwood Music, Inc.
Hinder Music Co.
Hinder
Universal/Republic

BREAK IT OFF
Don Corleon
Kirk "Koolface" Ford
Rihanna
Annarhi Music LLC
EMI-Blackwood Music, Inc.
Music By Tafari, Inc.
Ultra Empire Music
Rihanna and Sean Paul
SRP/Def Jam/IDJMG

BUTTONS
Calvin "Snoop Dogg" Broadus
Sean Garrett
Polow Da Don
Nicole Scherzinger
Hitco Music
My Own Chit Publishing
She Rights Music
Songs of Universal, Inc.
Team S Dot Publishing
Pussycat Dolls featuring Snoop Dogg
A&M/Interscope Records

CALL ME WHEN YOU'RE SOBER
Amy Lee
Dwight Frye Music, Inc.
Professor Screweye Publishing
Evanescence
Wind-Up Records

CHASING CARS
Nathan Connolly (PRS)
Gary Lightbody (PRS)
Jonny Quinn (PRS)
Tom Simpson (PRS)
Paul Wilson (PRS)
Songs of Windswept Pacific
Snow Patrol
A&M/Interscope Records

DON'T MATTER
Tony Love
Lawsongs
Akon
Konvict/Upfront/SPC/Universal

EVERYTIME WE TOUCH
Maggie Reilly (PRS)
Stuart MacKillop (GEMA)
Peter Risavy (GEMA)
Sony/ATV Songs LLC
Cascada
Robbins

FACE DOWN
Ronnie Winter, Jr.
Grim Goodbye Music
Songs of Universal, Inc.
The Red Jumpsuit Apparatus
Virgin Records

FAR AWAY
Daniel Adair (SOCAN)
Chad Kroeger (SOCAN)
Mike Kroeger (SOCAN)
Ryan Peake (SOCAN)
Warner-Tamerlane Publishing Corp.
Nickelback
Roadrunner Records

FERGALICIOUS
Karl Bartos (GEMA)
Derrick Rahming
will.i.am
Cherry River Music Co.
Meriwar Music
Warner-Tamerlane Publishing Corp.
will.i.am music, inc.
Fergie featuring will.i.am
will.i.am/A&M/Interscope

FIRST TIME
Jude Cole
Jason Wade
Jason Wade Music
Jeseth Music
State One Music America
Lifehouse
Geffen Records

FOR YOU I WILL (CONFIDENCE)
Teddy Geiger
Sony/ATV Songs LLC
Teddy Geiger Publishing
Teddy Geiger
Columbia Records

GIRL NEXT DOOR
Kris Misevski
Totally Awesome Music
Saving Jane
Toucan Cove

GLAMOROUS
Polow Da Don
will.i.am
Elvis Williams, Jr.
Cherry River Music Co.
Elvis Lee Music
EMI-Blackwood Music, Inc.
will.i.am music, inc.
Fergie featuring Ludacris
will.i.am/A&M/Interscope

HAVE YOU EVER SEEN THE RAIN
John Fogerty
Jondora Music
Rod Stewart
J Records

HOME
Chris Daughtry
Surface Pretty Deep Ugly Music
Universal Music-Careers
Daughtry
RCA/RMG

HURT
Christina Aguilera
Mark Ronson
EMI-Blackwood Music, Inc.
Universal Music-Careers
Xtina Music
Christina Aguilera
RCA/RMG

I WANNA LOVE YOU
Calvin "Snoop Dogg" Broadus
My Own Chit Publishing
Akon featuring Snoop Dogg
SRC/Universal/Motown

IF EVERYONE CARED
Daniel Adair (SOCAN)
Chad Kroeger (SOCAN)
Mike Kroeger (SOCAN)
Ryan Peake (SOCAN)
Warner-Tamerlane Publishing Corp.
Nickelback
Roadrunner Records

IRREPLACEABLE
Amund Bjøerklund (TONO)
Espen Lind (TONO)
Ne-Yo
EMI-Blackwood Music, Inc.
Super Sayin' Publishing
Universal Music-Z Songs
Beyoncé
Columbia Records

IT'S NOT OVER
Chris Daughtry
Mark Wilkerson
Ace Young
Floating Leaf Publishing
RG Slide Music Publishing, Inc.
Surface Pretty Deep Ugly Music
Tailback 80 Publishing, Inc.
Universal Music-Careers
Daughtry
RCA/RMG

LAST NIGHT
Slam
Mario Winans
EMI-Blackwood Music, Inc.
Irving Music
Janice Combs Music
Marsky Music
ZXS Publishing
Diddy featuring Keyshia Cole
Bad Boy/Atlantic

LIPS OF AN ANGEL
Blower
Cody Hanson
Brian Howes (SOCAN)
Mark King
Michael Rodden
Austin Winkler
EMI-Blackwood Music, Inc.
Hinder Music Co.
Hinder
Universal/Republic

LONDON BRIDGE
Sean Garrett
Mike Hartnett
Polow Da Don
Hitco Music
Songs of Universal, Inc.
Team S Dot Publishing
Fergie
A&M/Interscope Records

MAKES ME WONDER
Jesse Carmichael
Adam Levine
Mickey Madden
February Twenty-Second Music
Universal Music-Careers
Maroon 5
A&M/Octone/Universal

MONEY MAKER
Pharrell Williams
EMI-Blackwood Music, Inc.
Waters of Nazareth Publishing
Ludacris featuring Pharrell
DTP/Def Jam

MY LOVE
T.I.
Crown Club Publishing
Warner-Tamerlane Publishing Corp.
Justin Timberlake featuring T.I.
Jive Records

NOTHING LEFT TO LOSE
Mat Kearney
EMI-Blackwood Music, Inc.
Facade Aside Music
Mat Kearney
Columbia Records

PAIN
Adam Gontier (SOCAN)
Neil Sanderson (SOCAN)
Barry Stock (SOCAN)
Brad Walst (SOCAN)
EMI-Blackwood Music, Inc.
Mean Music Publishing, Inc. (SOCAN)
Three Days Grace
Jive/Zomba

PUT YOUR RECORDS ON
Corinne Bailey Rae (PRS)
Songs of Windswept Pacific
Corinne Bailey Rae
Capitol Music Group

THE RIDDLE
John Ondrasik
EMI-Blackwood Music, Inc.
Five For Fighting Music
Five For Fighting
Columbia Records

ROCKSTAR
Daniel Adair (SOCAN)
Chad Kroeger (SOCAN)
Mike Kroeger (SOCAN)
Ryan Peake (SOCAN)
Warner-Tamerlane Publishing Corp.
Nickelback
Roadrunner/IDJMG Records

RUNAWAY LOVE
Doug E. Fresh
Polow Da Don
Slick Rick
Entertaining Music
Slick Rick Music Corp.
Songs of Universal, Inc.
Ludacris featuring Mary J. Blige
Def Jam Music Group

SAVE THE LAST DANCE FOR ME (4th Award)
Doc Pomus
Mort Shuman
Unichappell Music, Inc.
Michael Bublé
143 Records/Reprise/Warner Bros.

SMACK THAT
Eminem
Mike Strange
Shroom Shady Music
Slick Jesus LLC
Songs of Universal, Inc.
Akon featuring Eminem
SRC/Universal/Motown

SNOW ((HEY OH))
Flea
John Frusciante
Anthony Kiedis
Chad Smith
Moebetoblame Music
Red Hot Chili Peppers
Warner Bros. Records

STEADY, AS SHE GOES
Jack White
Third String Tunes
The Raconteurs
XL

SUDDENLY I SEE
KT Tunstall
Sony/ATV Songs LLC
KT Tunstall
Virgin/Relentless

THE SWEET ESCAPE
Giorgio Tuinfort
Sony/ATV Songs LLC
Gwen Stefani featuring Akon
Interscope Records

THIS AIN'T A SCENE, IT'S AN ARMS RACE
Andrew Hurley
Patrick Stump
Joe Trohman
Pete Wentz
Chicago X Softcore Songs
Sony/ATV Songs LLC
Fall Out Boy
Fueled By Ramen/Island/IDJMG

THNKS FR TH MMRS
Andrew Hurley
Patrick Stump
Joe Trohman
Pete Wentz
Chicago X Softcore Songs
Sony/ATV Songs LLC
Fall Out Boy
Fueled By Ramen/Island/IDJMG

U + UR HAND
Pink
EMI-Blackwood Music, Inc.
Pink Inside Publishing
Pink
LaFace/Zomba Label Group

WALK AWAY (REMEMBER ME)
Christina Milian
Ne-Yo
Havana Brown Publishing
Songs of Universal, Inc.
Super Sayin' Publishing
Universal Music-Z Songs
Paula DeAnda featuring The DEY
Arista/RMG

WELCOME TO THE BLACK PARADE
Frank Iero
Ray Toro
Gerard Way
Mikey Way
Blow The Doors Off The Jersey Shore Music, Inc.
My Chemical Romance
Reprise

WHAT HURTS THE MOST (2nd Award)
Jeffrey Steele
Gottahaveable Music
Songs of Windswept Pacific
Rascal Flatts
Lyric Street

WHAT I'VE DONE
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
Machine Shop/Warner Bros.

WHO KNEW
Pink
EMI-Blackwood Music, Inc.
Pink Inside Publishing
Pink
LaFace/Zomba Label Group

SOURCENews TAGS Pop Rock BMI Pop Awards Christina Aguilera The Bee Gees James Brown Del Bryant Stills & Nash Crosby Daughtry Fall Out Boy Five For Fighting Sean Garrett Daryl Hall Isaac Hayes Hinder Brian Howes Michael Weston King John Lennon Ne-Yo Nickelback John Oates Yoko Ono Dolly Parton Pink Polow Da Don Rihanna Carlos Santana Paul Simon Snoop Dogg Three Days Grace Wilshire Brian Wilson