Bryan Ferry Receives Icon Honors at BMI London Awards
BMI lauded U.K., Europe and Jamaica’s premier songwriters, composers and music publishers Oct. 7 at the 2008 BMI London Awards. The ceremony was hosted by BMI President & CEO Del Bryant, along with Executive Director, Writer/Publisher Relations Europe & Asia, Brandon Bakshi. Staged in the Grand Ballroom of London’s Dorchester Hotel, the event honored the past year’s most-played songs on U.S. radio and television, saluting numerous U.K. songwriters, composers and music publishers alongside music creators from Europe and other international markets. The highlight of the gala dinner and awards ceremony was the presentation of the prestigious BMI Icon award to Bryan Ferry (PRS). He joins past Icons including Peter Gabriel, Ray Davies, Steve Winwood, Van Morrison, amongst others.
Other top award winners were songwriters Amund Bjørklund and Espen Lind (both members of Norwegian performing right society TONO and represented in the U.S. by BMI), along with Ne-Yo, who received the prestigious Robert S. Musel Award for Song of the Year for Beyoncé’s “Irreplaceable.” The song is published by EMI Music Publishing Ltd./Stellar Songs Ltd.; the song and songwriters also received the BMI Urban Song of the Year prize earlier this year.
- Dench and Ghost
- Modest Mouse
- Bjørklund and Lind
Modest Mouse’s “Dashboard” earned BMI’s College Song of the Year crown for tallying the most performances on American college radio. The infectious lead single off the band’s We Were Dead Before The Ship Even Sank album, “Dashboard” was co-written by Johnny Marr (PRS), Tom “King Sour” Peloso and Joe Plummer and published by Chrysalis Music.
The BMI Dance Award went to Ian Dench and Amanda Ghost (PRS) for “Beautiful Liar,” recorded by genre-bending combo Beyoncé and Shakira. “Beautiful Liar” was published by Bucks Music Group Ltd. (PRS), EMI Music Publishing Ltd. (PRS) and Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd. (PRS).
Prestigious “Million-Air” certificates were also presented throughout the evening in recognition of those songs that have achieved more than three million U.S. radio and television performances — the equivalent of more than 17 years of continuous airplay. The Rolling Stones’ “(I Can’t Get No) Satisfaction,” co-penned by Sir Mick Jagger (PRS) and Keith Richards (PRS), and Eric Clapton’s (PRS) “Layla,” co-written by Clapton and Jim Gordon, both topped the list with seven million performances each, while John Lennon’s (PRS) self-penned “Imagine” was recognized for six million performances. Five-million performance honorees included “Higher Love” co-penned by Steve Winwood (PRS) and Will Jennings; Graham Lyle’s (PRS) “What’s Love Got To Do With It”; and “You Really Got Me,” composed by BMI Icon Ray Davies (PRS). BMI Icon Steve Winwood also composed two more songs in the list: “Gimme Some Loving” (4 million) co-written by Muff Winwood and Spencer Davies (both PRS), and “Valerie” (3 million) which was also co-written by Will Jennings.
Additional award-winners whose compositions soared past the three million performance mark included Shania Twain (PRS), Graham Gouldman (PRS), The Bee Gees’ Barry, Maurice and Robin Gibb (all PRS), Sir Paul McCartney (PRS), Fleetwood Mac’s Christine McVie, Roxette’s Per Gessle (STIM), Mats Persson (STIM), Paul Herman (PRS), Mort Shuman (SACEM), Wally Badarou (SACEM), Stig Anderson (STIM), and ABBA’s Benny Andersson (STIM) and Björn Ulvaeus (BUMA).
In addition to winning Dance Song of the Year, “Beautiful Liar” garnered BMI Pop and Urban Awards for writers Ian Dench and Amanda Ghost (both PRS); Dench and Ghost also scored Pop Awards for Jordin Sparks’ “Tattoo,” and College Song of the Year “Dashboard” garnered Pop Awards for its creative hive. Kanye West’s “Stronger,” co-written by West, Thomas Bangalter (PRS), Guy-Manuel de Homem-Christo (PRS) and Michael Dean, earned awards in both Pop and Urban categories as well, as did Song of the Year “Irreplaceable.” Iconic rocker Pete Townsend (PRS) garnered three awards in the TV Music Awards field, while KT Tunstall (PRS) and Julieta Venegas (SGAE) each secured two awards in the Pop and Latin fields, respectively. Composers Rupert Gregson-Williams and George Fenton (both PRS), also earned two awards each: Gregson-Williams in the Film category and Fenton in Film and Emmy Award-winning divisions.
Below is the complete list of 2008 BMI London Award winners:
The Robert S. Musel Award
IRREPLACEABLE
Amund Bjørklund (TONO)
Espen Lind (TONO)
Ne-Yo
EMI Music Publishing Ltd./Stellar Songs Ltd. (PRS)
Beyoncé
College Song
DASHBOARD
Johnny Marr (PRS)
Tom “King Sour” Peloso
Joe Plummer
Chrysalis Music Ltd. (PRS)
Modest Mouse
Dance Award
BEAUTIFUL LIAR
Ian Dench (PRS)
Amanda Ghost (PRS)
Bucks Music Group Ltd. (PRS)
EMI Music Publishing Ltd. (PRS)
Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd. (PRS)
Beyoncé and Shakira
MULTI-MILLION PERFORMANCE AWARDS
7 Million
(I CAN’T GET NO) SATISFACTION
Sir Mick Jagger (PRS)
Keith Richards (PRS)
Rolling Stones
LAYLA
Eric Clapton (PRS)
Jim Gordon
E.C. Music Ltd. (PRS)
Warner/Chappell Music International Ltd. (PRS)
Eric Clapton
6 Million
IMAGINE
John Lennon (PRS)
John Lennon
5 Million
HIGHER LOVE
Steve Winwood (PRS)
Will Jennings
F S Ltd. (PRS)
Steve Winwood
WHAT’S LOVE GOT TO DO WITH IT
Graham Lyle (PRS)
Goodsingle Ltd./Hornall Brothers Music
Ltd. (PRS)
Tina Turner
YOU REALLY GOT ME
Ray Davies (PRS)
Edward Kassner Music Co. Ltd. (PRS)
The Kinks
4 Million
BUS STOP
Graham Gouldman (PRS)
The Hollies
GIMME SOME LOVING
Spencer Davies (PRS)
Muff Winwood (PRS)
Steve Winwood (PRS)
F S Ltd. (PRS)
Universal Music Publishing Group (PRS)
Spencer Davis Group
LISTEN TO YOUR HEART
Per Gessle (STIM)
Mats Persson (STIM)
Jimmy Fun Music (STIM)
Roxette
MAN! I FEEL LIKE A WOMAN!
Shania Twain (PRS)
Shania Twain
THANK YOU
Paul Herman (PRS)
Cheeky Music Ltd. (PRS)
Dido
THAT DON’T IMPRESS ME MUCH
Shania Twain (PRS)
Shania Twain
3 Million
CAN’T BUY ME LOVE
John Lennon (PRS)
The Beatles
DANCING QUEEN
Stig Anderson (STIM)
Benny Andersson (STIM)
Björn Ulvaeus (BUMA)
Universal Music Publishing Group (STIM)
ABBA
EIGHTS DAYS A WEEK
John Lennon (PRS)
The Beatles
FOREVER AND FOR ALWAYS
Shania Twain (PRS)
Shania Twain
IF I CAN’T HAVE YOU
Barry Gibb (PRS)
Maurice Gibb (PRS)
Robin Gibb (PRS)
Universal Music Publishing Group/Gibb Brothers Music (PRS)
Warner/Chappell Music Publishing Ltd./Crompton Songs (PRS)
The BeeGees
LIVE AND LET DIE
Sir Paul McCartney (PRS)
EMI Music Publishing Ltd. (PRS)
Wings
OVER MY HEAD
Christine McVie
Fleetwood Mac
SOMETHING ABOUT YOU
Wally Badarou (SACEM)
Universal Music Publishing Group (PRS)
Level 42
SUSPICION
Mort Shuman (SACEM)
Doc Pomus
Elvis Presley
VALERIE
Steve Winwood (PRS)
Will Jennings
F S Ltd. (PRS)
Steve Winwood
WITH A LITTLE HELP FROM MY FRIENDS
John Lennon (PRS)
The Beatles
Pop Awards
1973
James Blunt (PRS)
Mark Batson
EMI Music Publishing Ltd. (PRS)
James Blunt
BEAUTIFUL LIAR
Ian Dench (PRS)
Amanda Ghost (PRS)
Bucks Music Group Ltd. (PRS)
EMI Music Publishing Ltd. (PRS)
Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd. (PRS)
Beyoncé and Shakira
DASHBOARD
Johnny Marr (PRS)
Tom “King Sour” Peloso
Joe Plummer
Chrysalis Music Ltd. (PRS)
Modest Mouse
DEAL WITH IT
Joe Belmaati (PRS)
Mich “Cutfather” Hansen (PRS)
Remee (KODA)
Jay Sean (PRS)
Cutfather Publishing Ltd. (PRS)
Joe Belmaati Publishing Ltd. (PRS)
TwoPointNine Publishing Ltd./Jayded
Entertainment Ltd. (PRS)
Universal Music Publishing Group (STIM)
Warner/Chappell Music Publishing Ltd. (PRS)
Corbin Bleu
IMAGINE
John Lennon (PRS)
Jack Johnson
IRREPLACEABLE
Amund Bjørklund (TONO)
Espen Lind (TONO)
Ne-Yo
EMI Music Publishing Ltd./Stellar Songs Ltd.
(PRS)
Beyoncé
LOVE LIKE THIS
Wayne Wilkins (PRS)
EMI Music Publishing Ltd. (PRS)
In-Genius Songs Ltd. (PRS)
Natasha Bedingfield featuring Sean Kingston
OTHER SIDE OF THE WORLD
Martin Terefe (PRS)
KT Tunstall (PRS)
Sony/ATV Music Publishing (UK) Ltd. (PRS)
KT Tunstall
REHAB
Amy Winehouse (PRS)
EMI Music Publishing Ltd. (PRS)
Amy Winehouse
SAY OK
Arnthor Birgisson (STIM)
Savan Kotecha
Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd. (PRS)
Maratone AB (STIM)
Vanessa Hudgens
SEXY LADY
Don Black (PRS)
John Barry
Yung Berg featuring Junior
SMILE
Lily Allen (PRS)
Clement Dodd
Jackie Mittoo (SOCAN)
Universal Music Publishing Group (PRS)
Lily Allen
STRONGER
Thomas Bangalter (PRS)
Guy-Manuel de Homem-Christo (PRS)
Michael Dean
Kanye West
Imagem Music Ltd. (PRS)
Kanye West
SUDDENLY I SEE (2nd Award)
KT Tunstall (PRS)
Sony/ATV Music Publishing (UK) Ltd.
(PRS)
KT Tunstall
THE SWEET ESCAPE
Giorgio Tuinfort (BUMA)
Piano Songs/Talpa Music (BUMA)
Gwen Stefani featuring Akon
TATTOO
Ian Dench (PRS)
Amanda Ghost (PRS)
EMI Music Publishing Ltd. (PRS)
Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd. (PRS)
Jordan Sparks
WHINE UP
Elephant Man (PRS)
Red One (STIM)
Kat Deluna
AIO Entertainment Ltd. (STIM)
Greensleeves Publishing Ltd. (PRS)
Kat Deluna featuring Elephant Man
Film Music Awards
10,000 B.C.
Harald Kloser (AKM)
Thomas Wander (AKM)
BEE MOVIE
Rupert Gregson-Williams (PRS)
FOOL’S GOLD
George Fenton (PRS)
THE GOLDEN COMPASS
Alexandre Desplat (SACEM)
I NOW PRONOUNCE YOU CHUCK AND LARRY
Rupert Gregson-Williams (PRS)
SHREK THE THIRD
Harry Gregson-Williams (PRS)
TV Music Awards
CSI
Pete Townshend (PRS)
CSI: MIAMI
Pete Townshend (PRS)
Kevin Kiner
CSI: NY
Pete Townshend (PRS)
Bill Brown
GREY’S ANATOMY
Carim Clasmann (PRS)
Galia Durant (PRS)
HOUSE
Robert Del Naja (PRS)
Grantley Marshall (PRS)
Andrew Vowles (PRS)
Cable Award
THE HILLS
Natasha Bedingfield (PRS)
Danielle Brisebois
Emmy Award
PLANET EARTH - POLE TO POLE
George Fenton (PRS)
Urban Awards
IRREPLACEABLE (2nd Award)
Amund Bjørklund (TONO)
Espen Lind (TONO)
Ne-Yo
EMI Music Publishing Ltd./Stellar Songs
Ltd. (PRS)
Beyoncé
STRONGER
Thomas Bangalter (PRS)
Guy-Manuel de Homem-Christo (PRS)
Michael Dean
Kanye West
Imagem Music Ltd. (PRS)
Kanye West
Latin Award
COMO UNA MARIPOSA
José Maria Muneta Gómez (SGAE)
Chrysalisclip Music S.L. (SGAE)
Universal Music Publishing Group (SGAE)
Diana Reyes
ERES PARA MÍ
Julieta Venegas (SGAE)
EMI Music Publishing Ltd. (PRS)
Julieta Venegas
ME VOY
Julieta Venegas (SGAE)
EMI Music Publishing Ltd. (PRS)
Julieta Venegas
Community
Connect with BMI & Professional Songwriters