May 11, 2016
BMI Honors Taylor Swift and Legendary Songwriting Duo Mann & Weil at the 64th Annual BMI Pop Awards
Taylor Swift named Songwriter of the Year; “Uptown Funk” awarded Song of the Year; Sony/ATV Publishing presented with Publisher of the Year
Broadcast Music, Inc. (BMI), a global leader in music rights management, celebrated the songwriters and publishers behind the year’s most-performed pop songs at the 64th Annual BMI Pop Awards, held May 10 at the Beverly Wilshire Hotel in Beverly Hills, California.
Global superstar Taylor Swift was presented with the first-ever Taylor Swift Award, a special award bearing her name in recognition of her incomparable creative and artistic talent and influence on music lovers around the world. This is only the second time in BMI’s 76-year history that the company has presented an award in someone’s name. The first was to Michael Jackson in 1990.
The accomplished lyricist also took home the coveted BMI Pop Songwriter of the Year title once again for penning four of the year’s most-performed songs from her hit album 1989; “Bad Blood,” “Blank Space,” “Style,” and “Wildest Dreams.”
Songwriting visionaries Barry Mann and Cynthia Weil were awarded the BMI Icon Award for their indelible contributions to the craft of songwriting. The SoCal VoCals, University of Southern California’s premiere acapella group, paid homage to the prolific songwriting team with a musical tribute. The talented vocalists performed a medley of Mann and Weil’s most iconic songs including “We Gotta Get Out Of This Place,” “Just Once,” “You’re My Soul and Inspiration,” “On Broadway,” “Somewhere Out There,” and “You’ve Lost That Lovin’ Feeling.”
Throughout the evening, the 50 best performing songs in BMI’s vast catalogue were named leading up to the announcement of the BMI Pop Song of the Year. Jeff Bhasker, Devon Gallaspy, Trinidad James, Mark Ronson, Lonnie Simmons, Rudy Taylor, Charlie Wilson, Robert Wilson and Ronnie Wilson shared that honor for their infectious Grammy-winning hit “Uptown Funk.” Sony/ATV Publishing claimed the prestigious BMI Pop Publisher of the Year crystal with 23 of year’s most performed songs.
The 64th Annual BMI Pop Awards were hosted by BMI President & CEO Mike O’Neill and BMI Vice President of Writer/Publisher Relations Barbara Cane. For a complete list of 2016 winners see news story see news story.
High-resolution photos and video footage will be available for download from BMI.com by 8:00 AM ET on May 11th- http://www.epklink.com/bmipopawards2016
Media Contacts:
Brittnee Walker
212-220-3134
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Jodie Thomas
212-220-3142
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(L-R) Honorees Cynthia Weil, Taylor Swift and Barry Mann with BMI President & CEO Mike O’Neill attend The 64th Annual BMI Pop Awards, honoring Taylor Swift and songwriting duo Mann & Weil, at the Beverly Wilshire Four Seasons Hotel on May 10, 2016 in Beverly Hills, California.
Photo by Lester Cohen/Getty Images for BMI
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Publisher of the Year winners Sony/ATV Music Publishing (L-R) John Pires, SVP, Business Development; Danny Strick, Co-President, U.S.; Katie Welle, consultant; Jonas Kant, SVP, Business & Legal Affairs; Jennifer Knoepfle, SVP & Head of West Coast Creative; Peter Brodsky, EVP Business & Legal Affairs; Amanda Berman-Hill, SVP & Head of West Coast Relations; Brian Monaco, EVP, Worldwide Head of Advertising, Film & TV; Michael O’Neill, BMI President and CEO; Rick Krim, Co-President, U.S.; Martin Bandier, Chairman and CEO; Walter Jones, VP, Urban A&R; Rich Christina, SVP, Head of East Coast A&R; Shawn Holiday, Consultant; Jennifer Drake, Senior Director, A&R; Joe Puzio, CFO & Executive Vice President; Troy Tomlinson, President and CEO, Nashville; Jacob Fain, VP, A&R and Research; Tyler Childs, Director, Creative; Lou Al-Chamaa, Director, Creative of A&R; Clio Massey, Director, A&R; Mark Abramowitz, Manager, A&R/Creative; Paul Williams, VP, Communications; Jim Vellutato, VP, Creative at the Beverly Wilshire Four Seasons Hotel on May 10, 2016 in Beverly Hills, California.
Photo by Lester Cohen for BMI
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Honorees Barry Mann (L) and Cynthia Weil accept the BMI Icon Award onstage at The 64th Annual BMI Pop Awards, honoring Taylor Swift and songwriting duo Mann & Weil, at the Beverly Wilshire Four Seasons Hotel on May 10, 2016 in Beverly Hills, California.
Photo by Lester Cohen/Getty Images for BMI
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Honorees Taylor Swift (L) and Jason Derulo attend The 64th Annual BMI Pop Awards, honoring Taylor Swift and songwriting duo Mann & Weil, at the Beverly Wilshire Four Seasons Hotel on May 10, 2016 in Beverly Hills, California.
Photo by Lester Cohen/Getty Images for BMI
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(L-R) Honorees Cynthia Weil, Taylor Swift and Barry Mann attend The 64th Annual BMI Pop Awards, honoring Taylor Swift and songwriting duo Mann & Weil, at the Beverly Wilshire Four Seasons Hotel on May 10, 2016 in Beverly Hills, California.
Photo by Lester Cohen/Getty Images for BMI
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Honoree Taylor Swift accepts the BMI Taylor Swift Award onstage at The 64th Annual BMI Pop Awards, honoring Taylor Swift and songwriting duo Mann & Weil, at the Beverly Wilshire Four Seasons Hotel on May 10, 2016 in Beverly Hills, California.
Photo by Frazer Harrison/Getty Images for BMI
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Songwriter Carole King (L) and honoree Taylor Swift attend The 64th Annual BMI Pop Awards, honoring Taylor Swift and songwriting duo Mann & Weil, at the Beverly Wilshire Four Seasons Hotel on May 10, 2016 in Beverly Hills, California.
Photo by Lester Cohen/Getty Images for BMI
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Singer/songwriter Jason Derulo accepts award onstage at The 64th Annual BMI Pop Awards, honoring Taylor Swift and songwriting duo Mann & Weil, at the Beverly Wilshire Four Seasons Hotel on May 10, 2016 in Beverly Hills, California.
Photo by Frazer Harrison/Getty Images for BMI
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Honoree Taylor Swift attends The 64th Annual BMI Pop Awards, honoring Taylor Swift and songwriting duo Mann & Weil, at the Beverly Wilshire Four Seasons Hotel on May 10, 2016 in Beverly Hills, California.
Photo by Frazer Harrison/Getty Images for BMI
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Honorees Colbie Caillat (L) and Rachel Platten pose with awards at The 64th Annual BMI Pop Awards, honoring Taylor Swift and songwriting duo Mann & Weil, at the Beverly Wilshire Four Seasons Hotel on May 10, 2016 in Beverly Hills, California.
Photo by Frazer Harrison/Getty Images for BMI
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Honorees Jason Derulo (L) and Andy Grammer attend The 64th Annual BMI Pop Awards, honoring Taylor Swift and songwriting duo Mann & Weil, at the Beverly Wilshire Four Seasons Hotel on May 10, 2016 in Beverly Hills, California.
Photo by Frazer Harrison/Getty Images for BMI
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(L-R) BMI President & CEO Mike O’Neill, honorees Barry Mann and Cynthia Weil, and BMI Vice President & General Manager, Writer/Publisher Relations Barbara Cane attend The 64th Annual BMI Pop Awards, honoring Taylor Swift and songwriting duo Mann & Weil, at the Beverly Wilshire Four Seasons Hotel on May 10, 2016 in Beverly Hills, California.
Photo by Lester Cohen/Getty Images for BMI
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(L-R) Songwriters/musicians Daniel Platzman, Ben McKee, Dan Reynolds, and Wayne Sermon of Imagine Dragons attend The 64th Annual BMI Pop Awards, honoring Taylor Swift and songwriting duo Mann & Weil, at the Beverly Wilshire Four Seasons Hotel on May 10, 2016 in Beverly Hills, California.
Photo by Frazer Harrison/Getty Images for BMI
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Singer/songwriters Andy Grammer (L) and Aijia Lise attend The 64th Annual BMI Pop Awards, honoring Taylor Swift and songwriting duo Mann & Weil, at the Beverly Wilshire Four Seasons Hotel on May 10, 2016 in Beverly Hills, California.
Photo by Frazer Harrison/Getty Images for BMI
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Rapper Flo Rida attends The 64th Annual BMI Pop Awards, honoring Taylor Swift and songwriting duo Mann & Weil, at the Beverly Wilshire Four Seasons Hotel on May 10, 2016 in Beverly Hills, California.
Photo by Frazer Harrison/Getty Images for BMI
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Singer/songwriter Cher Lloyd attends The 64th Annual BMI Pop Awards, honoring Taylor Swift and songwriting duo Mann & Weil, at the Beverly Wilshire Four Seasons Hotel on May 10, 2016 in Beverly Hills, California.
Photo by Frazer Harrison/Getty Images for BMI
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Songwriter Rachel Platten attends The 64th Annual BMI Pop Awards, honoring Taylor Swift and songwriting duo Mann & Weil, at the Beverly Wilshire Four Seasons Hotel on May 10, 2016 in Beverly Hills, California.
Photo by Frazer Harrison/Getty Images for BMI
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Actress Courteney Cox (L) and musician Johnny McDaid of Snow Patrol attend The 64th Annual BMI Pop Awards, honoring Taylor Swift and songwriting duo Mann & Weil, at the Beverly Wilshire Four Seasons Hotel on May 10, 2016 in Beverly Hills, California.
Photo by Frazer Harrison/Getty Images for BMI
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Songwriter Colbie Caillat attends The 64th Annual BMI Pop Awards, honoring Taylor Swift and songwriting duo Mann & Weil, at the Beverly Wilshire Four Seasons Hotel on May 10, 2016 in Beverly Hills, California.
Photo by Frazer Harrison/Getty Images for BMI
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(L-R) President/CEO of Sony/ATV Music Publishing Nashville Troy Tomlinson, honoree Taylor Swift, and Sony/ATV CEO Martin Bandier pose with award onstage at The 64th Annual BMI Pop Awards, honoring Taylor Swift and songwriting duo Mann & Weil, at the Beverly Wilshire Four Seasons Hotel on May 10, 2016 in Beverly Hills, California.
Photo by Frazer Harrison/Getty Images for BMI
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