September 2, 2016
BMI Honors Toni Braxton With the BMI President’s Award at the 2016 BMI R&B/Hip-Hop Awards
Chris Brown awarded Songwriter of the Year; “See You Again” named Song of the Year; Universal Music Publishing Group presented with Publisher of the Year
Atlanta, GA, September 2, 2016 – Last night Broadcast Music Inc. (BMI) celebrated the songwriters and publishers of the year’s most-performed R&B/hip-hop songs during the 2016 BMI R&B/Hip-Hop Awards, held at the Woodruff Arts Center’s Symphony Hall in Atlanta. Multiple Grammy Award-winning singer-songwriter Toni Braxton took home the night’s highest honor when she was presented with the BMI President’s Award in recognition of her immeasurable impact on popular music over her distinguished 25-year career.
The BMI President’s Award is awarded on special occasion to an individual songwriter, composer, producer or executive who has made exemplary contributions to the art of music and has profoundly influenced the entertainment industry. As the 2016 honoree, Ms. Braxton joined fellow recipients Ludacris and Will.i.am in sharing this distinction.
Hosted by actor and comedian Chris Tucker alongside BMI President & CEO Mike O’Neill and BMI Vice President, Writer/Publisher Relations in Atlanta Catherine Brewton, the night included stellar performances by some of the hottest talent on the music scene. Hip-hop heavyweight and mega producer DJ Khaled kicked off the show with his smash hit “All I Do Is Win” featuring Ludacris. Kent Jones, one of the year’s most buzzed about new artists, lived up to the hype when he rocked the mic with his smash single “Don’t Mind.” The momentum kept building when Rich Homie Quan hit the stage to perform his recent singles, “Type of Way” and “Flex (Ooh, Ooh, Ooh)” while Rae Sremmurd got the crowd moving with “No Type” and brand new single, “Black Beatles.”
The second half of the evening included an array of outstanding tribute performances honoring Toni Braxton beginning with Donald Lawrence & Company performing “You Mean the World to Me” and vocal powerhouse Yolanda Adams received a standing ovation with her moving rendition of “Un-Break My Heart.” Three of the Braxton sisters, Towanda, Traci, and Trina paid homage to their sister showcasing their incredible talent on “Breathe Again” and R&B chanteuse Ledisi wowed the audience with “Seven Whole Days.” After a moving introduction by L.A. Reid, Ms. Braxton took center stage for a spectacular performance of fan favorite, “He Wasn’t Man Enough” with her sisters on backing vocals.
Throughout the evening, the 35 best-performing R&B/Hip-Hop songs in the U.S. from BMI’s repertoire of over 10.5 million musical works were named along with Top Producers Awards going to Ben “Billions” Diehl and Southside. Top honors went to Charlie Puth and Wiz Khalifa for “See You Again” which claimed Song of the Year, Chris Brown was named Songwriter of the Year, Universal Music Publishing Group took home Publisher of the Year, and Metro Boomin was awarded Producer of the Year.
The event was sponsored by the Swisher Sweets Artist Project which increases awareness and exposure for emerging musical talent.
For a complete list of 2016 winners, visit bmi.com.
High-resolution photos and video footage will be available for download from BMI.com by 8:00 AM ET on September 2nd - http://www.epklink.com/bmirbhiphopawards2016
ABOUT BMI:
Celebrating over 75 years of service to songwriters, composers, music publishers and businesses, Broadcast Music, Inc.® (BMI®) is a global leader in music rights management, serving as an advocate for the value of music. BMI represents the public performance rights in more than 10.5 million musical works created and owned by more than 700,000 songwriters, composers, and music publishers. The Company negotiates music license agreements and distributes the fees it generates as royalties to its affiliated writers and publishers when their songs are performed in public. In 1939, BMI created a groundbreaking open-door policy becoming the only performing rights organization to welcome and represent the creators of blues, jazz, country, and American roots music. Today, the musical compositions in BMI’s repertoire, from chart toppers to perennial favorites, span all genres of music and are consistently among the most-performed hits of the year. For additional information and the latest BMI news, visit www.bmi.com, follow us on Twitter @BMI or stay connected through Broadcast Music, Inc.‘s Facebook page.
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Media Contacts:
Brittnee Walker
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Jodie Thomas
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(L-R) CEO of Epic Records L.A. Reid, singer/songwriter Toni Braxton and BMI President and CEO Mike O'Neill speak on stage at the 2016 BMI R&B/Hip-Hop Awards at Woodruff Arts Center on September 1, 2016 in Atlanta, Georgia.
Photo by Paras Griffin/Getty Images for BMI
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Rapper Pastor Troy attends the 2016 BMI R&B/Hip-Hop Awards at Woodruff Arts Center on September 1, 2016 in Atlanta, Georgia.
Photo by Paras Griffin/Getty Images for BMI
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DJ Khaled attends the 2016 BMI R&B/Hip-Hop Awards at Woodruff Arts Center on September 1, 2016 in Atlanta, Georgia.
Photo by Paras Griffin/Getty Images for BMI
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Rapper Rich Homie Quan attends the 2016 BMI R&B/Hip-Hop Awards at Woodruff Arts Center on September 1, 2016 in Atlanta, Georgia.
Photo by Paras Griffin/Getty Images for BMI
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Rapper/Actor Chris “Ludacris” Bridges attends the 2016 BMI R&B/Hip-Hop Awards at Woodruff Arts Center on September 1, 2016 in Atlanta, Georgia.
Photo by Paras Griffin/Getty Images for BMI
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(L-R) Rapper/Actor Chris "Ludacris" Bridges, Vice President of Writer/Publisher Relations Catherine Brewton, comedian/actor Chris Tucker and President of BMI Mike O'Neill attend the 2016 BMI R&B/Hip-Hop Awards at Woodruff Arts Center on September 1, 2016 in Atlanta, Georgia.
Photo by Paras Griffin/Getty Images for BMI
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Comedian/Actor Chris Tucker attends the 2016 BMI R&B/Hip-Hop Awards at Woodruff Arts Center on September 1, 2016 in Atlanta, Georgia.
Photo by Paras Griffin/Getty Images for BMI
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Singer Yolanda Adams attends the 2016 BMI R&B/Hip-Hop Awards at Woodruff Arts Center on September 1, 2016 in Atlanta, Georgia.
Photo by Paras Griffin/Getty Images for BMI
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Rapper Mannie Fresh attends the 2016 BMI R&B/Hip-Hop Awards at Woodruff Arts Center on September 1, 2016 in Atlanta, Georgia.
Photo by Paras Griffin/Getty Images for BMI
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(L-R) Vice President of Writer/Publisher Relations Catherine Brewton, singer/songwriter Toni Braxton and President of BMI Mike O'Neill attend the 2016 BMI R&B/Hip-Hop Awards at Woodruff Arts Center on September 1, 2016 in Atlanta, Georgia.
Photo by Paras Griffin/Getty Images for BMI
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Singer/Songwriter Toni Braxton attends the 2016 BMI R&B/Hip-Hop Awards at Woodruff Arts Center on September 1, 2016 in Atlanta, Georgia.
Photo by Paras Griffin/Getty Images for BMI
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(L-R) Traci Braxton, Towanda Braxton, Evelyn Braxton, Toni Braxton, Michael Braxton Sr., Michael Braxton Jr, and Trina Braxton attend the 2016 BMI R&B/Hip-Hop Awards at Woodruff Arts Center on September 1, 2016 in Atlanta, Georgia.
Photo by Paras Griffin/Getty Images for BMI
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Singer/Songwriter CeeLo Green attends the 2016 BMI R&B/Hip-Hop Awards at Woodruff Arts Center on September 1, 2016 in Atlanta, Georgia.
Photo by Paras Griffin/Getty Images for BMI
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Rapper Kent Jones attends the 2016 BMI R&B/Hip-Hop Awards at Woodruff Arts Center on September 1, 2016 in Atlanta, Georgia.
Photo by Paras Griffin/Getty Images for BMI
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Rapper Rich Homie Quan attends the 2016 BMI R&B/Hip-Hop Awards at Woodruff Arts Center on September 1, 2016 in Atlanta, Georgia.
Photo by Paras Griffin/Getty Images for BMI
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Rappers Rae Sremmurd perform the 2016 BMI R&B/Hip-Hop Awards at Woodruff Arts Center on September 1, 2016 in Atlanta, Georgia.
Photo by Paras Griffin/Getty Images for BMI
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Producer Metro Boomin attends the 2016 BMI R&B/Hip-Hop Awards at Woodruff Arts Center on September 1, 2016 in Atlanta, Georgia.
Photo by Paras Griffin/Getty Images for BMI
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(L-R) BMI President and CEO Mike O'Neill, singer/songwriter Sterling Simms, President of Motown Records and President of Urban Music/Co-Head of Creative at Universal Publishing Music Group Ethiopia Habtemariam, BMI Vice President of Writer/Publisher Relations Catherine Brewton and Brandra Ringo attend the 2016 BMI R&B/Hip-Hop Awards at Woodruff Arts Center on September 1, 2016 in Atlanta, Georgia.
Photo by Paras Griffin/Getty Images for BMI
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Singer/Songwriter Ledisi performs the 2016 BMI R&B/Hip-Hop Awards at Woodruff Arts Center on September 1, 2016 in Atlanta, Georgia.
Photo by Paras Griffin/Getty Images for BMI
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CEO of Epic Records L.A. Reid attends the 2016 BMI R&B/Hip-Hop Awards at Woodruff Arts Center on September 1, 2016 in Atlanta, Georgia.
Photo by Paras Griffin/Getty Images for BMI
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Singer Yolanda Adams attends the 2016 BMI R&B/Hip-Hop Awards at Woodruff Arts Center on September 1, 2016 in Atlanta, Georgia.
Photo by Paras Griffin/Getty Images for BMI
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GRAMMY Award-winning singer/songwriter Toni Braxton performs at the 2016 BMI R&B/Hip-Hop Awards at Woodruff Arts Center on September 1, 2016 in Atlanta, Georgia.
Photo by Paras Griffin/Getty Images for BMI
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