September 1, 2017
Patti LaBelle Named BMI Icon at the 2017 BMI R&B/Hip-Hop Awards
DJ Khaled, Future and Rihanna tied for Songwriter of the Year;
“Me, Myself & I” named Song of the Year; Metro Boomin awarded Producer of the Year and Universal Music Publishing Group presented with Publisher of the Year
Press Release
Last night, Broadcast Music Inc. (BMI) celebrated the songwriters, producers and publishers of the year’s most-performed R&B/hip-hop songs during the 2017 BMI R&B/Hip-Hop Awards held at The Woodruff Arts Center’s Symphony Hall in Atlanta. Multiple Grammy Award-winning singer-songwriter Patti LaBelle took home the night’s highest honor as BMI Icon in recognition of her distinguished career, spanning more than 50 years.
Hosted by BMI President & CEO Mike O’Neill and BMI Vice President, Writer/Publisher Relations Catherine Brewton with Lifestyle Specialist Kenny Burns as co-host, the evening included stellar performances by some of the hottest talent on the music scene. The night kicked off with Atlanta’s own Big Boi from OutKast performing a medley of two of their biggest hits, “B.O.B.” and “GhettoMusick.” Hip-hop brother duo Ayo and Teo went on to give a dynamic performance of their Billboard Hot 100 hit song “Rolex,” before Keke Palmer and BMI’s Wardell Malloy named Detroit-based rapper Kash Doll BMI’s Social Star, voted on by fans across BMI’s Instagram and Twitter accounts. Jacquees serenaded the audience with his Billboard R&B charting single, “B.E.D.” while Rick Ross kept the energy flowing with a medley of his biggest hits including “Hustlin,’” “Trap, Trap, Trap” and “B.M.F. (Blowin’ Money Fast).”
The second half of the evening featured an array of outstanding tribute performances honoring Patti LaBelle beginning with BMI Trailblazers of Gospel Music honoree, BeBe Winans singing his beautiful version of Ms. LaBelle’s number one single duet with Michael McDonald, “On My Own.” Next up, Avery Sunshine gave a moving rendition of “Love, Need and Want You.” The tributes continued with Gospel vocalist Kierra Sheard’s powerful performance of “When You’ve Been Blessed,” followed by Tasha Cobbs-Leonard singing the classic hit, “You Are My Friend.” Sheard joined Cobbs-Leonard to finish the song, and together they brought the crowd to their feet. Closing out the night, Grammy-nominated singer-songwriter Ledisi gave an energetic performance of the massive classic hit, “Lady Marmalade” before calling Ms. LaBelle to the stage where she gave an impromptu performance of “Over the Rainbow” and thanked those who paid tribute to her throughout the evening.
The show also honored the songwriters of the 35 best-performing R&B/Hip-Hop songs in the U.S. from BMI’s repertoire of over 12 million musical works. Metro Boomin took home the Producer of the Year award for the second year in a row and the coveted Song of the Year honor went to “Me, Myself & I” written by Tom Barnes, Lauren Christy, Michael Keenan and Bebe Rexha. Universal Music Publishing Group claimed Publisher of the Year and hitmakers Future, DJ Khaled and Rihanna tied for Songwriter of the Year.
As a BMI Icon, Ms. LaBelle joined an elite group of songwriters who have received BMI’s Icon Award for their “unique and indelible influence on generations of music makers.” Previous recipients include Nile Rodgers, Kenneth “Babyface” Edmonds, James Brown, Al Green and Snoop Dogg, among others.
The event was sponsored by the Swisher Sweets Artist Project which increases awareness and exposure for emerging musical talent.
For a complete list of 2017 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 1st - http://www.epklink.com/bmirbhiphopawards2017
Media Contacts
Brittnee Walker
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212-220-3134
Jodie Thomas
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212-220-3142
Rapper Future performs at the 2017 BMI R&B/Hip-Hop Awards at Woodruff Arts Center on August 31, 2017 in Atlanta, Georgia.
Photo by Paras Griffin/Getty Images for BMI
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BMI Icon Recipient Patti Labelle at the 2017 BMI R&B/Hip-Hop Awards at Woodruff Arts Center on August 31, 2017 in Atlanta, Georgia.
Photo by Paras Griffin/Getty Images for BMI
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Producer and Rapper Mannie Fresh attends the 2017 BMI R&B/Hip-Hop Awards at Woodruff Arts Center on August 31, 2017 in Atlanta, Georgia.
Photo by Paras Griffin/Getty Images for BMI
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Singer Jacquees attends the 2017 BMI R&B/Hip-Hop Awards at Woodruff Arts Center on August 31, 2017 in Atlanta, Georgia.
Photo by Paras Griffin/Getty Images for BMI
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Gospel artist Bebe Winans attends the 2017 BMI R&B/Hip-Hop Awards at Woodruff Arts Center on August 31, 2017 in Atlanta, Georgia.
Photo by Paras Griffin/Getty Images for BMI
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Actress/Singer Keke Palmer attends the 2017 BMI R&B/Hip-Hop Awards at Woodruff Arts Center on August 31, 2017 in Atlanta, Georgia.
Photo by Paras Griffin/Getty Images for BMI
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Singer and Producer T-Pain attends the 2017 BMI R&B/Hip-Hop Awards at Woodruff Arts Center on August 31, 2017 in Atlanta, Georgia.
Photo by Paras Griffin/Getty Images for BMI
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Rapper Ludacris and BMI Icon Recipient Patti Labelle at the 2017 BMI R&B/Hip-Hop Awards at Woodruff Arts Center on August 31, 2017 in Atlanta, Georgia.
Photo by Paras Griffin/Getty Images for BMI
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Rapper Ludacris attends the 2017 BMI R&B/Hip-Hop Awards at Woodruff Arts Center on August 31, 2017 in Atlanta, Georgia.
Photo by Paras Griffin/Getty Images for BM
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BMI Executive Director, Writer/Publisher Relations Wardell Malloy, BMI President and CEO Mike O'Neill, BMI Icon Recipient Patti Labelle, BMI Vice President, Writer/Publisher Relations Catherine Brewton attend the 2017 BMI R&B/Hip-Hop Awards
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Rapper Kash Doll attends the 2017 BMI R&B/Hip-Hop Awards at Woodruff Arts Center on August 31, 2017 in Atlanta, Georgia.
Photo by Paras Griffin/Getty Images for BMI
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Ayo & Teo perform at the 2017 BMI R&B/Hip-Hop Awards at Woodruff Arts Center on August 31, 2017 in Atlanta, Georgia.
Photo by Paras Griffin/Getty Images for BMI
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Gospel singer Kierra Sheard performs at the 2017 BMI R&B/Hip-Hop Awards at Woodruff Arts Center on August 31, 2017 in Atlanta, Georgia.
Photo by Paras Griffin/Getty Images for BMI
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BMI President and CEO Mike O'Neill at the 2017 BMI R&B/Hip-Hop Awards at Woodruff Arts Center on August 31, 2017 in Atlanta, Georgia.
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Singer Avery Sunshine performs at the 2017 BMI R&B/Hip-Hop Awards at Woodruff Arts Center on August 31, 2017 in Atlanta, Georgia.
Photo by Paras Griffin/Getty Images for BMI
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Rapper Future and Rapper Rick Ross greet each other at the 2017 BMI R&B/Hip-Hop Awards at Woodruff Arts Center on August 31, 2017 in Atlanta, Georgia.
Photo by Paras Griffin/Getty Images for BMI
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Gospel singer Tasha Cobb Leonard performs at the 2017 BMI R&B/Hip-Hop Awards at Woodruff Arts Center on August 31, 2017 in Atlanta, Georgia.
Photo by Paras Griffin/Getty Images for BMI
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Singer Ledisi performs at the 2017 BMI R&B/Hip-Hop Awards at Woodruff Arts Center on August 31, 2017 in Atlanta, Georgia.
Photo by Paras Griffin/Getty Images for BMI
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BMI Icon Recipient Patti Labelle performs at the 2017 BMI R&B/Hip-Hop Awards at Woodruff Arts Center on August 31, 2017 in Atlanta, Georgia.
Photo by Paras Griffin/Getty Images for BMI
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BMI Icon Recipient Patti Labelle performs at the 2017 BMI R&B/Hip-Hop Awards at Woodruff Arts Center on August 31, 2017 in Atlanta, Georgia.
Photo by Paras Griffin/Getty Images for BMI
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Rapper Big Boi performs at the 2017 BMI R&B/Hip-Hop Awards at Woodruff Arts Center on August 31, 2017 in Atlanta, Georgia.
Photo by Paras Griffin/Getty Images for BMI
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Rapper Rick Ross performs at the 2017 BMI R&B/Hip-Hop Awards at Woodruff Arts Center on August 31, 2017 in Atlanta, Georgia.
Photo by Paras Griffin/Getty Images for BMI
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