Special to the NNPA
via The Skanner
BMI proudly presented its BMI Icon award to GRAMMY-winning songwriter, composer, producer, arranger and guitarist, Nile Rodgers, at the 2015 BMI R&B/Hip-Hop Awards.
Held at the Saban Theatre in Beverly Hills on August 28, also celebrated the songwriters, producers and publishers of the most-performed R&B/hip-hop songs of the previous year.
Rodgers was honored for his unique and indelible influence on generations of music makers and his ability to connect people through song while defying musical expectations. A
s the 2015 BMI Icon award recipient, Rodgers joins an elite list of previous honorees that includes The Jacksons, Snoop Dogg, George Clinton, James Brown, Isaac Hayes, Little Richard and Al Green, to name a few.
The evening’s performances included: B.o.B opened with a medley of hits followed by IloveMakonnen, who kept the energy going with “Tuesday.” Backed by music director Rickey Minor, as well as band and Donald Lawrence’s vocals, the high-powered Icon tribute was kicked off by R&B chanteuses Kelly Price covering “Upside Down,” Deborah Cox’s delivery of “I’m Coming Out,” Kathy Sledge and the Company offering a rousing rendition of “We Are Family,” and Empire’s V. Bozeman’s vibrant version of “I Want Your Love.”
The celebration continued with CeeLo Green’s dynamic performance of “Let’s Dance.” The night concluded with the top honoree taking the stage to perform fan favorites “Good Times” and “Rappers Delight,” with hip-hop legend Chuck D joining Rodgers.
Additional top honors presented at the awards ceremony included John Legend’s “All of Me,” which earned the Song of the Year and DJ Mustard, who was crowned the Songwriter of the Year for penning hits “2 On,” “Don’t Tell ‘Em,” “I Don’t F**ck With You,” “Main Chick,” “My Hitta,” “Na Na,” “No Mediocre,” “Paranoid,” “Show Me,” and “Who Do You Love?”
DJ Mustard also won the coveted Producer of the Year award for the second year in a row, while Universal Music Publishing Group accepted the prestigious Publisher of the Year crystal for having 18 of the most-performed songs from the previous year. BMI also recognized top producers Kanye West, J Cole, Jim Jonsin, Michael “Finatik” Mulé and Isaac De Boni.
Selected by fans voting via Twitter and Instagram, SoMo won the BMI Social Star Award, which salutes the BMI R&B/hip-hop songwriter who has best demonstrated the power of social media to showcase their songwriting talents.
BMI President and CEO Mike O’Neill and Vice President, Writer/Publisher Relations, Atlanta, Catherine Brewton, shared the evening’s hosting duties with R&B artist and actor Ray J, while guests celebrated and enjoyed Red Bull cocktails during the evening’s festivities. BMI partnered with HD Radio, TW Steel, Provider Inc. and KIND Snacks to present the 2015 BMI R&B/Hip-Hop Awards.
To watch an exclusive interview with BMI Icon Nile Rodgers, click here!
Here’s the full list of 2015 BMI R&B/Hip-Hop Awards winners:
ICON AWARD
Nile Rodgers
R&B/HIP-HOP SONG OF THE YEAR
“All of Me”
John Legend
Tobias Gad*
John Legend Publishing
R&B/HIP-HOP SONGWRITER OF THE YEAR
DJ Mustard
“2 On”
“Don’t Tell ‘Em”
“I Don’t F**k With You”
“Main Chick”
“My Hitta”
“Na Na”
“No Mediocre”
“Paranoid”
“Show Me”
“Who Do You Love?”
R&B/HIP-HOP PUBLISHER OF THE YEAR
UNIVERSAL MUSIC PUBLISHING GROUP
“Anaconda”
“Beg For It”
“Don’t Tell ‘Em”
“Fancy”
“It Won’t Stop”
“Lifestyle”
“Main Chick”
“Move That Doh”
“My Hitta”
“New Flame”
“Paranoid”
“Show Me”
“Talk Dirty”
“The Man”
“Trophies”
“Tuesday”
“Who Do You Love?”
“Wiggle”
R&B/HIP-HOP PRODUCER OF THE YEAR
DJ Mustard