June 02, 2010
At the 27th annual ASCAP Pop Music Awards Celebration Patti Smith and The Killers receive special honors, Lukasz "Dr. Luke" Gottwald is named Songwriter of the Year, Jason Mraz receives Song of the Year Award and EMI Music Publishing is named Publisher of the Year
ASCAP hosted its 27th annual Pop Music Awards on April 21st at the Renaissance Hollywood Hotel in Los Angeles, California. The star-studded event, which was attended by over 700 leading songwriters, recording artists and music industry leaders, paid special tribute to Patti Smith and The Killers, and honored the songwriters and publishers behind some of today’s most popular music.
Top awards included Songwriter of the Year, presented to Lukasz "Dr. Luke" Gottwald; Song of the Year, awarded to "I'm Yours," written by Jason Mraz; and Publisher of the Year, presented to EMI Music Publishing.
Special awards were presented to rock icon Patti Smith who was honored with the ASCAP Founders Award and The Killers who received ASCAP's Vanguard Award. Awards were also presented to the songwriters and publishers of ASCAP'smost performed pop songs of 2009.
The awards celebration featured several performances throughout the evening, including those by special honoree Patti Smith who performed with her band – Lenny Kaye, Jay Dee Daugherty and Tony Shanahan - and Song of the Year winner Jason Mraz, who sang "I'm Yours." The All-American Rejects performed their hit "Gives You Hell," Flo Rida sang his Pop Award-winning hit "Right Round" and Jessi Alexander took to the stage to sing her award winner "The Climb" (a hit for Miley Cyrus).
ASCAP CEO John LoFrumento and ASCAP Senior Vice President, Domestic Membership Randy Grimmett presented Lukasz "Dr. Luke" Gottwald with his first-ever Songwriter of the Year award. The songwriter, performer, producer, remixer and hitmaker was responsible for penning five of the most performed songs of the past year: Britney Spears's "Circus," Katy Perry's "Hot N Cold," Kelly Clarkson's "My Life Would Suck Without You," Miley Cyrus's "Party In the USA" and Flo Rida's "Right Round."
Two-time Grammy Award-winner Jason Mraz collected the Song of the Year award for "I'm Yours." With more than 76 weeks logged, the song holds the record for the most weeks spent on Billboard's Hot 100 charts.
ASCAP Publisher of the Year honors went to EMI Music Publishing, who had 15 award-winning songs. LoFrumento presented the award to EMI Music Publishing's Chairman and CEO Roger Faxon, President of North American Creative Big Jon Platt, Executive Vice President of North American Creative Dan McCarroll and EMI's executive team. This is the eighth consecutive win for EMI and the 16th time in the 27-year history of the awards show that they have received this honor.
ASCAP President and Chairman Paul Williams presented Patti Smith with ASCAP's Founders Award, which recognized Smith as "a songwriter, poet, trailblazer, and rock icon whose creative genius and rock & roll spirit will continue to inspire generations to come." The award is among the most prestigious honors that ASCAP gives to songwriters and composers who have made pioneering contributions to music by inspiring and influencing their fellow music creators.
Las Vegas quartet The Killers was presented with ASCAP's Vanguard Award, which recognizes the impact of musical genres that help shape the future of American music. All four members of the band – vocalist/keyboardist Brandon Flowers, guitarist Dave Keuning and drummer Ronnie Vannucci – were on hand to accept their award.
Other notables in attendance included American Idol's Allison Iraheta, Randy Bachman, Kerry "Krucial" Brothers, Clem Burke of Blondie, John Forté, Toby Gad, O.A.R., Tiësto, Leon Ware and Butch Walker.
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