Warner/Chappell Music CEO Jon Platt and trailblazing music exec Clarence Avant were on hand to present Jam & Lewis with the Voice of Music Award, presented to inspiring writers and artists. Fresh off their induction into the Songwriters Hall of Fame, alongside Jay-Z, the duo are best known for their career-spanning work with Janet Jackson, as well as for crafting hits for pop superstars including Usher and Mariah Carey.
ASCAP also saluted the songwriters and publishers of the most-performed ASCAP songs on the 2015 R&B, hip-hop, rap and gospel charts. Sony/ATV Music earned publisher of the year, and Paul "Nineteen85" Jefferies and Allen Ritter tied for songwriter of the year honors.
Genre-specific awards were broken down into three groups: R&B, rap and gospel: Rihanna's "Needed Me" (three co-writers and eight publishers) was awarded top R&B/Hip-Hop song; Drake's "Controlla" (eight co-writers and five publishers) earned top rap song; and Hezekiah Walker's "Better" (by Gabriel J Hatcher II, publisher Phatchordzproductions) won top gospel honors. (See full credits for these winning tracks below.)
Other awarded songs on the night included "Formation," co-written by Beyonce and Mike WiLL Made-It, "Hello," written by Greg Kurstin for Adele, and Drake's "Hotline Bling," penned by co-songwriter of the year winner Paul "Nineteen85" Jefferies.
The evening included live performances by H.E.R., Jeremih , Kyle and Tasha Cobbs. Attendees included ASCAP president Paul Williams, French Montana, Remy Ma, Papoose, PartyNextDoor, 2 Chainz, Nicci Gilbert, Mike Will Made-It, Yo Gotti, Anthony Brown, Stacy Barthe, Majid Jordan, DJ Drama, Yung Berg, Goapele, James Fauntleroy, Mona Scott-Young and Keyshia Cole.
Top R&B/Hip-Hop Song
"Needed Me" by Rihanna
Writers
Adam “Frank Dukes” Feeney (SOCAN)
Brittany “Starrah” Hazzard
Prince Charlez
Publishers
Almo Music Corporation
BMG Gold Songs
Nyan King Music, Inc.
People Over Planes
Seven Corners
Shay Noelle Publishing
Sony/ATV Tunes LLC
These Are Songs of Pulse
Top Rap Song
"Controlla" by Drake
Writers
Dwayne “Supa Dups” Chin-quee
Moses Anthony Davis (PRS)
Donald Anthony Dennis (JACAP)
Gary Lewis Jackson (PRS)
Stephen “Di Genius” McGregor
Allen Ritter
Patrick Leroy Roberts (PRS)
Matthew “Boi-1da” Samuels
Publishers
1Damentional Publishing LLC
Black Chiney Music
Ritter Boy
Sony/ATV Tunes LLC
Universal Music Publishing
Top Gospel Song
"Better" by Hezekiah Walker
Writer
Gabriel J Hatcher II
Publisher
Phatchordzproductions
?See the full list of winning songs here.
