Grammy-winning artist Pitbull will receive the first-ever Global Ambassador Award at the 48th annual Songwriters Hall of Fame induction and awards ceremony on June 15, Billboard can exclusively announce.
The special accolade, which will not be given annually but only when merited, celebrates artists and songwriters whose music has “true worldwide appeal, crossing genre, cultural and national boundaries.”
“Pitbull’s success, creativity, tireless musical collaboration and his wide-ranging social activism make him the ideal songwriter-performer to initiate the SHOF Global Ambassador Award,” SHOF co-chairs Kenneth Gamble and Leon Huff and President/CEO Linda Moran, said in a statement.
The Miami-born rapper’s collabs have not only made him a global icon, but also a chart-topping artist. On the Billboard charts, he’s had 43 Billboard Hot 100 hits — including two No. 1s: “Give Me Everything,” feat. Ne-Yo, Afrojack & Nayer and “Timber,” feat. Kesha — plus two top 10 albums on the Billboard 200 with Rebelution (No. 8 in 2009) and Planet Pit (No. 7 in 2011).
The hitmaker’s forthcoming studio album Climate Change is set to drop Friday, featuring collaborations with Enrique Iglesias, Jennifer Lopez and Austin Mahone.
2017 Songwriters Hall of Fame inductees include musical titans Kenneth “Babyface” Edmonds, Berry Gordy, Jimmy Jam & Terry Lewis, Robert Lamm & James Pankow p/k/a “Chicago,” Max Martin, and Shawn “Jay Z” Carter.