RedOne won his first songwriter of the year award and Taylor Swift’s “Love Story” claimed song of the year kudos at the 58th annual BMI Pop Music Awards earlier this evening. Also honored during the ceremony at the Beverly Wilshire Hotel in Los Angeles were BMI Icon John Fogerty and publisher of the year Warner-Tamerlane Publishing Corp. Serving as hosts were BMI’s president/CEO Del Bryant and VP/GM, Los Angeles Barbara Cane.
Songwriter/producer RedOne was honored for his work on four songs: Sean Kingston’s “Fire Burning” and Lady Gaga’s “Just Dance” (featuring Colby O’Donis), “LoveGame” and “Poker Face.”
Swift wrote her hit “Love Story,” which is published through Sony/ATV Tree and Taylor Swift Music.
Warner-Tamerlane succeeded last year’s winner, Universal Music Publishing, with 12 awarded songs including “Circus” (Britney Spears), “Dead and Gone” (T.I. featuring Justin Timberlake) and “My Life Would Suck Without You” (Kelly Clarkson). The music rights organization also saluted the writers and publishers of the past year’s 50 most-performed pop songs on U.S. radio and television. That list features such chart hits as the Black Eyed Peas’ “Boom Boom Pow” and “I Gotta Feeling,” Beyoncé’s “Halo” and Kings of Leon’s “Use Somebody.”
Among the evening’s highlights was the tribute to BMI Icon Fogerty. Accompanied by his band as well as his two teen sons, Shane and Tyler, the former Creedence Clearwater Revival member delivered scorching medleys of his most popular hits, including “Travelin’ Band,” “Green River,” “Up Around the Bend,” “Bad Moon Rising” and “Proud Mary.” Geffen recording artist Orianthi opened the musical proceedings. Fogerty joins such previous Icon honorees as Gamble & Huff, Kris Kristofferson, the Jacksons and Paul Simon.
