EMI Music Publishing Takes Top Publisher Of The Year Honors

MTV/VH1 Receives ASCAP Partner in Music Award

Multiple award winners at this year's ASCAP Pop Awards included John Mayer, Chink Santana, Train, Justin Timberlake, Avril Lavigne, Varick “Smitty” Smith and Steven “Lenky” Marsden. The 2004 ASCAP College Vanguard Award honored The Mars Volta.

Songwriter of the Year Graham Edwards, ASCAP President and Chairman Marilyn Bergman, and Founders Award honoree Jackson Browne.

Metallica received the inaugural ASCAP Creative Voice Award. Pictured (l-r) are Metallica's Robert Trujillo, ASCAP CEO John LoFrumento, Metallica's Lars Ulrich, Kirk Hammett and James Hetfield, and ASCAP Executive VP of Membership Todd Brabec.

Hosted by ASCAP President and Chairman Marilyn Bergman, leading songwriters, recording artists and music industry leaders gathered to salute the songwriters and publishers of the most performed ASCAP songs of 2003.

50 Cent, Graham Edwards and Nelly were named Songwriters of the Year. Songwriter/ producer Rick Nowels received Song of the Year honors for the smash hit single “The Game of Love.” EMI Music Publishing picked up the Publisher of Year award as the music publisher with the most award-winning songs. Special awards were also given out to Jackson Browne, who received the ASCAP Founders Award, and to Metallica who was honored with the inaugural ASCAP Creative Voice Award presented by ASCAP Chairman and President Marilyn Bergman. On hand to pay homage to Metallica was Alice in Chains’ Jerry Cantrell and acclaimed music producer Bob Rock. This award is bestowed upon those ASCAP members whose significant career achievements are equally informed by their creative spirit and by their contributions to the role that a creator can play in their community.

MTV/VH1 received the ASCAP Partner in Music Award as the pioneers in music video broadcasting.

The evening was highlighted with the presentation of the ASCAP Founders Award to one of the most successful singer/songwriters of our time, Jackson Browne, a 2004 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee.

Rick Nowels

“The Game of Love” earned songwriter/producer Rick Nowels the coveted Song of the Year title as a co-writer of the song with the most performance credits. Nowels has worked with some of the biggest-selling artists including Madonna, Des’ree, Belinda Carlisle, Dido, Celine Dion, Ronan Keating, Jewel, New Radi-cals, Texas, k.d Lang, among many others.

Publisher of the Year honors were presented by ASCAP CEO John LoFrumento to EMI Music Publishing for their 15 winning songs: “All I Have,” “Calling All Angels,” “Can't Let You Go,” “Crazy In Love,” “Dilemma,” “Don't Mess With My Man,” “Drops Of Jupiter,” “The Game Of Love,” “Get Busy,” “How You Gonna Act Like That,” “I Know What You Want,” “I Need A Girl (Part 2),” “Intuition,” “Just Like A Pill,” and “Rock Your Body.” EMI Chairman/CEO Martin Bandier accepted the honor.

The 2004 ASCAP College Vanguard Award went to The Mars Volta. This award recognizes the impact of new and developing musical genres that help shape the future of American music and which gain early popularity on college radio. Past recipients of this award include Beck, Modest Mouse, The Strokes, Built to Spill and Jack Johnson.

Other songwriters receiving multiple-awards were John Mayer, Chink Santana, Train, Justin Timberlake, Avril Lavigne, Varick “Smitty” Smith and Steven “Lenky” Marsden.

For a full list of ASCAP Pop Music Award winners, visit http://www.ascap.com/eventsawards/awards/popawards/2004/

Pop Music Awards Photos