ABBA Honored

ASCAP recognizes the achievements of writers from the Swedish performing rights organization

Pictured (l-r) ABBA's Bjorn Ulvaeus, STIM's Goran Carlsson and ABBA's Benny Andersson. ABBA's writers won for the song "Hung Up."

Also pictured are (l-r) Bloodshy (Christian Karlsson), G�ran Carlsson (STIM), Henrik Jonback and Avant (Pontus Winnberg), who won for co-penning the song, "Toxic."

For the second year running, ASCAP was proud to recognize the achievements of writers from the Swedish performing right organization (STIM). Several songs were amongst the most performed in the U.S. in 2005 and the writers of those songs were presented with awards marking their success.

Goran Carlsson from STIM was on hand to present the ASCAP awards for "Hung Up" to ABBA's Benny Andersson and Bjorn Ulvaeus. The song, performed by ASCAP member Madonna, sampled the ABBA song "Gimme, Gimme, Gimme."

Other awards were given to Bloodshy (Christian Karlsson), G�ran Carlsson (STIM), Henrik Jonback, Avant (Pontus Winnberg), all of whom are part of the writer team who co-wrote the Britney Spears hit, "Toxic." Two awards were presented to Max Martin for his Kelly Clarkson hits, "Since U Been Gone" and "Behind These Hazel Eyes."