BEVERLY HILLS, Calif.,
June 23, 2017 /PRNewswire/
-- The ASCAP Rhythm & Soul Music Awards returned to
The Beverly Wilshire in Los
Angeles on Thursday, June 22,
2017 for its 30th annual ceremony. The invitation-only event
celebrated the songwriters and publishers of the most performed
ASCAP songs on the 2016 R&B/hip-hop, rap and gospel charts. Two
music icons were feted with some of ASCAP's most prestigious
honors: Christopher "Notorious B.I.G." Wallace was
recognized with the ASCAP Founders Award on the 20th
anniversary of his death; and superstar songwriting and production
duo Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis
received the ASCAP Voice of Music Award, just one week after
being inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame.
The Founders Award for Notorious B.I.G. was accepted by his
wife, singer/songwriter Faith
Evans, his children, and his former managers and estate
consultant Wayne Barrow and
Mark Pitts. Sean "Diddy"
Combs acknowledged Biggie's legacy in a touching video,
introducing his sons, Justin and
Christian Combs, who presented the award. Biggie's
DJs, Clark Kent and DJ
Enuff, commemorated him with a rousing DJ battle. ASCAP's most
prestigious honor, The Founders Award is presented to songwriters
and composers who have made pioneering contributions to music by
inspiring and influencing their fellow music creators. Each
recipient is a musical innovator who possesses a unique style of
creative genius which will enrich generations to come. Previous
recipients include: Quincy Jones,
Dr. Dre, Sean "Diddy" Combs, Jermaine
Dupri, Berry Gordy Jr. &
Motown Industries, Smokey Robinson,
Stevie Wonder, Carly Simon, Melissa
Etheridge, Paul McCartney,
Patti Smith, Neil Young and many more.
Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis
were honored with the ASCAP Voice of Music Award, presented
by industry icon Clarence Avant and
Chairman and CEO of Warner/Chappell Music
Jon Platt. The Voice of Music Award is presented to
songwriters and artists whose music gives voice to the spirit of a
generation. Previous recipients of the ASCAP Voice of Music Award
include Mary J. Blige,
Diane Warren, Trisha Yearwood, The Doobie Brothers,
Jimmy Webb, George Strait and Garth Brooks.
Songwriters and publishers of the past year's chart-topping hits
were also recognized. ASCAP Rhythm & Soul Music Songwriter
of the Year was a tie between Allen
Ritter ("Controlla," Drake; "Work," Rihanna, more) and
Paul "Nineteen85" Jefferies ("For Free," DJ Khaled &
Drake; "Hotline Bling," Drake,
more). Publisher of the Year went to Sony/ATV.
The Top R&B/Hip-Hop Song was "Needed Me," written by
Adam "Frank Dukes" Feeney, Brittany "Starrah" Hazzard,
Prince Charlez and Derrus Rachel; Top Rap Song went
to "Controlla," written by Dwayne "Supa Dups" Chin-quee,
Moses Anthony Davis, Donald Anthony Dennis, Gary Lewis Jackson, Stephen "Di Genius"
McGregor, Allen Ritter, Patrick Leroy Roberts and Matthew "Boi-1da"
Samuels; and Top Gospel Song was awarded to "Better,"
written by Gabriel J Hatcher II. Special ASCAP
songwriter guest presenters included GMA Dove Award winner
Jonathan McReynolds,
Boss and Power actor Rotimi, and
Sevyn Streeter, who is about
to release a new album in July.
The elite crowd of music creators, publishers and industry
insiders was treated to live music from ASCAP songwriters including
the first live appearance from H.E.R. performing her song
"Focus;" Jeremih doing his Billboard Hot 100 hit, "Oui;"
Kyle performing his Top 5 hit "iSpy" and new single,
"Nothing to Lose," and Tasha
Cobbs singing her new single "Great God."
An A-list audience of celebrities were due to attend the show
including French Montana,
Remy Ma, Papoose, PartyNextDoor, 2
Chainz, Nicci Gilbert, Mike Will
Made-It, Yo Gotti, Anthony Brown, Stacy
Barthe, Majid Jordan,
Infared, Siedah Garrett, Gizzle,
Young Greatness, Bridget Kelly, DJ
Drama, Yung Berg, Goapele,
James Fauntleroy, Boi-1da,
Mona Scott-Young and Keyshia Cole. The 2017 ASCAP Rhythm &
Soul Music Awards are presented by REVOLT and sponsored by
Ciroc and Create Music.
For a full list of ASCAP 2017 Rhythm & Soul Awards winners,
please go to www.ascap.com/rsawards17. See #ASCAPURBAN
for social media coverage.
About ASCAP
The American Society of Composers, Authors
and Publishers (ASCAP) is a professional membership organization of
songwriters, composers and music publishers of every kind of music.
ASCAP's mission is to license and promote the music of its members
and foreign affiliates, obtain fair compensation for the public
performance of their works and to distribute the royalties that it
collects based upon those performances. ASCAP members write the
world's best-loved music and ASCAP has pioneered the efficient
licensing of that music to hundreds of thousands of enterprises who
use it to add value to their business - from bars, restaurants and
retail, to radio, TV and cable, to Internet, mobile services and
more. The ASCAP license offers an efficient solution for businesses
to legally perform ASCAP music while respecting the right of
songwriters and composers to be paid fairly. With more than 600,000
members representing more than 10 million copyrighted works, ASCAP
is the worldwide leader in performance royalties, service and
advocacy for songwriters and composers, and the only American
performing rights organization (PRO) owned and governed by its
writer and publisher members. Learn more and stay in touch at
www.ascap.com, on Twitter and
Instagram @ASCAP and on Facebook.
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SOURCE ASCAP