On April 27th, ASCAP celebrated the writers and publishers of the biggest songs of 2015 at our ASCAP Pop Music Awards.
The Awards brought one memorable moment after another. Max Martin broke an all-time ASCAP record by earning his ninth Songwriter of the Year award, presented by his "Love Me Harder" and "Problem" co-writer Savan Kotecha. OMI (“Cheerleader”), Audra Mae (“Heartbeat Song”), Poo Bear (“Where Are Ü Now”) and Dave Bassett (“Ex’s & Oh’s”) performed the songs they took to the top of the charts in 2015. James Newman and Diplo honored BMG and SONGS Music Publishing, respectively, with the Independent Publisher of the Year award; Warner/Chappell took home Publisher of the Year for their 22 award-winning songs. Priscilla Renea paid tribute to Prince with a climactic performance of "Purple Rain," during a moving In Memoriam segment that also commemorated the loss of Scott Weiland and David Bowie.
The night’s big winner was John Mellencamp. The American rock legend accepted the ASCAP Founders Award from ASCAP President Paul Williams and talk show host/commentator Tavis Smiley, then treated the audience to an acoustic version of “Longest Days."
After accepting their ASCAP Vanguard Award, Walk the Moon brought the audience to its feet for a raucous performance of their ASCAP Song of the Year-winning smash, “Shut Up and Dance.” It was the perfect way to end an unforgettable night.
Founders Award
John Mellencamp
Songwriter of the Year
Max Martin
Vanguard Award
Walk The Moon
Publisher of the Year
Warner/Chappell Music, Inc.
Independent Publisher of the Year (TIE)
BMG & SONGS Music Publishing
SONG OF THE YEAR
“SHUT UP AND DANCE”
(Walk the Moon)
Writers: Ben Berger
Eli Brose Maiman
Ryan McMahon
Nicholas Petricca
Kevin Ray
Sean Waugaman
Publishers: Anna Sun Music
Benjamin Berger Publishing
Ryan McMahon Publishing
Sony/ATV Tunes LLC
Treat Me Better Tina
Verb To Be Music
Warner/Chappell Music, Inc.
What A Raucous Music
“AM I WRONG” (Nico & Vinz)
Writers: Ablai Jallow
William Wiik Larsen
Publishers: BMG
IDAP Music
Shapiro Bernstein & Co., Inc.
“ANIMALS” (Maroon 5)
Writer: Shellback (STIM)
Publisher: Kobalt Music Publishing America, Inc.
“BAD BLOOD”
(Taylor Swift ft. Kendrick Lamar)
Writers: Kendrick Lamar
Max Martin (STIM)
Shellback (STIM)
Publishers: Hard Working Black Folks Inc.
Kobalt Music Publishing America, Inc.
Top Dawg Music
Warner/Chappell Music, Inc.
“BLAME”
(Calvin Harris ft. John Newman)
Writers: James Newman (PRS)
Adam Wiles
Publishers: BMG
Sony/ATV Tunes LLC
“BLANK SPACE” (Taylor Swift)
Writers: Max Martin (STIM)
Shellback (STIM)
Publisher: Kobalt Music Publishing America, Inc.
“BUDAPEST” (George Ezra)
Writer: Joel Laslett Pott (PRS)
Publisher: BMG
“CAN’T FEEL MY FACE” (The Weeknd)
Writers: Savan Kotecha
Max Martin (STIM)
Ali Payami (STIM)
Peter Svensson (STIM)
Abel “The Weeknd” Tesfaye (SOCAN)
Publishers: Kobalt Music Publishing America, Inc.
SONGS Music Publishing
Warner/Chappell Music, Inc.
“CENTURIES” (Fall Out Boy)
Writers: Michael “Omega” Fonseca
Suzanne Vega
Publishers: Music Of Radar
The Great O Music
These Are Songs of Pulse
Warner/Chappell Music, Inc.
Waifersongs LTD
“CHEERLEADER” (OMI)
Writers: Clifton “Specialist” Dillon
Ryan “Music” Dillon
Sly Dunbar (PRS)
Omar ‘OMI’ Pasley
Publishers: Coco Plum Music Publishing
Oufah Music Publishing
Ultra International Music Publishing
“COOL FOR THE SUMMER” (Demi Lovato)
Writers: Savan Kotecha
Alexander Kronlund (STIM)
Demi Lovato
Max Martin (STIM)
Ali Payami (STIM)
Publishers: DDLovato Music
Kobalt Music Publishing America, Inc.
Universal Music Publishing Group
Warner/Chappell Music, Inc.
“EARNED IT” (The Weeknd)
Writers: Ahmad “Belly” Balshe (SOCAN)
Jason “Daheala” Quenneville (SOCAN)
Abel “The Weeknd” Tesfaye (SOCAN)
Publishers: SONGS Music Publishing
Universal Music Publishing Group
Warner/Chappell Music, Inc.
“EX’S AND OH’S” (Elle King)
Writer: Dave Bassett
Publishers: Bassett Songs
Sony/ATV Tunes LLC
“FIGHT SONG” (Rachel Platten)
Writer: Dave Bassett
Publishers: Bassett Songs
Sony/ATV Tunes LLC
“GDFR”
(Flo Rida ft. Sage The Gemini)
Writers: Thomas “Papa Dee” Allen
Harold Ray Brown
Mike Caren
Andrew Cedar
DJ Frank E
Jerry Goldstein
Lonnie Jordan
Charles Miller
Lee Oskar
Howard E. Scott
Publishers: Andrew Cedar Publishing
Artist Publishing Group West
BMG
Far Out Music
J Franks Publishing
Serious Scriptures
Warner/Chappell Music, Inc.
“GOOD FOR YOU” (Selena Gomez ft. A$AP Rocky)
Writer: Selena Gomez
Publisher: Good Fellowship Publishing
“HEARTBEAT SONG” (Kelly Clarkson)
Writers: Jimmy Eat World
Audra Mae
Publishers: Amaeb
Do I Get A Pickle With That Music
Warner/Chappell Music, Inc.
“HELLO” (Adele)
Writer: Greg Kurstin
Publishers: Kurstin Music
Sony/ATV Tunes LLC
“HERE” (Alessia Cara)
Writers: Robert T. Gerongco
Samuel T. Gerongco
Terence P. Lam (SOCAN)
Publishers: Brass North Music
Samety Sam Publishing
Warner/Chappell Music, Inc.
“HEY MAMA”
(David Guetta ft. Nicki Minaj & Bebe Rexha)
Writer: David Guetta (SACEM)
Publisher: Shapiro Bernstein & Co., Inc.
“THE HILLS” (The Weeknd)
Writers: Ahmad “Belly” Balshe (SOCAN)
Emmanuel “Mano” Nickerson
Tom Raybould (PRS)
Abel “The Weeknd” Tesfaye (SOCAN)
Publishers: Connoisseur of Connisseurs
Kobalt Music Publishing America, Inc.
SONGS Music Publishing
Warner/Chappell Music, Inc.
“HONEY, I’M GOOD” (Andy Grammer)
Writer: Nolan Sipe
Publishers: Margetts Road Music
Nolan W Sipe Music
Sony/ATV Tunes LLC
“HOTLINE BLING” (Drake)
Writer: Paul ‘Nineteen85’ Jefferies
Publishers: Nyan King Music
Sony/ATV Tunes LLC
“LEAN ON”
(Major Lazer ft. MØ & DJ Snake)
Writers: DJ Snake (SACEM)
Martin Bresso (SACEM)
Philip Meckseper (GEMA)
Wesley Pentz
Publishers: BMG
Get Familiar Music
I Like Turtles Music
Mad Decent Publishing
SONGS Music Publishing
“LIKE I’M GONNA LOSE YOU” (Meghan Trainor)
Writers: Meghan Trainor
Justin Weaver
Publishers: Big Yellow Dog Music
Cornman Music
Warner/Chappell Music, Inc.
“LIPS ARE MOVIN’” (Meghan Trainor)
Writers: Kevin Kadish
Meghan Trainor
Publishers: Big Yellow Dog Music
Over-Thought Under-Appreciated Songs
Sony/ATV Tunes LLC
“LOCKED AWAY” (R. City ft. Adam Levine)
Writers: Lukasz “Dr. Luke” Gottwald
Theron Thomas
Timothy Thomas
Henry “Cirkut” Walter
Publishers: Cirkut Breaker LLC
Kasz Money Publishing
Prescription Songs LLC
TNT Explosive Publishing
Universal Music Publishing Group
“LOVE ME HARDER”
(Ariana Grande & The Weeknd)
Writers: Ahmad “Belly” Balshe (SOCAN)
Savan Kotecha
Max Martin (STIM)
Ali Payami (STIM)
Abel “The Weeknd” Tesfaye (SOCAN)
Publishers: Kobalt Music Publishing America, Inc.
SONGS Music Publishing
Warner/Chappell Music, Inc.
“LOVE ME LIKE YOU DO” (Ellie Goulding)
Writers: ILYA (STIM)
Savan Kotecha
Max Martin (STIM)
Ali Payami (STIM)
Tove Lo (STIM)
Publishers: Kobalt Music Publishing America, Inc.
Universal Music Publishing Group
Warner/Chappell Music, Inc.
“POST TO BE”
(Omarion ft. Chris Brown & Jhene Aiko)
Writers: Everton Bonner (PRS)
Chaka Demus
Samuel “Sam Hook” Jean
Lloyd Gitsy Willis (PRS)
Publishers: Kobalt Music Publishing America, Inc.
Normaharris Music Publishing
Sam Hook Music
Sony/ATV Tunes LLC
Universal Music Publishing Group
“RIPTIDE” (Vance Joy)
Writer: James Keogh p/k/a Vance Joy (APRA)
Publisher: Warner/Chappell Music, Inc.
“SEE YOU AGAIN”
(Wiz Khalifa ft. Charlie Puth)
Writers: Andrew Cedar
DJ Frank E
Josh Hardy (APRA)
Dann Hume (APRA)
Phoebe Lou (APRA)
Publishers: Andrew Cedar Publishing
Artist Publishing Group West
J Franks Publishing
Universal Music Publishing Group
Warner/Chappell Music, Inc.
“SHAKE IT OFF” (Taylor Swift)
Writers: Max Martin (STIM)
Shellback (STIM)
Publisher: Kobalt Music Publishing America, Inc.
“SOMEBODY”
(Natalie La Rose ft. Jeremih)
Writers: Jeremih
Joe Khajadourian
Alex Schwartz
Publishers: Artist Publishing Group West
Ohaji Publishing
Panic Attack Publishing
Schweezy Beats Publishing
Universal Music Publishing Group
Warner/Chappell Music, Inc.
“STAY WITH ME” (Sam Smith)
Publisher: Sony/ATV Tunes LLC
“STYLE” (Taylor Swift)
Writers: Max Martin (STIM)
Ali Payami (STIM)
Shellback (STIM)
Publishers: Kobalt Music Publishing America, Inc.
Warner/Chappell Music, Inc.
“SUGAR” (Maroon 5)
Writers: Joshua “Ammo” Coleman
Lukasz “Dr. Luke” Gottwald
Jacob “JKash” Hindlin
Mike Posner
Henry “Cirkut” Walter
Publishers: Cirkut Breaker LLC
Each Note Counts
Kasz Money Publishing
Kobalt Music Publishing America, Inc.
North Greenway Productions
Prescriptions Songs LLC
Sony/ATV Tunes LLC
“TALKING BODY” (Tove Lo)
Writers: Jakob Jerlström (STIM)
Ludvig Söderberg (STIM)
Tove Lo (STIM)
Publisher: Warner/Chappell Music, Inc.
“THINKING OUT LOUD” (Ed Sheeran)
Writer: Amy Wadge (PRS)
“TIME OF OUR LIVES” (Pitbull ft. Ne-Yo)
Writers: Lifted
Lukasz “Dr. Luke” Gottwald
Shaffer “NE-YO” Smith
Henry “Cirkut” Walter
Publishers: Cirkut Breaker LLC
Kasz Money Publishing
Pen In The Ground Publishing
Prescription Songs LLC
RLFG Music
Sony/ATV Tunes LLC
Universal Music Publishing Group
Ye World Music
“TRAP QUEEN” (Fetty Wap)
Writers: Tony Fadd
Willie J. Maxwell
Publishers: 45th and 3rd Music Publishing Inc.
BMG
RGF Productions
Sony/ATV Tunes LLC
Tony Fadd Beats
Zoovier
“UMA THURMAN” (Fall Out Boy)
Writers: Waqaas Hashmi (SOCAN)
Jarrel Young (SOCAN)
Publisher: SONGS Music Publishing
“UPTOWN FUNK”
(Mark Ronson ft. Bruno Mars)
Publishers: BMG
Thou Art the Hunger
Universal Music Publishing Group
Warner/Chappell Music, Inc.
“WANT TO WANT ME” (Jason Derulo)
Writers: Sam Martin
Lindy Robbins
Publishers: Artist Publishing Group West
Hey Kiddo Music
Sam Martin Music Publishing
Warner/Chappell Music, Inc.
“WAVES” (Mr. Probz)
Writer: Jihad Rahmouni (BUMA)
Publisher: Sony/ATV Tunes LLC
“WHAT DO YOU MEAN?” (Justin Bieber)
Writers: Justin Bieber
Jason “Poo Bear” Boyd
Mason Levy
Publishers: Artist Publishing Group West
Bieber Time Publishing
BMG
Hitco South
Mason Levy Productions
Poo B Z Publishing Inc.
Universal Music Publishing Group
Warner/Chappell Music, Inc.
“WHERE ARE U NOW”
(Skrillex & Diplo ft. Justin Bieber)
Writers: Justin Bieber
Jason “Poo Bear” Boyd
Sonny Moore
Wesley Pentz
Publishers: Bieber Time Publishing
BMG
Copaface
Hitco South
I Like Turtles Music
Poo B Z Publishing Inc.
SONGS Music Publishing
Universal Music Publishing Group
“WILDEST DREAMS” (Taylor Swift)
Writers: Max Martin (STIM)
Shellback (STIM)
Publisher: Kobalt Music Publishing America, Inc.
“WORTH IT”
(Fifth Harmony ft. Kid Ink)
Writers: Mikkel Eriksen
Tor Hermansen
Ori Kaplan (Balkan Beat Box)
Kid Ink
Priscilla Renea
Publishers: Alumni Ink Publishing
Bluma
SONGS Music Publishing
Sony/ATV Tunes LLC
Warner/Chappell Music, Inc.
“YOU KNOW YOU LIKE IT”
(DJ Snake & AlunaGeorge)
Writers: DJ Snake (SACEM)
Martin Bresso (SACEM)
Publishers: BMG
Get Familiar Music