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May 21, 2003
NELLY AND SEVEN NAMED SONGWRITERS
OF THE YEAR
PUDDLE OF MUDD’S “BLURRY” NAMED
SONG OF THE YEAR
EMI MUSIC PUBLISHING TAKES PUBLISHER OF THE YEAR HONORS
ASCAP’s Elvis Costello,
Burt Bacharach, Nelly,
Seven, Puddle of Mudd,
and Solomon Burke were among the honorees
and performers attending the 20th annual ASCAP Pop Music
Awards celebration tonight at the Beverly Hilton Hotel.
Over 600 leading songwriters, recording artists and
music industry leaders gathered to salute the songwriters
and publishers of ASCAP's most performed songs of the
year. Other ASCAP honorees and notables attending the
creative black tie gala included Stevie Wonder,
Diana Krall, Diane Warren,
Rick James, Goo Goo Dolls’ John
Rzeznik, Jewel, No
Doubt, Incubus, Harry
Shearer, Hal David, Glen
Ballard, Charlotte Caffey,
The Matrix, Linda Perry,
Joe Henry, Jimmy Eat World,
Alan Bergman and ASCAP President &
Chairman Marilyn Bergman who hosted
the event.
Songwriter Linda Perry performed Christina
Aguilera’s “Beautiful” and
picked up an ASCAP Award for her Pink
hit, “Get The Party Started.”
The evening was highlighted with the presentation
of ASCAP’s coveted Founders Award to legendary
songwriter/performer, Elvis Costello. A recipient of
multiple Grammy Awards, Costello maintains one of the
most impressive catalogues in pop music today. Costello’s
incomparable gifts as a performer and music creator
have earned him a recent induction into the Rock &
Roll Hall of Fame. Among Costello’s most memorable
songs are: “Alison,” “Watching the
Detectives,” “Less Than Zero,” “Pump
It Up,” “Radio Radio,” “Everyday
I Write the Book,” “The Only Flame In Town,”
“Almost Blue,” “Veronica,” “Deep
Dark Truthful Mirror,” “God Give Me Strength”
and many others.
ASCAP President and Chairman Marilyn Bergman
commented, “ASCAP is extremely proud to honor
Elvis Costello with this special award. Elvis Costello
is a defining voice in pop music, both as a singer and
songwriter.” Bergman continues, “His work
is consistently marked by a level of intelligence, passion
and integrity that places him in the top ranks of musical
artists of our time. We are very proud to honor him
with the ASCAP Founders Award.”
ASCAP’s Founders Award honors pioneering
songwriters who have made exceptional contributions
to music. Past Founders Award recipients include James
Taylor, Burt Bacharach & Hal David, Stevie Wonder,
Tom Waits, Joni Mitchell, Leiber & Stoller, Quincy
Jones and Walter Becker and Donald Fagen to name a few.
Soul music legend Solomon Burke performed
as part of ASCAP’s special tribute to Costello.
ASCAP songwriter and Elvis Costello collaborator Burt
Bacharach was on hand to co-present this prestigious
award with Academy Award-winning lyricist Marilyn Bergman.
In celebration of Sammy Cahn’s 90th
birthday, the ASCAP Foundation Sammy Cahn Award, a cash
award for promising lyricists selected from participants
in ASCAP songwriter workshops, was presented to 26 year
old Josh Ritter. Sammy Cahn’s widow Tita Cahn
joined Marilyn Bergman in presenting the award.
Sharing the honors for Songwriter
of the Year was multi-platinum Hip Hop
recording artist and writer, Nelly
for his winning songs, “Dilemma” (Nelly
featuring Kelly Roland) “Hot In Herre” (Nelly)
and “Where The Party At” (Jagged Edge featuring
Nelly). Co-honoree, Seven, produced
eight number one hit singles in the last year and was
honored tonight for “Always On Time” (Ja
Rule featuring Ashanti), “Foolish” (Ashanti),
and “I’m Real Murder Remix (Jennifer Lopez).
Puddle of Mudd’s
Wes Scantlin and Doug Ardito,
along with co-writer Jimmy Allen, were
honored for Song of the Year
for their smash hit “Blurry.”
Publisher of the Year
honors were presented by ASCAP CEO John LoFrumento to
EMI Music Publishing for their 23 winning
songs: “Can’t Get You Out of My Head,”
“Dilemma,” “Don’t Let Me Get
Me,” “Drive,” Drops of Jupiter,”
“Escape,” “Everywhere,” “Fallin”,
“Foolish,” “Girlfriend,” “Hella
Good”, “Here Is Gone”, “Hero”,
I Need A Girl” (Part 1), “I’m Real”
(Murder Remix), “Livin’ It Up,” “One
More Day,” “Someone To Call My Lover,”
“Standing Still,” “U Don’t Have
to Call,” “U Got It Bad,” “What’s
Going On,” “Where The Party At”.
ASCAP Pop Awards were presented to the
songwriters and publishers of the most performed songs
in the ASCAP repertory for the 2002 ASCAP survey year
(October 1, 2001 through September 30, 2002).
20th
Annual ASCAP Pop Music Awards
Established in 1914, ASCAP is the world’s
largest performing rights organization, with over 150,000
active composer, lyricist and music publisher members.
ASCAP is committed to protecting the rights of its members
by licensing and collecting royalties for the public
performance of their copyrighted works, and then distributing
these fees to the Society’s members based on performances.
ASCAP’s repertory spans the entire spectrum of
music - from pop to symphonic, rock to gospel, Latin
to country to jazz, rhythm and blues, theater, film
and television music. ASCAP’s Board of Directors
is made up solely of writers and publishers, elected
by the membership.
ASCAP
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