May 18, 2004

PRESS CONTACT:
Pauline Stack (212) 621-6278 pstack@ascap.com	Bobbi Marcus (310) 889-9200 bmarcuspr@aol.com

50 Cent, Graham Edwards and Nelly were named Songwriters of the Year at the 21st Annual ASCAP Pop Music Awards celebration held tonight at the Beverly Hilton Hotel in California. 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 given out to Jackson Browne, who received the ASCAP Founders Award, and to Metallica who was honored with the inaugural ASCAP Creative Voice Award. MTV/VH1 received the ASCAP Partner in Music Award as the pioneers in Music Video Broadcasting.

Hosted by ASCAP President & Chairman Marilyn Bergman, over 600 leading songwriters, recording artists and music industry leaders gathered at the creative black tie gala to salute the songwriters and publishers of the most performed ASCAP songs of 2003. Among the honorees and notables in attendance were Jackson Browne, Metallica, Matrix, Linda Perry, Lil’ Mo, Luis Resto, the Goo Goo Dolls’ John Rzeznik, Bob Rock, Don Was, Richie Sambora, Alice in Chains' Jerry Cantrell, Chingy, Shawn Colvin, Brian Graden - President Entertainment MTV/VH-1, Dobie Gray, Jewel, Alan Bergman, Hal David, Paul Williams, Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller, Vonda Shepard, Harvey Mason, Jr., Rah Digga, Ric Rock, Spliff Starr, Scott Storch, Chink Santana, and Damon Thomas.

Chingy performed his award winning song, "Right Thurr," and R&B singer Dobie Gray, backed by an all-star band led by Don Was, delighted the audience with an outstanding performance of the 1973 hit single "Drift Away," written by Mentor Williams. An Uncle Kracker cover of the song earned Williams a place among the most performed ASCAP songs of 2003.

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, Browne has been writing, recording and performing songs for more than 30 years creating such hits as "Doctor My Eyes," "Take It Easy," "These Days," "Shadow Dream Song," "Running on Empty," "The Load Out/Stay," "Somebody's Baby," "Lawyers in Love," "Tender is the Night" and "For A Rocker." Such artists as The Eagles, Linda Ronstadt, The Byrds, Tom Rush, Gregg Allman, Nico, among others, have recorded his songs.

The ASCAP Founders Award honors pioneering songwriters who have made exceptional contributions to music. Jackson Browne joins an exclusive line-up of previous ASCAP Founders Award recipients including Elvis Costello, Burt Bacharach & Hal David, Walter Becker & Donald Fagen, Jerry Leiber & Mike Stoller, Paul McCartney, Joni Mitchell, James Taylor, Tom Waits, and Stevie Wonder, to name a few.

Grammy Award-winning, singer/songwriter Shawn Colvin performed as part of ASCAP’s special tribute to Browne, and was on hand for the presentation of this prestigious award with Academy Award-winning lyricist, ASCAP President Marilyn Bergman. Jackson Browne brought down the house with his performance.

Another highlight of the evening was the presentation of the inaugural ASCAP Creative Voice Award to Metallica by 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.

Over the last 23 years, Metallica has steadily molded and shaped the rock and metal genres, bending and pushing the boundaries with rebellion and bravery. Through the defiant integrity of their music, they have become musical icons, redefining the heavy metal genre and standing up for the rights of songwriters in an advanced technological age where piracy runs rampant. They are the recipients of numerous awards including seven Grammys, and have earned the coveted "Diamond Award" from the RIAA for their 1991 self-titled 'Black' album, which reached number one all over the world and sold in excess of 15 million copies. The album includes such classic Metallica standards as "Enter Sandman," "Nothing Else Matters," "Wherever I May Roam," and "Sad But True."

The ASCAP Partner in Music Award, which recognizes the exceptional dedication to promoting and expanding the reach of music, was awarded to MTV and VH1 as the pioneers in Music Video Broadcasting. Brian Graden, President of Entertainment for MTV and VH1, was on hand to accept this honor from John Rzeznik of the Goo Goo Dolls and ASCAP CEO John LoFrumento.

Each of the Songwriter of the Year recipients contributed three songs. Multi-platinum Rap superstar 50 Cent was honored for "In Da Club," "Magic Stick," and "21 Questions." Graham Edwards, of the songwriting and production team The Matrix, picked up awards for "Complicated" and " "I'm With You," co-written with Avril Lavigne (SOCAN), and "The Remedy," co-written with Jason Mraz. Sharing Songwriter of the Year honors for the second consecutive year, multi-platinum Hip Hop recording artist and writer, Nelly was honored for "Dilemma (Nelly featuring Kelly Rowland)," "Hot In Herre," and "Shake Ya Tailfeather,"

"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, New Radicals, 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. See complete list of winners...

2004 marks the 90th anniversary of the founding of ASCAP. As the world’s largest Performing Rights Organization, ASCAP has over 180,000 composer, lyricist and music publisher members representing all genres of music. 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 Board of Directors is made up solely of writers and publishers, elected by the membership every two years.

ASCAP in the News