© 2019 ASCAP
James Weldon Johnson was an activist, diplomat, lyricist and one of ASCAP’s founding members. He’s pictured here at the piano with his brother J. Rosamond Johnson, his co-writer on “Lift Ev’ry Voice & Sing” – the hymn called “The Black national anthem” by the NAACP, and adopted as its official song in 1919.
Lionel Richie won Songwriter of the Year at the inaugural ASCAP Pop Awards in 1984, for the success of his hits "My Love," "Truly" and "You Are." Here he is at that ceremony, surrounded by a pantheon of ASCAP greats: (l-r) Henry Mancini, Kenny Rogers, Hal David and Marilyn & Alan Bergman. Richie won Songwriter of the Year again in 1985 and 1986, and came back at the 25th Pop Awards to earn our Golden Note Award.
Here's a vintage invite from the 2nd ASCAP Black Music Celebration, held March 13, 1989 and honoring Rick James, Jimmy Jam & Terry Lewis, DJ Jazzy Jeff & The Fresh Prince and more. Later renamed the ASCAP Rhythm & Soul Awards, our annual ceremony honors achievements in R&B, hip-hop and gospel music.
Kandi Burruss becomes the first Black woman to win ASCAP Songwriter of the Year in any genre, thanks to her co-writes “No Scrubs” (TLC) and “Bills Bills Bills” (Destiny's Child). Kandi cemented her legacy in 2018 when she won a Song of the Year award at our Pop Music Awards (for Ed Sheeran's “Shape of You,” which interpolates "No Scrubs") and the prestigious ASCAP Golden Note Award (with XSCAPE) at our Rhythm & Soul Music Awards.
In 2020, ASCAP re-committed ourselves to amplifying and empowering Black voices. We created our Fight for Change initiative, matched employee donations to Color of Change and the NAACP Legal Defense Fund, launched an HBCU Intern Leadership Program, supported racial justice and police reform bills, and made Juneteenth a company-wide holiday.
There is so much more for us to do and to learn. But we are proud of what ASCAP has done so far to stand with the Black community in our fight against systemic racism and injustice, and support the Black music creators who enrich our lives every single day.
It's ASCAP's birthday on February 13! To paraphrase "It's My Party," the first hit single ever produced by ASCAP legend Quincy Jones: "It's my party, I can search myself on Genius if I want to." Since our 107th b-day sits right in the middle of Black History Month 2021, we've compiled a list of 21 of our favorite hip-hop lyrics that namecheck ASCAP. Read it here. 🎂 🎤
For Valentine's Day, we’re celebrating love, music and Black History Month with six Black power couples – all of them ASCAP members – who are partners in life and in music. Read their stories in the photo gallery, and listen to some of the music they've written and/or recorded together in our Spotify playlist below.
Nick Ashford & Valerie Simpson (a former ASCAP Board member) were well versed in love as co-writers of timeless duets like "Ain't No Mountain High Enough" & "Ain't Nothing Like the Real Thing." They were married for 37 years, and collaborators the whole time.
Beyoncé and Jay-Z are indisputably THE musical power couple. From collaborating on hits like “‘03 Bonnie & Clyde," “Crazy in Love” and “Drunk in Love” to their sold-out On the Run tour and collaborative album as The Carters, Bey & Jay have inspired each other and done some of their best work together.
Alicia Keys & Swizz Beatz have both had spectacular, acclaimed careers. Just as impressive is their commitment to co-parenting their children alongside Swizz’s ex (the mother of one of his sons) – a dynamic Alicia sings about in “Blended Family (What You Do for Love).”
Cardi B & Offset are two of hip-hop’s most fashion-forward artists, and their romance is just as distinctive as they are. Their story has yielded headlines, hit records, and of course an adorable daughter, Kulture.
Will & Jada Pinkett Smith are both formidable actors and music creators – Will as half of DJ Jazzy Jeff & The Fresh Prince and (later) massive solo songs like “Men in Black;” Jada as the fierce frontwoman of nü-metal band Wicked Wisdom. Clearly, Will & Jada have cracked the code to longevity in their professional and romantic lives. 25+ years after they started dating, Will and Jada are still gettin’ jiggy with it.
When trumpeter Louis Armstrong moved from New Orleans to Chicago in the early ‘20s, he joined the successful King Oliver band, and also met his future wife Lil Hardin, the band’s exceptional pianist. Lil was instrumental in helping Louis develop as a player and as a showman. They played in each other’s combos, and together recorded some of the most influential recordings in jazz history, as Louis Armstrong with his Hot Five and Hot Seven groups.