Foster a BMI Icon

BMI GRANTS FOSTER ICON STATUS: David Foster took home the BMI Icon award from Del Bryant and Barbara Cane at the performing rights org’s 59th annual Pop Music Awards last night at the Beverly Wilshire, choosing the occasion to announce that, after 26 years, he’ll be leaving the Warner Music Group family for a new post at Universal Music Group. The night’s other big winner was Martin Bandier’s Sony/ATV Music Publishing, which took home top pub honors with 16 songs among the year’s most performed, its first such honor in 15 years. Lady Gaga, Jason Derulo and JR Rotem copped Songwriters of the Year honors, with four apiece, while Lady Antebellum’s “Need You Now” scored Pop Song of the Year for writers Dave Haywood and Charles Kelley along with publisher Warner Tamerlane. Foster, whose entire family was on hand, was feted with performances of his songs by Brian McKnight (Earth, Wind & Fire’s “After the Love is Gone”), Keri Hilson (Whitney Houston’s “I Have Nothing”), Cody Karey and Delta Goodrem (Celine Dion/Josh Groban’s “The Prayer”) and a fiery Chaka Khan (her own “Through the Fire”). (5/18p)