HOT IN ATLANTA

Team Universal Music Publishing celebrates winning Publisher of the Year and Song of the Year ("See You Again" from Furious 7) among its 21 trophies at the BMI R&B/Hip-Hop Awards. A statement from pubco ruler Jody Gerson appears below. Seen hoping Donald Trump doesn’t show up and read scripted remarks about soul music are (l-r) BMI topper Mike O'Neil, UMPG’s newly tapped Director of Creative Sterling Simms, President of Urban Music/Co-Head of Creative Ethiopia Habtemariam, VP Writer/Publisher Relations, Atlanta Catherine Brewton and Senior Manager of Creative Brandra Ringo.

Among the pubco’s writers honored over the course of the evening in Atlanta: Chris Brown, Future, Post Malone, Nicki Minaj, Ester Dean, Metro Boomin, Travis Scott, Invisible Men, Stephan Moccio, Sage The Gemini, Sebastian Kole, Pop Wansel, August Alsina, Micah Powell, Jhené Aiko, George Merrill, Shannon Rubicam, Sly Dunbar and Isaac Hayes.

“It’s a major achievement to receive the BMI R&B/Hip-Hop Publisher of the Year Award, and I couldn’t be more proud of our songwriters. It’s the second year-in-a-row we’ve achieved Publisher of the Year, which is really a testament to the incredible level of talent of our writers, and the hard work of our team, which works tirelessly to support them,” Gerson asserted.

“We are privileged to work alongside an amazing group of talented individuals that continue to break boundaries and push culture forward,” declared Habtemariam.