Annual Pop Awards Features Barbra Streisand Phone Call to Congratulate Barry and Robin Gibb
There was plenty of “Jive Talkin’” at
BMI’s 55
th Annual Pop Awards at the Beverly Wilshire Hotel in
Beverly Hills last night and we’re not just talking about org President/CEO
Del Bryant’s speech honoring the
Bee Gees as 2007 Pop Icons.
The highlight of the evening came when Barbra Streisand called in to congratulate brothers Barry and Robin Gibb, along with Yvonne Gibb, wife of the late Maurice Gibb, on receiving the honor, which has gone in the past to the likes of Crosby, Stills & Nash, Paul Simon, James Brown, Brian Wilson, Isaac Hayes, Dolly Parton and Carlos Santana.
In addition, Kara DioGuardi and Sean Garrett were named Songwriters of the Year, Kelly Clarkson’s “Because of You,” co-written by Ben Moody, David Hodges and Clarkson, was named Song of the Year and Warner/Chappell was honored as Publisher of the Year.
The live Bee Gees tribute featured American Idol finalist Katharine McPhee performing "Immortality," Bebe Winans singing a medley of "Nights on Broadway" and "How Deep Is Your Love" and Kelly Rowland’s version of "Emotion."
DioGuardi and Garrett tied for BMI’s Songwriter of the Year title, placing three songs apiece in the most performed list of 50. DioGuardi earned her first Songwriter of the Year Crystal with "Real Thing" (Bo Bice),"Walk Away" (Kelly Clarkson) and "I'm Feeling You" (Santana featuring The Wreckers). Garrett picked up his first honor for penning "Run It!" (Chris Brown), "Check on It" (Beyoncé featuring Slim Thug) and "Grillz" (Nelly featuring Paul Wall, Ali & Gipp). Garrett was named one of the BMI Top 10 Urban Producers at last year's honors.
"Because of You,"co-written by Moody and Hodges, with Clarkson, was named BMI Pop Song of the Year for scoring the most airplay of any song on the most-performed list during the award period. The song was included on Clarkson's second, multi-platinum release, Breakaway.
Warner/Chappell Music (Warner-Tamerlane Publishing Corp. and Unichappell Music, Inc) claimed its BMI Pop Publisher of the Year prize with 11 songs on the top 50 list and the highest percentage of copyright ownership of this year's awards, dethroning perennial winner EMI Music Publishing for the first time in memory. Newly named CEO Dave Johnson accepted the company's 13th BMI Pop Publisher of the Year Crystal.
