EMI Music Publishing songwriters dominate at the ASCAP Rhythm & Soul Awards

Stargate, Alicia Keys and Smokey Robinson all recognized as EMI picks up Publisher of the Year title for the 15th consecutive year

Los Angeles.- EMI Music Publishing was named Publisher of the Year at the ASCAP Rhythm & Soul Awards on Friday (June 26 2009), after 20 songs written by EMI songwriters were named among the most performed ASCAP songs on the 2008 R&B/Hip-Hop, Rap and Gospel charts.

This was the 15th consecutive year that EMI Music Publishing has been named Publisher of the Year, and the 17th occasion in the ASCAP Rhythm & Soul Awards’ 22 year history. Songs honored by ASCAP include Love In This Club by Usher (co-written by Usher, Jay Jenkins and Ryon Levitt), Heaven Sent by Keyshia Cole (co-written by Jason “J Vibe” Farmer and Alex Francis) and “Got Money” by Lil Wayne featuring T-Pain (co-written by Juan “Play” Salinas, Oscar “Skillz” Salinas). A full list of EMI Music Publishing’s award winning songs appears below.

Tor Erik Hermansen and Mikkel Eriksen - collectively known as Stargate - were named Songwriters of the Year, while Alicia Keys won ASCAP’s Golden Note Award and Smokey Robinson was honored with the Rhythm & Soul Heritage Award for his lifetime contribution to songwriting. In addition, Lollipop - co-written by the late Stephen “Static Major” Garrett and Jim Jonsin - was named Top Rap Song.

EMI Music Publishing President of West Coast Creative Big Jon Platt said: “It’s a real privilege to be able to work with some of the most amazing songwriters working in this business today. We’re honored to win this amazing amazing award for fifteen years in a row, but none of it would be possible without the talent and hard work of our songwriters.”

Hermansen and Eriksen picked up the prestigious top songwriting prize of the night after writing five of the most played songs of the year. Trey Songz’s Can’t Help But Wait, Ne-Yo’s Miss Independent, Jennifer Hudson’s Spotlight, Rihanna’s Take A Bow, and Chris Brown’s With You were all penned by the hitmaking Norwegian duo.

Alicia Keys was honored with ASCAP’s Golden Note Award, presented to songwriters, composers, and artists who have achieved extraordinary career milestones. The 12 time Grammy Award winner follows in the footsteps of previous Golden Note recipients including Sean “Diddy” Combs, Jermaine Dupri, Jimmy Jam & Terry Lewis, Jay-Z, Quincy Jones, LL Cool J, New Edition and Lionel Richie. Three songs co-written by Alicia Keys were named among the most performed songs of the year.

The legendary Smokey Robinson was also honored, receiving ASCAP’s Rhythm & Soul Heritage Award in recognition of “his achievements as a songwriter and artist who has written an enduring chapter in American musical history and whose songs have inspired generations.” The award was presented to him by Motown Records founder Berry Gordy, as well Nick Ashford, Valerie Simpson and ASCAP President & Chairman Paul Williams

The following list notes EMI Music Publishing writers only for this year’s winning songs:

A Milli - co-written by EMI Music Publishing’s Shondrae “Bangladesh” Crawford (performed by Lil Wayne)

Bust It Baby (Part 2) - co-written by EMI Music Publishing’s Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis (performed by Plies featuring Ne-Yo)

Can’t Help But Wait - co-written by EMI Music Publishing’s Tor Erik Hermansen and Mikkel Eriksen (performed by Trey Songs featuring Plies)

Dangerous - co-written by EMI Music Publishing’s Donald “hAZEL” Sales (performed by Kardinal Offishall featuring Akon)

Got Money - co-written by EMI Music Publishing’s Juan “Play” Salinas, Oscar “Skillz” Salinas (performed by Lil Wayne featuring T-Pain)

Heaven Sent - co-written by EMI Music Publishing’s Jason “J Vibe” Farmer and Alex Francis (performed by Keyshia Cole)

Like You’ll Never See Me Again - co-written by EMI Music Publishing’s Alicia Keys and Kerry “Krucial” Brothers Jr (performed by Alicia Keys)

Lollipop - co-written by EMI Music Publishing’s Jim Jonsin and Stephen “Static Major” Garrett (performed by Lil Wayne featuring Static Major)

Love In This Club - co-written by EMI Music Publishing’s Usher and Jay Jenkins (performed by Usher featuring Young Jeezy)

Miss Independent - co-written by EMI Music Publishing’s Tor Erik Hermansen and Mikkel Eriksen (performed by Ne-Yo)

Need U Bad - co-written by EMI Music Publishing’s Cainon Lamb (performed by Jazmine Sullivan)

No One - co-written by EMI Music Publishing’s Alicia Keys and Kerry “Krucial” Brothers Jr (performed by Alicia Keys)

Sensual Seduction - co-written by EMI Music Publishing’s Snoop Dogg and Demetrius “Shawty Redd” Stewart (performed by Snoop Dogg)

Sexy Can I - co-written by EMI Music Publishing’s Noel “Detail” Fisher and Victor “Sha-Dash” Carraway (performed by Ray J featuring Yung Berg)

Spotlight - co-written by EMI Music Publishing’s Tor Erik Hermansen and Mikkel Eriksen (performed by Jennifer Hudson)

Take A Bow - co-written by EMI Music Publishing’s Tor Erik Hermansen and Mikkel Eriksen (performed by Rihanna)

Take You Down - co-written by EMI Music Publishing’s Damon Thomas (performed by Chris Brown)

Teenage Love Affair - co-written by EMI Music Publishing’s Jack Splash, Alicia Keys and Harold Lilly Jr (performed by Alicia Keys)

Touch My Body - co-written by EMI Music Publishing’s Cri$tyle (performed by Mariah Carey)

With You - co-written by EMI Music Publishing’s Tor Erik Hermansen and Mikkel Eriksen (performed by Chris Brown)

EMI Music Publishing’s 1.3 million copyrights include some of the best-known songs ever written, such as New York New York, You’ve Got A Friend, The James Bond Theme, Lady Marmalade, Ain’t No Mountain High Enough, Always On My Mind, Over The Rainbow, I Heard It Through The Grapevine and Singin’ In the Rain. Its current hit-making writers and producers include Beyoncé, Duffy, Norah Jones, Alicia Keys, Pink, Usher, Kanye West, Pharrell Williams, Amy Winehouse and Jay-Z.