ASCAP has paid tribute to great English songwriters at an event in London.
The American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers (ASCAP) followed hard on the heels of fellow publishing rights organization BMI in handing out their annual awards to members of Britain's PRS who have had hits in the U.S.
The 30th annual awards were held Wednesday night at the Grosvenor House Hotel in London and were hosted by ASCAP Senior Vice President, International Roger Greenaway and Vice President, Membership Seán Devine.
Guy Berryman, Jonny Buckland, Will Champion and Chris Martin of Coldplay were named songwriters of the year and their Viva La Vida was named Song of the Year. Publisher of the Year was Universal Music Publishing for Viva, Heartless, Sweet Dreams and Pour Some Sugar on Me. The Vanguard Award for up and coming talent went to Taio Cruz.
The College Award was presented to Scouting For Girls for Everybody Wants to Be on TV.
Song awards were presented to the twenty most performed songs for last year, including a number of veteran artists for older songs that continue to see heavy play. Many have already won the award multiple times such as the Eurythmics' Sweet Dreams which relieved its tenth such award. As with the BMI awards, not all songwriters of a piece received an award. Only those that are affiliated with ASCAP.
The veteran songwriters/artists who were honored:
Back in Black - Brian Johnson (AC/DC)
Come Together - Paul McCartney (Beatles)
Don't You Want Me - John Callis, Philip Oakey, Adrian Wright (Human League)
I Ran So Far Away - Francis Maudsley, Paul Reynolds, Alister Score, Michael Score (A Flock of Seagulls)
I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For - Bono, Adam Clayton, The Edge, Larry Mullen Jr. (U2)
In the Air Tonight - Phil Collins (Phil Collins)
Pour Some Sugar On Me - Philip Collen, Stephen Clark, Joseph Elliott, Robert John "Mutt" Lange, Richard Savage (Def Leppard)
Sweet Dreams (Are Made of This) - Annie Lennox, Dave Stewart (Eurythmics)
Thriller - Rod Temperton (Michael Jackson)
West End Girls - Chris Lowe, Neil Tennant (Pet Shop Boys)
