Evening celebrates 2016’s Top R&B/Hip-Hop Songwriters
Broadcast Music, Inc. (BMI) has named Patti LaBelle as the BMI Icon at the 2017 BMI R&B/Hip-Hop Awards Thursday, August 31st at The Woodruff Arts Center’s Symphony Hall in Atlanta. LaBelle will receive be honored in recognition of her extraordinary career achievements and countless contributions to the musical landscape over the past five decades. BMI President & CEO Mike O’Neill and BMI Vice President of Writer/Publisher Relations Catherine Brewton will host the event.
“Patti’s work as an entertainer and her involvement in humanitarian efforts have touched the lives of many people,” says Brewton. “Her music transcends genres and generations paving the way for aspiring songwriters to follow in her footsteps. She is the epitome of an icon, and I cannot think of anyone more deserving of this honor than Patti LaBelle.”
The private event will also salute the songwriters, producers, publishers and administrators of the past year’s most-performed R&B/hip hop songs in the United States from BMI’s repertoire of more than 12 million musical works. The BMI R&B/Hip-Hop Songwriter, Producer and Publisher of the Year will be named during the ceremony.
In addition, BMI’s Social Star competition honoring the songwriter with the most engaged social media audience will be returning for the sixth year. Beginning August 14th, fans will be able to vote for their favorite contestant across BMI’s Instagram and Twitter accounts. The songwriter with the most Instagram likes and use of their specialized Twitter hashtag will claim the prize. Previous winners have included Mac Miller, Machine Gun Kelly, Zendaya, SoMo and Joey Bada$$.
LaBelle joins an elite group of recipients who have received BMI’s Icon Award for their “unique and indelible influence on generations of music makers.” Previous recipients include Nile Rodgers, Kenneth “Babyface” Edmonds, James Brown, Al Green and Snoop Dogg among others.
