LOS ANGELES (CelebrityAccess) — Rights management organization BMI (Broadcast Music, Inc.) announced Sting, Imagine Dragons and music publishing legend Martin Bandier as the honorees for its 67th Annual BMI Pop Awards.
Sting, who is already a BMI Icon, will be honored for his hit (with the Police) “Every Breath You Take,” which has become the Most Performed Song in BMI’s catalog of over 14 million musical works.
Imagine Dragons are in line to receive BMI’s President’s Award, both for their artistic output and their philanthropic efforts that bring awareness to social injustice. With more than 12 million albums and 35 million singles sold, the Dragons have supported numerous charitable causes and recently helped to raise $8 million to help fight childhood cancer for The Tyler Robinson Foundation, as well as $1 million for organizations that provide support to the LGBTQ community.
Martin Bandier, who recently stepped away from his longtime role atop music publishing giant Sony/ATV, will become the first music publishing executive to be named a BMI Icon. Under his leadership, Sony/ATV became the largest music publisher in the world and home to some of the biggest names in music including BMI songwriters Taylor Swift, Lady Gaga, Ed Sheeran, P!nk, Carole King and Sting.
The evening will also salute the songwriters and publishers of the past year’s 50 most-performed pop songs in the United States from BMI’s repertoire of more than 14 million musical works. The BMI Most Performed Pop Song, Songwriter of the Year and Publisher of the Year will also be named during the ceremony.
The private event will be hosted by BMI President and CEO Mike O’Neill and Vice President Worldwide Creative Barbara Cane and will take place on Tuesday, May 14th at the Beverly Wilshire Hotel in Beverly Hills, CA.
