BMI (Broadcast Music, Inc.), the global leader in music rights management, tonight honoured Ellie Goulding with the BMI President’s Award and global breakout star Tems with the BMI Impact Award at the 2022 BMI London Awards. Throughout the ceremony, BMI paid tribute to UK and European songwriters, producers, composers and publishers of the most-performed songs of the previous year. The private event, held at London’s Savoy Hotel, was hosted by BMI President & CEO Mike O’Neill and BMI Vice President, Creative, Europe, Shirin Foroutan.
Ellie Goulding, who now has 17 BMI Awards in her collection of accolades, was honoured the prestigious BMI President’s Award and joins an elite group of previous recipients including Jay Kay of Jamiroquai, Noel Gallagher, Imagine Dragons, P!nk, Brian Wilson, Dwight Yoakam, Willie Nelson, Ludacris, Luis Fonsi, Pitbull and Gloria & Emilio Estefan to name a few.
Ellie Goulding was presented with the evening’s highest honour by BMI President & CEO Mike O’Neill. Upon accepting the Award, Goulding reflected on the early days of her career and looked to the future, saying: “I’ve never won anything like this before and it means so much to me” … “I moved out of my home when I was 16 and I kind of started then. And I felt I had so much to lose making a living out of something that everyone told me was definitely impossible” … “In the UK particularly, and as a woman, it’s sort of ingrained into you that ambition is a bad thing and it’s not very cool but it shouldn’t be. Ambition is an essential ingredient for what we all do, and along with the talent and a bit of luck, for anyone who hopes of a long-lasting career, in a really tough industry actually, it’s essential, so to anyone who’s on their way there, please don’t listen to those people who have anything to say about you wanting bigger and better because you deserve it” … “In a world now that needs urgent action, in a country that demands empathy, may music play its part in empowering others to begin.”
The chart-topping musical luminary showcased her world class vocals with stunning renditions of her singles “Woman” and “New Heights”, from her 2020 album Brightest Blue. Accompanied by a pianist and backing vocalists, her intimate performance was received with a standing ovation and rapturous applause.
Globally acclaimed songwriter and artist Tems was honoured with the BMI Impact Award in recognition of her ground-breaking artistry, creative vision and impact on the future of music. In receiving this Award, she joins previous winners RAYE and Arlo Parks. Also taking to the stage, Tems stunned the audience with a performance of “Higher” taken from her 2020 debut EP For Broken Ears, and “Found” from her second EP If Orange Was A Place.
Upon being presented with the award, Tems said, “I just wanted to say thank you. Thank you for this award… I’ve come a long way and I’m so grateful.”
BMI also honoured Ed Sheeran and Johnny McDaid with the prestigious European Song of the Year Award for their massive hit song “Bad Habits”. The award is given to the most performed song of the previous year by UK or European writers in the BMI catalogue.
The single enjoyed huge commercial success globally and spent 11 consecutive weeks at the top of the UK Singles Chart. Sheeran previously took the award in 2016, 2017 and most recently in 2018 with “Shape Of You” that was also written with Johnny McDaid.
Ed Sheeran was also awarded three other BMI London Awards this year, honouring 4 Million performances of “I Don’t Care”, 5 Million performances of “Perfect”, and in the Pop Songs category with “Afterglow” co-written with David Hodges and “Shivers” co-written with Johnny McDaid and Kal Lavelle.
Accepting his European Song Of The Year award via video message, Ed Sheeran said, “We had so much fun making the song and it has been so much fun playing the song out on the road and seeing the reactions of people all around Europe and I can’t wait to go out and do some more.
Accepting alongside Ed Sheeran, Johnny McDaid said, “Ed, I’m so grateful man for the fact that you still trust me to make music with you after over a decade of us writing songs together and I hope we have many more to come.”
Among the multiple Million-Air awards presented throughout the evening were Tom Barnes and Sam Roman for 4 Million performances of “Someone You Loved” performed by Lewis Capaldi, and Sam Smith and Normani for “Dancing With A Stranger”. With 6 Million performances, Stig Anderson, Benny Andersson and Björn Ulvaeus were honoured for “Dancing Queen” as performed by ABBA. Elton John was honoured with three BMI London Awards, honouring 7 Million performances of “Rocket Man”, 6 Million performances of “Tiny Dancer” and in the Pop Songs category with “Cold Heart (Pnau Remix)”, co-written with Andrew Meecham and Dean Meredith.
Alongside the BMI President’s Award, BMI Impact Award, Million-Air Awards and European Song of the Year, awards for Pop, Dance, Film, Television and Cable and Streaming were also presented throughout the ceremony.
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