Songwriter of the Year honoree Mikkel Eriksen, Marilyn Bergman and Roger Greenaway of ASCAP, Songwriter of the Year honoree Tor Hermansen, and John LoFrumento of ASCAP. (Photo by Sylvan Mason)

ASCAP honoured the top writer and publisher members of the PRS at London's Grosvenor House Hotel on October 10th, at its annual awards dinner hosted by Roger Greenaway (Senior VP, International) and Se·n Devine (VP Membership).

Norwegian writers/producers Stargate - Tor Hermansen and Mikkel Eriksen (right) - were named Songwriters of the Year for penning an impressive seven of the most performed songs of the past year: Ne-Yo's "So Sick" and "Sexy Love," Rihanna's "Unfaithful," Kelly Clarkson's "Walk Away," BeyoncÈ's "Irreplaceable," Lionel Richie's "I Call It Love" and Mario Vazquez's "Gallery." The duo also collected ASCAP's Song of the Year award for Ne-Yo's R&B ballad, "So Sick." Their chart-topping success earned them the title of #1 Hot Producers in Billboard in 2006. Earlier this year, they picked up a Norwegian Grammy, three ASCAP Pop Music Awards and two ASCAP Rhythm & Soul Music Awards.

EMI Music Publishing UK was named Publisher of the Year for the fourth time, with ASCAP CEO John A. LoFrumento presenting the award to Guy Moot, who said, "For Stargate to pick up seven awards, including Songwriters of the Year is particularly pleasing in a year that has seen them make a huge breakthrough in the U.S. With other wins for Yusuf Islam, Phil Collins, Mick Jagger, Keith Richards and Lenky, it's good to see the diversity and breadth of our catalogue being acknowledged."

Other awards went to Bat For Lashes (Vanguard Award for debut album Fur and Gold), and The View (College Award for their platinum debut album, Hats Off To The Buskers). Honorees in the Film and TV Theme categories were Erran Baron Cohen (Borat), Patrick Doyle (Eragon), Sir John Tavener (The Children of Men), Alex Heffes (The Last King of Scotland), Anne Dudley (Tristan and Isolde), Dario Marianelli (V for Vendetta), Keith Strachan and Matthew Strachan (Who Wants to Be a Millionaire), Cathy Dennis, Julian Gingell and Barry Stone (American Idol), Elizabeth Fraser (House), and Dan McGrath and Josh Philips (Dancing with the Stars). Among songwriters with multiple award-winning songs were Tor Hermansen and Mikkel Eriksen with seven songs; and Coldplay, Dido and U2 with two songs each.

Charles Strouse, a luminary of Broadway, Hollywood, television, and pop and concert music, highlighted the evening with a special performance. Strouse, who will be celebrating his 80th birthday next year, is best known for his Tony Award-winning Broadway musicals, Bye Bye Birdie, Applause and Annie. His other credits range from the 1958 girl group hit, "Born Too Late" to motion picture scores for Bonnie & Clyde, The Night They Raided Minsky's and the TV theme for All In The Family.

Full list of winning songs at http://www.ASCAP.com

BMI saluted Europe's songwriters and publishers at its 2007 London Awards on October 16th at London's Dorchester Hotel, the event hosted by BMI President & CEO Del Bryant with newly-promoted Executive Director, Writer/Publisher Relations Europe & Asia, Brandon Bakshi. In addition to honouring the year's most-played songs on US radio and TV, Peter Gabriel (right, with Doreen Ringer Ross, VP Film/TV Relations) was saluted as a BMI Icon for his influence on generations of music makers.

A co-founder of Genesis, Gabriel left the group in 1975 to begin a critically acclaimed, Grammy-winning solo career. He has released 11 albums featuring BMI million-performance songs, including "Big Time," "Solsbury Hill," "Sledgehammer" and "In Your Eyes," and composed soundtracks for numerous films, including Martin Scorsese's The Last Temptation of Christ.

Unwritten, published by EMI Music Publishing, and co-written by Danielle Brisebois and Natasha Bedingfield (PRS) received the Robert S. Musel Award for Song of the Year. The award honours the most-performed song of the year written by a member or members of BMI's European sister organizations.

International phenomenon "Crazy," published by Universal Music (SIAE) and Warner/Chappell (PRS), and co-written by GianFranco Reverberi and GianPiero Reverberi (both SIAE), along with Gnarls Barkley's Cee-Lo Green, earned BMI's College Song of the Year crown for tallying the most performances on American college radio. The Internet Award for the song with the most hits on BMI-licensed websites went to James Blunt's "You're Beautiful" (Blunt, Amanda Ghost & Sacha Skarbek published by Bucks Music Group and EMI Music Publishing). The Gorillaz' "Dare," published by EMI Music and co-written by Damon Albarn and Jamie Hewlett (both PRS), won the Dance Award.

Prestigious Million-Air certificates were also presented in recognition of those songs that have achieved over three million USA radio and TV performances - the equivalent of more than 17 years of continuous airplay. The Police's "Every Breath You Take" topped the list, with a staggering 9 million performance award for songwriter Sting, who was also honoured for 5 million performances of "Every Little Thing She Does Is Magic." Van Morrison penned two hits on the list: his classic "Brown Eyed Girl" (8m) and "Have I Told You Lately That I Love You" (4m). Additional Million-Air recipients included Sir Elton John, the late John Lennon, Sir Mick Jagger, Keith Richards, Sir Trevor Nunn, Andrew Lloyd Webber, Shania Twain and Steve Winwood. Other winners included KT Tunstall, Pete Townshend, Snow Patrol, Christine McVie, Graham Gouldman, Tom Chaplin (Keane), Corinne Bailey Rae, Steve McEwan and David Arnold.

Full list of winning songs at http://www.BMI.com