Gary Kemp was presented with the BMI Icon Award at the 2023 BMI London Awards.
Producer P2J was honoured with the BMI Impact Award.
Throughout the ceremony at London’s Savoy, BMI paid tribute to UK and European songwriters, producers, composers and publishers of the most performed songs of the previous year. It was hosted by BMI president & CEO Mike O’Neill.
As a BMI Icon, Kemp joins an elite group of previous recipients including The Bee Gees, Busta Rhymes, Don Black, Crosby, Stills & Nash, Ray Davies, John Fogerty, David Foster, Peter Gabriel, Graham Gouldman, The Jacksons, Carole King, Kris Kristofferson, Barry Manilow, Willie Nelson, Stevie Nicks, Dolly Parton, Queen, Nile Rodgers, Carlos Santana, Paul Simon, Sting, Van Morrison and Brian Wilson, among others.
As a tribute to P2J, Ghanaian group FBS played a medley of some of P2J’s biggest hits, including Essence by Wizkid featuring Tems, Brown Skin Girl by Beyonce, Saint Jhn and Wizkid, Anybody by Burna Boy, and more. In receiving this award, he joins previous recipients Tems, Raye, Arlo Parks and Ice Spice.
Song of the Year went to Woman performed and co-written by Doja Cat along with songwriters Aaron Horn, Jidenna and Linden Jay, who also produced the smash hit. This award is given to the most performed song of the previous year by UK or European writers in the BMI catalogue.
Among the multiple Million-Air awards presented throughout the evening were Sting’s Every Breath You Take and Everything She Does Is Magic, Brown Eyed Girl by Van Morrison and Your Song by Elton John.
Alongside the BMI Icon Award, BMI Impact Award, Million-Air Awards and Song of the Year, awards for Pop, Dance, Film, Television and Cable and Streaming were also presented throughout the ceremony.
PHOTO: BMI Icon Gary Kemp and BMI’s president & CEO Mike O'Neill (Photo by Tim P. Whitby/Getty Images for BMI)
