Sam Smith, Stones, Queen, acclaimed at BMI Awards
Sam Smith’s Stay With Me was named song of the year at the BMI Awards after being the most-performed British song on US TV and radio last year.
Smith had strong competition from Ed Sheeran who had two songs, Don't and Sing, in the running. Earlier on the day Smith was presented with two Guinness World Records – for most consecutive weeks in the UK top 10 by a debut album; and for recording the first #1 James Bond theme.
The London ceremony was organised by US performing rights body Broadcast Music, Inc (BMI) to honour the airplay achievements of British-born songwriters in the United States.
A special award went to Mick Jagger and Keith Richards for The Rolling Stones’ 1965 chart topper (I Can't Get No) Satisfaction which has now notched up nine million plays on US radio.
John Newman received pop awards for Love Me Again and Blame, Charli XCX for the Iggy Azalea collaboration Fancy, and Hozier for Take Me To Church.
The night also belonged to British songwriter Graham Gouldman who was bestowed the Icon title. In the 1960s, he wrote a series of monster hits including The Yardbirds’ For Your Love and Heart Full of Soul, Herman’s Hermits’ No Milk Today and East West, Jeff Beck’s Tallyman, The Hollies’ Bus Stop and Look Through Any Window and Normie Rowe’s Going Home.
In 1972, as a member of 10CC, Gouldman continued his run of international hits with Dreadlock Holiday, I’m Not In Love. Art For Art's Sake and The Things We Do for Love. On the night, Gouldman performed I'm Not In Love and Dreadlock Holiday with Lisa Stansfield. He called himself “lucky” to be able to do the three things he loves most – writing, recording and performing.
Other songs honoured for US airplay were The Zombies' Time Of The Season (7 million), and Tears For Fears' Everybody Wants To Rule The World and Gerry Rafferty's Baker Street (6 million).
Recognised for 5 million US plays were The Bee Gees’ Islands In The Stream, Sting’s Roxanne and Des’ree’s You Gotta Be.” Ray Davies was also awarded for a Kinks sample used in Move That Doh by Future featuring Pharrell, Pusha T and Casino.
Those with 4 million spins included Queen’s Another One Bites The Dust and We Are The Champions, Lennon & McCartney The Long And Winding Road and Pete Townshend’s Pinball Wizard.
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