ASCAP Pop Music Awards 2008

The 25th Annual ASCAP Pop Music Awards were held on Wednesday April 9th 2008 at the Kodak Theatre in Los Angeles, California, USA

Over 1,800 songwriters, recording artists, industry leaders and members of the music community gathered at the 25th Annual ASCAP Pop Music Awards to salute the songwriters behind some of today's most popular music. Top awards were given to:

Songwriter of the Year: Timbaland
Song of the Year (tie): 'Big Girls Don't Cry' and 'The Sweet Escape'
Publisher of the Year: EMI Music Publishing

Special awards were presented to Steve Miller and Lionel Richie who were honored with the ASCAP Golden Note Award, as well as newcomer Sara Bareilles who received ASCAP's Vanguard Award. Awards were also presented to the songwriters and publishers of ASCAP's most performed pop songs of 2007.

Songwriter/producer Timbaland earned the coveted Songwriter of the Year title for his contributions to nine award-winning songs, including 'Give It To Me,' 'Ice Box,' 'Make Me Better,' 'My Love,' 'Say It Right,' 'Summer Love/Set The Mood,' 'The Way I Are,' 'Until The End Of Time,' and 'What Goes Around...Comes Around.' Prior to taking home tonight's ASCAP Pop Songwriter of the Year prize, Timbaland was twice recognized by ASCAP as R hythm and Soul Songwriter of the Year.

The sought-after Song of the Year award was a tie between 'Big Girls Don't Cry,' written by Stacy 'Fergie' Ferguson and Toby Gad, and 'The Sweet Escape,' written by Gwen Stefani, Akon and Giorgio Tuinfort.

EMI Music Publishing was named Publisher of the Year for their 21 award-winning songs. This is the sixth consecutive win for EMI and the fourteenth time in the 25-year history of the awards show that they have received this honor.

The evening was highlighted with special tributes to Lionel Richie and Steve Miller who were presented with ASCAP's Golden Note Award, honoring songwriters, composers, and artists who have achieved extraordinary career milestones.

Legendary songwriter/producer Quincy Jones joined ASCAP President and Chairman Marilyn Bergman to present the award to Richie. Commenting on the award to his good friend, Quincy remarked, 'Lionel is a fantastic singer and a tremendous live entertainer but I believe, as ASCAP does, that it is for his songwriting that he will long be remembered. Over the years, Lionel Richie has strung together many, many golden and platinum notes. He is most deserving of the ASCAP Golden Note Award.' Richie is a three-time ASCAP Pop Songwriter of the Year honoree, having earned this prize at the inaugural Pop Music Awards in 1984, and again in 1985 and 1986.

Multiple Pop Award-winning songwriters included Timbaland with nine awards; Akon, Justin Timberlake and Stargate's Mikkel Eriksen & Tor Hermansen with five awards; Fergie, Lukasz 'Dr. Luke' Gottwald, Keri Hilson and Ludacris with three awards; and Keyshia Cole, Nelly Furtado (SOCAN), Max Martin (STIM) and Terius 'The Dream' Nash with two awards.