POP SUPERSTAR THE WEEKND CELEBRATED AS2021 SONGWRITER OF THE YEAR AT ASCAP POP MUSIC AWARDS
“Circles” Takes Pop Song of the Year Warner Chappell Honored as Publisher of the Year
NEW YORK, April 13, 2021 – Honoring pop music’s hottest songwriters, producers and publishers, The American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers (ASCAP) today announces the winners of the 2021 ASCAP Pop Music Awards, which will be celebrated on @ASCAP social media through April 15. After a record-setting year following the release of his double platinum album After Hours, pop superstar Abel “The Weeknd” Tesfaye is named ASCAP Songwriter of the Year for the first time in his career.
Known for his signature alternative R&B sound, velvety voice and pitch-perfect falsetto, The Weeknd undeniably dominated the charts in 2020. Taking home the ASCAP Songwriter of the Year honor and two most-performed song awards for smash hits “Blinding Lights” and “Heartless,” The Weeknd is now a 13-time ASCAP Awards winner. As the critical and commercial success of After Hours continues, “Blinding Lights” closes in on diamond-certified status, while becoming the first song in history to spend an entire year in the Billboard Hot 100’s top 10.
ASCAP Pop Music Awards Song of the Year goes to Post Malone’s megahit “Circles,” honoring ASCAP hitmakers Louis Bell, Kaan Güneşberk and Billy Walsh alongside publishers Nyan King Music, Sony Music Publishing and Universal Music Publishing Group. The third single off the chart-topping album Hollywood’s Bleeding, “Circles” spent 39 weeks in the top 10 on the Billboard Hot 100 and marks the artist’s first #1 hit as a solo billing.
Warner ChappellMusic receives Publisher of the Year. The prestigious award recognizes the prominent publisher for their contribution to the pop music soundtrack of 2020 with top tracks “10,000 Hours,” “Blinding Lights,” “Lose You to Love Me,” “ROCKSTAR” and more.
The celebration kicked off yesterday with an ASCAP Pop Music Awards Instagram Live interview and performance from Lewis Capaldi’s “Before You Go” co-writer and ASCAP Award winner Phil Plested (additional co-writers Ben Kohn and Pete “Merf” Kelleher are also winners). Later this week “Kings & Queens” co-writers Madison Emiko Love and Leland will take the ASCAP Instagram Live stage to tell the story behind their hit for Ava Max (co-written by winners Desmond Child, Cirkut and Mimoza) on Wednesday, April 14 at 6 PM ET/3 PM PT. The social media events will also include an exclusive performance of “Die From a Broken Heart” from Maddie & Tae featuring ASCAP Award-winning songwriter Maddie Marlow (co-writers Deric Ruttan and Jonathan Singleton are also winners).
ASCAP Chairman of the Board and President Paul Williams, Chief Executive Officer Elizabeth Matthews and Executive Vice President and Chief Creative Officer John Titta open the event with a special video introduction on @ASCAP social media.
The 2021 ASCAP Pop Music Awards recognize the songwriters and publishers of the most performed songs of the past year in pop music. Providing an unprecedented look at the music creators behind 2020’s biggest hits, ASCAP will premiere exclusive winner video acceptance speeches, virtual studio tours, stories behind the songs and more on @ASCAP social media. Starting at 10 AM ET/ 7 AM PT on Tuesday, April 13 through Thursday, April 15, friends, fans and peers can tune in to the festivities via @ASCAP on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook, using the hashtag #ASCAPAwards.
The complete list of winners is available on the ASCAP website: www.ascap.com/popawards21.
About ASCAP
The American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers (ASCAP) is a professional membership organization of songwriters, composers and music publishers of every kind of music. ASCAP’s mission is to license and promote the music of its members and foreign affiliates, obtain fair compensation for the public performance of their works and to distribute the royalties that it collects based upon those performances. ASCAP members write the world’s best-loved music and ASCAP has pioneered the efficient licensing of that music to hundreds of thousands of enterprises who use it to add value to their business – from bars, restaurants and retail, to radio, TV and cable, to Internet, mobile services and more. The ASCAP license offers an efficient solution for businesses to legally perform ASCAP music while respecting the right of songwriters and composers to be paid fairly. With more than 800,000 members representing more than 16 million copyrighted works, ASCAP is the worldwide leader in performance royalties, service and advocacy for songwriters and composers, and the only American performing rights organization (PRO) owned and governed by its writer and publisher members. Learn more and stay in touch at www.ascap.com, on Twitter and Instagram @ASCAP and on Facebook.
ASCAP POP AWARD WINNERS 2021
● SONGWRITER OF THE YEAR: Abel “The Weeknd” Tesfaye
● SONG OF THE YEAR: “Circles” Writers: Billy Walsh, Kaan Güneşberk, Louis BellPublishers: LUBALZ PUBLISHING, Nyan King Music, Sony Music Publishing, Universal Music Publishing Group, WMMW Publishing ● PUBLISHER OF THE YEAR: Warner Chappell Music
MOST PERFORMED SONGS: 10,000 HOURSWriters:Dan Smyers, Jason “Poo Bear” Boyd, Jordan Reynolds, Justin BieberPublishers:Beats And Banjos, BIEBER TIME PUBLISHING, BMG, Buckeye26, JREYNMUSIC, Poo BZ Publishing Inc, Universal Music Publishing Group, Warner Chappell Music
ADORE YOUWriters:Amy AllenPublishers:Artist Publishing Group West, KENNY + BETTY TUNES, Kobalt, superreal Songs, Universal Music Publishing Group
AFTER A FEWWriters:Justin WeaverPublishers:Music Of The Corn, Sound Wagon Songs, Warner Chappell Music
BALLIN’Writers:DIJON “MUSTARD” McFARLANE, Donell Jones, Justus West, Shahrukh “GYLTTRYP” Zaman KhanPublishers:10 Summers Songs, Checkman Music, Khan Boys Music, Kobalt, NNC Publishing, Pay Mustard, Songs Of Peer Ltd, Sony Music Publishing, Volume Ventures Publishing, Warner Chappell Music, WEST11THSTREET
BEFORE YOU GOWriters:Ben Kohn, Lewis Capaldi, Pete ‘Merf’ Kelleher, Philip PlestedPublishers:BMG, Sony Music Publishing
BLINDING LIGHTSWriters:Abel “The Weeknd” Tesfaye, Ahmad “Belly” Balshe, JASON “DaHEALA” QUENNEVILLE, Max Martin, Oscar HolterPublishers:Kobalt, Universal Music Publishing Group, Warner Chappell Music
BLUEBERRY FAYGOWriters:NonePublishers:Sony Music Publishing
BOPWriters:DaBABY, jetsonmadePublishers:Baby Jesus Publishing, Jetsonmade Anotha1 Publishing, Sony Music Publishing, South Coast Music Group LLC, Universal Music Publishing Group
BREAK MY HEARTWriters:Dua Lipa, Michael Hutchence, Stefan JohnsonPublishers:1916 Publishing, Kobalt, Universal Music Publishing Group, Warner Chappell Music
CHASIN’ YOUWriters:Craig Wiseman, Jamie MoorePublishers:Big Loud Proud Songs, BMG, JMZL Music, Red Toe Rocker, Round Hill Music, Team Destiny
CIRCLESWriters:Billy Walsh, Kaan Güneşberk, Louis BellPublishers:LUBALZ PUBLISHING, Nyan King Music, Sony Music Publishing, Universal Music Publishing Group, WMMW Publishing
DANCE MONKEYWriters:Tones And IPublishers:Warner Chappell Music
DEATH BED (COFFEE FOR YOUR HEAD)Writers:Christian Klosterman PKA “Otterpop”Publishers:Kobalt
DIE FROM A BROKEN HEARTWriters:Deric Ruttan, Jonathan Singleton, Maddie MarlowPublishers:Big Machine Music, Seven Red Birds Publishing, Sony Music Publishing, Spirit Music Nashville, Warner Chappell Music
DON’T START NOWWriters:Dua Lipa, Emily WarrenPublishers:Havenwood House, Kobalt, Prescription Songs, Universal Music Publishing Group
EVERYTHING I WANTEDWriters:Billie Eilish, Finneas O’ConnellPublishers:DRUP, Kobalt, Last Frontier, Universal Music Publishing Group
GO CRAZYWriters:Dave Welcome, Dion ”Devious” Norman, Orville “Buggs Can Can” Hall, Phillip Triggerman PricePublishers:Beat Product, Protoons Inc, Scarred Life, Universal Music Publishing Group
HARD TO FORGETWriters:Ashley Gorley, Josh Osborne, Sam HuntPublishers:Between The Pines LLC, Caleb’s College Fund, Round Hill Music, Smackborne Music, Sony Music Publishing, Universal Music Publishing Group
HEARTLESSWriters:Abel “The Weeknd” Tesfaye, Andre “Dre Moon” ProctorPublishers:Kobalt, Warner Chappell Music
HEATWriters:Chubbie Baby, Keith ThomasPublishers:Keef Tha Beef LLC, Kobalt, Proseperitypublishing
HIGH FASHIONWriters:Dijon “Mustard” McFarlane, Shahrukh “GYLTTRYP” Zaman KhanPublishers:Pay Mustard, Sony Music Publishing
HIGHEST IN THE ROOMWriters:Nik D, Ozan “OZ” YildirimPublishers:Concord Music Publishing, Sony Music Publishing, These Are Songs Of Pulse
HOMEMADEWriters:Ben GoldsmithPublishers:BMG, Go For The Goldsmith , Hipgnosis Songs Group
I HOPEWriters:Publishers:Nite Writer Music, Sony Music Publishing
INTENTIONSWriters:Jason “Poo Bear” Boyd, Jimmy Giannos, Justin Bieber, Quavious “Quavo” MarshallPublishers:Amgroupllc, BIEBER TIME PUBLISHING, BMG, Huncho YRN Music, Poo BZ Publishing Inc, Quality Control Qc Pro, Songs Of Peer Ltd, Universal Music Publishing Group
KINFOLKSWriters:Jerry Flowers, Josh Osborne, Sam Hunt, Zach CrowellPublishers:Between The Pines LLC, Downtown Music Publishing, JFLO Records And Tapes, Miller Crow Music, Smackborne Music, Sony Music Publishing, Spirit Music Nashville, Tape Room Music, Twelve6 Dogwood, Universal Music Publishing Group
KINGS & QUEENSWriters:Desmond Child, Henry “Cirkut” Walter, Leland, Madison Emiko Love, MIMOZAPublishers:Artist Publishing Group West, Bob Ochoa’s Homemade Salsa, Cirkut Breaker LLC, Downtown Music Publishing , Kobalt, LIVEMADLOVE, Prescription Songs, Sony Music Publishing, Universal Music Publishing Group
LAUGH NOW CRY LATERWriters:Lil Durk, RON “CARDO” LaTOURPublishers:ANGELOOTF MUSIC, Cardo On The Beat, Sony Music Publishing, Universal Music Publishing Group
LIFE IS GOODWriters:Ozan “OZ” YildirimPublishers:Concord Music Publishing, These Are Songs Of Pulse
LOSE YOU TO LOVE MEWriters:Mattman & Robin, Selena GomezPublishers:SMG Tunes, Universal Music Publishing Group, Warner Chappell Music
MOODWriters:NonePublishers:AMIGO PUBLISHING, KBeaZy Ventures LLC, Kobalt
MY OH MYWriters:DaBABY, Louis Bell, Pochi Marambio, Savan KotechaPublishers:Baby Jesus Publishing, Kobalt, LUBALZ PUBLISHING, Sony Music Publishing, South Coast Music Group LLC, Universal Music Publishing Group
NOBODY BUT YOUWriters:Josh OsbornePublishers:Smackborne Music, Sony Music Publishing
ON CHILLWriters:Jeremih Felton, Norva Va Denton, Olubowale “Wale” Akintimehin, Raphael Saadiq, Timothy Christian RileyPublishers:DEAD STOCK MUSIC, Ohaji Publishing, Primary Wave Music, Tony Toni Tone Music Publishing, Universal Music Publishing Group, Warner Chappell Music
ONE MAN BANDWriters:Brad Tursi, Josh Osborne, Matthew Ramsey, Trevor RosenPublishers:Anthem Music Publishing, Downtown Music Publishing, More Me Gusta Music, ReeHits World, Smackborne Music, SMACKSONGS, Sony Music Publishing, Twelve6 Dogwood, Unfair Entertainment, Universal Music Publishing Group, Warner Chappell Music
ONE OF THEM GIRLSWriters:Ashley GorleyPublishers:8minute Publishing, Artist Publishing Group West, Caleb’s College Fund, Kobalt, Round Hill Music, Tape Room Music
PLAYING GAMESWriters:Aubrey “Boobie” Robinson, Beyoncé, CAM GRIFFIN, Kelly Rowland, LaSHAWN “BIG SHIZ” DANIELS, LaTAVIA ROBERTSON, LeTOYA LUCKETT, Roark Bailey, Summer WalkerPublishers:Beyoncé Publishing, CAMERON GRIFFIN, Kelendria Music Publishing, LVRN PUBLISHING, Sony Music Publishing, SUNDAEMORNINGLLC, Warner Chappell Music
PRAYED FOR YOUWriters:Matt StellPublishers:Endurance Music Group, Sony Music Publishing
RIDIN’ ROADSWriters:Ashley Gorley, Zach CrowellPublishers:Caleb’s College Fund, Miller Crow Music, Round Hill Music, Spirit Music Nashville, Tape Room Music
RITMO (BAD BOYS FOR LIFE)Writers:Annerley Gordon, FRANCESCO “CHECCO” BONTEMPI, Keith Harris, Pete Glenister, Theo SpagnaPublishers:BMG, Fresh Me Fresh U Music Publishing, Roynet Music, Warner Chappell Music
ROCKSTARWriters:DaBaby, SethintheKitchenPublishers:Baby Jesus Publishing, South Coast Music Group LLC, Universal Music Publishing Group, Warner Chappell Music
ROXANNEWriters:NonePublishers:Arizona Zervas, Sony Music Publishing, The Pub Ain’t Got No Brakes
SAVAGE (REMIX)Writers:Beyoncé, Brittany “Starrah” Hazzard, Shawn “JAY-Z” CarterPublishers:Carter Boys Music, Concord Music Publishing, Oakland 13 Music, People Over Planes, Sony Music Publishing, These Are Songs Of Pulse, Warner Chappell Music
SAVAGE LOVE (LAXED – SIREN BEAT)Writers:Jacob “JKash” Hindlin, Phil GreissPublishers:Kobalt, Prescription Songs, Rap Kingpin Music, Songs Of Peer Ltd
SAY SOWriters:Tyson TraxPublishers:Kasz Money Publishing, Kobalt
THE BONESWriters:Jimmy RobbinsPublishers:EXTRAORDINARY ALIEN PUBLISHING, Round Hill Music
TOOSIE SLIDEWriters:Ozan “OZ” YildirimPublishers:Concord Music Publishing, These Are Songs Of Pulse
WATERMELON SUGARWriters:NonePublishers:Universal Music Publishing Group
WHATS POPPINWriters:jetsonmadePublishers:Jetsonmade Anotha1 Publishing, Sony Music Publishing
WHISKEY GLASSESWriters:Kevin KadishPublishers:Amplified Administration, Endurance Music Group, Shooting Moving Targets In The Dark