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At the ASCAP and BMI Pop Awards held last month in Los Angeles, EMI Music Publishing won Publisher of the Year from both societies. This marks the first time any publisher has accomplished the feat since EMI last did in 1999. Combined song awards totaled 28.

The 22nd annual ASCAP Awards crowned EMI for the unprecedented 11th year on May 16th, as the unrivaled publisher took home a total of 17 song honors. Writer/producer Scott Storch, represented by EMI outside of the US, went home with the coveted Songwriter of the Year award. Over the past few years, Storch has worked as either a songwriter, producer or musician on a number of top hit records including Eve and Gwen Stefani's Let Me Blow Ya Mind, Dr. Dre's Still D.R.E., Xzibit's X, Justin Timberlake's Cry Me A River, Ja Rule's Clap Back, The Roots' Don't Say Nuthin', and Mario's smash hit Let Me Love You (which was #1 for 9 weeks). Storch was honored this year for his contributions on five award-winning songs: Beyonce's Me, Myself and I, Naughty Girl, and Baby Boy (which was #1 for 10 weeks), Can't Hold Us Down, performed by Christina Aguilera, and the #1 Lean Back by Terror Squad featuring Remy-Ma. Storch is also responsible for 50 Cent's current smash hits Candy Shop (#1 for 9 weeks) and Just A Lil Bit.

Usher presented his fellow EMI songwriter Jermaine Dupri with the Golden Note Award at the ceremony. Award-winning songwriter, producer, artist, record label owner, and now head of urban music for Virgin Records, Dupri was recognized for his groundbreaking achievements influencing the direction of American popular music and impacting the heart, soul and sound of pop music worldwide. Superstars Mariah Carey and Usher joined ASCAP President and Chairman Marilyn Bergman on stage to pay tribute to their musical collaborator. Dupri has worked with Carey on a number of albums and has four songs on her current album The Emancipation of Mimi, which is tearing up the Billboard charts. Dupri's work on Usher's multi-platinum album, Confessions, garnered four 2005 Grammy nominations for his songwriting and production work on chart-toppers, Burn, Confessions Part II, and My Boo. Dupri joins previous recipients Garth Brooks, Sean "P.Diddy" Combs, Alan Jackson, Jimmy Jam & Terry Lewis, Jay-Z, Quincy Jones, and Stevie Wonder, among others.

The 53rd annual BMI awards sent EMI songwriters home with 11 honors on May 17th. EMI's winning songs were 100 Years (Five For Fighting), Bright Lights and Unwell (Matchbox Twenty), Damn! and Freek-A-Leek (Lil' Jon), Get Low (Lil' Jon featuring Ying Yang Twins), Heaven, (Los Lonely Boys) I Don't Wanna Know (Mario Winans), I Heard It Through the Grapevine (writers Barrett Strong and Norman Whitfield, performed by Michael McDonald), Into You (DJ Clue), and Where Is the Love (Black Eyed Peas). EMI Chairman & CEO Martin Bandier accepted the crystal trophy, which is presented to the publishing concern with the highest percentage of copyright ownership in award songs.