UNIVERSAL, GAMBLE & HUFF, COLBIE CAILLAT BIG BMI WINNERS

We’re in favor of any organization that decides to pay tribute to Hall of Fame songwriters Kenny Gamble and Leon Huff, let alone allows Andy Gould access to an open bar. Whoa big guy, just asking (our own homage to legendary HITS editor Dave Adelson).

BMI held their 57th Annual Pop Awards at their usual watering hole, the Beverly Wilshire, and it was David Renzer’s powerhouse Universal Music Publishing Group which took home top prize, with its writers and producers contributing 20 of the year’s Most Performed Songs.

Colbie Caillat was the evening’s other big winner, writer of the year’s Song of the Year, “Bubbly,” which she performed for the industry audience on acoustic guitar, one of an unprecedented eight tunesmiths who took home Songwriter of the Year honors, with two apiece, including Polow Da Don, T-Pain, Alan Chang, Matchbox Twenty’s Paul Doucette and Brian Yale, Chris Brown and Maroon 5’s Adam Levine.

Taylor Swift was presented with the BMI President’s Award.

After the publishing honors were handed out (we missed hearing ex-BMI head Frances Preston award one for “Big Pimpin’" several years back), The Sound of Philadelphia founders Gamble and Huff were given the coveted BMI Icon honor by BMI chief Del Bryant and VP/GM Barbara Cane in a moving filmed tribute.

A tribute band followed, with Gavin DeGraw doing a sensual “If You Don’t Know Me By Now,” Estelle leading the disco strains of “Don’t Leave Me This Way” and Michael Buble enlisting audience participation for a playful “Me and Mrs. Jones," while our own Roy Trakin stuffed his pockets with chocolate strawberries.

For a complete list of winners, go to www.bmi.com.