BRITS TAKE A BOW AT BMI LONDON AWARDS

Songs by Central Cee, Metro Boomin and Tyla were in the spotlight last night (12/9) at the BMI London Awards, which also honored British songwriter Graham Lyle for his long career writing such hits as Tina Turner’s “What’s Love Got to Do With It” with Terry Britten, “Just Good Friends” by Michael Jackson and Stevie Wonder and songs performed by Etta James, Rod Stewart and Patti LaBelle.

London Song of the Year, which goes to the most-performed song by U.K. or European BMI writers, went to “Creepin,” written by Enya, Nick Ryan, Roma Ryan, Carlos “Lo” Jones and Mario Winans and performed by Metro Boomin, The Weeknd and 21 Savage.

Among the winners of the Most-Performed Pop songs were LiTek and whYJay for “Doja,” performed by Central Cee, Blush Davis and Chris James, for “Like Crazy” by Jimin of BTS, and Ari PenSmith, Believve, Jack LoMastro, Olmo, rayo and Sammy SoSo for “Water” by Tyla.

Several BMI Million-Air Awards were presented to songwriters and publishers whose works surpassed 1m broadcast performances on U.S. radio, including the Sting-penned “Every Breath You Take" (19m performances), “Another One Bites the Dust” by Queen (10m) and “Here I Go Again” by Bernie Marsden of Whitesnake (9m).

The private event, held at The Savoy in London, was hosted by BMI President/CEO Mike O’Neill (pictured with Lyle).