Brandy Awarded President's Award at 2019 BMI Awards

On Thursday, August 29, 2019, Atlanta’s stars and elite gathered in Byers Theatre for the 2019 BMI awards and of course it was a star-studded event! BMI, Broadcast Music, Inc has been a global leader in music rights management for over 78 years, servicing songwriters, composers, music publishers and businesses. The event was hosted by BMI President and CEO Mike O’Neil and BMI Vice President, Creative, Atlanta, Catherine Brewton.

Along with BMI’s executives, those in attendance included 5th Ward Weebie, Bobby V, DC Young Fly, DJ Monday, Isaac “Ike Dirty” Hayes III, Safaree, Samoht, Ludacris and many more. The event was put on to award those in music for their writing, composing and many other contributions to the music world spread across so many genres. “God’s Plan” was named Song of the Year, and Tay Keith and Post Malone were presented with the award from Songwriter of the Year. Sony/ATV was presented the award from Publisher of the Year.

A video tribute that was done in honor of the late Nipsey Hussle, to celebrate his musical endeavors, contributions, and amazing work in philanthropy. The highlight of the night were the performances given in honor of BMI’s 2019 President’s Award recipient, multiplatinum, GRAMMY award winning singer/songwriter and actress, Brandy Norwood. Performances were done by Jade Novah, Samoht, Kierra Sheard, and Eric Bellinger performing an array of her hits from over the years such as, “Talk About Our Love”, “Broken Hearted”, “Have You Ever”, “He Is”, “Baby” and “Nothing”. Brandy’s brother Ray J ended the performance tribute by singing “Best Friend”. Brandy even surprised the audience with a moving performance of “I Wanna Be Down” and “Almost Doesn’t Count”.

On the red carpet, we had the opportunity to speak with some of the performers of the night and they all had nothing but major respect and admirations for the award recipient.

Jade Novah stated: “Brandy was my Whitney Houston and we all know who Whitney Houston was to her. Things are coming full circle now that I am performing for her tonight. From performing her music in my room to being on stage!”

Eric Bellinger: “My favorite album was Full Moon. From the melodies and amazing things, she does with her voice. She’s an amazing talent.”

DC Young Fly: “I love Brandy’s songs. I know her and Monica was talking about me in ‘The Boy is Mine.’ I watched the video on a big box tv like, I’m right here!”

Isaac “Ike Dirty” Hayes, III: “I feel like Atlanta culture is at the forefront and making a major name in the music game but we need more… Brandy’s album ‘Never Say Never’ was such an iconic album and she is do deserving of this award.”

LaTocha Scott: “I remember us doing music and being hot around the same time. Every time I would see Brandy I would give her her respect for being so young and killing it.”

This amazing event has honored many in the music industry in the past and BMI continues to knock down doors and create opportunities for creatives.

Regretfully we inform you that Lashawn Daniels, songwriter and long time friend of Brandy Norwood, passed, at the age of 41, on the morning of September 4, 2019 due to injuries sustained in a car accident. Below you will find excerpts from his red carpet interview with us:

“Brandy is an amazing artist. I wrote the entire ‘Never Say Never’ album. I have had the pleasure of writing some amazing songs for her through the years which includes ‘The Boy is Mine’ which was one of her most eventful songs. I’ll never forget we were together after we wrote the song and it came on the radio in New York and she cried and I’m a gangsta so I don’t cry. Well I dropped a half a tear. We just knew that was the birth and start of something incredible and who knew all these years a whole cult like following would start. I’m just extremely proud of her and everything that she’s pursued and everything that she continues to do. I’m actually on her newest album that’ll be dropping soon. It’s just an evolution of Brandy. She has never been more direct and never been more focused and she absolutely knows what she wants to do. I’m excited for the world to hear. When asked about working on a second “The Boy is Mine”, his response was humble and respectful stating, “Actually there was a conversation but it’s so many new thoughts and new creative pockets, that I figured we should just get that out first and then maybe a little on down the line we can come back together and do what we gotta do.”