It’s always awards season in Los Angeles — and the BET Awards was hardly the only party happening this week. Because ASCAP, the American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers was also holding its 2024 ASCAP Rhythm & Soul Music Awards celebration, and was bringing out some major star wattage Thursday night at The London West Hollywood.
Usher continued being iconic this year, snagging the prestigious ASCAP Voice of the Culture Award for his influence on music and culture. He also scored songwriting wins for his songs “Glu” and “Good Good” to further add to his multi-platinum, Grammy-collecting, Super Bowl-headlining resume.
Usher at the 2024 ASCAP Rhythm & Soul Music Awards. Photo credit: Lester Cohen/Getty Images for ASCAP
Usher accepted his award from legendary producer Jermaine Dupri (who of course has co-written and produced hits for Usher).
Lil Baby, who wrapped up his “It’s Only Us” nationwide tour last year, is this year’s ASCAP Rhythm & Soul Songwriter of the Year. The diamond-certified rapper scored big this year with wins for “Forever,” “Freestyle” and “Heyy,” from his third studio album It’s Only Me.
Victoria Monét at the 2024 ASCAP Rhythm & Soul Music Awards. Photo credit: Lester Cohen/Getty Images for ASCAP
2024 Best New Artist Grammy Award winner Victoria Monét received the coveted ASCAP Vanguard Award for her innovative work that is helping to shape the future of music, in addition to her most-performed song award for “On My Mama.”
ASCAP Chairman of the Board and President Paul Williams and ASCAP SVP of Membership Nicole George-Middleton presented the artist with the esteemed award, in front of a crowd of songwriter peers and music publishers.
“Snooze,” performed by SZA, earned the ASCAP R&B/Hip-Hop and Rap Song of the Year. Co-written by Leon Thomas and published by Eclectic Collective Publishing and Sony Music Publishing, the song topped the Billboard R&B/Hip-Hop Airplay chart, earning a historic milestone after an unprecedented 30 weeks at #1. This feat was the most any song has accomplished in the list’s 31-year history, and it was the only song to spend the entirety of 2023 on the Billboard Hot 100.
Omarion at the 2024 ASCAP Rhythm & Soul Music Awards. Photo credit: Lester Cohen/Getty Images for ASCAP
ASCAP Gospel Song of the Year goes to “Goodness of God” (Cece Winans), co-written by Brian Mark Johnson and Jennifer Louise Johnson and published by Bethel Music Publishing.
Warner Chappell Music earns ASCAP Rhythm & Soul Publisher of the Year Award for songs including “Calm Down” (Rema & Selena Gomez), “Fukumean” (Gunna), “Good Good” (USHER), “Hotel Lobby” (Quavo & Takeoff), “Rich Baby Daddy” (Drake), “Spin About U” and “Rich Flex” (21 Savage & Drake), “What It Is” (Doechii) and “Praise God” (Kanye West, Travis Scott & Baby Keem).
Additional 2024 ASCAP Rhythm & Soul Award-winning songwriters include 21 Savage (“Good Good,” “Spin Bout U,” “Peaches & Eggplants,” “Rich Flex”), Lil Uzi Vert (“Just Wanna Rock”), Summer Walker (“Good Good,” “Karma”), Coco Jones (“ICU”), Smokie Norful (“I Still Have You”), Tye Tribbett (“New”) and more.
The ASCAP Rhythm & Soul Music Awards recognize the songwriters and publishers of the most-performed songs of the past year based on Luminate data for terrestrial and satellite radio and streaming services, as specified by the ASCAP Rhythm & Soul Music Awards rules.
Los Angeles-based artist Mary Harris painted the party live on a 48×60 canvas that will be available for auction in November with all proceeds benefiting the ASCAP Foundation.
