Sony Music Publishing has been named Publisher of the Year at the 2026 BMI (Broadcast Music, Inc.) R&B/Hip-Hop Awards in the United States, marking its second consecutive win.
The Sony-owned publisher was recognized for representing 27 of the past awards year’s most-performed R&B and hip-hop songs in BMI’s repertoire, up from 23 at the previous ceremony. BMI held the event on Wednesday (August 26) at the Fairmont Century Plaza in Los Angeles, California.
"It is a privilege to be recognized as Publisher of the Year for the second year in a row," said Ari Gelaw, Sony Music Publishing‘s SVP, Creative A&R (artists and repertoire). "This recognition belongs first and foremost to all SMP songwriter honorees and the incredible music they create. Their songs are why we do this, and we don’t take that for granted for a second. Thank you to BMI for this honor, and to our team for their continued dedication and support."
Songs behind the publisher win#
Songs that contributed to the win included:
- Timeless by The Weeknd and Playboi Carti
- Like Him by Tyler, the Creator
- Yukon by Justin Bieber
- 25, whose BMI-credited writers include Rod Wave and Tems
luther, the Kendrick Lamar and SZA collaboration, won R&B/Hip-Hop Song of the Year. BMI-credited co-writers included Sony Music Publishing’s Mark "Sounwave" Spears, Matthew "MTech" Bernard, Atia "INK" Boggs, and Sam Dew. Roselilah (BUMA), Lamar, and SZA were also recognized as writers on the track.
Lamar was named BMI R&B/Hip-Hop Songwriter of the Year after co-writing six of the year’s most-performed songs. The other five were:
- 30 For 30
- hey now
- peekaboo
- squabble up
- tv off
luther placed at No. 2 on the 2025 Billboard Year-End Hot 100 Songs chart and spent 23 weeks at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart. That surpassed the previous record of 22 weeks set by Lamar’s own Not Like Us.
Producer and icon honors#
O Lil Angel was named R&B/Hip-Hop Producer of the Year for work with Drake and PARTYNEXTDOOR on Spider-Man Superman and Somebody Loves Me. Jahaan Sweet, signed to Sony Music Publishing, was among BMI’s Top Producers, alongside Dernst "D’Mile" Emile II and FNZ’s Michael "Finatik" Mulé and Isaac "Zac" De Boni.
Nas received the BMI Icon Award, presented by Babyface.
"Staring at records on wax I saw the three letters, BMI. No matter the legends I was listening to, I saw BMI. Never in a million years did I think I would be partners with BMI. It just shows you that the things you dream about could really happen."
"Nas didn’t just raise the bar, he reset it," said Mike Steinberg, BMI’s EVP and Chief Revenue & Creative Officer. "For what hip-hop could be. For what songwriting could accomplish. For how deeply an artist could observe, think and write."
Tay Keith remembered and other honorees#
BMI also remembered Tay Keith, the producer and songwriter who died on June 18 at age 29. The organization described him as "a friend, a mentor and a brother to so many in the room." His family came onstage to accept his 2025 BMI R&B/Hip-Hop Songwriter of the Year award.
Sony Music Publishing said its other 2026 honorees included:
- Rod Wave
- Tems
- Eelmatic
- Seyi Sodimu
- Kasey Rashel
- J. White Did It
- Bandplay
- BigXthaPlug
- Ben Johnson
- Julian Bunetta
- Giveon
- Lucas Scharff
- Paco
- Kenneth Burrell
- Tavaras Jordan
- MacFly
- Real Boston Richey
- Ella Mai
- Koshy
- Carl Thompson
- Faith Evans
- Coupe
- Tye Beats
- Lorenzo Gaines
- Jay Hawkins
- Josh Thompson
- Moneybagg Yo
- Charlie Handsome
In May, the company was named Pop Publisher of the Year at the 2026 BMI Pop Music Awards, where luther also took Song of the Year. It then won Publisher of the Year at the 2026 ASCAP (American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers) Rhythm & Soul Music Awards on June 25. Sony Music Publishing is led by Chairman and CEO Jon Platt.
The full roster of BMI’s 35 most-performed R&B/Hip-Hop songs and their writers and publishers, including 63 first-time award winners, is published on BMI’s website.
