Benny Blanco is set to receive the BMI President’s Award at the 2024 BMI Pop Awards. The private event, hosted by BMI president & CEO Mike O’Neill and vice president, worldwide creative Barbara Cane, will be held on Tuesday, June 4, at the Beverly Wilshire Hotel in Beverly Hills, Calif.
“Benny’s numerous contributions to the art of music and songwriting across all genres are unparalleled,” Cane said in a statement. “His artistry and dedication to his craft have profoundly inspired and influenced many in our creative communities and we are thrilled to be honoring him with the BMI President’s Award.”
Previous recipients of the award include Luis Fonsi, Noel Gallagher, Ellie Goulding, Imagine Dragons, Jay Kay of Jamiroquai, Ludacris, P!nk, Willie Nelson, Pitbull, Taylor Swift, Brian Wilson and Dwight Yoakam.
Blanco has accumulated 55 BMI Awards, was named songwriter of the year four times and won pop song of the year in 2013 for “Moves Like Jagger,” a No. 1 hit on the Billboard Hot 100 for Maroon 5 featuring Christina Aguilera.
Blanco has received 11 Grammy nominations, but no wins yet. He has received five album of the year nods, for work on Katy Perry’s Teenage Dream, Ed Sheeran’s X, Justin Bieber’s Purpose and Justice (deluxe edition), and Lizzo’s Special. He has received two song of the year nods, for co-writing Bieber’s “Love Yourself” and Julia Michaels’ “Issues.” He has also been nominated once for producer of the year (non-classical).
In 2013 he received the Hal David Starlight Award from the Songwriters Hall of Fame. Four years later, he received the producer of the year award at the iHeartRadio Music Awards.
Blanco also has a passion for cooking and is releasing his first cookbook OPEN WIDE: A Cookbook for Friends, on April 30.
BMI’s pop song of the year, songwriter of the year and publisher of the year will also be named at the June 4 event, along with BMI’s 50 most performed pop songs in the U.S. from the previous year.
