LOS ANGELES, CA (LA ELEMENTS) 9/10/2023 -“We’re in for an exciting night celebrating our BMI family of UK and European songwriters, composers and music publishers,” says BMI President and CEO Mike O’Neill. “We’re thrilled to pay tribute to the legendary Gary Kemp in recognition of his incredibly creative accomplishments. His timeless songs have reached multiple generations, leaving a lasting impression on the world of entertainment and inspired many to follow in his footsteps. We’re also honored to present P2J with the BMI Impact Award. His work is a testament to the unifying power of music in bridging cultures and captivating audiences worldwide. We look forward to celebrating all the 2023 BMI London Award winners with a fantastic evening of music. It’s going to be a night to remember.”
On October 2, 2023, at the Savoy Hotel, the BMI London Awards will name Gary Kemp of Spandau Ballet, a BMI Icon. With global hits like “True,” “Gold” and “Only When You Leave,” Kemp is among the songwriters who created the music that defined New Wave and ushered in the MTV era. 2023 marks the 40th anniversary of the smash hit, “True,” which has received over five million airplays in North America alone. His music has been sampled by a wide array of artists including The Backstreet Boys, PM Dawn, Rui da Silva and Lloyd. As a solo artist Kemp has released two albums for Columbia Records, Little Bruises (1995) and Insolo (2021). He has also written two musicals with Guy Pratt, with whom he currently co-hosts a popular podcast called,The Rockonteurs. For the last five years, Kemp has toured the world with Pink Floyd’s Nick Mason’s band, Saucerful of Secrets as co-lead singer and guitarist.
Beyond music, Kemp has received recognition for his work in motion picture for his roles in The Krays and The Bodyguard. In 2009 he wrote his critically acclaimed autobiography; I Know this Much: From Soho to Spandau.
Among his many honors, Kemp has received a Q Award, a BRIT Award, an IVOR Novello for Outstanding Song Collection and five BMI Awards. As a BMI Icon, he joins an elite group of previous recipients including: The Bee Gees, Busta Rhymes, Crosby Stills & Nash, Ray Davies, John Fogerty, David Foster, Peter Gabriel, the Jacksons, Carole King, Kris Kristofferson, Barry Manilow, Willie Nelson, Stevie Nicks, Dolly Parton, Queen, Nile Rodgers, Carlos Santana, Paul Simon, Sting, Van Morrison and Brian Wilson.
Richard “P2J” Isong will also be recognized at the London ceremony with the BMI Impact Award for his influence on the future of music. This will be the first time a producer will receive this honor. His work with such artists as Beyoncé, Burna Boy, Doja Cat, Gorillaz, WizKid and FKA Twigs among others, have won P2J acclaim as one of the most preeminent Afrobeats record producers in the industry. His expertise in working across an array of other genres including pop, grime, and rap have earned him the following awards: GRAMMY, Soul Train and BMI Awards. He joins an elite group of producers whose music has garnered over a billion streams.
The evening’s ceremony will also celebrate the top UK and European songwriter, composers and music publishers of the previous year.
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Celebrating over 80 years of service to songwriters, composers, music publishers and businesses, Broadcast Music Inc.® (BMI®) is a global leader in music rights management, serving as an advocate for the value of music. For more information of BMI®, please visit their site.
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On our cover (l. to r.) Gary Kemp and Richard “P2J” Isong. Photo of Gary Kemp by Malcolm Venville. Photo of Richard Isong by Kehinde Asani.
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