The industry’s hottest songwriter/artist T-Pain earned the coveted Songwriter of the Year crown and shared the Producer of the Year trophy with crossover king Jonathan “J.R.” Rotem and hip-hop visionary Kanye West. Song of the Year honors went to Beyoncé’s “Irreplaceable,” co-written by Ne-Yo, Amund Bjøerklund (TONO) and Espen Lind (TONO), while Universal Music Publishing Group secured the Publisher of the Year title.

Full List of 2008 BMI Award Winning Songs

The night’s festivities culminated with the presentation of the prestigious BMI Icon Award to legends The Jacksons, whose achievements were celebrated with a musical tribute. Throughout the ceremony, the audience also enjoyed live performances of many of the award-winning songs by music’s biggest stars including Rick Ross, T-Pain, Lil’ Wayne, Ray J, LLOYD, Mario, JoJo, Keri Hilson and Yung Berg.

T-Pain’s resounding claim to the Songwriter of the Year title is buoyed by his jaw-dropping seven contributions to BMI’s most-performed list: “Bartender,” “Buy U a Drank (Shawty Snappin’),” “Cyclone,” “Good Life,” “I’m a Flirt,” “Kiss Kiss,”“Low” and “Shawty.” The past year found T-Pain everywhere, as he collaborated with hip-hop’s elite including Yung Joc, Akon, Baby Bash, Kanye West, R. Kelly, T.I., Chris Brown, Flo Rida and Plies. Flo Rida’s “Flow” featuring T-Pain became an international smash, topping charts in a diverse slew of countries including Finland, Ireland and Australia.

Song of the Year “Irreplaceable” also topped charts all over the world, reigning at the no. 1 spot on the Billboard Hot 100 for ten consecutive weeks. Co-penned by Ne-Yo, along with songwriters Amund Bjøerklund and Espen Lind (both members of Norwegian performing right society TONO and represented in the U.S. by BMI), and published by EMI-Blackwood Music, Inc., Super Sayin’ Publishing and Universal Music-Z Songs, Beyoncé’s “Irreplaceable” was certified multi-platinum and became the United States’ best-selling single of 2007.

T-Pain, Jonathan “J.R.” Rotem and Kanye West shared the Producer of the Year win thanks to individually logging the most producer credits on charting songs over the past year. The BMI Top Urban Producers list also included DJ Montay, Mr. ColliPark,Polow Da Don, Rodney Jerkins, Soulja Boy Tell’em and will.i.am.