The 2020 ASCAP Rhythm & Soul Music Awards, ASCAP’s fourth successful virtual awards show this year, included powerful performances, meaningful discussions, uplifting speeches, emotional tributes and a lively after party to top it all off. The three-day celebration across digital platforms created memorable moments while giving fans an intimate glimpse of their favorite songwriters and artists in their homes and studios.
As part of its weekly ASCAP Experience: Home Edition programming, ASCAP also hosted a “Leading Ladies of Publishing A&R” panel discussion featuring women executives from three of its top Rhythm & Soul Music Award-winning publishers: Brandra Ringo (Warner Chappell), Ari Gelaw (UMPG) and Jennifer Drake (Sony/ATV). The three A&R executives shared insights on their roles, speaking about what they look for in a new signing, how they fit into a songwriter’s team, the daily joys and struggles of balancing their career and personal lives, and their experiences as women in a male-driven industry.
Some of the highlights from the evening include:
Mustard unboxing his awards for co-producing/writing Ella Mai’s “Boo’d Up,” “Shot Clock” and “Trip,” and for his collaboration with Migos on “Pure Water:” “It was an amazing year… Thank you ASCAP, I appreciate you always.”
Rapper Petey Pablo accepted his award for “My Type,” thanking Saweetie for the remix (Pablo’s “Freek-a-Leek” was sampled in the #ASCAPAwards-winning track): “It’s all about making great music that lasts a lifetime and taking a masterpiece and creating a new masterpiece… I want to send prayers to all the friends and family and everyone that has been affected by everything that is going on and everyone that is still staying strong and musically creative in a crazy time like this.”
Singer-songwriter Shanice accepted her award for her contribution to Chris Brown’s “Undecided,” which samples her 1991 hit “I Love Your Smile.” She recalled: “In the ’90s, that melody brought so much joy to people and in 2020, melodies still put a smile on people’s faces.”
Gospel artist JJ Hairston expressed thanks for his award for “Miracle Worker” and shared an urgent message: “We gotta keep making good music because it’s important and it’s necessary in this season.”
Producer Westen Weiss acknowledged his collaborators in thanks for his Top Rap Song award for “Going Bad” and said: “Also a big shout out to all my peers who also won awards this year — I’m super excited to see all the work you guys have coming…”
April Daniels, wife of the late LaShawn “Big Shiz” Daniels, posted an unboxing video accepting the award for “Look Back at It” on his behalf. “I love that my husband is still being celebrated today. His legacy continues… it is amazing to see his catalogue of music still changing the world, still affecting the world, still being recognized even beyond his transition.”
As part of the Awards, ASCAP saluted members of the ASCAP family lost over the past year, including LaShawn “Big Shiz” Daniels, Fred the Godson, Andre Harrell, Bill Withers, Betty Wright, Kobe Bryant and Naya Rivera. 2014 ASCAP Founders Award recipient Jermaine Dupri hosted and DJ’d the official Rhythm & Soul Music Awards Instagram Live after party on @jermainedupri on Friday, July 17, sending virtual attendees off in style.
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