Sony Music Publishing has been named Publisher of the Year at the 2026 BMI R&B/Hip-Hop Awards.
It’s the second year running that SMP has taken the title.
The Sony-owned publisher landed the prize 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 last year’s 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. “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 win included Timeless by The Weeknd and Playboi Carti, Like Him by Tyler, the Creator, Yukon by Justin Bieber, and 25, whose BMI-credited writers include Rod Wave and Tems.
luther, the Kendrick Lamar and SZA collaboration, took R&B/Hip-Hop Song of the Year, with BMI-credited co-writers including SMP’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, having co-written six of the year’s most-performed songs.
The other five were 30 For 30, hey now, peekaboo, squabble up, and tv off.
BMI said luther placed at No. 2 on Billboard‘s 2025 Year End Hot 100 Songs chart, and spent 23 weeks at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart.
According to the PRO, that surpassed a previous record of 22 weeks set by Lamar‘s own Not Like Us.
O Lil Angel was named R&B/Hip-Hop Producer of the Year, with BMI citing his work with Drake and PARTYNEXTDOOR on Spider-Man Superman and Somebody Loves Me.
Jahaan Sweet, who is signed to SMP, 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,” said Nas. “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.”
BMI also used the ceremony to remember Tay Keith, the producer and songwriter who died on June 18 at the age of 29.
The PRO described him as “a friend, a mentor and a brother to so many in the room,” and 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, and 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 Rhythm & Soul Music Awards on June 25.
Sony Music Publishing is led by Chairman and CEO Jon Platt.
The main winners at the 2026 BMI R&B/Hip-Hop Awards were as follows:
- BMI Icon Award: Nas
- Songwriter of the Year: Kendrick Lamar
- Song of the Year: luther – Matthew “MTech” Bernard, Atia “INK” Boggs, Sam Dew, Kendrick Lamar, Roselilah (BUMA), Mark “Sounwave” Spears, SZA
- Producer of the Year: O Lil Angel
- Top Producers: Isaac “Zac” De Boni, Dernst “D’Mile” Emile II, Michael “Finatik” Mulé, Jahaan Sweet
- Publisher of the Year: Sony Music Publishing
- BMI Foundation Babyface Award: Rijah Banerjee
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 the PRO’s website.Music Business Worldwide
