BMI London Awards
Graham Lyle, best-known for co-writing the Tina Turner classic “What’s Love Got to Do With It,” will be presented with the BMI Icon Award at the 2024 BMI London Awards to be held on Dec. 9 at The Savoy in London. The private event will be hosted by BMI president & CEO Mike O’Neill.
“What’s Love” topped the Billboard Hot 100 for three weeks in 1984 and went on to win Grammys for record and song of the year. It was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame in 2012. Lyle co-wrote the song with Terry Britten, who also produced Turner’s single. Britten and Lyle later co-wrote two more big hits for Turner, both of which peaked at No. 2 on the Hot 100 – “We Don’t Need Another Hero (Thunderdome)” from the film Mad Max Beyond Thunderdome and “Typical Male.” Thus, the team was responsible for three of Turner’s six top 10 solo hits.
“We’re very honoured to salute the incomparable songwriter Graham Lyle with the BMI Icon Award in celebration of a lifetime of timeless hit songs that deeply resonate with global audiences,” O’Neill said in a statement.
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The ceremony will also pay tribute to the British and European songwriters and publishers of the previous year’s most performed songs on U.S. streaming, radio and television from BMI’s repertoire.
Many artists have revived “What’s Love” over the years. Rapper Warren G recorded a hip-hop version in 1996 featuring Adina Howard, which reached No. 32 on the Hot 100. The song was sampled in the hit “What’s Luv?” by Fat Joe featuring Ashanti, which reached No. 2 on the Hot 100 in 2002. Norwegian DJ/producer Kygo released a remix with Turner in 2020. Mickey Guyton sang it at the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame induction ceremony in 2021, when Turner was inducted as a solo artist.
Lyle began his professional journey as one of the first music creators to sign to The Beatles’ Apple Company, alongside songwriter Benny Gallagher in the late 1960s. Together, the duo became founding members of the British rock band McGuinness Flint, and later joined forces to form Gallagher and Lyle, where they released eight albums and landed two Hot 100 hits in 1976, while signed to A&M Records – “I Wanna Stay with You” and “Heart on My Sleeve.”
In 1981, Lyle formed his own publishing company GOODSINGLE, LTD, to write for other artists. In addition to his longtime partnership with Turner, Lyle has also penned hits such as “Just Good Friends” by Michael Jackson and Stevie Wonder, “Hold Me (Just a Little Longer Tonight)” by Etta James, “You’re the Star” by Rod Stewart and “When You Love Somebody (I’m Saving My Love for You)” by Patti LaBelle.
Previous BMI Icons include Sting, Gary Kemp, Graham Gouldman, Sir Tim Rice, The Bee Gees, 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, Van Morrison and Brian Wilson.
Gary Kemp of Spandau Ballet will be named a BMI Icon at the 2023 BMI London Awards, to be held Oct. 2 at The Savoy Hotel. The private event will be hosted by BMI president & CEO Mike O’Neill.
Kemp is best-known for writing Spandau Ballet’s swoon-inducing 1983 smash “True.” The song topped the Official U.K. Singles Chart for four weeks and reached No. 4 on the Billboard Hot 100. Eight years later, it was sampled in PM Dawn’s “Set Adrift on Memory Bliss,” a No. 1 hit on the Hot 100.
In addition, producer Richard Isong, better known as P2J, will receive the BMI Impact Award, which recognizes ground-breaking artistry, creative vision and impact on the future of music. This marks the first time a producer has received this honor.
“We’re in for an exciting night celebrating our BMI family of U.K. and European songwriters, composers and music publishers,” O’Neill said in a statement. “We’re thrilled to pay tribute to the legendary Gary Kemp in recognition of his incredible 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 honoured 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.”
The ceremony will also honor the U.K. and European songwriters and publishers of the previous year’s most-performed songs on U.S. streaming, radio and television from BMI’s repertoire. The Million-Air Awards, song of the year, and awards for pop, film, television and cable television music will also be presented throughout the evening.
Kemp is one of the most successful songwriters to come out of the New Romantic era in British pop music. As a founding member and guitarist for Spandau Ballet, Kemp wrote the lyrics and music for all of the band’s hits. “True” has received more than 5 million airplays in North America alone. “Gold,” “Communication” and “Only When You Leave” also made the Hot 100.
Kemp’s songs have been sampled by many artists, including Backstreet Boys, PM Dawn, Nelly, Paul Anka, Rui da Silva and Lloyd. As a solo artist, Kemp has released two albums for Columbia Records, Little Bruises (1995) and Insolo (2021). He’s also written two musicals with Guy Pratt, with whom he currently co-hosts a podcast called the Rockonteurs. For the last five years, Kemp has toured with Nick Mason’s band Saucerful of Secrets as co-lead singer and guitarist.
Kemp is also an accomplished actor and author. He has appeared in several films, including the 1992 blockbuster The Bodyguard and the British crime thriller The Krays. In 2009, he authored his autobiography, I Know This Much: From Soho to Spandau.
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 recipients including Bee Gees, Crosby, Stills & Nash, Ray Davies, Peter Gabriel, Queen, Sting and Van Morrison.
P2J will be recognized with the BMI Impact Award for the influence he’s had on the future of music. Previous winners are Tems, RAYE and Arlo Parks.
For the past decade, P2J has established himself as an in-demand producer through his work with chart-topping artists such as Beyoncé, Burna Boy, Doja Cat, Gorillaz, Ed Sheeran and WizKid. His work spans multiple genres, including pop, grime, rap and Afrobeats. P2J received his first Grammy nomination late last year – album of the year – for his work on Beyoncé’s Renaissance. His music has amassed more than a billion streams.
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