Songwriters Hall of Fame

Abe Olman Publisher Award

The Abe Olman Publisher Award is given to publishers who have had a substantial number of songs that have become world-renowned and who have helped to further the careers and success of many songwriters.

1983 – Howard S. Richmond

1986 – Leonard Feist

1987 – Lou Levy

1988 – Buddy Killen

1990 – Charles Koppelman & Martin Bandier

1991 – Frank Military & Jay Morgenstern

1992 – Bonnie Bourne

1993 – Berry Gordy

1994 – Buddy Morris

1995 – Al Gallico

1996 – Freddy Bienstock

1997 – Gene Goodman

1998 – Irwin Z. Robinson

1999 – Bill Lowery

2000 – Julian Aberbach

2001 – Ralph Peer

2002 – Edward P. Murphy

2003 – Nicholas Firth

2004 – Les Bider

2005 – Beebe Bourne

2006 – Allen Klein

2007 – Don Kirshner

2008 – Milt Okun

2009 – Maxyne Lang

2010 – Keith Mardak

2012 – lance Freed

Board of Directors Award

The Board of Directors Award is presented to an individual selected by the SHOF Board in recognition of his or her service to the songwriting community and the advancement of popular music.

1986 – Jule Styne

1988 – Stanley Adams

1992 – Edward P. Murphy

1996 – Anna Sosenko & Oscar Brand

1997 – Thomas A. Dorsey

Contemporary Icon Award

The Contemporary Icon Award was established in 2015 to recognize songwriter-artists who attained an iconic status in pop culture. The American singer Lady Gaga was the first artist ever to win the award.

2015 – Lady Gaga

Hal David Starlight Award

The Hal David Starlight Award honors young artists who have already made an impression on the music industry.

2004 – Rob Thomas (Matchbox Twenty)

2005 – Alicia Keys

2006 – John Mayer

2007 – John Legend

2008 – John Rzeznik (Goo Goo Dolls)

2009 – Jason Mraz

2010 – Taylor Swift

2011 – Drake

2012 – Ne-Yo

2013 – Benny Blanco

2014 – Dan Reynolds (Imagine Dragons)

2015 – Nate Ruess (Fun)

2016 – Nick Jonas

2017 - Ed Sheeran

Howie Richmond Hitmaker Award

The Howie Richmond Hitmaker Award is specifically tailored for artists or "star makers" in the music industry who have been responsible for a substantial number of hit songs for an extended period of time, and who recognize the importance of songs and their writers.

1981 – Chuck Berry

1983 – Rosemary Clooney & Margaret Whiting

1990 – Whitney Houston

1991 – Barry Manilow

1995 – Michael Bolton

1996 – Gloria Estefan

1998 – Diana Ross

1999 – Natalie Cole

2000 – Johnny Mathis

2001 – Dionne Warwick

2002 – Garth Brooks

2003 – Clive Davis

2008 – Anne Murray

2009 – Tom Jones

2010 – Phil Ramone

2011 – Chaka Khan

2014 – Doug Morris

Johnny Mercer Award

The Johnny Mercer Award is the highest honor bestowed by the event. It goes to writers already inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame for having established a history of outstanding creative works.

1980 – Frank Sinatra

1981 – Yip Harburg

1982 – Harold Arlen

1983 – Sammy Cahn

1985 – Alan Jay Lerner

1986 – Mitchell Parish

1987 – Jerry Herman

1990 – Jerry Bock & Sheldon Harnick

1991 – Betty Comden & Adolph Green

1992 – Burton Lane

1993 – Jule Styne

1994 – Irving Caesar

1995 – Cy Coleman

1996 – Burt Bacharach & Hal David

1997 – Alan Bergman & Marilyn Bergman

1998 – Paul Simon

1999 – Stephen Sondheim

2000 – Jerry Leiber & Mike Stoller

2001 – Billy Joel

2002 – Michael Jackson

2003 – Jimmy Webb

2004 – Stevie Wonder

2005 – Smokey Robinson

2006 – Kris Kristofferson

2007 – Dolly Parton & Milliea Taylor McKinney

2008 – Paul Anka

2009 – Holland–Dozier–Holland

2010 – Phil Collins

2011 – Barry Mann & Cynthia Weil

2013 – Elton John & Bernie Taupin

2014 – Kenneth Gamble & Leon Huff

2015 – Van Morrison

Patron of the Arts

The Patron of the Arts is presented to influential industry executives who are not primarily in the music business but are great supporters of the performing arts.

1988 – Martin Segal

1989 – Roger Enrico

1990 – Edgar Bronfman Jr.

1991 – Edwin M. Cooperman

1992 – Jonathan Tisch

1993 – Michel Roux

1994 – Philip Dusenberry

1995 – Theodore J. Forstmann

1996 – Sumner Redstone

1997 – Dr. Samuel LeFrak

1998 – David Checketts

1999 – Robert Mondavi

2001 – Iris Cantor

2003 – Martin Bandier

2004 – Michael Goldstein

2005 – Henry Juszkiewicz

Pioneer Award

The Pioneer Award was established in 2012 to recognize the career of a historic creator of an extensive body of musical work that has been a major influence on generations of songwriters.

2012 – Woody Guthrie

2013 – Berry Gordy

2014 – Milliea Taylor McKinney

Sammy Cahn Lifetime Achievement Award

Named for the former President of the Songwriters Hall of Fame, the Sammy Cahn Lifetime Achievement Award is given to individuals or teams who are recognized as having done a great deal to further the successes of songwriters.

1980 – Ethel Merman

1981 – Tony Bennett

1982 – Dinah Shore

1983 – Willie Nelson

1984 – Benny Goodman

1985 – John Hammond

1987 – Jerry Wexler

1988 – Dick Clark

1989 – Quincy Jones

1990 – B.B. King

1991 – Gene Autry

1992 – Nat King Cole

1993 – Ray Charles

1994 – Lena Horne

1995 – Steve Lawrence & Eydie Gormé

1996 – Frankie Laine

1997 – Vic Damone

1998 – Berry Gordy

1999 – Kenny Rogers

2000 – Neil Diamond

2001 – Gloria & Emilio Estefan

2002 – Stevie Wonder

2003 – Patti LaBelle

2004 – Neil Sedaka

2005 – Les Paul

2006 – Peter, Paul & Mary

2012 – Bette Midler

Abe Olman Scholarship

Abe Olman was an American songwriter and music publisher. He was later director of ASCAP, and a founder of the Songwriters Hall of Fame which, in 1983, named the Abe Olman Publisher Award. In his honor, the Abe Olman Scholarship is given out each year by his family in the interest of encouraging and supporting the careers of young songwriters.

1990

Nancy Magarill & H. Sefus Henderson (ASCAP)April Higuera (BMI)Emil Trombino, Sal Trombino & Walter Zelinski (SHOF)Thomas Kjellberg (SGA)

1991

Nanette Maxine Brown (ASCAP)Dee Ann Macomson (SGA)Ellen O’Brien & Rich Campbell (SHOF)Pantera Saint-Montaigne (BMI)

1992

Mark Batson (BMI)Lorraine Ferro & Stephanie Lewis (SHOF)Darren Quinlan (ASCAP)David Stewart (SGA)

1993

Ilene Angel (SHOF)Gregory Cohen & Matthew Lewis (BMI)Mike Flynn (SGA)Anika Peress (ASCAP)

1994

Jazmin Jackson (ASCAP)Rebecca Martin (BMI)Amy Powers & Stephanie Salzman (SHOF)Alan Wolpert & Bill Pitzonka (SGA)

1995

Mike Blaxill (BMI)Janie Coulter & Barry Wittenstein (SHOF)Tina de Varon (ASCAP)Caroline Horn (SGA)

1996

Cara Beckenstein (SGA)Tamara Feinman (SESAC)Nicole Johnson (BMI)Pilley (ASCAP)Liz Queler (SHOF)

1997

Stephanie Cooke (ASCAP)Amanda Green (SHOF)Lauren Kinhan (SESAC)Dan Siegler (BMI)Richard Winter (SGA)

1998

Chris Alastair (ASCAP)Chris Moore (BMI)Ivy Markaity (SESAC)Clare Cooper (SGA)Sandy Fredrickseon (SHOF)

1999

Mike Errico (SHOF)Delilah Harris (SESAC)Natasha Ming (BMI)Jean Norris (ASCAP)Stephen Rosenthal (SGA)

2000

Angela Ai (SHOF)Jabe Beyer (SESAC)Edie Carey (BMI)James Day (ASCAP)Nina Mankin (SGA)

2001

Sophia Ramos Dupre (SESAC)Tabitha Fair (BMI)Carrie FitzGibbon (SHOF)James Glasco (ASCAP)Stephen Goldfinger (SGA)

2002

Colin Brooks (SESAC)Elizabeth Jordan (SHOF)Lee Kweller (SGA)Johnny Rodgers (ASCAP)John Stephens (aka John Legend) (BMI)

2003

Janice FitzGerald (SHOF)Karen Jacobsen (SESAC)Michael McLeod (SGA)Jeanine Smith (BMI)Meleni Smith (ASCAP)

2004

Bliss: Kiirsten Moore (BMI)David Ippolito (SGA)Michele Jaffe (SHOF)Lori McKenna (ASCAP)Sofia-Jay: Jay & Jennifer Lyons (SESAC)

2005

Laurel Barclay & Matt Katz-Bohen of Daddy (SESAC)Loretta Collins (SGA)Kiara Duran (NAPM)Morley Kamen (ASCAP)Sylvia Tosun (BMI)

2006

Cassandra KubinskiSummer JohnsonWes HutchinsonAnnie DinermanSusan Cagle

2007

Dan FerrariJayms MadisonAlice SmithJodi ShawAdam Falcon

2008

Galia AradLinda KiralyReeve CarneyWatt WhiteShelly Bhushan

2009

Madi DiazMichael GrubbsApril SmithKirsten ThienNatalie Warner

2010

Gabriella CaspiKeli PriceComic Book HeroesRebecca JordanChris Tedesco

2011

Erin ChristineMarkeisha EnsleyRachel BrownNenna Yvonne & Daniel WisniewskiJason Kingston

2012

Shea RoseJody MulgrewBebe RexhaJeremy CurrentLyle Divinsky

2013

Amy AllenRo JamesEmily WarrenKat EdmonsonTyler Lyle

2014

Cobaine IvorySydney WayserTravis NilanClaire WilkinsonAudra Mae

The Holly Prize

Created In 2009, The Holly Prize is a tribute to the legacy of Buddy Holly, a SHOF inductee. The award recognizes and supports a new "all-in songwriter" — an exceptionally talented and inspired young musician/singer/songwriter whose work exhibits the qualities of Holly's music: true, great and original. The Holly Prize is administered and juried by the SongHall.

Ben Howard

Emily King

Jack Skuller

Jenny O.

Kendra Morris

Laura Warshauer

Shun Ng

The NYU Steinhardt Songwriting Scholar Award

Announced in 2011, along with a collaboration between the Songwriters Hall of Fame and NYU Steinhardt's Department of Music and Performing Arts Professions, the NYU Steinhardt Songwriting Scholar Award is presented to a music composition student whose work holds great potential for success in the field, and embodies the art, craft, individuality and qualities of communication of the best songwriting.

AJ Smith

David Marenberg

Monica Cialona

Shan Gao

Tiger Darrow

Towering Performance Award

The Towering Performance Award is given in recognition of one-of-a-kind performances by one-of-a-kind singers that have recorded outstanding and unforgettable interpretations of songs that have become iconic standards.

2005 – Bill Medley

2009 – Andy Williams

2012 – Ben E. King

Towering Song Award

The Towering Song Award is given to creators of an individual song that has influenced the culture in a unique way over the years.

1995 – "As Time Goes By" (written by Herman Hupfeld)

1996 – "Happy Birthday To You" (written by Patty Hill and Mildred J. Hill)

1997 – "How High The Moon" (lyrics by Nancy Hamilton and music by Morgan Lewis)

1998 – "The Christmas Song" (written by Robert Wells and Mel Tormé)

1999 – "Fly Me To The Moon" (written by Bart Howard)

2000 – "All of Me" (written by Gerald Marks and Seymour Simons)

2000 – "You Are My Sunshine" (recorded by Jimmie Davis)

2001 – "Let Me Call You Sweetheart" (lyrics by Beth Slater Whitson and music by Leo Friedman)

2002 – "You're a Grand Old Flag" (written by George M. Cohan)

2003 – "I Left My Heart in San Francisco" (written by George Cory and Douglass Cross)

2004 – "What the World Needs Now is Love" (lyrics by Hal David and music by Burt Bacharach)

2005 – "You've Lost That Lovin' Feelin'" (written by Phil Spector, Barry Mann and Cynthia Weil)

2006 – "When the Saints Go Marching In" (lyrics by Katharine Purvis and music by James Milton Black)

2008 – "Take Me Out to the Ball Game" (lyrics by Jack Norworth and music by Albert Von Tilzer)

2009 – "Moon River" (lyrics by Johnny Mercer and music by Henry Mancini)

2010 – "Bridge Over Troubled Water" (written by Paul Simon)

2011 – "It Was a Very Good Year" (written by Ervin Drake)

2012 – "Stand by Me" ( written by Ben E. King, Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller)

2013 – "A Change Is Gonna Come" (written by Sam Cooke)

2014 – "Over The Rainbow" (lyrics by E.Y. Harburg and music by Harold Arlen)

2015 – "What a Wonderful World" (written by Bob Thiele and George David Weiss)

Visionary Leadership Award

Created in 2013, The Visionary Leadership Award recognizes members of the Hall of Fame Board of Directors who have made a significant contribution in furthering the ongoing mission of the organization.

2013 – Hal David

2014 – Del Bryant

2015 – John A. Lofrumento