Sony Music Publishing Takes BMI R&B/Hip-Hop Publisher of the Year Again as Kendrick Lamar Dominates 2026 Awards
Sony Music Publishing was named Publisher of the Year at the 2026 BMI R&B/Hip-Hop Awards on Wednesday, August 26, at the Fairmont Century Plaza in Los Angeles — the second consecutive year the company has taken the title. Music Business Worldwide
BMI, the performing-rights organisation that collects royalties for songwriters and publishers when their music is played publicly, honoured the writers, producers and publishers behind the past year's 35 most-performed R&B and hip-hop songs at the invitation-only ceremony. Sony Music Publishing won by representing 27 of those songs, up from 23 the previous year. BMI
The songs behind the publisher's win included The Weeknd and Playboi Carti's "Timeless," Tyler, the Creator's "Like Him," Justin Bieber's "Yukon," and "25," whose BMI-credited writers include Rod Wave and Tems.
Kendrick Lamar was named BMI R&B/Hip-Hop Songwriter of the Year for co-writing six of the year's most-performed songs: "luther," "30 For 30," "hey now," "peekaboo," "squabble up," and "tv off." The Lamar and SZA collaboration "luther" won Song of the Year. BMI cited its No. 2 placement on Billboard's 2025 Year-End Hot 100 Songs chart and its 23-week run at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart — a streak that edged out the previous record of 22 weeks, set by Lamar's own "Not Like Us."
Four of "luther"'s BMI-credited co-writers are signed to Sony Music Publishing: Mark "Sounwave" Spears, Matthew "MTech" Bernard, Atia "INK" Boggs, and Sam Dew. The remaining credits belong to Roselilah (administered by BUMA, the Dutch performing-rights body), Lamar, and SZA.
O Lil Angel was named Producer of the Year, with BMI singling out his work with Drake and PARTYNEXTDOOR on "Spider-Man Superman" and "Somebody Loves Me." The Top Producers list also included Jahaan Sweet, who is signed to Sony Music Publishing, along with 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. BMI
The ceremony also remembered producer and songwriter Tay Keith, who died on June 18 at the age of 29. His family came onstage to accept his 2025 BMI R&B/Hip-Hop Songwriter of the Year award.
Sony Music Publishing's songwriters received 121 Million-Air Awards at the ceremony. These awards, given by BMI, recognise songs that have reached specified broadcast milestones — one million, three million, or higher in cumulative U.S. performances. BMI
The Publisher of the Year title adds to a run of recognition for Sony Music Publishing in the rhythm and soul space. In June, the company was named ASCAP Rhythm & Soul Publisher of the Year for the second consecutive year — ASCAP being BMI's larger competitor among U.S. performing-rights organisations. At that same ceremony, Kendrick Lamar and SZA were named ASCAP's Top R&B/Hip-Hop Songwriters. Music Business Worldwide
For songwriters and producers, these awards are more than ceremony hardware. BMI and ASCAP royalties are paid out of the licence fees the organisations collect from radio stations, streaming services, and venues, and higher-performing catalogues translate directly into higher distributions. A publisher-of-the-year win signals that its roster generated more qualifying activity across the board — more spins, more plays, more public performances — which is how the royalty pool gets divided.
