Broadcast Music, Inc. (BMI) is set to celebrate the titans and rising stars of R&B and hip-hop at its highly anticipated 2025 BMI R&B/Hip-Hop Awards. The prestigious event, scheduled for Thursday, August 28, 2025, in Los Angeles, will honor GRAMMY Award-winning artist, producer, and songwriter T-Pain with the esteemed BMI President’s Award, and GRAMMY-nominated lyricist, songwriter, and performer GloRilla with the BMI Impact Award. The ceremony will also recognize the top-performing R&B/hip-hop songs and the creative minds behind them from the past year.
T-Pain: A Visionary Honored with the BMI President’s Award
T-Pain, a global cultural icon, will receive the BMI President’s Award, the event’s highest honor, in recognition of his remarkable career and the profound, cross-generational impact of his music. Known for his groundbreaking use of Auto-Tune, which he masterfully transformed from a corrective tool into a signature expressive instrument, T-Pain has undeniably shaped the sonic landscape of modern music. His distinctive sound, which blends R&B and hip-hop sensibilities with a unique vocal processing technique, pioneered a new era in vocal production and inspired a generation of artists. Hits like “I’m Sprung,” “Buy U a Drank,” and “Bartender” not only dominated the charts but also redefined vocal artistry in popular music.
Throughout his illustrious career, T-Pain has amassed an impressive discography, selling over 50 million singles and accumulating billions of streams. His achievements include ten Billboard Hot 100 number-one hits, two Grammy Awards, and 28 BMI Awards, three of which were for BMI Songwriter of the Year and one for BMI R&B/Hip-Hop Producer of the Year. BMI specifically cited his creative vision and unwavering commitment to pushing musical boundaries as key reasons for this prestigious recognition, noting how his work continues to resonate with fans across multiple generations.
GloRilla: Recognizing a Breakout Force with the BMI Impact Award
Emerging powerhouse GloRilla will be honored with the BMI Impact Award, celebrating her groundbreaking artistry, creative vision, and significant influence on the future of music. Since her explosive breakout in 2022 with the viral sensation “F.N.F. (Let’s Go),” GloRilla has rapidly cemented her status as one of hip-hop’s most fearless and compelling voices. Her debut album, “Glorious,” released in October 2024, achieved critical acclaim and commercial success, setting new benchmarks for female rappers. GloRilla has consistently delivered chart-topping tracks, including “Yeah Glo!” and “Wanna Be” featuring Megan Thee Stallion, earning multiple Grammy nominations and solidifying her position as a leading figure in contemporary hip-hop.
Catherine Brewton, BMI’s Vice President of Creative, Atlanta, lauded GloRilla, stating, “This year’s Impact Award recipient GloRilla’s bold voice and fearless creativity is currently shaping and inspiring the future of Hip Hop, making her the perfect choice for this honor.” GloRilla’s trajectory includes accolades such as the Powerhouse Award at Billboard Women in Music, underscoring her meteoric rise and undeniable presence in the industry.
Celebrating the Best of R&B and Hip-Hop
The 2025 BMI R&B/Hip-Hop Awards ceremony, held at the Fairmont Century Plaza in Los Angeles, serves as a pivotal platform to acknowledge and celebrate the creators behind the year’s most impactful R&B and hip-hop songs. The event will spotlight the top 35 most-performed songs, alongside recognizing the BMI R&B/Hip-Hop Songwriter of the Year, Song of the Year, Producer of the Year, and Publisher of the Year. This year, Kendrick Lamar’s “Not Like Us,” co-written with Sounwave, Ray Charles, and Sean Momberger, was named BMI’s R&B/Hip-Hop Song of the Year, while Sounwave took home Producer of the Year honors, and Sony Music Publishing was recognized as Publisher of the Year. The ceremony highlights the continuous evolution and enduring influence of these genres.
Hosted by BMI President & CEO Mike O’Neill, Executive Vice President, Chief Creative & Revenue Officer Mike Steinberg, and Vice President, Creative, Atlanta, Catherine Brewton, the private, invitation-only event promises an evening of high-energy performances and heartfelt tributes, recognizing the collective talent that drives R&B and hip-hop forward.
