ASCAP to Honor New Edition at 21st Annual Rhythm & Soul Music Awards on June 23 in Los Angeles
| Source: ASCAP
NEW YORK, NY--(Marketwire - May 29, 2008) - The American Society of Composers, Authors and
Publishers (ASCAP) will honor New Edition at its 21st Annual Rhythm & Soul
Music Awards on June 23, 2008 in Los Angeles, CA. The six members of New
Edition will be presented with the prestigious ASCAP Golden Note Award,
which is given to songwriters, composers, and artists who have achieved
extraordinary career milestones. The invitation-only gala will also honor
ASCAP's top songwriters and publishers of 2007.
Previous ASCAP Golden Note Award honorees include Lionel Richie, Tom Petty,
Stevie Wonder, Jermaine Dupri, Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis, Jay-Z, Quincy
Jones, LL Cool J and Steve Miller.
Celebrating their 25th anniversary as a group, Ricky Bell, Michael Bivins,
Bobby Brown, Ralph Tresvant, Ronnie DeVoe and Johnny Gill established much
of the groundwork for the style of music known as new jack swing. In the
early 1980s, New Edition sold more units in the United States than any
other teen singing group and their success led to the creation of late-80s
and 90s boy bands, such as New Kids on the Block, Boyz II Men, the
Backstreet Boys and 'N Sync. They have released seven studio albums --
"Candy Girl," "New Edition," "All For Love," "Under the Blue Moon," "Heart
Break," "Home Again" and "One Love" -- that spawned several hits, including
"Candy Girl," "Popcorn Love," "Cool It Now," "Mr. Telephone Man," "Count Me
Out," "A Little Bit of Love (Is All It Takes)," "Earth Angel," "Can You
Stand the Rain," "If It Isn't Love," "You're Not My Kind of Girl,"
"Crucial" and "Hit Me Off." Individually, they have enjoyed successful
solo careers and side group projects.
Commenting on the Golden Note Award honorees, ASCAP President and Chairman
Marilyn Bergman said: "Over the last 25 years, New Edition has experienced
success on multiple levels to become true legends. The group has firmly
left their mark on today's music, and ASCAP is very proud to honor them."
The 21st Annual Rhythm & Soul Music Awards celebration will also feature a
special presentation of ASCAP's highly competitive and coveted Songwriter
of the Year award to the songwriter with the most award-winning songs.
Past recipients of this top honor include many of today's most celebrated
talents, such as 50 Cent, Johntá Austin, Mary J. Blige, Kandi Burruss, Sean
"Diddy" Combs, Dr. Dre, Jermaine Dupri, Jimmy Jam & Terry Lewis, Alicia
Keys and Timbaland. Special awards will also be presented to Publisher of
the Year, Ringtone of the Year, Top R&B/Hip-Hop Song, Top Rap Song and Top
Gospel Song. The evening will feature performances by several
award-winning songwriter/performers.
Members of the press may apply for credentials at
http://www.ascap.com/press/pressroom/rhythmsoulawards/
About ASCAP
Established in 1914, ASCAP is the first and leading U.S. Performing Rights
Organization (PRO) representing the world's largest repertory totaling over
8.5 million copyrighted musical works of every style and genre from more
than 320,000 songwriter, composer and music publisher members. ASCAP has
representation arrangements with over 90 similar foreign organizations such
that the ASCAP repertory is represented in nearly every country around the
world. ASCAP protects the rights of its members and foreign affiliates by
licensing the public performances of their copyrighted works and
distributing royalties based upon surveyed performances. ASCAP is the only
American PRO owned and governed by its writer and publisher members.
www.ascap.com