Sir Paul McCartney named Songwriter of the Year at ASCAP PRS awards in London (Updated)

October 15, 10:51 AMBeatles ExaminerSteve Marinucci

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Paul McCartney (AP file photo/Chris Pizzello)

Sir Paul McCartney was named Songwriter of the Year at the PRS (Performing Rights Society) awards held by The American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers (ASCAP) in London Wednesday.

Sir Paul McCartney was recognized
for the songs "All You Need Is Love," "Come Together" and "Hello Goodbye," according to the announcement made Thursday. (Note: ASCAP does not represent John Lennon in the U.S.)

According to ASCAP, the awards are for "honoring those PRS (Performing Rights Society) for Music writer and publisher members whose repertory is licensed by ASCAP and among its most performed works in 2008."

The Song of the Year award went to Coldplay for "Viva La Vida." Universal Music Publishing earned Publisher of the Year honors for having five of the most-performed winning songs: "Viva La Vida," "Paper Planes," "Mercy," "Sweet Dreams" and "Swagger Like Us."

Others receiving multiple honors in the Song Awards categories included two awards each for AC/DC's Brian Johnson for "Back in Black" and "You Shook Me All Night Long," M.I.A. and The Clash for "Paper Planes" and "Swagga Like Us," and U2 for "I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For" and "With or Without You."

Single honors in the Song Awards category went to Cathy Dennis ("I Kissed A Girl"), Def Leppard and Mutt Lange ("Pour Some Sugar On Me"), Pink Floyd's Roger Waters ("Money"), The Rolling Stones' Mick Jagger & Keith Richards ("Start Me Up"), and Cornel Campbell, Edward O'Sullivan "Bunny" Lee and Lloyd Samuel Mason ("Need U Bad").

A total of 21 Song Awards were presented. Phil Collins collected an award for "In The Air Tonight," the 11th time that Collins has been honored for the song, which earned him Song of the Year honors in 1982. Jim McCarty and Paul Samwell-Smith of the Yardbirds were honored for their contributions to The Pussycat Dolls' "When I Grow Up." Annie Lennox and Dave Stewart of the Eurythmics were recognized for the ninth time for "Sweet Dreams (Are Made Of This)."

Update: If you're wondering why only Paul McCartney is mentioned in this award for Lennon-McCartney songs, a spokesperson for ASCAP tells us ASCAP does not represent John Lennon in the United States. ASCAP honored those writer and publisher members of PRS for Music whose repertory is licensed by ASCAP and was among its most performed works in the U.S. during 2008. There are three performing rights organizations (PRO) in the US. Paul McCartney is a member of PRS for Music who licenses his music through ASCAP for the U.S. John Lennon is a member of PRS for Music who licenses his music through another American PRO.

You can see a complete list of winners in all categories at the ASCAP website.

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