UMPG has been named Publisher of the Year by ASCAP at the 2021 Rhythm & Soul Music Awards. Winning for the third consecutive year, the company was honored for its writers’ success with songs including “Blinding Lights” (The Weeknd), “Rockstar” (DaBaby) and “Laugh Now Cry Later” (Drake). Now in 34th year, the ASCAP Rhythm & Soul Music Awards recognizes distinguished songwriters, producers and publishers behind hip-hop, R&B and gospel music’s biggest hits. 

Lil Baby was named ASCAP Songwriter of the Year for hits including “Baby,” “The Bigger Picture,” “Emotionally Scarred,” “For the Night” and more. The Grammy-nominated songwriter and artist has been one of the most dominant and critically acclaimed names in rap since his first release in 2017. His 2020 solo album My Turn debuted at #1 on the Billboard 200 chart. Lil Baby was also named to Time Magazine’s 2021 “100 Next” List and earlier this month released a collaborative album The Voice of the Heroes with Lil Durk.  

Additionally, UMPG’s Grammy-winning songwriter-producer Swizz Beatz received ASCAP’s Voice of the Culture Award, presented to ASCAP members who have had a major influence on music and culture. The award celebrates the music legend and follow honorees for their success as creators of virtual events that became touchstones of empowerment for the community during the pandemic. 

Congratulations to this year’s UMPG honorees!

BABY - LIL BABY 
BABY - DABABY 
THE BIGGER PICTURE - LIL BABY 
BLINDING LIGHTS - DAHEALA 
BLINDING LIGHTS - BELLY 
BOP - DABABY 
CLOSED ON SUNDAY - BRIAN ANTHONY MILLER
COME THRU - MANUEL SEAL 
EMOTIONALLY SCARRED - LIL BABY
FOR THE NIGHT - LIL BABY
FOR THE NIGHT - DABABY
GO CRAZY - PRICE, PHILLIP GLEN 
GO CRAZY - ORVILLE ERWIN HALL
LAUGH NOW, CRY LATER - CARDO 
LEAVE EM ALONE - YUNG MIAMI
LEAVE EM ALONE - LIL BABY
LEAVE EM ALONE - CIARA 
RANSOM - LIL TECCA
ROCKSTAR - DABABY
SLIDE - CARDO, H.E.R. 
SUM 2 PROVE - LIL BABY
VIBEZ - DABABY

Photo: UMPG's Walter Jones, Head West Coast A&R