Toni Braxton will receive the President’s Award when the BMI R&B/Hip-Hop Awards take place on Sept. 1 in Atlanta — for the first time in the ceremony’s 15-year history. The seven-time Grammy Award-winning singer, known for such hits as “Another Sad Love Song,” “He Wasn’t Man Enough” and “Unbreak My Heart,” joins previous recipients Ludacris and will.i.am.
The invitation-only event will also honor the songwriters, producers and publishers of the past year’s most-performed R&B/hip-hop songs. The genre’s top songwriter, producer and publisher of the year will also be revealed. Additionally, BMI is conducting its Social Star contest for the fifth year to find the songwriter with the most engaged social media audience. Voting across BMI’s Instagram and Twitter accounts will open to fans on Aug. 15 when this year’s official songwriter contestants are announced. Past winners include Mac Miller, Machine Gun Kelly, Zendaya and SoMo.
The 2016 BMI R&B/Hip-Hop Awards will be held at the Woodruff Art Center’s Symphony Hall and hosted by BMI’s president/CEO Mike O’Neill and vp of writer/publisher relations Catherine Brewton.