BMI announced today that GRAMMY® Award‑winning artist, producer, songwriter and entrepreneur T‑Pain will receive the BMI President’s Award at the 2025 BMI R&B/Hip‑Hop Awards. The honor recognizes a career defined by a formidable catalog of hit songs that have connected with audiences around the world. In addition, GRAMMY®‑nominated lyricist and performer GloRilla will be presented with the BMI Impact Award for her groundbreaking artistry and influence on music’s future.
The private ceremony will take place on Thursday, August 28 in Los Angeles, California. Hosted by BMI President and CEO Mike O’Neill, Executive Vice President and Chief Creative & Revenue Officer Mike Steinberg and Vice President of Creative, Atlanta, Catherine Brewton, the evening will also salute songwriters, producers and music publishers behind the year’s 35 Most‑Performed R&B/Hip‑Hop Songs. BMI will name its Songwriter, Song, Producer and Publisher of the Year, along with the year’s Top Producers.
“T-Pain’s creative vision and unwavering commitment to pushing musical boundaries continue to resonate with multiple generations of fans around the world. We’re thrilled to be able to celebrate his contributions to the industry by honoring him with the BMI President’s Award,” said Brewton. “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. It’s going to be an incredible night highlighting the exceptional artistry of all BMI’s award-winning songwriters, producers, and publishers, who are the creative visionaries of the music industry.”
T‑Pain has sold more than 50 million singles, amassed billions of streams and achieved ten #1s on Billboard’s Hot 100. His pioneering use of Auto‑Tune helped shape a new era in popular music. Beyond music he is a Twitch phenomenon, head of Nappy Boy Entertainment and Chief Strategy Officer for the Global Gaming League. He has won two GRAMMY® Awards, received 28 BMI Awards and was honored with the 2023 Soul Train Legend Award.
GloRilla rose to fame with her 2022 breakout single “FNF (Let’s Go),” sparking a viral challenge and leading to multiple Hot 100 hits. She earned two BMI Awards and several GRAMMY® nominations while becoming the first female rapper with two projects selling over 500,000 units in 2024.