Photo courtesy of Getty images for BMI.COM
BEVERLY HILLS, CALIFORNIA - BMI Champion Award Honoree Benson Boone attends the 2025 BMI Pop Awards at Beverly Wilshire, A Four Seasons Hotel on May 13, 2025 in Beverly Hills, California. (Photo by Lester Cohen/Getty Images for BMI)
BMI paid tribute to the best in songwriting at the 2025 BMI Pop Awards held last night at the Beverly Wilshire in Beverly Hills, California. The GRAMMY-nominated recording artist and songwriter Benson Boone was honored with the BMI Champion Award, celebrating his global success over the last year and the impact he's made on pop music since beginning his career just a few years ago. In addition, BMI’s Pop Song of the Year, Songwriter of the Year, Publisher of the Year and BMI’s top 50 most-performed pop songs in the U.S. of the previous year were also announced. The private event was hosted by BMI President & CEO Mike O’Neill; VP, Worldwide Creative Barbara Cane; VP, Creative, NY Samantha Cox and VP, Creative, LA Tracie Verlinde.
As the night’s top honoree, Boone was presented with the BMI Champion Award by O’Neill, who praised his “boundless talent and creativity,” adding, “tonight, we celebrate you, not only for your singular songwriting and unique artistry that is igniting the world of music, but also for your dedication and passion for your craft that inspires us all.”
After receiving the award, Boone thanked BMI, his team, family and the songwriters in the room, sharing “This is not my award, this is for everyone who has been a part of working on this project. To the songwriters, producers, to my mother and father… to my label to Warner Chappell, to everyone who has played a part… it takes a huge powerhouse of a team to do what I’m trying to do, and I have a wonderful team.”
Boone then took to the stage for a captivating and intimate three-song performance backed by piano. He started off with “Slow it Down,” followed by “Drunk in My Mind,” and closed with his massive hit “Beautiful Things,” which brought the audience to their feet.
Before performing his #1 single, he paid tribute to his cowriter and collaborator Jack LaFrantz, sharing, “If you’re a songwriter or producing or have anything to do with the creation process of music, you understand how incredible it is when you find someone you really like to work with and work well with. I would just like to give a special thank you to Mr. Jack LaFrantz. Any of these songs that you hear you would not be hearing them without him. If you’re trying to release songs, find people that you love and make it something that you love. I promise you it is the best thing ever when you find gold in the room.”
In addition to his BMI Champion honor, Boone received two BMI Pop Awards for his massive hits “Beautiful Things” and “Slow It Down,” with co-writer LaFrantz. He received his first BMI Pop award in 2023 for the smash hit “GHOST TOWN.” Over the last year, Boone’s music has accumulated nearly 10 billion streams, he’s received a 2025 GRAMMY Award nomination for Best New Artist, an iHeartRadio Music Award for Song of the Year, MTV VMA and MTV EMA awards, two NRJ Music Awards, two Billboard Music Awards, three BRIT nominations, and many more.
Boone joins previous BMI Champion Award recipients, including Peso Pluma, SZA, Jonathan McReynolds, Khalid, Mark Ronson, Residente, Sebastian Krys, Keith Urban and Lee Thomas Miller.
