Paul Anka Honored with BMI Icon Award

Paul Anka received the prestigious BMI Icon Award at the 2026 BMI Pop Awards on May 12th in Beverly Hills, California. He was lauded for his "incomparable catalog" and influence as a legendary songwriter and hitmaker. Anka, who began his career at age 15 with the hit "Dinah," expressed gratitude, sharing the honor with fellow songwriters. His performance included "My Way," a song for which he wrote the English lyrics.

The event also celebrated top songwriting talent, with Taylor Swift and Sabrina Carpenter jointly awarded BMI Pop Songwriter of the Year. This marks Swift's sixth win in the category, while Carpenter received the award for the first time. Kendrick Lamar's "luther," co-written by multiple artists, was named BMI's Pop Song of the Year for its 13-week run atop the Billboard Hot 100.

Sony Music Publishing was recognized as Publisher of the Year. The ceremony highlighted 32 first-time Pop Award winners and honored the 50 most-performed pop songs of the past year in the U.S.