Michael Jackson, Barry Manilow, Sting, Randy Newman, and Ashford & Simpson have been named as the next inductees to the Songwriters Hall Of Fame. The songwriters-all of whom are also performing artists in their own right-will be honored during the 33rd annual Songwriters Hall Of Fame induction ceremony and dinner in June.
Songwriter Hal David, the Hall’s chairman and CEO, said during the announcement on Monday (February 11), “The Songwriters Hall Of Fame Awards & Dinner is so important because it’s a time when some of the premier songwriters in the world come together to honor their own. That kind of camaraderie creates a very special night and we’re looking forward to another great event this year.”
The late Johnny Mercer and others founded the National Academy Of Popular Music in 1969. The Academy maintains the Songwriters Hall Of Fame, which holds an annual awards ceremony for songwriters after a nominating committee selects candidates for induction. A songwriter must have been in the profession for a minimum of 20 years and written an extensive catalogue of hit songs in order to be considered for election to the Hall Of Fame. Once candidates are determined, ballots are sent out to members of the Academy, which comprises songwriters and other select music-industry professionals. More than 300 songwriters have been inducted since the balloting began, and artists included in the Hall Of Fame range from Irving Berlin and Stevie Wonder to Paul Anka and Keith Richards.
The 33rd annual Songwriters Hall Of Fame induction and awards dinner will take place on Thursday, June 13 at Manhattan’s Sheraton New York Hotel & Towers.
