Sony Music Publishing has been named Publisher of the Year at the 2026 BMI R&B/Hip-Hop Awards for the second consecutive year. The award reflects the publisher’s representation of 27 of BMI’s most-performed R&B and hip-hop songs during the eligibility period, underlining its continued influence in the genre.

The ceremony took place on 26 August in Los Angeles, where Kendrick Lamar was named Songwriter of the Year and his collaboration with SZA, ‘luther’, won Song of the Year. BMI said ‘luther’ spent a record 23 weeks at number one on Billboard’s Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart; Nas received the BMI Icon Award, while the event also honoured the late producer and songwriter Tay Keith.