The Songwriters Hall of Fame (SHOF) is an American institution founded in 1969 by songwriter Johnny Mercer, music publisher/songwriter Abe Olman, and publisher/executive Howie Richmond to honor those whose work preserves and advances the heritage of English-language popular music. In addition to celebrating renowned songwriters, the organization supports the development of new songwriting talent through workshops, showcases, and scholarships. Nile Rodgers, since 2018, has been Chairman.
History Founding and early years (1969–1990s) The Hall of Fame was established in 1969 by Mercer, Olman, and Richmond. During its early decades, the organization focused primarily on recognizing influential songwriters and songwriting teams across popular music genres.
Exhibits and public presence An exhibit dedicated to the SHOF was launched in 2010 at the Grammy Museum at L.A. Live in Los Angeles. The Hall has no permanent physical home, and because its annual awards ceremonies are not televised, there is no other publicly accessible recording of the events for posterity.
Inductees
Numerous collaborating songwriters have been inducted together, with each member considered a separate entrant. The inaugural class in 1969 included 120 inductees, including several professional partnerships such as Rodgers and Hammerstein. Later inductees have included songwriting teams such as Burt Bacharach and Hal David (1972), Betty Comden and Adolph Green (1980), and Leiber and Stoller (1985). Individual inductees have included John Lennon and Paul McCartney (1987), members of Holland-Dozier-Holland (1988), Elton John and Bernie Taupin (1992), and all three members of the Bee Gees (1994). John Denver was inducted in 1996. Queen became the first rock band to have all its members inducted in 2003. Five members of Earth, Wind & Fire were honored in 2010, and four members of Kool and the Gang were inducted in 2018. Through 2019, 461 individuals had been inducted.
Recent events (2000s–present) Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the 2020 Songwriters Hall of Fame induction ceremony was postponed until 2022. SHOF president and CEO Linda Moran stated that the postponement was made to allow the event to take place with proper celebration. The 2020 class includes Mariah Carey, Chad Hugo, the Isley Brothers, Annie Lennox, Steve Miller, Rick Nowels, William "Mickey" Stevenson, Dave Stewart, and Pharrell Williams. Awards for that year will honor Jody Gerson (Abe Olman Publisher Award) and Paul Williams (Johnny Mercer Award). On March 8, 2022, the ceremony was officially announced for June 16, 2022, at the Marriott Marquis in New York’s Times Square.
Special Awards Abe Olman Publisher Award The Abe Olman Publisher Award is given to publishers who have had a substantial number of songs that have become world-renowned and who have helped to further the careers and success of many songwriters.
1983 – Howard S. Richmond 1986 – Leonard Feist 1987 – Lou Levy 1988 – Buddy Killen 1990 – Charles Koppelman & Martin Bandier 1991 – Frank Military & Jay Morgenstern 1992 – Bonnie Bourne 1993 – Berry Gordy 1994 – Buddy Morris 1995 – Al Gallico 1996 – Freddy Bienstock 1997 – Gene Goodman 1998 – Irwin Z. Robinson 1999 – Bill Lowery 2000 – Julian Aberbach 2001 – Ralph Peer 2002 – Edward P. Murphy 2003 – Nicholas Firth 2004 – Les Bider 2005 – Beebe Bourne 2006 – Allen Klein 2007 – Don Kirshner 2008 – Milt Okun 2009 – Maxyne Lang 2010 – Keith Mardak 2012 – Lance Freed 2015 – Linda Perry 2017 – Caroline Bienstock 2022 – Jody Gerson
Board of Directors Award The Board of Directors Award is presented to an individual selected by the SHOF Board in recognition of his or her service to the songwriting community and the advancement of popular music.
1986 – Jule Styne 1988 – Stanley Adams 1992 – Edward P. Murphy 1996 – Anna Sosenko & Oscar Brand 1997 – Thomas A. Dorsey
Contemporary Icon Award The Contemporary Icon Award was established in 2015 to "celebrate a songwriter-artist who has attained an iconic status in pop culture".
2015 – Lady Gaga 2019 – Justin Timberlake
Global Ambassador Award In 2017, Pitbull was presented the Global Ambassador Award. The award is given to a person "whose music has true worldwide appeal, crossing genre, cultural and national boundaries".
Hal David Starlight Award
First presented in 2004 as the Starlight Award, the prize was renamed in 2006 as the Hal David Starlight Award to honor the former SHOF chairman's support of young songwriters. Award recipients are "gifted songwriters who are at an apex in their careers and are making a significant impact in the music industry via their original songs".
2004 – Rob Thomas (Matchbox Twenty) 2005 – Alicia Keys 2006 – John Mayer 2007 – John Legend 2008 – John Rzeznik (Goo Goo Dolls) 2009 – Jason Mraz 2010 – Taylor Swift 2011 – Drake 2012 – Ne-Yo 2013 – Benny Blanco 2014 – Dan Reynolds (Imagine Dragons) 2015 – Nate Ruess (Fun) 2016 – Nick Jonas 2017 – Ed Sheeran 2018 – Sara Bareilles 2019 – Halsey 2022 – Lil Nas X 2023 – Post Malone 2024 – SZA 2025 – Gracie Abrams 2026 – RAYE
Howie Richmond Hitmaker Award The Howie Richmond Hitmaker Award is given to musical artists who have had a substantial number of hit songs across a lengthy career, and who, according to the Hall of Fame, "recognize the importance of songs and their writers".
1981 – Chuck Berry 1983 – Rosemary Clooney & Margaret Whiting 1990 – Whitney Houston 1991 – Barry Manilow 1995 – Michael Bolton 1996 – Gloria Estefan 1998 – Diana Ross 1999 – Natalie Cole 2000 – Johnny Mathis 2001 – Dionne Warwick 2002 – Garth Brooks 2003 – Clive Davis 2008 – Anne Murray 2010 – Phil Ramone 2011 – Chaka Khan 2014 – Doug Morris 2016 – Seymour Stein 2018 – Lucian Grainge
Johnny Mercer Award
The Johnny Mercer Award is the highest honor bestowed by the event. It goes to writers already inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame for having established a history of outstanding creative works.
1980 – Frank Sinatra 1981 – Yip Harburg 1982 – Harold Arlen 1983 – Sammy Cahn 1985 – Alan Jay Lerner 1986 – Mitchell Parish 1987 – Jerry Herman 1990 – Jerry Bock & Sheldon Harnick 1991 – Betty Comden & Adolph Green 1992 – Burton Lane 1993 – Jule Styne 1994 – Irving Caesar 1995 – Cy Coleman 1996 – Burt Bacharach & Hal David 1997 – Alan and Marilyn Bergman 1998 – Paul Simon 1999 – Stephen Sondheim 2000 – Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller 2001 – Billy Joel 2002 – Carole King 2003 – Jimmy Webb 2004 – Stevie Wonder 2005 – Smokey Robinson 2006 – Kris Kristofferson 2007 – Dolly Parton 2008 – Paul Anka 2009 – Holland–Dozier–Holland 2010 – Phil Collins 2011 – Barry Mann & Cynthia Weil 2013 – Elton John & Bernie Taupin 2014 – Kenneth Gamble & Leon Huff 2015 – Van Morrison 2016 – Lionel Richie 2017 – Alan Menken 2018 – Neil Diamond 2019 – Carole Bayer Sager 2022 – Paul Williams 2023 – Tim Rice 2024 – Diane Warren 2025 - Stephen Schwartz 2026 - John Fogerty
Patron of the Arts The Patron of the Arts is presented to influential industry executives who are not primarily in the music business but are great supporters of the performing arts.
1988 – Martin Segal 1989 – Roger Enrico 1990 – Edgar Bronfman Jr. 1991 – Edwin M. Cooperman 1992 – Jonathan Tisch 1993 – Michel Roux 1994 – Philip Dusenberry 1995 – Theodore J. Forstmann 1996 – Sumner Redstone 1997 – Dr. Samuel LeFrak 1998 – David Checketts 1999 – Robert Mondavi 2001 – Iris Cantor 2002 – Stephen Swid 2003 – Martin Bandier 2004 – Michael Goldstein 2005 – Henry Juszkiewicz 2023 – Anthony Mason
Pioneer Award The Pioneer Award was established in 2012 to recognize the career of a historic creator of an extensive body of musical work that has been a major influence on generations of songwriters.
2012 – Woody Guthrie 2013 – Berry Gordy
Sammy Cahn Lifetime Achievement Award
Named for the former President of the Songwriters Hall of Fame, the Sammy Cahn Lifetime Achievement Award is given to individuals or teams who are recognized as having done a great deal to further the successes of songwriters.
1980 – Ethel Merman 1981 – Tony Bennett 1982 – Dinah Shore 1983 – Willie Nelson 1984 – Benny Goodman 1985 – John Hammond 1987 – Jerry Wexler 1988 – Dick Clark 1989 – Quincy Jones 1990 – B. B. King 1991 – Gene Autry 1992 – Nat King Cole 1993 – Ray Charles 1994 – Lena Horne 1995 – Steve Lawrence & Eydie Gormé 1996 – Frankie Laine 1997 – Vic Damone 1998 – Berry Gordy 1999 – Kenny Rogers 2000 – Neil Diamond 2001 – Gloria & Emilio Estefan 2002 – Stevie Wonder 2003 – Patti LaBelle 2004 – Neil Sedaka 2005 – Les Paul 2006 – Peter, Paul & Mary 2009 – Tom Jones 2012 – Bette Midler
Towering Performance Award The Towering Performance Award is given in recognition of one-of-a-kind performances by one-of-a-kind singers that have recorded outstanding and unforgettable interpretations of songs that have become iconic standards.
2003 – Tony Bennett 2005 – Bill Medley 2009 – Andy Williams 2012 – Ben E. King
Towering Song Award The Towering Song Award is given to creators of an individual song that has influenced the culture in a unique way over the years.
1995 – "As Time Goes By" (written by Herman Hupfeld) 1996 – "Happy Birthday To You" (written by Patty Hill and Mildred J. Hill) 1997 – "How High The Moon" (lyrics by Nancy Hamilton and music by Morgan Lewis) 1998 – "The Christmas Song" (written by Robert Wells and Mel Tormé) 1999 – "Fly Me To The Moon" (written by Bart Howard) 2000 – "All of Me" (written by Gerald Marks and Seymour Simons) 2000 – "You Are My Sunshine" (recorded by Jimmie Davis) 2001 – "Let Me Call You Sweetheart" (lyrics by Beth Slater Whitson and music by Leo Friedman) 2002 – "You're a Grand Old Flag" (written by George M. Cohan) 2003 – "I Left My Heart in San Francisco" (written by George Cory and Douglass Cross) 2004 – "What the World Needs Now is Love" (lyrics by Hal David and music by Burt Bacharach) 2005 – "You've Lost That Lovin' Feelin'" (written by Phil Spector, Barry Mann and Cynthia Weil) 2006 – "When the Saints Go Marching In" (lyrics by Katharine Purvis and music by James Milton Black) 2007 – "Unchained Melody" (lyrics by Hy Zaret and music by Alex North) 2008 – "Take Me Out to the Ball Game" (lyrics by Jack Norworth and music by Albert Von Tilzer) 2009 – "Moon River" (lyrics by Johnny Mercer and music by Henry Mancini) 2010 – "Bridge Over Troubled Water" (written by Paul Simon) 2011 – "It Was a Very Good Year" (written by Ervin Drake) 2012 – "Stand by Me" (written by Ben E. King, Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller) 2013 – "A Change Is Gonna Come" (written by Sam Cooke) 2014 – "Over The Rainbow" (lyrics by E.Y. Harburg and music by Harold Arlen) 2015 – "What a Wonderful World" (written by Bob Thiele and George David Weiss)
Visionary Leadership Award Created in 2011, The Visionary Leadership Award recognizes members of the Hall of Fame Board of Directors who have made a significant contribution in furthering the ongoing mission of the organization.
2011 – Hal David 2014 – Del Bryant 2015 – John A. Lofrumento 2019 – Martin Bandier
Scholarship awards
Abe Olman Scholarship Abe Olman was an American songwriter and music publisher. He was later director of ASCAP, and a founder of the Songwriters Hall of Fame which, in 1983, named the Abe Olman Publisher Award. In his honor, the Abe Olman Scholarship is given out each year by his family in the interest of encouraging and supporting the careers of young songwriters. The scholarship has been awarded since 1989 to individuals such as:
2002 – John Legend 2005 – Matt Katz-Bohen 2012 – Bebe Rexha
Holly Prize Created in 2010, the Holly Prize is a tribute to the legacy of Buddy Holly, a SHOF inductee. The award recognizes and supports a new "all-in songwriter" — an exceptionally talented and inspired young musician/singer/songwriter whose work exhibits the qualities of Holly's music: true, great and original. The Holly Prize is administered and juried by the SongHall.
2010 – Laura Warshauer 2011 – Kendra Morris