SONGWRITERS GET THEIR DUE AT HALL CEREMONY

After a two-year delay, the Songwriters Hall of Fame held its 51st annual Induction and Awards Dinner honoring Mariah Carey, Lil Nas X, Jody Gerson, Pharrell Williams and others.

“True music publishers’ investments in songwriters come not just financially but in the relationships that endure in the good times and the bad,” Universal Music Publishing Group Chairman and CEO Gerson said after UMG Chairman and CEO Sir Lucian Grainge presented her with the Abe Olman Publisher Award. “For me, I am here—and will always be here—because of my dedication to songwriters and the love I have for songs.”

St. Vincent opened the evening, performing “Sweet Dreams (Are Made of This)” prior to inducting Eurythmics’ Annie Lennox and Dave Stewart, who did “Here Comes the Rain Again.”

Fabolous presented Lil Nas X with the Hal David Starlight Award, noting that he has “that mark of fearlessness and relentlessness" and calling LNX "one of the most imaginative voices in this generation.”

Rita Wilson, Ingrid Michaelson and Gustavo Santaolalla honored Paul Williams with performances, after which the songwriter and ASCAP chief received the Johnny Mercer Award.

Smokey Robinson sang “My Baby Loves Me” in inducting William “Mickey” Stevenson. Bryan Cranston welcomed Steve Miller, who performed “Fly Like an Eagle,” to the Hall. Ronan Farrow inducted Rick Nowels.

Jimmy Jam & Terry Lewis inducted The Neptunes, aka Pharrell Williams and Chad Hugo. Jon Batiste honored them with a performance of “I Need You” and “Milkshake” before Usher joined in for “U Don’t Have to Call.”

Inducting The Isley Brothers, who performed a medley of “Who’s That Lady,” “Between the Sheets,” “It’s Your Thing” and “Shout,” was Leslie Odom Jr.

Questlove closed the night with Carey’s induction, which featured Liamani Segura's performance of “Fantasy,” “All I Want for Christmas Is You” and “We Belong Together.” Yolanda Adams closed out the night with memorable renditions of “Make it Happen” and “Fly Like a Bird.”

Songwriters flocked to the hotel bar afterward to discuss royalty rates, the lack of a revival of 45 rpm records and how there must be a word by now that rhymes with orange.

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