David Foster's "10 Tips for Songwriters" from his speech upon accepting the BMI Icon Award.

BMI held its 59th annual Pop Music Awards Tuesday, May 17 at the Beverly Wilshire Hotel in Los Angeles.
David Foster was celebrated as a BMI Icon, and an all-star musical tribute featuring Brian McKnight, Keri Hilson, Cody Karey, Courtney Blooding and Chaka Khan celebrated his career. Lady Gaga, Jason Derülo and JR Rotem all became the BMI Pop Songwriters of the Year; Lady Antebellum's "Need You Now" garnered Pop Song of the Year honors for co-writers Dave Haywood and Charles Kelley and publishers DWHaywood Music,

The ceremony also saluted the writers and publishers of the past year's 50 most-performed pop songs on U.S. radio and television.