ASCAP Awards: 1982-2021

The American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers (ASCAP) gives out two lifetime achievement-type awards on an annual basis. Based on the descriptions below, there doesn’t appear to be a real distinction between the awards and, in fact, there are a handful of artists who’ve received both awards. The Founders Award is, according to their website, their “most prestigious honor and is given to songwriters and composers who have made pioneering contributions to music by inspiring and influencing their fellow music creators.” It was first given in 1984. They also present a Golden Note Award to, as the website says “songwriters, composers, and artists who have achieved extraordinary career milestones.” It was first given in 1982. Recipients of either the Founders Award (FA) or Golden Notes Award (GN) are noted below along with the year they received the award. Click on the name of the music maker to see entry in the DMDB Encyclopedia. See other lifetime achievement awards. A-B Omar Alfanno (GN: 2009) Marc Anthony (FA: 2012) Ashford & Simpson (FA: 1996) Burt Bacharach (FA: 1993) Alan Bergman (FA: 2008) Marilyn Bergman (FA: 2008) Elmer Bernstein (FA: 2001) Ruben Blades (FA: 2005) Blondie (FA: 2019) Garth Brooks (FA: 1999, GN: 2002) Jackson Browne (FA: 2004) Lindsey Buckingham (GN: 2011) C-D Desmond Child (FA: 2008) Alf Clausen (GN: 2011) Sean (“Puff Daddy” aka “P.Diddy” and “Diddy”) Combs (GN: 1998, FA: 2011) Elvis Costello (FA: 2003) Rodney Crowell (FA: 2017) Hal David (FA: 1993) Mario Domm (GN: 2015) Dr. Dre (FA: 2010) Jermaine Dupri (GN: 2005, FA: 2014) Duran Duran (FA: 2016) Bob Dylan (FA: 1986) E-H Melissa Etheridge (FA: 2007) Jose Feliciano (GN: 1998) Glenn Frey (FA: 1994) Gente de Zona (FA: 2018) Elliot Goldenthal (FA: 2015) Berry Gordy Jr. (FA: 1988) Emmylou Harris (FA: 2004) Justin Hayward (GN: 2000) Don Henley (FA: 1994) Lauryn Hill (GN: 2016) I-L Alan Jackson (GN: 2002, FA: 2010) Jay-Z (GN: 2004) Jimmy Jam (GN: 1993) Billy Joel (FA: 1997) Elton John (GN: 1987) Quincy Jones (GN: 1982, FA: 2012) Alicia Keys (GN: 2009) Greg Kurstin (GN: 2021) Natalia Lafourcade (GN: 2016) Jerry Leiber (FA: 1991) Annie Lennox (FA: 2006) Terry Lewis (GN: 1993) LL Cool J (GN: 2006) Jeff Lynne (GN: 2009, FA: 2019) M-O Steve Mac (FA: 2017) Victor Manuelle (GN: 2008) George Martin (FA: 1996) Mary Mary (GN: 2011) Dennis McCarthy (GN: 2010) Paul McCartney (FA: 1985) Bob McDill (GN: 2012) Reba McEntire (GN: 2008) John Mellencamp (FA: 2016) George Michael (GN: 1988) Steve Miller (GN: 2008) Joni Mitchell (FA: 1999) Roscoe Mitchell (FA: 2018) New Edition (GN: 2008) Ne-Yo (GN: 2014) The Notorious B.I.G. (FA: 2017) P-R Twila Paris (FA: 2018) Joe Perry (FA: 2013) Tom Petty (GN: 1996, FA: 2013) Jorge Luis Piloto (GN: 2010) Andre Previn (GN: 1987) Tito Puente (FA: 1994) Trent Reznor (GN: 2012) Lionel Richie (GN: 2008) Smokey Robinson (FA: 1988) Kenny Rogers (GN: 2007) S Adam Sandler (FA: 2020) Arturo Sandoval (FA: 2001) Stephen Schwartz (FA: 2017) Joan Sebastian (GN: 2007) Gene Simmons (FA: 2015) Carly Simon (FA: 2012) Ricky Skaggs (FA: 2016) Michael W. Smith (GN: 1999) Patti Smith (FA: 2010) Mark Snow (GN: 2005) Stephen Sondheim (FA: 1999) J.D. Souther (GN: 2009) Paul Stanley (FA: 2015) Steely Dan (FA: 2000) Rod Stewart (FA: 2011) Mike Stoller (FA: 1991) George Strait (FA: 2013) Jule Styne (FA: 1988) T-Z James Taylor (FA: 2002) Randy Travis (FA: 2019) A Tribe Called Quest (GN: 2016) Steven Tyler (FA: 2013) Usher (GN: 2013) Tom Waits (FA: 2001) Diane Warren (FA: 2017) Ann Wilson (FA: 2017) Don Williams (GN: 2011) Nancy Wilson (FA: 2009) Pharrell Williams (GN: 2012) Lee Ann Womack (FA: 2018) Stevie Wonder (FA: 1984< GN: 1985) Xsacpe (FA: 2018) Neil Young (FA: 2005) Resources/Related Links: Dave’s Music Database: “Lifetime Achievement Awards” ASCAP.com: “Founders Award” ASCAP.com: “Golden Note Award” First posted 6/9/2016; last updated 5/6/2021.