Adele Collaborator Fraser T. Smith Wins BMI President’s Award (Photos)

Fraser T. Smith was celebrated with the BMI President’s Award at this year’s BMI London Awards, held at The Dorchester in London. The multi-award-winning producer, songwriter, and musician was recognised for a career spanning three decades and multiple genres, during which he has collaborated with some of the world’s biggest artists, including Adele, Drake, Sam Smith, Snow Patrol, Craig David, Florence and the Machine, Gorillaz, Kano, Stormzy, James Morrison, and Kae Tempest.

Smith’s career has produced an extraordinary body of work: seven UK No.1 singles, two US Billboard No.1 singles, and contributions to 20 No.1 albums. His accolades include three Ivor Novello Awards and a GRAMMY® for his work on Adele’s album 21. Among his many achievements, “Set Fire to the Rain,” co-written with Adele, has now surpassed five million radio plays in the U.S., earning him a BMI Million-Air Award this year.

During the ceremony, BMI recognised British and European songwriters, producers, and publishers whose works became the most performed songs in the U.S. over the last year, as well as top-grossing films, TV series, and streaming hits. Kae Tempest performed two songs from their 2025 album Self-Titled—“Prayers to Whisper” and “I Stand On The Line”—joined by Leah Cleaver on vocals and Smith himself on guitar, as a tribute to the evening’s highest honouree.

Smith joins an elite list of previous President’s Award recipients such as Taylor Swift, P!nk, Willie Nelson, Ludacris, Ellie Goulding, Noel Gallagher, Imagine Dragons, and Brian Wilson.

Other Highlights of the Night

London Song of the Year: “I Had Some Help” by Morgan Wallen and Post Malone, written by Hoskins, Charlie Handsome, Ernest Keith Smith, Wallen, and Chandler Paul Walters. The track debuted at No.1 on both the Billboard Hot 100 and Billboard Hot Country Songs charts and was crowned Billboard’s official Song of the Summer for 2024.

BMI Million-Air Awards:

Sting’s “Every Breath You Take” (20 million plays)

The Rolling Stones’ “(I Can’t Get No) Satisfaction” (11 million)

a-ha’s “Take On Me” (10 million)

Tina Turner’s “What’s Love Got To Do With It” (9 million), written by Graham Lyle

Roxette’s “It Must Have Been Love” (7 million)

Spandau Ballet’s “True” (6 million), written by Gary Kemp

Adele’s “Set Fire To The Rain” (5 million), co-written with Fraser T. Smith

Most-Performed Songs:

“360” – Charli xcx (with Finn Keane, A.G. Cook, Omer Fedi, Blake Slatkin)

“Glue Song” – beabadoobee

“Murder on the Dancefloor” – Sophie Ellis-Bextor and Gregg Alexander

“Too Sweet” – Hozier with Stuart Johnson, Pete G, Daniel Bekon

“Turn Yo Clic Up” – Future and Quavo, with Sluzyyy, Atake, Macshooter, Baso Beats

Composers & Screen Media Awards:

Atli Örvarsson: Seven awards for Chicago Fire, Chicago Med, Chicago P.D., FBI, FBI: International, FBI: Most Wanted, and Silo. His career total now stands at 54 BMI Awards.

Tom Howe: Awards for Knuckles (Paramount+) and Shrinking (Apple TV).

Sola Akingbola: BMI Network TV Award for Bob Hearts Abishola.

Harry Gregson-Williams: BMI Theatrical Film Award for Gladiator II.

Hildur Guðnadóttir: BMI Theatrical Film Award for Joker: Folie à Deux.

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