Jason Mraz, songwriter “Dr. Luke,” Patti Smith, the Killers honored at ASCAP Pop Awards

ASCAP honors Jason Mraz, Patti Smith, the Killers

LOS ANGELES — Lukasz “Dr. Luke” Gottwald and Jason Mraz are tops in song writing.

Gottwald was named songwriter of the year and Mraz received song of the year honors Wednesday at the American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers’ 27th annual Pop Music Awards.

The awards recognize the writers and publishers of ASCAP’s most performed songs of the year.

Gottwald wrote five of the top hits of 2009, including Katy Perry’s “Hot N Cold,” Miley Cyrus’ “Party in the USA” and Flo Rida’s “Right Round.” Mraz’s song, “I’m Yours,” holds the record for the most weeks spent on Billboard’s Hot 100 chart: 76 and counting.

The honors for publisher of the year went to EMI Music Publishing, which had 15 award-winning songs in 2009.

Patti Smith received the organization’s Founders Award. ASCAP president and chairman Paul Williams called Smith “a songwriter, poet, trailblazer and rock icon whose creative genius and rock ‘n’ roll spirit will continue to inspire generations to come.”

Previous winners of that honor include Bob Dylan, Billy Joel, Annie Lennox, Tom Waits, Stevie Wonder and Joni Mitchell.

The Killers were presented with the Vanguard Award, which recognizes genres that help shape the future of American music. Past winners include the Beastie Boys, Modest Mouse, Nine Inch Nails and Jack Johnson.

Other songs honored during the private dinner ceremony at the Renaissance Hollywood Hotel include the Black Eyed Peas’ “Boom Boom Pow,” Jay-Z and Alicia Keys’ “Empire State of Mind” and Beyonce’s “Single Ladies.”

A complete list of winners is available on ASCAP’s website.

Established in 1914, ASCAP represents more than 8.5 million copyrighted musical works by 380,000 songwriters.

On the Net:

American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers, www.ascap.com