ASCAP to Honor Influential Music Icons at 2015 Pop Music Awards

The American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers (ASCAP) will present rock heavyweights KISS with the prestigious ASCAP Founders Award at its 32nd annual ASCAP Pop Music Awards on April 29th in Hollywood. The event, which celebrates the songwriters and publishers of ASCAP's most performed pop songs of 2014, will also honor The Doobie Brothers with the ASCAP Voice of Music Award and St. Vincent with ASCAP's Vanguard Award. The exclusive, invitation-only gala takes place at the Loews Hollywood Hotel in Los Angeles, CA.

The ASCAP Founders Award goes to pioneering ASCAP songwriters who have made exceptional contributions to music by inspiring and influencing their fellow music creators. Past recipients include Ashford & Simpson, Burt Bacharach & Hal David, Jackson Browne, Elvis Costello, Billy Joel, Annie Lennox, Sir Paul McCartney, Joni Mitchell, Tom Petty, Smokey Robinson, Carly Simon, Patti Smith, Steely Dan, Rod Stewart, James Taylor, Steven Tyler & Joe Perry (Aerosmith), Tom Waits, Ann & Nancy Wilson (Heart), Stevie Wonder and Neil Young.

KISS is one of the most influential rock and roll bands of all time, selling over 100 million albums worldwide in their 40-year career. Formed in the early 1970s, KISS has achieved staggering career milestones, boasting decades of record-breaking tours around the globe. Today, the KISS "brand" has infiltrated pop culture with its unforgettable personas Starchild, Demon, Spaceman and Cat. With hits like "Strutter," "Shout It Out Loud," "Detroit Rock City," "Rock and Roll All Nite," "Christine Sixteen," "I Was Made for Lovin' You" and "Beth," KISS has 28 gold albums, the most of any American rock band, and in 2014 they were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. As the band continues their 40th Anniversary World Tour with 2015 stops in Japan, South America and Australia, founding band members Paul Stanley and Gene Simmons also celebrate 40 years as members of ASCAP.

The ASCAP Voice of Music Award honors ASCAP members whose music gives voice to the spirit of a generation. The Doobie Brothers take their place among a stellar list of recipients, each one an influential music great: Mary J. Blige, Garth Brooks, Kenny Chesney, Daddy Yankee, Luis Fonsi, Amy Grant, George Strait, Diane Warren and Jimmy Webb.

Formed in 1969 by Patrick Simmons and Tom Johnston, The Doobie Brothers made their mark with a run of punchy hits on Warner Bros. Records, attaining radio and chart ubiquity in the early '70s. Michael McDonald, whose soaring vocals pushed the band to new commercial and critical heights, later augmented the group's line-up. Their #1 singles "Black Water" and "What a Fool Believes" lead a catalog of indelible songs that includes "Listen to the Music," "Jesus Is Just Alright," "Rockin' Down the Highway," "Long Train Runnin'," "China Grove," "Take Me in Your Arms," "Takin' It to the Streets," "Minute by Minute," "You Belong to Me," "The Doctor" and more. In all, the Doobies have tallied four Grammys, five top 10 singles and 16 top 40 hits. Beginning with their multi-million-selling sophomore collection Toulouse Street, the Doobies have three multi-platinum, seven platinum, 14 gold albums and a rare diamond album for their Best of the Doobies, which has sold over 12 million copies. On November 4th, the Doobies released their 14th album Southbound, featuring new recordings of their best-loved songs in duet with country superstars Brad Paisley, Blake Shelton, Toby Keith, Zac Brown Band, Jerrod Niemann, Sara Evans and more.

The ASCAP Vanguard Award recognizes the impact of musical genres that help shape the future of American music. St. Vincent joins previous ASCAP Vanguard Award honorees including The All-American Rejects, Arcade Fire, Band of Horses, Beastie Boys, Beck, Björk, Sara Bareilles, Diplo, fun., Jack Johnson, The Killers, Modest Mouse and The Strokes.

Grammy Award-winning, singer-songwriter St. Vincent began her career as a solo artist in 2007 with the release of her debut album Marry Me. She had an inspired collaboration with David Byrne in 2012 on Love This Giant and a renowned self-titled fourth studio album, which topped countless "Best Of" 2014 critics lists and garnered her a 2015 Grammy Award for Best Alternative Album. Having opened shows for such acts as The Black Keys and Arcade Fire, St. Vincent is now taking the front of the stage with performances at the Coachella and Sasquatch Festivals this year, putting this multi-instrumentalist at the forefront of alternative music.

The 32nd ASCAP Pop Music Awards precede the 10th annual ASCAP "I Create Music" EXPO, the only national conference dedicated to the craft and business of songwriting and composing. The EXPO takes place April 30th - May 2nd, 2015 at the Loews Hollywood Hotel in Los Angeles, CA. Many of the biggest names in music have shared their wisdom and music at the EXPO, including Jon Bon Jovi & Richie Sambora, Jackson Browne, Lindsey Buckingham interviewed by Sara Bareilles, Dr. Luke, Jimmy Jam & Terry Lewis, Quincy Jones, Randy Newman, Katy Perry, Tom Petty, Carly Simon, Justin Timberlake in conversation with Bill Withers and Ann & Nancy Wilson (Heart). For more details, visit www.ascap.com/expo.