The ASCAP Golden Note Award is presented to songwriters, composers, and
artists who have achieved extraordinary career milestones. Past recipients
include Sean “Diddy” Combs, Jermaine Dupri, Jimmy Jam & Terry Lewis, Jay-Z,
Quincy Jones, LL Cool J, New Edition and Lionel Richie.

“Since joining the ASCAP family at the age of 17, Alicia has grown into one
of the most highly recognized and influential songwriter/performers of the
past decade, whose artistry puts her in league with many of her musical
idols,” said ASCAP President and Chairman Paul Williams. “We are
especially proud to spotlight Alicia’s extraordinary achievements by
honoring her with ASCAP’s Golden Note Award.”

Since bursting onto the music scene in 2001 with her distinctive blend of
soul, hip-hop, jazz and classical music, Alicia Keys has built an
unparalleled repertoire of hits and accomplishments with over 30 million
albums sold worldwide. Her debut album, “Songs In A Minor,” which spawned
her signature hit “Fallin,” garnered five Grammy Awards including Best New
Artist and Best R&B Album. Her follow-up disc, 2004’s “The Diary of Alicia
Keys,” captured three Grammy Awards and featured the hits “If I Ain’t Got
You,” “You Don’t Know My Name” and “Karma.” With the 2005 release of her
first live album, “Unplugged,” Keys became the first female R&B artist to
have three consecutive #1 debuts on the Billboard 200 album chart in as
many releases. Her third studio album, 2007’s “As I Am,” another #1 debut,
yielded three Grammy Awards and featured the smash hit single, “No One,”
which 10 hours after its release became one of the fastest moving and
highest charting singles on Billboard’s Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart. In
addition to her 12 Grammy Awards, including one for her collaboration with
Usher on “My Boo,” Keys has received several other industry awards and
accolades, including Billboard Music Awards, American Music Awards, BET
Awards, and NAACP Image Awards. In 2005, Keys was named Songwriter of the
Year at ASCAP’s Rhythm & Soul Music Awards, and the following year she
received the Starlight Award at the Songwriters Hall of Fame.

As previously announced, ASCAP will present music legend Smokey Robinson
with its Rhythm & Soul Heritage Award, which is given to ASCAP members who
have had a major impact on the legacy of Rhythm and Soul music.

The Awards celebration will also feature a special presentation of ASCAP’s
highly coveted Songwriter of the Year award to the songwriter with the most
award-winning songs of 2008. Past recipients of this top honor include 50
Cent, Johntá Austin, Mary J. Blige, Kandi Burruss, Sean “Diddy” Combs, Dr.
Dre, Jermaine Dupri, Jimmy Jam & Terry Lewis, Alicia Keys and Timbaland.
Special awards will also be presented to Publisher of the Year, Top
R&B/Hip-Hop Song, Top Rap Song and Top Gospel Song. The evening will
feature performances by several award-winning songwriter/performers.

About ASCAP

Established in 1914, ASCAP is the first and leading U.S. Performing Rights
Organization (PRO) representing the world’s largest repertory totaling over
8.5 million copyrighted musical works of every style and genre from more
than 350,000 songwriter, composer and music publisher members. ASCAP has
representation arrangements with similar foreign organizations so that the
ASCAP repertory is represented in nearly every country around the world
where copyright law exists. ASCAP protects the rights of its members and
foreign affiliates by licensing the public performances of their
copyrighted works and distributing royalties based upon surveyed
performances. ASCAP is the only American PRO owned and governed by its
writer and publisher members. www.ascap.com

ASCAP