Donovan will be named a BMI Icon at the U.S. performing right organization’s annual London Awards.
The event, which will be held Oct. 6 at London’s Dorchester Hotel, recognizes the U.K. and European songwriters and publishers of the past year’s most-played BMI songs on American radio and television.
BMI is the United States-based performing right organization that collects and distributes royalties for the public performance of music on outlets including radio, television, the Internet and tours.
The Icon designation is given to BMI songwriters who have bestowed “a unique and indelible influence on generations of music makers.”
Past honorees include Van Morrison, the Bee Gees, Willie Nelson, Hall & Oates, Paul Simon, and Crosby, Stills & Nash.
Donovan's hits include “Mellow Yellow,” “Sunshine Superman” and "Jennifer Juniper.”
While BMI collects royalties for him in the United States, Donovan is a member of British performing right society PRS for Music.
The BMI London Awards will also present the Robert S. Musel Award to the writer and publisher of the most performed song of the year. BMI will also bestow “Million-Air” certificates on writers and publishers whose songs have achieved more than three million U.S. radio and television performances — the equivalent of more than 17 years of continuous airplay.
