Broadcast Music, Inc. (BMI), the global leader in music rights management, will present the BMI Icon Award for outstanding career achievement to prolific composer Alexandre Desplat at the organization's 2015 Film & Television Awards. Chris Montan will receive the Classic Contribution Award for his distinguished three decade career at Disney, including his current role as President of Walt Disney Music—a position he's maintained for twenty years—and executive music producing all of the studio's animated features. The annual ceremony will be held Wednesday, May 13, at the Beverly Wilshire Hotel in Beverly Hills. The private event will also honor the composers of the past year's top-grossing films, top-rated primetime network television series and highest-ranking cable network programs.
BMI bestows the BMI Icon Award to composers who have made significant contributions in the realm of film and television music. As the 2015 honoree, Alexandre Desplat joins a prestigious list of honorees that includes David Arnold, Rachel Portman, Alan Silvestri, David Newman, Thomas Newman, Rolfe Kent, Mychael Danna, George S. Clinton, Harry Gregson-Williams, Jerry Goldsmith, Michael Kamen, Mark Mothersbaugh, Danny Elfman, Alan Menken, Mike Post, Lalo Schifrin, Cliff Martinez, John Barry and John Williams.
"We are thrilled to be honoring renowned cinephile and Academy Award-winning composer Alexandre Desplat this year," said Doreen Ringer-Ross, BMI Vice President, Film/TV Relations. "It has been a joy working with him as his career exploded over the past decade, making him one of the most sought after and admired film composers in the world."
BMI President & CEO Mike O'Neill and BMI Vice President, Film/TV Relations Doreen Ringer-Ross will host the ceremony.
BMI's Classic Contribution Award will be presented to Chris Montan for his distinguished three decade career at Disney, including his current role as President of Walt Disney Music—a position he's maintained for twenty years—and executive music producing all of the studio's animated features. Among his accomplishments, Variety named him "musical supervisor of the decade" in 1997 for his work. Under his guidance, the Walt Disney Studios has garnered an unprecedented 42 Musical Academy Award nominations, and 16 Academy Awards in the "Best Song," "Best Score," and "Best Musical" categories.