EMI Publishing, Taio Cruz and Plan B were among the winners at the 31st annual ASCAP Awards earlier tonight.

The winners were announced at the Grosvenor House Hotel in London at a presentation hosted by ASCAP Senior Vice President, International Roger Greenaway and Vice President, Membership Seán Devine.

EMI was named Publisher of the Year for its most-performed winning songs ‘Break Your Heart’ (Taio Cruz), ‘Dynamite’ (Taio Cruz) and ‘Everybody Wants to Rule the World’ (Tears for Fears), while Plan B was honoured with ASCAP’s Vanguard Award in recognition of his chart-topping album The Defamation of Strickland Banks.

Meanwhile Taio Cruz was named Songwriter of the Year, also receiving Song of the Year honours for his smash hit single ‘Dynamite’ and Paloma Faith received ASCAP's College Award for her platinum-selling debut album Do You Want the Truth or Something Beautiful?

A special tribute to Oscar and Grammy Award-winning lyricist Hal David was also made in celebration of his 90th birthday.

Madeline Bell, Roger Greenaway, Albert Hammond, Jay James Picton, Ricky Ross and Paul Williams performed a selection of songs from David's songbook of hits, which include such memorable classics as ‘Alfie’ ‘Close to You’ and ‘Raindrops Keep Fallin' On My Head’ to name just a few.

A total of 21 Song Awards were presented throughout the evening. Those honoured included U2 for ‘Beautiful Day’, ‘I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For’, and ‘With or Without You’, Paul McCartney for ‘Come Together’, Phil Collins for ‘In the Air Tonight’, Annie Lenox for ‘Sweet Dreams (Are Made of This)’, Rod Temperton for ‘Thriller’, Coldplay for ‘Viva La Vida’, and Imogen Heap for ‘Whatcha Say’.