Renowned songwriters, producers and music publishers from the US urban music scene came together on Friday for the BMI Urban Awards to toast the teams behind the past year’s most-performed R&B, rap, pop and hip-hop songs in BMI’s repertoire.

The event, held at the Saban Theatre in Beverly Hills, saw Mariah Carey named a BMI Icon who joins a list of past honorees that includes The Jacksons, Snoop Dogg, James Brown, Isaac Hayes, Little Richard, Al Green, Willie Nelson, Dolly ...