ASCAP (the American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers) hosted its 28th Annual Pop Music Awards recently at the Renaissance Hollywood Hotel in Los Angeles, California.

The star-studded event, which was attended by hundreds of songwriters, recording artists and music industry leaders.

Special awards were presented to rock icon Rod Stewart who was honoured with the ASCAP Founders Award, Band of Horses who received ASCAP’s Vanguard Award and Randy Bachman who was presented with the ASCAP Global Impact Award. Awards were also presented to the songwriters and publishers of ASCAP’s most performed pop songs of 2010. Lukasz “Dr Luke” Gottwald and Max Martin tied for Songwriter of the Year for penning five of the most performed songs of 2010, including California Gurls (Katy Perry with Snoop Dogg), Dynamite (Taio Cruz) and Teenage Dream (Katy Perry).

Dr Luke also won for Miley Cyrus’ Party in the USA and Tik Tok by Ke$ha, who was on hand to present the hitmaker with his award.

Max Martin also won for DJ Got Us Fallin’ In Love by Usher with Pitbull and Whataya Want From Me by Adam Lambert, who presented the award to the Swedish songwriter/producer.

This is the fourth Songwriter of the Year win for Martin, who also earned the coveted prize in 1999, 2000 and 2001 .

The Songwriters of the Year were celebrated in song by British pop singer/songwriter Taio Cruz, who performed Dynamite, which he co-wrote with the pair. Cruz also picked up an award for Break Your Heart, co-written with Ludacris. Pat Monahan, solo artist and lead singer of the Grammy Award-winning rock band Train, collected the Song of the Year award for Hey, Soul Sister.

Monahan also collected a Pop Award for If It’s Love, which he co-wrote with Gregg Wattenberg.

ASCAP Publisher of the Year honours went to EMI Music Publishing, who had 19 of the most performed songs of 2010.

ASCAP CEO John A LoFrumento presented the award to EMI Music Publishing’s President of North America Creative Jon Platt and his creative team. This is the ninth consecutive win for EMI and the seventeenth time in the 28-year history of the awards show that they have received this honour.

ASCAP President and Chairman Paul Williams presented rock icon Rod Stewart with ASCAP’s Founders Award, which recognised Stewart as “an unparalleled singer and songwriter whose timeless songs turn the personal into the universal.” The ASCAP Founders Award is among the most prestigious honors that ASCAP gives to songwriters and composers who have made pioneering contributions to music by inspiring and influencing their fellow music creators.

Each recipient is a musical innovator who possesses a unique style of creative genius that will enrich generations to come.

Past recipients include Jackson Browne, Elvis Costello, Heart’s Ann & Nancy Wilson, Billy Joel, Annie Lennox, Sir Paul McCartney, Joni Mitchell, Smokey Robinson, Patti Smith, Steely Dan, James Taylor, Tom Waits, Stevie Wonder and Neil Young. In addition to Taio Cruz, the awards celebration featured several other performances throughout the evening, including those by ASCAP Vanguard Award honoree Band of Horses and Song of the Year winner Pat Monahan of Train, who opened the show with Hey, Soul Sister.

Songwriter Josh Kear sang his award-winning song Need You Know, which was a massive hit for Lady Antebellum.

As part of the tribute to Rod Stewart, Glee’s Darren Criss sang Do Ya Think I’m Sexy? and indiepop duo The Cataracs (David Singer-Vine and Niles Hollowell-Dhar) performed a mash-up of Stewart’s songs. The Cataracs also picked up a Pop Award for Far East Movement’s Like A G6 (with The Cataracs and Dev).