Janelle Monáe to Be Honored at 23rd annual ASCAP Rhythm & Soul Music Awards

New York, NY, June 8, 2010: ASCAP (the American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers) will honor Janelle Monáe at its 23rd annual Rhythm & Soul Music Awards, taking place June 25, 2010 at the Beverly Hilton Hotel in Los Angeles, California. The 24-year-old singer, songwriter, producer, and performer will be presented with ASCAP's Vanguard Award, which recognizes the impact of musical genres that help shape the future of American music.

Past ASCAP Vanguard Award honorees include The Killers, Santigold, Sara Bareilles, The All-American Rejects, The Strokes, and the Beastie Boys.

As announced previously, hip-hop pioneer Dr. Dre will be honored with ASCAP's Founders Award, and the songwriters and publishers of ASCAP's most performed songs on the 2009 R&B/Hip-Hop, Rap and Gospel charts will be saluted. Top awards will be prese nted to the Songwriter of the Year, Publisher of the Year, R&B/Hip-Hop Song of the Year, Rap Song of the Year and Gospel Song of the Year.

Singer, songwriter and high funkstress Janelle Monáe has effortlessly captured the imaginations of fans, critics and fellow artists with her genre-devouring amalgam of soul/R&B/funk/pop/rock and inimitable sense of style. Vogue Magazine called her “a different kind of diva,” while Sean “Diddy” Combs hailed her as “a true visionary…one of the most important signings of my career.” And this young innovator is just hitting her stride. Monáe’s debut release, the concept EP Metropolis, Suite I: The Chase, earned her a Grammy nomination for the delirious dance track “Many Moons;” tour dates alongside Erykah Badu, No Doubt and Paramore soon followed.

Monáe’s new album The ArchAndroid rockets her even further into uncharted territory. Monáe describes the album as influenced by “scores for films like Goldfinger mixed with albums I adore such as Stevie’s Music of my Mind, David Bowie’s Ziggy Stardust, and jamming experimental hip hop stuff like Stankonia.” Holding this musical cosmos together is the story of Monáe’s android alter-ego, Cindi Mayweather, who must free the citizens of Metropolis from a secret society bent on using time travel to suppress freedom and love throughout the ages. With a full schedule of tour dates on the horizon, a graphic novel and a video collection already in the works, Monáe’s clearly got a lot on her plate. But her focus remains on stirring your soul, moving your feet, tickling your fancy and creating great music.