Sting was honored as an Icon at last night’s BMI Awards in London, while songs performed by Ed Sheeran, Adele, James Bay and David Guetta were awarded gongs for success in US radio and TV in 2015.

Our invite was evidently lost in the post, but we're told that on accepting the award, Sting, pictured here with BMI President and CEO Mike O’Neill, said: “Your real job as a songwriter is to provide a soundtrack to people's emotional lives, touchstones for their emotional landscapes, their memories. And that’s an unexpected and unanticipated honour as well as a privilege.”

He was chosen for his “unique and indelible influence on generations of music makers” ahead of the release of his twelfth album, 57th and 9th (A&M/Interscope), on 11/11. Single "I Can't Stop Thinking About You" was released last month.

Sheeran’s “Thinking Out Loud,” published by Sony/ATV, was named Song of the Year and the Dance Award went to Guetta’s “Hey Mama,” the many writers of which have affiliation with BMG, Talpa, DLG and Piano Songs.

Other categories included the London Pop Award Song, TV Music Awards, and upwards of three Million Performance Songs for combined radio plays. The only track to reach the 13 million mark was Sting’s “Every Breath You Take,” published by Sony/ATV. Check out the full list of winners here.