Bryan Ferry named BMI Icon

Past honorees include Bee Gees, Ray Davies

By PHIL GALLO

Bryan Ferry will be named a BMI Icon at the U.S. performing rights org's annual London Awards, slated for Oct. 7 at London's Dorchester Hotel, Park Lane.

Gala will recognize the U.K., European and Jamaican songwriters and publishers of the past year's most-played BMI songs on American radio and television.

The Icon designation is given to BMI songwriters who have bestowed "a unique and indelible influence on generations of music makers." Ferry, who has mixed a solo career with fronting Roxy Music, will join past honorees Peter Gabriel, Ray Davies, Van Morrison and the Bee Gees.

BMI will also bestow "Million-Air" certificates on writers and publishers whose songs have achieved more than 3 million U.S. radio and television performances -- the equivalent of more than 17 years of continuous airplay.