US rock stars The Killers and Patti Smith have been awarded top honors for their contributions to US pop music.
The Vegas based band took home the Vanguard prize for their impact in shaping American music, while rock legend Smith was given the Founders Award for lifetime achievement by The American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers (ASCAP).
The awards, which are given out annually, are based on the number of performances and air-plays of songs on US radio, stores and other public areas.
Upon receiving her Founders award, Patti spoke of her initial naivety of the music business back at the start of her career in 1975.
She explained: “I just thought you did your record and that was it. And the first time I got these cheques, I said, ‘I already got paid for that song’,” she said at the Hollywood ceremony.
“So I’m grateful in good times, and I was very grateful in hard times.”
Other artists honored at the ceremony (for the 2008 chart year)- were Jason Mraz whose ‘I’m Yours‘ spent the most weeks of any song in the US chart during 2008 and songwriter Dr Luke ( Lukasz Gottwald) who won Songwirter of the Year for co-writiing five of 2008 biggest singles such as Katy Perry‘s ‘Hot and Cold’ and ‘I kissed a Girl’. Dr Luke also co penned Mily Cyrus‘ ‘Party in the USA’ and Flo Rida‘s ‘Right Round’.