Ester Dean Named Songwriter of the Year at BMI Pop Awards

Ester Dean is adding more accolades to her résumé. The singer-songwriter was honored as BMI Pop Songwriter of the Year at the 60th Annual BMI Pop Awards at the Beverly Wilshire in Beverly Hills last night. The Oklahoma native, who has penned hits for Rihanna, Nicki Minaj, and Katy Perry, shared the award with Pitbull and producer Benny Blanco.

Dean contributed five songs to the year’s most performed list including “What’s My Name?,” “Rude Boy,” “S&M,” “Super Bass,” and “Firework,” which also scored BMI Pop Song of the Year honors.

She is putting the finishing touches on her Interscope Records debut and will appear in the comedy Pitch Perfect and lend her voice to the animated film Ice Age: Continental Drift.