Published: September 30, 2026 · 2:13 AM EDT
The songwriter and producer was honored in London as “Shape of You” reached 8 million U.S. performances and “Bad Habits” passed 6 million
Snow Patrol musician, songwriter and producer Johnny McDaid received the BMI President’s Award at the 2026 BMI London Awards, recognizing a career that has taken him from the streets of London to collaborations with some of the biggest artists in contemporary music.
McDaid received the honor September 28 during a private ceremony at The Dorchester in London, hosted by BMI CEO Mike O’Neill and Executive Vice President, Chief Revenue & Creative Officer Mike Steinberg. BMI said the award recognized McDaid’s artistry, influence and body of work as a songwriter, musician and producer.
The ceremony brought additional recognition for McDaid’s longtime creative partnership with Ed Sheeran. He received BMI Million-Air Awards after “Shape of You” reached 8 million U.S. broadcast performances and “Bad Habits” reached 6 million. McDaid co-wrote both songs with Sheeran.
McDaid also received a BMI Award for his work on Sheeran’s “Azizam,” which was recognized among the previous year’s most-performed pop songs across U.S. radio and digital services. Music Business Worldwide reports that the latest honor brings McDaid’s career total to 18 BMI Awards.
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Originally from Derry, Northern Ireland, McDaid is a member of Snow Patrol and has built a parallel career as one of pop music’s most successful collaborators. His songwriting and production credits include work with Ed Sheeran, P!nk, Alicia Keys, Shawn Mendes, BTS, Robbie Williams, Lewis Capaldi, Jung Kook, Weezer and Kelly Clarkson.
BMI says songs involving McDaid have accumulated 14 Diamond and more than 600 Platinum certifications worldwide. His previous honors include two Ivor Novello Awards and two Grammy nominations, while “Shape of You” earned him the BMI Pop and London Song of the Year awards in 2018 and “Bad Habits” became BMI London Song of the Year in 2022.
Elsewhere at the 2026 BMI London Awards, Kendrick Lamar and SZA’s “luther” was named BMI London Song of the Year. Other Million-Air honors went to songs including a-ha’s “Take On Me” at 12 million U.S. performances, Roger Waters’ “Another Brick in the Wall” at 10 million, Roxette’s “Listen to Your Heart” at 8 million and The Police’s “Message in a Bottle” at 5 million.
McDaid joins a list of previous BMI President’s Award recipients that includes Taylor Swift, Noel Gallagher, Brian Wilson, Willie Nelson, Ellie Goulding and benny blanco.
Watch Ed Sheeran’s official “Shape of You” lyric video, co-written by Johnny McDaid and honored for 8 million U.S. performances, below:
Written by Gino Alache – Music Journalist
IMAGE CREDIT: Archive.
