On Feb. 19, the Songwriters Hall Of Fame announced that its Board member Martin Bandier will receive its Visionary Leadership Award at the class of 2019 induction ceremony on June 13 in New York City. Bandier is Chairman/CEO of Sony/ATV Music Publishing, which he joined in 2007 after years of success at EMI Music Publishing. His honor will be given alongside this year's songwriting inductions including Dallas Austin, Missy Elliott, Tom T. Hall, John Prine, Jack Tempchin, and Yusuf / Cat Stevens.

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The three previous recipients of the Visionary Leadership Award are Hal David, BMI's Del Bryant and ASCAP's John A. Lofrumento. 

"The SHOF has long benefitted from Marty's advice, guidance, wisdom and constant support," said Songwriters Hall Of Fame President/CEO Linda Moran. "Always the consummate professional and avid songwriters’ champion, he has consistently encouraged us to raise the bar toward achieving our early goals and fulfilling our ongoing mission."

In addition to his success as a music industry executive, Bandier is a philanthropist and has served with distinction on numerous other boards, including ASCAP, the Recording Academy's MusiCares and the National Music Publishers Association.

Before the 57th GRAMMY Awards in 2015, the Academy honored him with the President's Merit Award at the GRAMMY Salute To Industry Icons. Recording Academy President/CEO Neil Portnow described Bandier as "a luminary whose passion, vision and innovation, combined with his championing some of the world's greatest songwriters and his tireless work to maximize the value of musical compositions, has helped to shape our musical landscape for decades."

In September 2018, Bandier announced that March 2019 will be his final month working at Sony/ATV Music Publishing.

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