The Songwriters Hall of Fame will present singer-songwriter Raye with the Hal David Starlight Award, recognizing young talent, at its 55th annual induction and awards dinner. The ceremony takes place Thursday, June 11 at its longtime home, the Marriott Marquis Hotel in New York City.
The Hal David Starlight Award, created in 2004, was named in honor of SHOF Chairman Emeritus Hal David for his longtime support of young songwriters. Previous honorees include Gracie Abrams, SZA, Post Malone, Sara Bareilles, Ed Sheeran, Taylor Swift, John Legend, Alicia Keys and more.
Raye has been especially outspoken in her support of songwriters, calling for more equitable compensation in the streaming age — an effort that earned her Variety’s Hitmakers Triple Threat Award, for her work as an artist and songwriter and her efforts in support of the songwriting community.
SHOF Chairman Nile Rodgers said, “Raye is exactly the kind of artist Hal David would have adored — someone who writes from the deepest, most unguarded part of herself, and somehow makes the whole world feel seen in the process. What makes her story so remarkable is that long before she was a superstar in her own right, she was already quietly shaping the sound of a generation. As a songwriter, her incredible range spans pop, R&B and dance — leaving its mark on hit records like Beyoncé’s ‘Bigger,’ sparking something electric on Charli XCX’s ‘After the Afterparty,’ bringing real tenderness to Ellie Goulding’s ‘Sixteen,’ and delivering Little Mix a straight-up hit with ‘Told You So.’ This award doesn’t just shine a light on her talent — it illuminates a journey that has been extraordinary from the very beginning. Congratulations Raye — you are truly what great songwriting is all about.”
In 2024, Raye won a record six Brit Awards — including Album of the Year — the most in a single year. Her growing list of accolades also includes an Ivor Novello Award for Songwriter of the Year, four Grammy nominations, and Variety’s Triple Threat award.
Raye released her sophomore album, “This Music May Contain Hope,” last month, of which Variety wrote: “It’s an overstuffed, overambitious and over-almost-everything album, but considering the scope and size, it’s also remarkably focused and moves through a head-spinning variety of themes and styles surprisingly quickly… most impressive throughout is the ringleader, Raye herself, not just for bringing this jumbo jet of a project in for a safe landing, but most of all as a songwriter and singer: She purrs and belts and soars; some of her melodies and lyrics are so fast and polysyllabic they’d be tongue-twisters if spoken by the average person, but she reels them off with the ease of an Olympic athlete.”
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