Folk singer Donovan named 'icon'

Donovan had seven UK top 10 hits between 1965 and 1968

Folk singer Donovan has been given the title of "icon" at the annual London awards ceremony of the US performing rights organisation BMI.

Organisers praised the Scots singer, 63 - best known for hits including Mellow Yellow and There Is a Mountain - for "transforming" music in the 1960s.

Previous winners have included Bryan Ferry, Ray Davies and Van Morrison.

Estelle, Duffy and Adele were among winners of awards for the most performed songs on US radio.

Slumdog award

Donovan, described by BMI as "a man of unfathomable talent", was one of the first folk-rock stars and had seven UK top 10 hits between 1965 and 1968.

He told BBC 6 Music his icon award was "a very special honour because there's so few of them given out".

"It's a very, very beautiful honour because it's not for records sold and it's not for good looks and it's not for the best-dressed man," he said.

"It's for song-making and that's a wonderful distinction and I'm very proud of it tonight."

Natasha Bedingfield's Pocket Full of Sunshine - a US number five which was not released in the UK - won the song of the year. Bedingfield co-wrote the track with songwriter Danielle Brisebois.

Adele was the first recipient of the Brit's critics choice last year

Awards were also won by songs including Estelle's American Boy, Duffy's Mercy, Adele's Chasing Pavements and KT Tunstall's Hold On.

Cry For You by Swedish singer September - a number five UK hit - won the dance award while Bollywood composer AR Rahman won the film music award for his Slumdog Millionaire score.

Certificates were also presented in recognition of songs which had been played more than three million times on US radio and TV.

Brown Eyed Girl, by Van Morrison, topped the list with nine million plays while songs with more than five million plays included Wonderful Tonight by Eric Clapton and Jumpin' Jack Flash by The Rolling Stones.