Yoko Ono will receive a songwriting credit on John Lennon’s 1971 classic “Imagine,” Variety reports. The announcement was made today at the annual meeting of the National Music Publishers Association. During the event, NMPA CEO David Israelite showed a 1980 video of Lennon saying that Ono deserved songwriting credit on “Imagine” because of “her influence and inspiration“ on the song. Israelite then said that Ono would be added to the song as co-writer in accordance with Lennon’s wishes. While Yoko has not yet been officially credited, Israelite confirmed to Variety that the process is “under way.” During the evening, Yoko and Sean Ono Lennon accepted the NMPA’s new Centennial Song award for “Imagine” of behalf of John. Former recipients of Centennial awards include Billy Joel, Joan Baez, and Stevie Wonder.
Yoko recently appeared on a new song from the Black Lips called “Occidental Front.” She will be reissuing the next batch of albums in her Yoko Ono Reissue Project including Fly (1971), Approximately Infinite Universe (1973) and Feeling the Space (1973) on July 14. Revisit Pitchfork’s review of Yoko Ono Plastic Ono Band.
Read “Kim Gordon, tUnE-yArDs, and 6 Other Musicians on Why Yoko Ono Matters” over on the Pitch.
