SESAC hosted its 21st annual Pop Awards at the historic Cipriani 42nd Street in New York.
The event was attended by the music industry’s top leaders, artists, songwriters and publishers. SESAC’s Charli XCX was named Songwriter of the Year and earned the Song of the Year award for penning the chart-topping “Same Old Love,” recorded by Selena Gomez. Sony ATV Sounds was named Publisher of the Year.
Headlining the evening with a lively and unforgettable performance was SESAC Legacy Award recipient George Clinton and the Parliament Funkadelic. The founder of iconic rap group Public Enemy, Mr. Chuck D, presented George Clinton with the SESAC Legacy Award. “George Clinton is a great person to honor and respect, and it’s good reason for me to be here. All the music that we do today is from that seed,” Chuck D told us on the red carpet.
City National Bank was the premiere sponsor of the event and the Viceroy NYC served as the hotel sponsor of the 2017 Pop Awards.
Congratulations on this honor tonight. Tell me about what it means to you.
It feels good after all these years of doing this. I’ve seen all my friends go through this over the years. I’m glad to be standing here doing it tonight. I’m gonna have a big stupid smile on my face tonight.
And as a songwriter and a musician, what keeps you inspired to continue doing it?
All these new artists that come up with brand new stuff that made me wish I had done that. Whenever I hear something new that sounds fresh, like Kendrick Lamar. I say, “Damn, I got to start all over again.”
Who are some important mentors who helped you coming up?
Motown, Beatles, Sly Stone is one of my favorite songwriters but I learned to get influenced by everybody that was doing something hip. I worked at the Brill Building in New York, so I’m songwriting, you wrote for everybody who came through looking for a song, you tried to have one for them. So whenever I hear somebody new, I try to see what they’re doing. Especially the ones that sound stupid to me, they’re usually the next thing. When they get on your nerves, that usually is the next thing, so I really pay attention to them.
What else do you have in the works?
I’ve got a new Parliament album coming out — Medicaid Fraud Dogs.
What can fans expect?
Parliament. Sir Nose and all of the characters will be there.
