Swizz Beatz, Charli XCX, Hailee Steinfeld, Jimmy Napes, Emily King and more were all in attendance for the 20th Annual SESAC Pop Awards in New York City.
Held at the luxuriously refinedΒ CiprianiΒ 42nd street on Monday, April 18, some of radioβs hottest and most distinguished songwriters and publishers came out, for a dinner gala in their honor. The honorees and other A-list stars were candid and fashionable as they graced the carpet, stopping by for photos and questions.
Leading in the industry,Β SESACΒ is the only music rights organization to serve both music users and creators with music licensing services; not to mention, having an ever-impressive roster that continues to grow. More recent signees likeΒ Mariah Carey,Β Green Day,Β Zac BrownΒ andΒ KeshaΒ only add to the value that SESAC already exhibits with vets likeΒ Bob Dylan,Β Neil Diamond, and theΒ Kurt CobainΒ estate in the pile. The community of creators and performers share collective ties that are not only evident in their individual accolades but are also delivered in the varied collaborations among them with SESAC proudly willing to reward.
Still in disbelief of his Best Original Song win for βWritings on the Wallβ at the Oscars earlier this year, two-time Songwriter of the Year Jimmy Napes took home theΒ SESAC songwriter and song of the year nods for βIβm Not the Only Oneβ, by Sam Smith.Β βIt was a bit of a surreal experience, winning an Oscar; you know, as a musician, a songwriter, Iβve got a little bit use to going to award shows for songs, but to be in the room full of movie stars at the Oscars, was just bizarre really.β After winning song of the year at last year’s SESAC with Sam Smithβs Grammy Award-winning βStay With Meβ, Napes shared a bit on the current studio happenings with Sam, βWeβre just writing always, you know, thinking of ideas of next chapters, just trying to stay busy and keep it moving thatβs all.βΒ And as incredible as his Oscar win may have been, he assured us that he has no plans on leaving his songwriting lane for an acting one.
Nominated for his first major placement with K Campβs βComfortableβ, songwriter Cesar Ramirez is relatively new to writing and production scene. βThe Comfortable collaboration came about through a good friend of mine, a fellow SESAC writer that I know, who called me up randomly to come to this Interscope session where I got to play on a bunch of records and then some months later I got a call notifying me that some of my stuff got on the record and so here I am.β Β HeavyΒ on the Los Angeles music scene, Ramirez is currently working on some personal passion projects with his band New Movement, and wrote a few tunes for the βSuicide Squadβ film expected out in theaters later this year.
Working with some of Hip Hopβs top names like Drake and Kendrick Lamar, SESAC honoree Dacoury βDJ Dahiβ Natche sported his medal for his Big Sean feat. E-40 hit βI Donβt F*** With Youβ on Monday. Β βItβs a blessing to be here,β he informed the KNOCKTURNAL.Β βI think itβs really great that SESAC is recognizing its writers and artistsβ music contributions.Β I originally worked with Big Sean on his last album, and ‘I Donβt F*** With You’Β came about first as a song he was working on with DJ Mustard, then he called me in to help on the record where I was kind of the missing piece.β
Songwriter Jake Luttrell nominated for βMarvin Gayeβ by Charlie Puth feat. Megan Trainor, told the KNOCKTURNAL how his start in the industry first transpired, βI was a songwriter before people even know I was a songwriter.Β I got my start as a signed songwriter by doing shows in L.A., and finally got an audition with Mike Caren, who at the time I had no idea who he was, and a couple sessions later, he offered me a publishing deal.βΒ He continued, βI just love music, and I made sure that I was always doing as much as I could do in as many capacities that I could do it.βΒ Luttrell is presently working on his own project, with his hands still in a few other big buckets like Akon’s album, Martin Garrix, Jack & Jack and some more fun and exciting stuff to look out for.
Singer/Actress Hailee Steinfeld performed her hit “Love Myself” Β during the gala. “Itβs so amazing to be here and to honor and support so many incredible people who have created so many of my favorite songs, and one of which made my first song, Oscar Holter; so Iβm excited to be here and be in the company of unsung heroes,” she told us on the red carpet.Β “‘Love Myself’ is a self-empowerment anthem and it really represents the power in a message that I think a lot of people tend to forget, including myself, and that is how much power there is in being able to love yourself and have that self-reassurance and confidenceβ¦ Iβm very lucky to have that song in my life and to be able to call it my own,” the songstress continued.
Idol winner Nick Fradiani performed his single βBeautiful Life.” It was co-written byΒ Ayanna RayΒ who wasΒ honored for the song. She said she got her start in the industry when she moved to Atlanta. Then she earned a publishing deal with Universal. She was an indie artist and someone suggested she write for others. She is currently in the studio with Ledisi and Mary J. Blige. She exclaimed working with Mary is “amazing because she is someone I have always looked up to, so it’s really cool to hear her skills liveΒ and she’s so humble and such a beautiful person.” She continued, Ledisi’s new album will be her most pop album to date and crosses many genres. Both projects should be out later this year.
Relentlessly striving to maintain its superior standing with new acquisitions being made everyday, SESAC is currently the only music rights organization to distribute monthly royalty disbursements;Β working harder in order to make sure their clients are properly recognized and compensated.
A complete list of honorees follows:
Songwriter of the Year: Jimmy Napes (PRS)
Song of the Year: βIβm Not The Only Oneβ
Written by Jimmy Napes (PRS)
Published by: Salli Isaak Music Publishing (PRS), Universal Tunes
Publisher of the Year: Universal Tunes
βPost To Beβ
Recorded by: Omarion feat. Chris Brown
Songwriter: Omarion
Publisher: Sony ATV Sounds, Mr. Grandberry OS Music
βI Donβt F*** With Youβ
Recorded by: Big Sean feat. E-40
Songwriter: Dacoury Natche
Publisher(s): Dahi Productions, Sony/ATV Sonata, SONGS Music Publishing
βClassic Manβ
Recorded by Jidenna feat. Roman GianArthur
Songwriter: Charli XCX (PRS)
Publisher: Stellar Songs Ltd (PRS), Sony ATV Sounds
βMarvin Gayeβ
Recorded by Charlie Puth feat. Meghan Trainor
Songwriter: Jacob Luttrell
Publisher(s):Β LSLX Music, Artist Publishing Group East, WBM Music Corp., Warner Chappell Music Inc.
βLay Me Downβ
Recorded by: Sam Smith
Songwriter(s): Jimmy Napes (PRS), Elvin Smith (PRS)
Publisher(s): Salli Isaak Music Publishing (PRS), Universal Tunes
βBelieveβ
Recorded by: Mumford & Sons
Songwriter(s): Benjamin Lovett (PRS), Edward Dwane (PRS), Marcus Mumford (PRS), Winston Marshall (PRS),
Publisher(s): Universal Music Publishing Limited (PRS), Universal Tunes
βThe Wolfβ
Recorded by: Mumford & Sons
Songwriter(s): Benjamin Lovett (PRS), Edward Dwane (PRS), Marcus Mumford (PRS), Winston Marshall (PRS)
Publisher(s): Universal Music Publishing Limited (PRS), Universal Tunes
βThe Matrimonyβ
Recorded by: Wale feat. Usher
Songwriter: Sam Dew
Publisher(s): By The Chi Publishing, Sony/ATV Sonata
βSame Old Loveβ
Recorded by: Selena Gomez
Songwriter: Charli XCX
Publisher: Stellar Songs Ltd. (PRS), Sony ATV Sounds
βBeg For Itβ
Recorded by: Iggy Azalea feat. M0
Songwriter: Charli XCX
Publisher: Stellar Songs Lt. (PRS), Sony ATV Sounds
βComfortableβ
Recorded by: K Camp
Songwriter: Cesar Ramirez
Publisher: Cesar Ramirez Music
βLove Myselfβ
Recorded by: Hailee Steinfeld
Songwriter: Oscar Holter (STIM)
Publisher: Lionheart Music (STIM), Universal Polygram International Tunes Inc., Universal Tunes
βShouldβve Been Usβ
Recorded by: Tori Kelly
Songwriter: Oscar Holter (STIM)
Publisher(s): Lionheart Music (STIM), Universal Polygram International Tunes Inc., Universal Tunes
βI Donβt Like It, I Love Itβ
Recorded by: Flo Rida feat. Robin Thicke
Songwriter: Jacob Luttrell
Publisher(s): LSLX, Artist Publishing Group East, WBM Music Corp., Warner Chappell Music Inc.
βThe Fixβ
Recorded by Nelly feat. Jeremih
Publisher: SONGS Music Publishing
βNo Role Modelzβ
Recorded by: J. Cole
Written by Darius Barnes
Publisher(s): Cool Kids Go Vinyl, Slapademiks, BMG Silver Songs US
βBeautiful Lifeβ
Recorded by: Nick Fradiani
Songwriter: Ayanna Ray
Publisher: Johnβs Daughter
βStay With Meβ
Recorded by: Sam Smith
Songwriter(s): Jimmy Napes (PRS), Williams Phillips (PRS)
Publisher(s): Salli Isaak Music Publishing (PRS), Method Paperwork LTD (PRS), Universal Tunes
βBest Day Of My Lifeβ
Recorded by: American Authors
Songwriter(s): Zac Barnett, James Shelley
Publisher(s): Zac Barnett Publishing, James Shelley Publishing
βBoom Clapβ
Recorded by: Charli XCX
Songwriter:Β Charli XCXΒ (PRS)
Publisher(s): Stellar Songs Ltd. (PRS), Sony ATV Sounds
βLatchβ
Recorded by: Disclosure feat. Sam Smith
Songwriter(s): Howard Lawrence (PRS), Guy Lawrence (PRS), Jimmy Napes (PRS)
Publisher(s): Universal Music Publishing Limited (PRS), Salli Isaak Music Publishing (PRS), Universal Tunes
DTS, Inc., was the premiere sponsor of the SESAC Pop Awards. City National Bank also served as a sponsor of the event with The London NYC serving as the exclusive hotel sponsor of the awards.