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 refined Cipriani 42nd street on Monday, April 18, some of radio’s 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, SESAC 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 like Mariah Carey, Green Day, Zac Brown and Kesha only add to the value that SESAC already exhibits with vets like Bob Dylan, Neil Diamond, and the Kurt Cobain 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 “Writings on the Wall” at the Oscars earlier this year, two-time Songwriter of the Year Jimmy Napes took home the SESAC songwriter and song of the year nods for “I’m Not the Only One”, by Sam Smith. “It was a bit of a surreal experience, winning an Oscar; you know, as a musician, a songwriter, I’ve 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.” After winning song of the year at last year’s SESAC with Sam Smith’s Grammy Award-winning “Stay With Me”, Napes shared a bit on the current studio happenings with Sam, “We’re just writing always, you know, thinking of ideas of next chapters, just trying to stay busy and keep it moving that’s all.” 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 Camp’s “Comfortable”, songwriter Cesar Ramirez is relatively new to writing and production scene. “The 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.” Heavy 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 “Suicide Squad” film expected out in theaters later this year.
Working with some of Hip Hop’s top names like Drake and Kendrick Lamar, SESAC honoree Dacoury “DJ Dahi” Natche sported his medal for his Big Sean feat. E-40 hit “I Don’t F*** With You” on Monday. “It’s a blessing to be here,” he informed the KNOCKTURNAL. “I think it’s really great that SESAC is recognizing its writers and artists’ music contributions. I originally worked with Big Sean on his last album, and ‘I Don’t F*** With You’ 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.”
Songwriter Jake Luttrell nominated for “Marvin Gaye” by Charlie Puth feat. Megan Trainor, told the KNOCKTURNAL how his start in the industry first transpired, “I was a songwriter before people even know I was a songwriter. 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.” He continued, “I 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.” 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” during the gala. “It’s 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 I’m excited to be here and be in the company of unsung heroes,” she told us on the red carpet. “‘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 confidence… I’m 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 “Beautiful Life.” It was co-written by Ayanna Ray who was 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 live 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; 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: “I’m Not The Only One”
Written by Jimmy Napes (PRS)
Published by: Salli Isaak Music Publishing (PRS), Universal Tunes
Publisher of the Year: Universal Tunes
“Post To Be”
Recorded by: Omarion feat. Chris Brown
Songwriter: Omarion
Publisher: Sony ATV Sounds, Mr. Grandberry OS Music
“I Don’t F*** With You”
Recorded by: Big Sean feat. E-40
Songwriter: Dacoury Natche
Publisher(s): Dahi Productions, Sony/ATV Sonata, SONGS Music Publishing
“Classic Man”
Recorded by Jidenna feat. Roman GianArthur
Songwriter: Charli XCX (PRS)
Publisher: Stellar Songs Ltd (PRS), Sony ATV Sounds
“Marvin Gaye”
Recorded by Charlie Puth feat. Meghan Trainor
Songwriter: Jacob Luttrell
Publisher(s): LSLX Music, Artist Publishing Group East, WBM Music Corp., Warner Chappell Music Inc.
“Lay Me Down”
Recorded by: Sam Smith
Songwriter(s): Jimmy Napes (PRS), Elvin Smith (PRS)
Publisher(s): Salli Isaak Music Publishing (PRS), Universal Tunes
“Believe”
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
“The Wolf”
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
“The Matrimony”
Recorded by: Wale feat. Usher
Songwriter: Sam Dew
Publisher(s): By The Chi Publishing, Sony/ATV Sonata
“Same Old Love”
Recorded by: Selena Gomez
Songwriter: Charli XCX
Publisher: Stellar Songs Ltd. (PRS), Sony ATV Sounds
“Beg For It”
Recorded by: Iggy Azalea feat. M0
Songwriter: Charli XCX
Publisher: Stellar Songs Lt. (PRS), Sony ATV Sounds
“Comfortable”
Recorded by: K Camp
Songwriter: Cesar Ramirez
Publisher: Cesar Ramirez Music
“Love Myself”
Recorded by: Hailee Steinfeld
Songwriter: Oscar Holter (STIM)
Publisher: Lionheart Music (STIM), Universal Polygram International Tunes Inc., Universal Tunes
“Should’ve Been Us”
Recorded by: Tori Kelly
Songwriter: Oscar Holter (STIM)
Publisher(s): Lionheart Music (STIM), Universal Polygram International Tunes Inc., Universal Tunes
“I Don’t Like It, I Love It”
Recorded by: Flo Rida feat. Robin Thicke
Songwriter: Jacob Luttrell
Publisher(s): LSLX, Artist Publishing Group East, WBM Music Corp., Warner Chappell Music Inc.
“The Fix”
Recorded by Nelly feat. Jeremih
Publisher: SONGS Music Publishing
“No Role Modelz”
Recorded by: J. Cole
Written by Darius Barnes
Publisher(s): Cool Kids Go Vinyl, Slapademiks, BMG Silver Songs US
“Beautiful Life”
Recorded by: Nick Fradiani
Songwriter: Ayanna Ray
Publisher: John’s Daughter
“Stay With Me”
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
“Best Day Of My Life”
Recorded by: American Authors
Songwriter(s): Zac Barnett, James Shelley
Publisher(s): Zac Barnett Publishing, James Shelley Publishing
“Boom Clap”
Recorded by: Charli XCX
Songwriter: Charli XCX (PRS)
Publisher(s): Stellar Songs Ltd. (PRS), Sony ATV Sounds
“Latch”
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.