Inside the 2016 SESAC Pop Awards

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NEW YORK, NY - APRIL 18: (L-R) Charli XCX, Hailee Steinfeld, Jimmy Napes, and Chairman and CEO of SESAC John Josephson pose onstage during the 2016 SESAC Pop Music Awards on April 18, 2016 in New York City. (Photo by Shawn Ehlers/Getty Images for SESAC) *** Local Caption *** Charli XCX; Hailee Steinfeld; Jimmy Napes; John Josephson
NEW YORK, NY – APRIL 18: (L-R) Charli XCX, Hailee Steinfeld, Jimmy Napes, and Chairman and CEO of SESAC John Josephson pose onstage during the 2016 SESAC Pop Music Awards on April 18, 2016 in New York City. (Photo by Shawn Ehlers/Getty Images for SESAC)

SESAC hosted its 20th annual Pop Awards at Cipriani 42nd Street in New York on Monday, April 18, with an event attended by the music industry’s top leaders, artists, songwriters and publishers.  Jimmy Napes captured the evening’s top honors by being named Songwriter of the Year. Napes was also honored with the Song of the Year Award for penning the Sam Smith-recorded hit, I’m Not The Only One. Universal Tunes was named Publisher of the Year.

Napes, a longtime collaborator with Sam Smith, is a two-time SESAC Songwriter of the Year. He also took the top honor in 2015, as well as winning the SESAC Song of the Year award for writing “Stay With Me,” the multiple Grammy Award-winning song recorded by Smith. In addition to Napes’ string of radio successes, he recently won an Academy Award for best original song for Writing’s On The Wall from the James Bond film Spectre.

NEW YORK, NY - APRIL 18: Songwriter Jimmy Napes attends the 2016 SESAC Pop Music Awards on April 18, 2016 in New York City. (Photo by Shawn Ehlers/Getty Images for SESAC) *** Local Caption *** Jimmy Napes
NEW YORK, NY – APRIL 18: Songwriter Jimmy Napes attends the 2016 SESAC Pop Music Awards on April 18, 2016 in New York City. (Photo by Shawn Ehlers/Getty Images for SESAC)

SESAC’s Trevor Gale and Linda Lorence Critelli hosted the event, which featured exciting performances, including American Idol winner Nick Fradiani singing his coronation single, “Beautiful Life”, and Oscar-nominated actress Hailee Steinfeld singing her debut single “Love Myself.”

NEW YORK, NY - APRIL 18: Singer Nick Fradiani performs onstage during the 2016 SESAC Pop Music Awards on April 18, 2016 in New York City. (Photo by Shawn Ehlers/Getty Images for SESAC) *** Local Caption *** Nick Fradiani
NEW YORK, NY – APRIL 18: Singer Nick Fradiani performs onstage during the 2016 SESAC Pop Music Awards on April 18, 2016 in New York City. (Photo by Shawn Ehlers/Getty Images for SESAC)

On the red carpet prior to the event, several of the honorees discussed the songwriting process, collaborating with others, their formative years learning their craft and the importance of performing rights organizations.

Jimmy Napes on writing several Sam Smith tracks. “I play piano, guitar, drums and like to write lyrics. I’m a jack of all trades and master of none. A lot of the time the writing process is a conversation with the artists, talking about things and when an idea comes up we flesh it out right away. If it doesn’t come quickly it’s usually not a good idea. The bones of the song “Lay Me Down” was done in 40 minutes. For “Stay With Me” we needed a kick drum so I played live drums. I won a Grammy as a drummer, which is hilarious since I’m not much of a drummer.”

Dacoury Natche (Kendrick Lamar, Drake): “I signed up with SESAC in 2008 or so when a friend AJ Gill invited me. I sent them some beats and they liked what I did. Whatever needs to be done to make the song happen I’m there to hone in and make it the best it can be. The first record I produced that I was really excited about was the one I did with Kendrick Lamar. To be a part of a new album and watch a new artist break on a large scale and get that mass attention from the music world was a great start for me. It opened a lot of doors. I got a chance to work with Drake and from there I’ve been working on a lot of different styles- rock, R&B, anything.”

NEW YORK, NY - APRIL 18: Songwriter DJ Dahi attends the 2016 SESAC Pop Music Awards on April 18, 2016 in New York City. (Photo by Shawn Ehlers/Getty Images for SESAC) *** Local Caption *** Dacoury Natche
NEW YORK, NY – APRIL 18: Songwriter Dacoury Natche (DJ Dahi) attends the 2016 SESAC Pop Music Awards on April 18, 2016 in New York City. (Photo by Shawn Ehlers/Getty Images for SESAC)

Emily King on her formative years to becoming a songwriter. “When I was young and started playing guitar I realized I could put melodies to the chords. My mother, who is a musician, told me to write ten songs and she would get you a gig at the Bitter End, which was down the street. That was the first time I had a goal. It was an epiphany! Oh, you write the songs and then you perform them! And I’ve been trying to write great songs ever since. The earlier songs are always there with you as a reminder. My newer songs from my album The Switch are the ones I most proud of. I’ll be on the road this summer opening for Alabama Shakes performing them.”

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.

NEW YORK, NY - APRIL 18: (L-R) Linda Lorence Critelli, Oscar Holter, Julius Peterson, Hailee Steinfeld, Trevor Gale, and Evan Lamberg pose with an award onstage during the 2016 SESAC Pop Music Awards on April 18, 2016 in New York City. (Photo by Bennett Raglin/Getty Images for SESAC) *** Local Caption *** Linda Lorence Critelli; Oscar Holter; Julius Peterson; Hailee Steinfeld; Trevor Gale; Evan Lamberg
NEW YORK, NY – APRIL 18: (L-R) Linda Lorence Critelli, Oscar Holter, Julius Peterson, Hailee Steinfeld, Trevor Gale, and Evan Lamberg pose with an award onstage during the 2016 SESAC Pop Music Awards on April 18, 2016 in New York City. (Photo by Bennett Raglin/Getty Images for SESAC) *** Local Caption *** Linda Lorence Critelli; Oscar Holter; Julius Peterson; Hailee Steinfeld; Trevor Gale; Evan Lamberg

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

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