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.
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.”
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.”
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.
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