New York, NY (Top40 Charts/ Workman Entertainment) Last night, SESAC, the nation's fastest growing performing rights organization, awarded
Rico Love with top honors at the 15th Annual SESAC New York
Music Awards when he was named Songwriter of the Year at Manhattan's IAC Building. Hillary Scott of multi-platinum powerhouse trio
Lady Antebellum took home Song of the Year honors for her mega-hit, "Need You Now."
SESAC Publisher of the Year honors went to EMI Foray Music.
The 2011 awards celebration drew more than 400 songwriters, publishers and industry professionals. The star-studded attendees included Love, Hillary Scott, Kasseem "Swizz Beatz" Dean, Bryan-Michael Cox, Chrisette Michele, Angela Hunte and Traci Hale among many others. There were more than 40 songwriter and publisher award recipients in the categories of Pop, R&B/Hip-Hop, and Rock.
Love has enjoyed an extraordinary year by anyone's estimation. One of pop music's most prolific and diverse creative talents, Love hit the top of the charts in 2010 with "There Goes My Baby" and "Hey Daddy (Daddy's Home)" by Usher (featuring Plies) as well as "Just A Dream" by Nelly and "Hello Good Morning" (co-written with fellow SESAC hit-maker Nate "Danja" Hills) and recorded by Diddy-Dirty Money (featuring T.I. and Rick Ross) and "Sweet Dreams" by Beyonce. The busy entrepreneur added yet another credential to his resume as he recently launched Division1 Records, a joint venture with Universal Music Group.
Hillary Scott, a member of the multi-platinum group, Lady Antebellum, has seen extraordinary acclaim of late especially with the unprecedented success of "Need You Now." The title track of Lady Antebellum's second album is a moving exploration of the regret of a lost lover and the yearning to reconnect. "Need You Now" was certified triple Platinum after spending 5 consecutive weeks at No. 1 on the Billboard Country Songs chart. The song dominated pop radio stations across the country landing at No. 1 in multiple formats and claiming the No. 1 spot on iTunes' singles chart in all genres.
One of the evening's many highlights was the celebration of 100th birthday of music pioneer and undisputed King of the Delta Blues, Robert Johnson. Born in 1911 in Hazelhurst, Miss., Johnson was one of the most influential voices in American music influencing a plethora of today's most heralded artists including Eric Clapton, Bob Dylan, Keith Richards, Keb Mo and Jack White to name a few. Creating such classics as "Cross Road Blues," "I Believe I'll Dust My Broom" and "Love In Vain," the artist infused his music with raw power and intensity. Johnson disciple Eric Clapton once observed that Johnson's music was unlike any ever heard. "It was almost as if he felt things so acutely he found it unbearable," Clapton remarked. After a riveting video tribute documenting Johnson's career and accomplishments, Ronny Drayton, a highly accomplished studio musician with stints playing alongside a multitude of high profile artists, hit the stage performing Johnson classic "Love In Vain" to an enthralled audience. Robert Johnson's grandson, Michael, traveled from his home in Mississippi to accept the posthumous award on behalf of the Johnson family.
Billboard Magazine and SPIN Magazine were the event's primary sponsors.
Established in 1930, SESAC is a service organization created to assist both the creators of music and music users through timely, efficient royalty collection and music licensing. SESAC maintains a diversified repertory that includes virtually all genres of music. Headquartered in Nashville, the company also has offices in New York, Los Angeles, Atlanta, Miami and London (www.sesac.com).
A COMPLETE LIST OF SESAC AWARD RECIPIENTS FOLLOWS:
Songwriter of the Year:
Rico Love
Song of the Year:
"Need You Now"
Written by Lady Antebellum's Hillary Scott
Publisher of the Year:
EMI Foray Music
"Just A Dream"
Recorded by: Nelly
Songwriter: Rico Love
Publisher(s): EMI Foray Music, Rico Love Is Still A Rapper
"There Goes My Baby"
Recorded by: Usher
Songwriter: Rico Love
Publisher(s): EMI Foray Music, Rico Love Is Still A Rapper
"Hey Daddy (Daddy's Home)"
Recorded by: Usher featuring Plies
Songwriter: Rico Love
Publisher(s): EMI Foray Music, Rico Love Is Still A Rapper
"Sweet Dreams"
Recorded by: Beyonce
Songwriter: Rico Love
Publisher(s): EMI Foray Music, Rico Love Is Still A Rapper
"Hello Good Morning"
Recorded by: Diddy Dirty Money
Songwriter(s): Nate "Danja" Hills, Rico Love
Publisher(s): Danjahandz Muzik, EMI Foray Music, Rico Love Is Still A Rapper
"Sober"
Recorded by: Pink
Songwriter: Nate "Danja" Hills
Publisher(s): Danjahandz Muzik, WBM Music Corp.
"Knock You Down"
Recorded by: Keri Hilson
Songwriter: Nate "Danja" Hills
Publisher: Danjahandz Muzik
"Need You Now"
Recorded by: Lady Antebellum
Songwriter: Hillary Scott
Publisher(s): EMI Foray Music, Hillary Dawn Songs
"I Run To You"
Recorded by: Lady Antebellum
Songwriter: Hillary Scott
Publisher(s): EMI Foray Music, Hillary Dawn Songs
"It Kills Me"
Recorded by: Melanie Fiona
Songwriter: Jay Fenix
Publisher(s): YoufeelJ Publishing, WBM Music Corp.
"What's My Name"
Recorded by: Rihanna featuring Drake
Songwriter: Traci Hale
Publisher: Hale Yeah Music
"Letting Go (Dutty Love)"
Recorded by: Sean Kingston featuring Nicki Minaj
Songwriter: Traci Hale
Publisher(s): Hale Yeah Music, peertunes Ltd.
"Glitter In The Air"
Recorded by: Pink
Songwriter: Billy Mann
Publisher(s): Sony/ATV Sounds LLC, Turtle Victory
"Empire State Of Mind"
Recorded by: Jay-Z featuring Alicia Keys
Songwriter: Angela Hunte
Publisher(s): EMI Foray Music, Masani El Shabazz
"Love All Over Me"
Recorded by: Monica
Songwriter: Bryan-Michael Cox
Publisher(s): Noontime South Inc., Songs In The Key Of B Flat, WBM Music Corp.
"Fancy"
Recorded by: Drake featuring T.I.
Songwriter: Swizz Beatz
Publisher(s): Avenue Beatz Music, Monza Ronza, Universal Tunes
"On To The Next One"
Recorded by: Jay-Z featuring Swizz Beatz
Songwriter: Swizz Beatz
Publisher(s): Monza Ronza, Universal Tunes
"Aston Martin Music"
Recorded by: Rick Ross featuring Drake & Chrisette Michele
Songwriter: Chrisette Michele
Publisher(s): Chrisette Michele LLC, EMI Foray Music, Four Kings Publishing
"Ain't Leavin' Without You"
Recorded by: Jaheim
Songwriter: Bale'wa Muhammad
Publisher(s): Jahqae Joints, Universal Tunes
"I Wanna Rock"
Recorded by: Snoop Dogg
Songwriter: Scoop Deville
Publisher: Elijah Molina Publishing
"Little Lion Man"
Recorded by: Mumford & Sons
Songwriter(s): Edward Dwane, Benjamin Lovett, Winston Marshall, Marcus Mumford
Publisher: Universal Tunes
"Your Decision"
Recorded by: Alice In Chains
Songwriter: Jerry Cantrell
