Songwriter royalty

SESAC Awards showcase creative visionaries

Published On: November 25, 2009

As one of the three performing rights organizations in the United States, SESAC takes on a large responsibility in representing songwriters. These are the folks who make sure the creative geniuses behind the music receive their rightful paychecks. SESAC, founded back in 1930, originally stood for Society of European Stage Authors and Composers as it helped European performers collect their American performance royalties. The company has evolved into representing all genres of music, including jazz, hip-hop, and country music. To recognize the innovative songwriters who pen country music's top hits, SESAC hosted its annual Nashville awards show.

Kicking off CMA week in Nashville style, SESAC rolled out the red carpet for veteran songwriters, as well as up-and-comers. Before the ceremony, songwriters gathered in a sophisticated party tent at SESAC's Music Row headquarters. Guests mingled, enjoying the bar that stretched the entire length of the tent and posing for photographs. The interior of the tent was accentuated with subtle lighting and spherical ornaments crafted out of fresh red roses that hung from the branches of trees, like oversized Christmas ornaments. The crimson echoed throughout the party, the most apparent example being the cherry-red carpet laid out for all those who entered the fête.

After quelling pre-ceremony jitters with some vino, guests made their way to the Awards Ceremony. The bar closed promptly at 7:30 (a surefire way to get folks out of there!), and the ceremony started shortly thereafter. Monty Powell took home top honors as Songwriter of the Year for co-writing Keith Urban's "Sweet Thing," which also won several other awards. A big prize also went to Eden Valley Music and Universal Tunes for Publishers of the Year.

Recognizing the process of writing a song is crucial to the country music scene, as so many folks take such pride in the creative life of a song. It is the first of many steps in the road to a radio smash hit, which SESAC definitely has experience with. To that we say, "Thanks and keep 'em coming!" MM

—photographs by

eric england