SESAC Honors Nashville Songwriters At Annual Music Awards

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Pictured (L-R): Scott Jungmichel (SESAC), Lydia Schultz Cahill (SESAC), Jon Nite, Shannan Hatch (SESAC), Sam Kling (SESAC) attend the 2023 SESAC Los Angeles Music Awards. Photo: Rodin Eckenroth/Getty Images for SESAC

SESAC celebrated songwriters and music publishers behind the most-performed songs of 2022 across a variety of genres at The Highlight Room in Hollywood on Tuesday night (Sept. 19).

Pictured(L-R): Juli Newton Griffith, SESAC’s Shannan Hatch, Matt McGinn and Jon Nite. Photo: Charley Gallay/Getty Images for SESAC

Top music industry executives, artists, songwriters and publishers attended the event.

“We are honored to celebrate our songwriters and publishers across multiple genres,” shared Sam Kling, Chief Creative Officer, SESAC Performing Rights. “SESAC is proud of its affiliates who continue to write chart-topping hits and we enjoy every opportunity we get to celebrate their achievements.”

Opening the show was Kling and SESAC President & COO, Scott Jungmichel, as well as VP of Creative Services Mario Prins and AVP of Creative Ops & Admin, Diana Akin Scarfo. Artist and SESAC songwriter Tamara Jade,  from season 19 of The Voice, served as the MC for the evening.

Christian Stalnecker. Photo: Rodin Eckenroth/Getty Images for SESAC

Nashville songwriters were honored with several SESAC Performance Awards throughout the event. Jon Nite took home a medal for “Pick Me Up” (recorded by Gabby Barrett), Matt McGinn nabbed one for “Like I Love Country Music” (recorded by Kane Brown), Josh Hoge and Christian Stalnecker received honors for “Thank God” (recorded by Kane & Katelyn Brown), Alysa Vanderheym was recognized for “Heartfirst” (recorded by Kelsea Ballerini) and Megan Moroney won a medal for “Tennessee Orange.” Additionally, Prescription Songs’ Malibu Babie was recognized for “Super Freaky Girl” (recorded by Nicki Minaj) and “Her” (recorded by Megan Thee Stallion).

McGinn, Nite and Stalnecker were in attendance to receive their awards, along with SESAC’s Jungmichel, Shannan Hatch and Lydia Schultz.

Jack Harlow was this year’s top honoree for the third consecutive year, taking home both Songwriter of the Year and Song of the Year with his smash hit “First Class.” Sony Music Publishing was named Publisher of the Year for the second year in a row, taking home a total of twelve awards including “First Class,” “We Go Up” recorded by Minaj and Fivio Foreign, “Count Me Out” recorded by Kendrick Lamar and “Mercury” recorded by Steve Lacy, among many others.

Click here to see a full list of winners.

Caela Griffin
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