SESAC Hands Out First Honors Of CMA Week

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By Chris Cannon

NASHVILLE, Tenn. - Performing rights organization, SESAC, rolled out the red carpet Monday night on Music Row to kick off CMA Week in Nashville with an awards gala.

Monty Powell took home the organization's top honors at the 2009 SESAC Nashville Music Awards. SECAC named Powell songwriter of the year.

Sweet Thing, the song Powell wrote with Keith Urban also took top honors at the annual gala. Powell said he appreciates SESAC taking time to recognize songwriters.

"It's really important to honor the creative process that allows everyone to go out and tour, fill arenas and have buses. That creative process usually starts with a couple of people, with a cup of coffee, over a guitar," said Powell.

Hillary Scott, from the country group Lady Antebellum, was SESAC's 2008 songwriter of the year, an honor she has cherished over the last twelve months.

She walked the red carpet at the SESAC Awards with her band mates Charles Kelley and Dave Haywood.

"If you were to ask what the three of us are first, we would say songwriters. It's extremely important to us. It hits close to home. I'm a proud member of the SESAC family and I'm so excited to be a part of this,” said Scott.

SESAC also named Eden Valley Music and Universal Tunes as publishers of the year.

The 2009 SESAC Nashville Music Awards is the first of three red carpet events during CMA Week in Nashville. Fellow performing rights organization BMI will hold its awards gala Tuesday night at its Music Row headquarters. The CMA Awards show will take place Wednesday night at the Sommet Center in Downtown Nashville.

Email: ccannon@newschannel5.com