UMPG Cleans Up at SESAC’s Swanky ‘LA Music Awards’

Photo: Digital Music News

SESAC celebrated its songwriters and music publishers behind the biggest songs of 2024 last week for the awards’ fourth year in Los Angeles.

At SESAC’s LA Music Awards last week at the W Hotel in Hollywood, Universal Music Publishing Group (UMPG) cleaned up as its songwriters and music publishers were honored for their work in 2024. Global superstar Ariana Grande, though not present at the event, took home the coveted Songwriter of the Year award, as well as Song of the Year for her hit “We Can’t Be Friends (Wait For Your Love).”

The track became Ariana’s seventh song to debut at the top of the Billboard Hot 100, earning her the record for female artist with the most number-one debuts in history. The song was published by the recipient of the Publisher of the Year award, UMPG, the company behind multiple award-winning songs from the evening. These include “The Emptiness Machine” by Linkin Park, and “We Pray” by Coldplay featuring Little Simz, Burna Boy, Elyanna, and TINI.

Dez Wright and The Legendary Traxster were each honored with Producer of the Year awards in recognition of their successes as prolific producers. The two have worked with major artists like Travis Scott, Future, Beyoncé, Megan Thee Stallion, and more. Additional award-winning writers include Jack Harlow, Emily Armstrong, Dahi, Japanese Breakfast, Green Day, Fede Vindver, Sam Tinnesz, and others.

“We’re proud to honor the incredible songwriters and publishers who make our music come alive,” shared Sam Kling, Chief Creative Officer, SESAC Performing Rights. “These songs are the result of immense dedication and talent, and we’re thrilled to shine a spotlight on the amazing contributions of our SESAC family.”

Photo: Digital Music News

Kling announced that two members of the creative team, James Leach and John Sweeney, received posthumous Legacy Awards in recognition of the service and dedication they provided not only to their work at SESAC and the songwriters they represented, but to moving the industry forward.

On hand to celebrate were Kling, SESAC President & COO Scott Jungmichel, as well as SVP, Head of LA Creative Mario Prins and VP, Creative Services Diana Akin Scarfo. Artist and SESAC songwriter Tamara Jade, whose latest single “Werq” was released in July, served as the MC for the evening for the third consecutive year.

2025 SESAC LA Music Awards

Songwriter of the Year

• Ariana Grande

Publisher of the Year

• Universal Music Publishing Group

Song of the Year

• “We Can’t Be Friends (Wait For Your Love)”
• Written by: Ariana Grande
• Published by: Universal Music Publishing Group
• Performed by: Ariana Grande

Producer of the Year

• The Legendary Traxster
• Dez Wright

SESAC Performance Awards

“I AM NOT OKAY”

• Written by: Casey Brown
• Published by: Track & Feels, Tape Room Tunes, Warner Chappell Music
• Recorded by: Jelly Roll

“THE BOY IS MINE”

• Written by: Ariana Grande
• Published by: Universal Music Group Publishing
• Performed by: Ariana Grande

“CARNIVAL”

• Written by: The Legendary Traxster
• Published by: Mr Lindley To You Music
• Recorded by: ¥$: Kanye West & Ty Dolla $ign ft. Rich The Kid & Playboi Carti

“THE EMPTINESS MACHINE”

• Written by: Emily Armstrong
• Published by: LA Rumours, Universal Music Group Publishing
• Recorded by: Linkin Park

“NEW DROP”

• Written by: Dez Wright
• Published by: Dez Wright Beats, Concord Music Publishing, ADNAM Publishing
• Recorded by: Don Toliver

“WACCED OUT MURALS”

• Written by: Dahi
• Published by: Dahi Productions, Sony Music Publishing
• Recorded by: Kendrick Lamar

“HEAVY IS THE CROWN”

• Written by: Emily Armstrong
• Published by: LA Rumours, Universal Music Group Publishing
• Recorded by: Linkin Park

“HELLO MISS JOHNSON”

• Written by: Jack Harlow, Clay Harlow
• Published by: Harlow Happenings, Clayborn Enterprises LLC, Sony Music Publishing
• Recorded by: Jack Harlow

“II MOST WANTED”

• Written by: Andrew DeRoberts
• Published by: Concord Music Publishing
• Recorded by: Beyoncé & Miley Cyrus

“WE PRAY”

• Written by: Damini Ebunoluwa Ogulu
• Published by: Universal Music Group Publishing
• Recorded by: Coldplay ft. Little Simz, Burna Boy, Elyanna & TINI

“FIELD TRIP”

• Written by: The Legendary Traxster, Dez Wright
• Published by: Mr Lindley To You Music, Dez Wright Beats, Concord Music Publishing, ADNAM Publishing
• Recorded by: ¥$: Kanye West & Ty Dolla $ign ft. Playboi Carti, Kodak Black & Don Toliver

“FALL FAST IN LOVE”

• Written by: Felix (Flexondatrack) Govaerts
• Published by: AYOFLEX Publishing
• Recorded by: Rod Wave

“LOVE ME NOT”

• Written by: Dahi
• Published by: Dahi Productions, Sony Music Publishing
• Recorded by: Ravyn Lenae

“BOBBY SOX”

• Written by: Billie Joe Armstrong, Michael Ryan Pritchard, Frank E. Wright III
• Published by: Warner Chappell Music, Green Daze Music
• Recorded by: Green Day

“OCEAN”

• Written by: Dez Wright
• Published by: Dez Wright Beats, Concord Music Publishing, ADNAM Publishing
• Recorded by: Future

“NO ANGELS”

• Written by: Fede Vindver
• Published by: Fede Vindver Publishing, Warner Chappell Music
• Recorded by: Justin Timberlake

“DOPAMINE”

• Written by: Sam Tinnesz
• Published by: Only Ginger With A Soul Publishing, Position Music
• Recorded by: Sum 41

“TURTLE RACE”

• Written by: Felix (Flexondatrack) Govaerts
• Published by: AYOFLEX Publishing
• Recorded by: Rod Wave

“APPLY PRESSURE”

• Written by: Felix (Flexondatrack) Govaerts
• Published by: AYOFLEX Publishing
• Recorded by: Rod Wave

“IN THE NIGHT”

• Written by: Dahi
• Published by: Dahi Productions, Sony Music Publishing
• Recorded by: Childish Gambino ft. Jorja Smith & Amaarae

“JUST US”

• Written by: Jack Harlow
• Published by: Harlow Happenings, Sony Music Publishing
• Recorded by: Jack Harlow & Doja Cat

“MJ”

• Written by: Dawoyne “2forwOyNE” Lawson
• Published by: 2FORWOYNE, Sony Music Publishing
• Recorded by: Future

“PROMOTION”

• Written by: The Legendary Traxster
• Published by: Mr Lindley To You Music
• Recorded by: ¥$: Kanye West & Ty Dolla $ign ft. Future

“CHARGE DEM HOES A FEE”

• Written by: Dez Wright
• Published by: Dez Wright Beats, Concord Music Publishing, ADNAM Publishing
• Recorded by: Playboi Carti, Future & Travis Scott

“ORLANDO IN LOVE”

• Written by: Michelle Zauner
• Published by: Japanese Breakfast, Secretly Publishing
• Recorded by: Japanese Breakfast

“IF IT DOESN’T HURT”

• Written by: Mark Vollelunga, Ben Anderson, Will Hoffman, Jonny Hawkins
• Published by: Without Sleep, Flammatory, Too Many Names Music
• Recorded by: Nothing More

“ANGEL SONG”

• Written by: Mark Vollelunga, Ben Anderson, Jonny Hawkins
• Published by: Without Sleep, Too Many Names Music
• Recorded by: Nothing More ft. David Draiman

Link to the source article – https://www.digitalmusicnews.com/2025/09/23/umpg-cleans-up-at-sesacs-swanky-la-music-awards/