THE ATLANTA VOICE
March 1 - 7 , 2007

Performing rights organization SESAC sets up shop in Atlanta
BY JEANINE OSBORNE
Contributing writer

SESAC, one of three performing rights organizations in the U.S., representing songwriters and publishers with offices in Nashville, New York, Los Angeles and London, proudly announces that it has expanded its operations to Atlanta — “the ‘Mecca’ of some of the most dynamic and progressive music today,” says Cappriccieo Scates, Associate Director, Writer Publisher Relations, who is heading the new Atlanta office.

Scates is the former director of operations for PM Music Group, Inc., and the author of 10 Steps to Successfully Managing Recording Artists. Along with Peniece LeGall, coordinator and initial point person for the new headquarters, Scates plans to implement several ongoing projects in the Atlanta area.

Artists who perform SESAC-affiliated music include Usher, Bob Dylan. Justin Timberlake, Eric Clapton, Beyonce, Nelly Furtado, U2, Jagged Edge, Jimi Hendrix, Mariah Carey and Pink to name just a few. Affiliates include the likes of Swizz Beatz and Bryan- Michael Cox.

According to Scates, SESAC was founded in 1930, with the purpose of making certain that European composers would receive recognition for their works that were utilized in the United States. Now, 77 years later, SESAC represents a highly diversified range of artists and genres, and deals with all aspects of the music industry from creative development to licensing to overall business administration.

“My specific role is to get out into the community and network with folks and just tell them about SESAC,” says Scates. “It’s about teaching writers what to do when they make a hit song now, and five years from now.”

The opening of the Atlanta office seems to be perfectly timed as the city is bursting with up and coming songwriters, producers and performers.

One the main focuses of SESAC is to not only sign new writers for the ephemeral mainstream appeal of today but to sustain the writers they already have, and make them marketable for the future.

“We’re really looking to do things that are a little bit ‘out of the box’ in terms of the way that performing rights organizations operate,” said Scates, adding that SESAC’s fairly small size allows the organization to focus on quality and not quantity.

“We’re actually the smallest, but that’s pretty much by design,” he noted. “We’re kind of like the country club of performing rights organizations.”

Atlanta artists Jagged Edge and Usher are a few of the many stars who perform SESAC-affiliated music.

It’s easier for the SESAC to be more selective and personable with affiliates than other larger organizations, he also pointed out. “If someone wants to join one of the other performing rights organizations, they can pretty much go online and join. But at SESAC, if you want to join, we’re one on one, listening to their material. If you can just join online, I have no idea who you are unless something happens.”

A new program that Scates will be implementing is called Tempo Tuesday. It will be held at the office twice a month with affiliates, managers, attorneys and writers for networking purposes.

“A lot of times when I meet with writers, they want to talk about placements and how do they get on projects,” said Scates, adding that if someone who wants to be affiliated with SESAC is “not quite there yet,” they would be given the proper assistance and directions as to how they can get there.

“I expect that they engage the company. I really expect them to let me know what they’re doing and put me on the team. I expect them to continue to do what they do and I’ll put SESAC behind them and we’ll make it grow into something. I am looking for folks that kind of have something that I can work with and get involved with.” For more information on SESAC, Cappriccieo Scates, and what’s going on at the Atlanta office, visit www.sesac.com.