
2018 SESAC Latina Music Awards held at The Beverly Hills Hotel on May 23, 2018 in Beverly Hills, California, United States (Photo by Jc Olivera/SESAC Latina)
SESAC Latina celebrated the worldwide successes of its songwriters and publishers at its annual SESAC LATINA MUSIC AWARDS last night at the Beverly Hills Hotel. SESAC Latina, the music rights organization, presented its performance awards, television awards, and top honors to its affiliate songwriters and publishers.
On hand to present the awards were Celeste Zendejas, Director of SESAC Latina, Sam Kling, SESAC’s Senior Vice President of Creative Operations and Eliezer Ponce, Associate Director of SESAC Latina. During the course of the evening, SESAC executives gave a special thanks to the event’s official sponsor, City National Bank, as well as presenting sponsor Sound Royalties.
Edén Muñoz was awarded his first-ever Songwriter of the Year award for hit songs he penned for Julión Álvarez, Calibre 50, Banda Carnaval and others. Muñoz is the songwriter and lead singer of the superstar group Calibre 50, and this year was nominated for Songwriter of the Year at the Billboard Latin Music Awards.

2018 SESAC Latina Music Awards held at The Beverly Hills Hotel on May 23, 2018 in Beverly Hills, California, United States (Photo by Jc Olivera/SESAC Latina)
In the category of Song of the Year, which is determined by the longevity of a song’s presence on the charts, the SESAC Latina Award went to “Despacito”, recorded by Luis Fonsi & Daddy Yankee feat. Justin Bieber, written by Erika Ender.
In addition, SONY/ATV was named Publisher of the Year. With his team accepting in person at the celebration, Jorge Mejia, President of SONY/ATV Music Publishing for Latin America and U.S. Latin, addressed the audience via video.

2018 SESAC Latina Music Awards held at The Beverly Hills Hotel on May 23, 2018 in Beverly Hills, California, United States (Photo by Jc Olivera/SESAC Latina)
Acclaimed Mexican singer-songwriter Christian Nodal performed an incredible set of his top hits including “Me Dejé Llevar”, “Adiós Amor” and “Probablemente”, the last two were #1 on the Billboard Regional Mexican chart for which Nodal won a SESAC Latina performance award as songwriter. Earlier this month at the Billboard Latin Music Awards 2018, Nodal received the award for Regional Mexican Song of the Year for his hit “Adiós Amor”. He also took home the awards for Regional Mexican Artist of the Year, Solo and Artist of the Year, New. In addition, SESAC’s Celeste Zendejas, Director, Creative Services, surprised Nodal with a #1 Award for his song “Me Dejé Llevar” earlier this month at the SESAC Latina office in Santa Monica, California.
Latin GRAMMY® winner and GRAMMY® nominee Erika Ender was honored with the SESAC Latina Global Icon Award. As a singer-songwriter, Ender has released six studio albums and songs that she has written are featured on more than 140 albums, and 40 of them have topped charts around the world. Ender’s place in the history books has been secured by her song “Despacito” which she wrote with Luis Fonsi. The ground-breaking song has been streamed over 7.5 billion times, including 1.9 billion times on Spotify and more than 5.6 billion views on YouTube, and has influenced the acceptance of Spanish language music around the globe.
Additional winners include Luciano Luna, last year’s Songwriter of the Year, Nicky Jam, Joey Montana, Tony Montoya, Juan Diego Medina and others.

2018 SESAC Latina Music Awards held at The Beverly Hills Hotel on May 23, 2018 in Beverly Hills, California, United States (Photo by Jc Olivera/SESAC Latina)
Congratulations to the winners SESAC Latina.
SONGWRITER OF THE YEAR
Edén Muñoz
PUBLISHER OF THE YEAR
SONY/ATV Sounds LLC
SONG OF THE YEAR
“Despacito”
Recorded by Luis Fonsi & Daddy Yankee feat. Justin Bieber
Erika Ender
Excelender Songs /SONY/ATV RHYTHM
SESAC LATINA GLOBAL ICON AWARD
Erika Ender
RADIO PERFORMANCE AWARD WINNERS
- “Si Tú La Ves”
Written by: JOEL- Johnatan Ballesteros, Juan Diego Medina, Nicky Jam, Saga WhiteBlack
Published by: La Industria Music Publishing, SONY/ATV Sounds LLC
Recorded by Nicky Jam feat. Wisin - “Esta Noche Se Me Olvida”
Written by: Edén Muñoz, Gussy Lau
Published by: Dulce María Music LLC, Kalja Publishing
Recorded by Julión Álvarez - “Me Enamoré”
Written by: Antonio Rayo Gibo
Published by: Rayito Musik-os, EMI Foray Music
Recorded by Shakira - “A Poco”
Written by: Luciano Luna
Published by: WBM Music Corp., Sinaloa Music
Recorded by Raúl Casillas - “Hey DJ”
Written by: Joey Montana
Published by: Flow Con Clase Publishing, EMI Foray Music
Recorded by CNCO & Yandel - “Probablemente”
Written by: Christian Nodal
Published by: Editora Jago Multisongs
Recorded by Christian Nodal feat. David Bisbal - “Mi Tesoro”
Written by: Nicky Jam
Published by: La Industria Music Publishing, SONY/ATV Sounds LLC
Recorded by Zion & Lennox feat. Nicky Jam - “Ella Es Mi Mujer”
Written by: Edén Muñoz
Published by: Dulce María Music LLC
Recorded by Banda Carnaval - “Despacito”
Written by: Erika Ender
Published: Excelender Songs, SONY/ATV RHYTHM
Recorded by Luis Fonsi & Daddy Yankee feat. Justin Bieber - “Como Si Fuera Real”
Written by: César Valdivia
Published by: Editora de Ideas, Novo Tunes
Recorded by La Maquinaria Norteña - “Moneda”
Written by: Alejandro Jaen
Published by: Shine A Light Music, Peertunes Ltd
Recorded by Prince Royce feat. Gerardo Ortiz - “Las Ultras”
Written by: Edén Muñoz
Published by: Dulce María Music LLC
Recorded by Calibre 50 - “Dure Dure”
Written by: Bigram “DVLP” Zayas, Jencarlos Canela
Published: Biza Publishing, JenC Music Publishing
Recorded by Jencarlos & Don Omar - “Se Defiende”
Written by: Luciano Luna, Tony Montoya
Published by: Sheridan Luna, Greatest Hits Arpa
Recorded by La Séptima Banda - “Una Lady Como Tú”
Written by: Carlos “KZO” Cossio, Juan Diego Medina, Julian Turizo, Manuel Turizo,
Saga WhiteBlack, ZENZEI
Published by: La Industria Music Publishing, SONY/ATV Sounds LLC
Recorded by Manuel Turizo - “Por Obvias Razones”
Written by: Salvador Aponte, César Valdivia
Published by: Editora de Ideas, Novo Tunes
Recorded by La Maquinaria Norteña - “Me Llamas”
Written by: Juan Diego Medina, Nicky Jam, Saga WhiteBlack
Published by: La Industria Music Publishing, SONY/ATV Sounds LLC
Recorded by Piso 21 feat. Maluma - “Dime Qué Se Siente”
Written by: Joey Montana
Published by: Flow Con Clase Publishing, EMI Foray Music
Recorded by Luis Coronel - “Un Aplauso”
Written by: Edwin Luna, Salvador Aponte
Published: La Trakalosa De Monterrey Inc., Trebol Musical Corp
Recorded by Edwin Luna y La Trakalosa de Monterrey - “El Amante”
Written by: Juan Diego Medina, Nicky Jam, Saga WhiteBlack
Published by: La Industria Music Publishing, SONY/ATV Sounds LLC
Recorded by Nicky Jam - “Siempre Te Voy A Querer”
Written by: Edén Muñoz
Published by: Dulce María Music LLC
Recorded by Calibre 50
TV AWARDS
“Suelta La Sopa”
Written & Recorded by: Fernando Corona
Published by: Música Telemundo
Un Camino Hacia Al Destino
“Mi Camino Eres Tú” – Written by: Mauricio Arriaga
Recorded by: Paulina Goto