SESAC Honors Film and Television Composers at 2026 Awards: Full List of Honorees

SESAC Performing Rights hosted its annual Film & Television Composer Awards at the Casa del Mar in Santa Monica, Calif., on Wednesday (June 3). The invitation-only dinner event honored SESAC PRO’s top composers in the categories of film, network television, local television, cable television and streaming media.

Laura Karpman was honored for Captain America: Brave New World. which was shortlisted for best original score at the 2026 Academy Awards. Daniel Lopatin was recognized for Marty Supreme, for which he was nominated for a 2026 Critics Choice Award for best original score. The Newton Brothers continue to be recognized for their work in contemporary horror – this year being honored for their work on Fear Street: Prom Queen and Five Nights at Freddy’s 2. Additionally, collaborators Wow Jones and JIMIJAME$ received awards for their composition of Tyler Perry’s Duplicity.

“It’s incredibly meaningful for us to celebrate our talented composers and the passion they bring to their craft,” Erin Collins, SESAC PRO’s svp of TV/Film Creative Services, said in a statement. “Behind every project is an immense amount of heart, dedication, and creativity, and we’re grateful for the chance to recognize and applaud their work.”

SESAC Performing Rights represents songwriters and composers from a broad range of genres including Adele, Burna Boy, Christophe Beck, Rosanne Cash, David Crosby, Neil Diamond, Bob Dylan, Kesha, Gabriel Mann and R.E.M. SESAC PRO is a division of SESAC Music Group, a global multi-line music company

Here is the full list of honorees at SESAC Performing Rights’ 2026 Film & Television Composer Awards.

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Violet Grohl Makes TV Debut With ‘Bug in the Cake’ Performance on ‘Fallon’: Watch

Violet Grohl really is a chip off the old block. The newcomer with the famous surname made her TV debut Wednesday night (June 3) when she stopped by The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon with a full band.

Want rock? You’ve got it.

Looking cool, calm and dressed right for her late-night premiere in all-black, Grohl performed “Bug in the Cake,” lifted from the grungy rocker’s recently released debut studio album.

It’s been a bright couple months for Violet, who made her official Billboard chart arrival earlier this year as a teenager (aged 19), when “THUM” started at No. 38 on Adult Alternative Airplay. “THUM” marked her first appearance on a Billboard chart as a billed artist, though she did contribute backing vocals to Foo Fighters’ “Show Me How,” which hit No. 21 on Hot Hard Rock Songs in 2023.

Now aged 20, she’s just dropped the 11-track Be Sweet to Me, through Auroura Records/Republic Records, a record that also includes the previously-released “Applefish” and “595.”

Grohl is, of course, the oldest daughter of Dave Grohl, the singer, songwriter and force-of-nature rock star who has been inducted into the Rock And Roll Hall of Fame both with Nirvana (2014) and with Foo Fighters (2021).

According to a release, Be Sweet to Me was recorded from late 2024 into early 2025 at producer Justin Raisen’s Los Angeles home studio with a group of musicians assembled “in the spirit of the Wrecking Crew session players in the ’60s and ’70s,” whose work can be heard on classic recordings by the likes of Sonny & Cher, the Mamas and the Papas, Frank Sinatra and Harry Nilsson, among many others.

“Everything was written in the studio,” Grohl says the collection material. “I would come in with an inspiration playlist, we would hang and listen for a little while, and then start writing.”

She’s supporting the project with a trans-Atlantic tour, which continues tonight (June 4) with a sold-out performance at New York’s Baby’s All Right.

Watch Violet Grohl’s performance on NBC’s Fallon.

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Billboard Expands In Asia With Billboard India

Billboard is now live in India, the world’s most populous nation.

Launched in partnership with Other Side Ventures Pvt. Ltd. and headquartered in Mumbai, Billboard India is said to mark a new chapter in how Indian music is documented and celebrated worldwide. 

The new title will be familiar to readers of the flagship Billboard, coupling a deep range of multimedia editorial content with charts, lists, music awards, and more, cut with a domestic flair to reflect the diversity of India’s vibrant music communities.

“India is already one of the world’s largest music markets by volume,” comments Priyanka Khimani, media advisor and driving force behind Other Side Ventures. “Our growth story isn’t from one city or one language. It’s from every corner of this country,”

Legendary composer Ilaiyaraaja is the first cover star of Billboard India. The homegrown screen music icon has composed for 1,500 film soundtracks, and this year celebrates his 50th year in music.

“There couldn’t have been a more superlative name to launch our first cover than Ilaiyaraaja,” adds Khimani. “His legacy, body of work and music superiority speaks for themself. It was our privilege to be able to capture him as he celebrates an important milestone in his career.”

A culturally rich nation, India, of course, is home to Bollywood, a film industry that creates stars who shine globally. Its 1.4 billion population is mostly young, and many are plugged into the country’s vibrant music and movie scenes. Some 450 million Indians are under the age of 30, and, according to the IFPI, are increasingly captivated with the next generation of Indian music stars that are crossing over from Bollywood.

Experts predict a boom is on the way.  Domestic creator collections roared to roughly US$75 million in 2024, according to data published by CISAC data, representing 42% year-on-year increase. Separately, India now ranks as the world’s 15th largest recorded music market, the IFPI reports.

The new platform aspires to document and analyse the dominance of film soundtracks, through to the explosive rise of independent artists, and serve as the definitive voice of Indian artists across all languages, including Hindi, Punjabi, Tamil, Telugu, and more.  

The Billboard India leadership team is helmed by Preeti Nayyar, who is appointed chief operating officer, and Mohini Chaudhuri as content strategy director. Other key appointments include, Amruta Ramesh (creative director), and Vidya Sivalenka (charts lead). 

“At Billboard, we are committed to celebrating any music ecosystem that includes artists, executives, trends, achievements and stories shaping today’s global music landscape,” notes Mike Van, CEO of Billboard. “Billboard India marks an exciting step in that mission, as the Indian music industry and its global diaspora continue to command growing attention and influence worldwide. With a market as culturally rich and diverse as India, this launch reflects both the scale of the opportunity and the strength of the Billboard India team, whose depth and editorial ambition set a powerful foundation for what’s ahead.” 

Billboard India is headquartered in Mumbai and is now live at billboardindia.com and across social platforms. 

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Miranda Lambert Accepts the Icon Award from Tom Douglas | Country Power Players 2026

Miranda Lambert accepts the Icon award from Tom Douglas at Billboard’s Country Power Players 2026. 

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Clint Black Presents Riley Green With the Hitmaker Award | Country Power Players 2026

Clint Black presents Riley Green with the Hitmaker award at Billboard’s Country Power Players 2026.

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Riley Green Accepts the Hitmaker Award from Clint Black | Country Power Players 2026

Riley Green accepts the Hitmaker award from Clint Black at Billboard’s Country Power Players 2026. 

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Tom Douglas Presents Miranda Lambert With the Icon Award | Country Power Players 2026

Tom Douglas presents Miranda Lambert with the Icon award at Billboard’s Country Power Players 2026.

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Austin Neal Accepts the Executive of the Year Award from Kevin Neal | Country Power Players 2026

Austin Neal accepts the Executive of the Year award from Kevin Neal at Billboard’s Country Power Players 2026.

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Melvin Koh to Lead Ticketek’s Asia Activities as TEG Pursues ‘Growth Ambitions’

TEG taps Melvin Koh to lead Ticketek’s growth push across Asia.

Based in Singapore, Koh is appointed general manager, ticketing Asia, with duties for overseeing Ticketek’s operations, strategic partnerships and platform growth across the region as TEG “accelerates its presence in the region,” a company statement reads.

Koh boasts more than 18 years’ experience across sports, entertainment, venue management, commercial strategy and ticketing. Most recently, he served in a senior leadership post at the Singapore Sports Hub, where he established the Ticketing and Access Management function, and shaped its strategy and operating model. 

His background, with extensive stints in both venue and promoter operations, positions him well to represent Ticketek’s platform to venues, promoters and rightsholders across Asia, reads the statement.

“The opportunity to lead Ticketek’s growth ambitions in Asia from Singapore is one I’m genuinely excited about,” comments Koh on his fresh role. “The live entertainment market in this region is growing rapidly, and venues, promoters and rights holders are increasingly looking for a technology and data platform that can keep pace with that growth.”

The new recruit joins Ticketek Entertainment Group (TEG) soon after the promotion of Cameron Hoy as chief executive officer, succeeding Brad Banducci.

“Melvin’s appointment reflects our ongoing commitment to Asia, a region we have operated in for many decades,” Hoy comments on the latest appointment. “Melvin brings deep experience across both venue and promoter operations, precisely the perspective needed to represent the full breadth Ticketek’s, ticketing, digital marketing and data capabilities to our partners across the region.”

TEG, the live entertainment, ticketing and tech giant, is owned by Silver Lake, the U.S.-based private equity company which specializes in technology investing, through a deal struck in 2019 worth more than A$1.3 billion.

Based in Sydney, TEG’s empire collects the ticketing powerhouse Ticketek, TEG Dainty, TEG Van Egmond, plus TEG Live, TEG Sport, TEG Experiences, Ovation and other businesses.

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Luke Taleno, Cancer Survivor, Scores Golden Buzzer With Original Rap on ‘AGT’: Watch

Luke Taleno isn’t short of courage. Or talent, as it turns out.

Taleno stepped into the America’s Got Talent auditions on Tuesday night, June 2, with a performance that was nothing short of golden, and a story that reads like a book.

Born in Cuba, and a cancer survivor, Taleno relocated at the age of just 3 to the United States, his parents chasing a “good life,” he explained in the preamble. Before he could speak a lick of English, he understood the language of music and its power to connect people. “Actually, that was how I got to learn the language. And the best way I could express myself.”

At 13, he was diagnosed with leukemia. “Writing songs, and music, got me through it,” he remembers.

After high school, Taleno took on odd jobs to pay the bills. “Music was the only thing I loved.” So, he started busking, rapping on the streets. Trying to find that small window of opportunity to chase his dream. Last season, he watched AGT from the audience, as a guest of his friend Jourdan Blue. That experience “made me realize,” he recounts, “this is what I’m supposed to do.”

He didn’t waste the opportunity then to get in front of Simon Cowell. “Remember this face,” he told the British judge a year ago, “because next year I’ll be on this stage. And I expect that golden buzzer.”

Under the bright lights of the AGT stage, he pronounced: “I’m here for a reason, everything in my life prepared me for this moment right here. “

Taleno didn’t waste the opportunity before the entire panel of judges, either. Performing an original number, “From Seat to Stage,” a nod to his real-life AGT experience, Taleno showed he could walk it, and talk it.

“That’s how you take your moment,” Cowell remarked at the close. “I loved it. It was amazing,” Sofía Vergara enthused. “I am so glad that you made it to the stage because you deserve to be on the stage. Good job.”

Mel B doused the vibe by pointing out it wasn’t the greatest of all auditions. His breath work needs improvement, the Spice Girl explained. Cowell wasn’t having any of it. “I really admire people who just do it,” he stated.

Taleno just did it.

Howie Mandel, after giving a standing ovation, spoke last. Taleno, he said, is the poster boy of authenticity. “Last year you predicted something, and I have just one question,” he reacted. After a pregnant pause, and a response to his own question, Mandel hit the Golden Buzzer. With that, Taleno automatically advances to the Live Shows for AGT season 21.

Watch below.

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