SESAC Joins As Sponsor for the Grow Music Project

LOS ANGELES, CA, February 23, 2013 (Press-News.org) SESAC, the performing rights organization, has announced sponsorship of composer/songwriter/producer Christopher Tyng's "pay it forward" endeavor the GROW MUSIC PROJECT. Through the vision of veteran Songwriter, Composer, and Music Producer Christopher Tyng, independent bands and artists who want to take their music to the next level but lack the financial resources to do so now have an ally in Tyng's Grow Music Project. A launch pad for these emerging and deserving independent bands and artists, the Grow Music Project offers selected applicants the opportunity to have their most promising song professionally produced, recorded, and mixed in Tyng's state-of-the-art recording studio in Santa Barbara over a three day intensive studio session. The Grow Music Project offers the opportunity entirely for free and with no strings of any kind attached. Artists who are selected for the program may be members of any performing rights organization or none at all. To learn more about the project and the application process, visit http://www.growmusicproject.com.

SESAC Senior V.P Writer/Publisher Trevor Gale explained SESAC's support of the project, "Grow Music is a unique and brilliant philanthropic endeavor designed by Chris and Kristin Tyng. The 'Pay It Forward' concept is a very creative and productive way to discover, nurture and advance great musical talent and is a wonderful way of giving back. SESAC is honored to support the Tyngs and the Grow Music Project. I, too, have benefited from the 'pay it forward' concept, and therefore, believe in it very much!" In addition to having a song fully produced, these artists will be showcased on the Grow Music Project website along with links to their own websites. The bands and artists may be offered additional opportunities for advancement and exposure in the Music, Film & Television Industry during the course of their involvement with the Grow Music Project.

The submission deadline for the first round of Grow Music Project applications is May 1, 2013, and the first five recipients will be announced on June 1, 2013. Tyng will select the winning artists with an emphasis on both the strength and potential of their songs, as well as on the artists' own efforts at advancing their careers. Bands will be responsible for their own travel to the studio, but food and accommodations will be provided.

Tyng's goal is to create an outlet to help support deserving artists, just as was done for him early on in his career. The winning musicians will receive the Grow Music Project's support with absolutely no catch—they will retain all of the publishing and writing credits to their songs. Tyng's inspiration for the Grow Music Project occurred during a recent tour with his band Sunshine Brothers. Tyng observed firsthand that many talented indie artists are struggling to break through in the current music market—often because they lack the resources to get their music developed and realized at a professional level. As a young aspiring composer, Tyng himself was taken under the wing of the late world-renowned composer Basil Poledouris. Poledouris helped launch Tyng's career, and now Tyng's aim is to do the same with the Grow Music Project. "One of the advantages indie artists have now is the ability to self-market to a theoretically limitless audience," explains Tyng. "But therein also lies the challenge. The socially-networked world is now your oyster, but how do you stand out? There are great artists being lost in the fray. The goal of the Grow Music Project is to bring those artists to light and to create a hub for them to get heard and noticed."

Originally from a band background, Tyng has written and produced music and worked with artists as diverse as Michael Stipe (of R.E.M.), Beck, Big Bad Voodoo Daddy, X, Juliana Hatfield, David Crosby, Coolio, and CeCe Peniston. As a composer, Tyng has scored more than 45 films and television projects including Futurama, Suits, The OC and Rescue Me. "You need to be a musical chameleon that can digest, adapt, and then utilize all of these different sonic palettes," he says. "It actually sets you up really well to be a record producer, because—as opposed to an artist who often has to focus on developing one single signature sound—composers have to develop a unique sound and style for each project." Additionally, Tyng will contribute his knowledge of the criteria needed for the placement of songs in film and TV, which today is one of the best places for new bands to get noticed.

Established in 1930, SESAC is a service organization created to serve both the creators of music and music users through music licensing and timely, efficient royalty collection and distribution. The second oldest and fastest growing performing rights organization in the U.S., SESAC is known for its diversified repertory that includes genres ranging from Adult Contemporary, Urban, Jazz, Rock, Americana, Contemporary Christian, Latin, Country, Gospel, Dance, Classical and New Age. SESAC is also rapidly becoming the performing rights organization of choice among many of Hollywood's most sought-after film and television composers. Headquartered in Nashville, the company also has offices in New York, Los Angeles, Atlanta, Miami and London. (www.sesac.com).