Jazmine Sullivan Honored at ASCAP's 6th Annual Women Behind the Music Event

Ladies were certainly first this week at ASCAP's sixth annual Women Behind the Music series. The program, created to honor women who have set the standard and found innovative ways to advance their careers in the music industry, was held in both New York City and Los Angeles on Tuesday (Oct. 7). The Big Apple celebration took place at Toshi's Living Room, where singer Jazmine Sullivan, RCA Vice President of Promotions Sam Selolwane and female DJ JaKissa “DJ KISS” Taylor-Semple were recognized.

The intimate setting was highlighted with blue ice buckets filled with Myx Moscato, which guests sipped on during an introductory Myx & Mingle hour. More than 200 of the music industry's upper echelon sipped their mango, coconut, peach and original Myx Fusion Moscato while gathering around the stage as ASCAP's VP of Rhythm & Soul/Urban Nicole George-Middleton quieted the room with a heartfelt "Good evening." After George-Middleton welcomed everyone inside Toshi's Living Room, she introduced the night's honorees and brought them up to the stage one by one.

A Q&A session was held with Sullivan, Selolwane and Taylor-Semple, giving them each the chance to speak on their individual experience in the music industry specific to their niche. When asked who inspires them, the 'Dumb' songstress named Stevie Wonder. "That's someone I aspire to be," she revealed. Before moving on to ask the honorees about the lessons they've learned thus far, the R&B soul singer let the industry in on the inspiration behind the title of her forthcoming project, 'Reality Show.' "I'm addicted to reality TV, and I love 'Love & Hip Hop Atlanta.' With that secret out the bag, there's no telling what fans can expect from her third studio album.

As the panel slowly came to an end, George-Middleton asked the ladies to fill in the blank: "If I knew then what I know now..." Sam Selolwane laughed, stating that she would have gotten a bigger house for all of her shoes; DJ Kiss said she would have moved to New York much earlier; and Jazmine Sullivan said she would do what she does best: sing, instead of getting sidetracked and thinking about other things along the way.

But just because the panel was over didn't mean it was time for guests to go home. To close out an evening of musical recognition, Sullivan took the stage to perform 'Forever,' and her new single, 'Stupid Girls.'

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