Pictured (L-R, back row): Lee Brice (winner of Artist-Writer of the Year, Double Down Music), Alex Heddle (Big Machine Music), Ree Guyer (Wrensong/Reynsong Entertainment), Courtney Crist (Anthem Entertainment), Hannah Ellis (nominee, Rising Artist-Writer of the Year, Curb | Word Music Publishing), Jake Gear (nominee, Song Champion of the Year, Hang Your Hat Music) and Sophie Moll (Jimmy Robbins Music); (L-R, front row): Abbe Nameche (Wrensong/Reynsong Entertainment), Courtney Allen (Concord Music Publishing), Aubrey Rupe (Young Guns Publishing); (floor): Ruston Kelly (presenter, Concord Music Publishing). Photo: Katie Kauss
The Nashville Chapter of the Association of Independent Music Publishers (AIMP) celebrated the seventh annual AIMP Awards Tuesday night (April 19) at The Listening Room Cafe. Co-hosted by AIMP member Jackie Lee and comedian John Crist, the evening honored the accomplishments of Nashville’s independent publishers and writers over the last year.
AIMP nominees teamed up for unique performances throughout the night. Matt Stell performed Gayle’s “abcdefu,” Lee Brice took on Jordan Davis’ “Buy Dirt,” Callista Clark and Jimmie Allen performed Kelsea Ballerini’s “Half of My Hometown,” and Kylie Morgan and Dylan Marlowe did a rendition of Brothers Osborne’s “Younger Me.” Additionally, Davis took on Ryan Hurd and Maren Morris’ “Chasing After You,” Hardy and Morgan Wallen performed Wallen’s “Sand In My Boots,” and CJ Solar and Hannah Ellis played Cody Johnson’s “’Til You Can’t.”
Relative Music Group’s Hardy was the night’s most decorated winner. He won Songwriter of the Year, as well as Song of the Year with “Sand In My Boots,” co-written with Josh Osborne and Ashley Gorley and recorded by Wallen. Publisher of the Year went to Kobalt Music. MeGusta Music’s Trina Smith-Dort was recognized as Song Champion of the Year.
The full list of nominees and winners for each category is listed below:
AIMP Rising Songwriter Of The Year
Brinley Addington (Spirit Music)
Sara Davis (Big Machine Music)
Josh Jenkins (SMACKSongs) – WINNER
John Morgan (Triple Play/Double Down Music)
Brett Tyler (Combustion Music)
Dallas Wilson (Riser House Entertainment)
AIMP Rising Artist-Writer Of The Year
Tenille Arts (Noble Vision Music) – WINNER
Callista Clark (Big Machine Music)
Hannah Ellis (Curb | Word Music Publishing)
Dylan Marlowe (Play It Again Music Group)
Kylie Morgan (SMACKSongs)
CJ Solar (Edgehill Music)
AIMP Artist-Writer Of The Year
Jimmie Allen (Endurance Music)
Lee Brice (Double Down Music) – WINNER
HARDY (Relative Music Group)
Walker Hayes (SMACKSongs/Rare Spark Media Group)
Ryan Hurd (Big Machine Music)
Morgan Wallen (Big Loud)
Song Champion Of The Year
Jake Gear (Hang Your Hat Music)
Lee Krabel (SMACKSongs)
Cris Lacy (Warner Music)
Colt Murski (Curb | Word Music Publishing)
Ciara Shortridge (Curb | Word Music Publishing)
Trina Smith-Dort (MeGusta Music) – WINNER
AIMP Songwriter Of The Year
Corey Crowder
Jesse Frasure
Ashley Gorley
Michael Hardy – WINNER
Hunter Phelps
Jonathan Singleton
AIMP Publisher Of The Year
Big Loud Publishing
Big Machine Music
Kobalt Music – WINNER
Round Hill Music
SMACKSongs
Spirit Music
AIMP Publisher’s Pick Of The Year
“Bigger Man” written by Joy Oladokun, Maren Morris, Jimmy Robbins, Laura Veltz – Prescription Songs/Heroes and Halos Music/JRM Publishing/Round Hill Music/Big Machine Music – recorded by Joy Oladokun and Maren Morris
“Briefcase” written by Walker Hayes, Lori McKenna – SMACKSongs/Rare Spark Media Group/Concord Music Publishing/Creative Nation – recorded by Walker Hayes
“Miles” written by Luke Preston, Elvie Shane, John Sherwood – Anthem Entertainment/Little Louder Publishing /Rome Phrey Publishing – recorded by Elvie Shane
“Over You is You” written by Tenille Arts, Matt Stell, Ben Stennis, Alex Kline – Young Guns Publishing/Kobalt Music/Noble Vision Music/Endurance Music/Sheltered Music Publishing – recorded by Matt Stell and Tenille Arts
“Truth About You” written by Matt Alderman, Mitchell Tenpenny, Thomas Archer – Curb | Word Music Publishing/MV2 Entertainment/Riser House Entertainment – recorded by Mitchell Tenpenny
“Younger Me” written by TJ Osborne, John Osborne, Kendell Marvel – King Pen Music/Concord Music Publishing – recorded by Brothers Osborne – WINNER
AIMP Song Of The Year
“abcdefu” written by GAYLE, Dave Pittenger, Sara Davis – Big Yellow Dog/Art House Entertainment/Big Machine Music – recorded by GAYLE
“Buy Dirt” written by Jordan Davis, Josh Jenkins, Matt Jenkins, Jacob Davis – Anthem Entertainment/SMACKSongs/Combustion Music – recorded by Jordan Davis and Luke Bryan
“Chasing After You” written by Brinley Addington and Jerry Flowers – Mojo Music/Anthem Entertainment – recorded by Maren Morris and Ryan Hurd
“Half of My Hometown” written by Kelsea Ballerini, Shane McAnally, Jimmy Robbins, Nicolle Galyon, Ross Copperman – SMACKSongs/Tempo Investments/JRM Publishing/Round Hill Music
“Sand In My Boots” written by Michael Hardy, Josh Osborne, Ashley Gorley – Relative Music Group/SMACKSongs/Round Hill Music – recorded by Morgan Wallen – WINNER
“’Til You Can’t” written by Ben Stennis and Matt Rogers – Young Guns Publishing/Anthem Entertainment – recorded by Cody Johnson
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