The suspense wasn’t killing anyone: Ashley Gorley was named songwriter of the year as the winners of the ASCAP Country Awards were revealed in Nashville Monday night, claiming the honor for the 11th time.
Gorley came up for other kudos, too. One of the hits he co-wrote, Morgan Wallen’s crossover smash “Last Night,” earned ASCAP’s award for song of the year. It’s the fourth time Gorley has had a hand in ASCAP’s song of the year to go along with his acknowledgement for his overall work.
Also in the no-surprises department, Sony Music Publishing was named publisher of the year… also for an 11th time.
There was at least some turnover with the fourth major award ASCAP gives out as part of the festivities. Chris Stapleton won the award for songwriter/artist of the year. Last year, that went to Jordan Davis.
Gorley is widely considered contemporary country’s most successful writer, with 80 No. 1 country songs at this point, a status that has led to honors outside of his usual stopping place at the ASCAPs. Last December, he was honored by Variety at the publication’s annual Hitmakers event in Los Angeles as the songwriter of the year. Right now, he’s nominated for induction into the Songwriters Hall of Fame.
Gorley co-wrote 11 of ASCAP’s most played songs this year, including Nate Smith’s “World on Fire” and “Bulletproof,” Dan + Shay’s “Save Me the Trouble,” Chris Janson’s “All I Need Is You,” Hardy’s “Truck Bed” and Russell Dickerson’s “God Gave Me a Girl.”
“Last Night” was celebrated for its ASCAP-signatory writers, Gorley and Jkash, and six publishing companies, Sony Music Publishing (naturally), Kobalt Songs Music Publishing, Domain Capital Group, Poppy’s Picks, Prescription Songs and Rap Kingpin Music.
The Wallen smash spent 16 non-consecutive weeks at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 heart, which stood as a record for the 21s century until it was surpassed earlier this month by Shaboozey’s “A Bar Song (Tipsy).”
Speaking of the Shaboozey song, it was one of 24 songs on ASCAP’s most-played list that had Sony Music Publishing in the credits. Others included “Can’t Break Up Now” (Old Dominion and Megan Moroney), “If You Go Down (I’m Goin’ Down Too)” (Kelsea Ballerini), “Texas Hold ‘Em” (Beyoncé), “Outskirts” (Sam Hunt), “Bulletproof” (Nate Smith), “Save Me the Trouble” (Dan + Shay), “I Can Feel It” (Kane Brown), “Light On in the Kitchen” (Ashley McBryde) and “Austin” (Dasha).
The winners were celebrated Monday night in a private party at the Twelve Thirty Club in Nashville.
A complete list of ASCAP 2024 Country Music Award winners (as is customary, only the co-writers affiliated with the PRO in question are named):
● SONGWRITER OF THE YEAR: Ashley Gorley● SONGWRITER/ARTIST OF THE YEAR: Chris Stapleton● SONG OF THE YEAR: “Last Night”○ Writer: Ashley Gorley, Jacob “JKash” Hindlin○ Publishers: Kobalt Songs Music Publishing, Domain Capital Group, Poppy’s Picks, Prescription Songs, Rap Kingpin Music, Sony Music Publishing● PUBLISHER OF THE YEAR: Sony Music Publishing
MOST PERFORMED SONGS:
5 LEAF CLOVERWriter: Jessi AlexanderPublishers: Damn Country Music Publishing, Sony Music Publishing, Warner Chappell MusicA BAR SONG (TIPSY)Writers: Shaboozey, Sean Cook, Jerrell “J-KWON” Jones, Joe Capo Kent, Mark “Tarboy” WilliamsPublishers: Sony Music Publishing, Essancy Music, LLC, Hood Hop Music, Kobalt Songs Music Publishing, Kreshendo, Seeker Music, Range Music Publishing, Tarpo Music Publishing, Warner Chappell MusicAIN’T NO LOVE IN OKLAHOMAWriters: Jessi Alexander, Jonathan SingletonPublishers: Braven Baker Music, Hits of 50 Egg Music, Sony Music Publishing, Warner Chappell Music, Where I Started Music PublishingALL I NEED IS YOUWriters: Ashley Gorley, Mitchell OglesbyPublishers: KJM Music Publishing, Domain Capital Group, Mitchell Marlow Music, Round Hill Songs, Sony Music Publishing, Warner Chappell MusicAUSTINWriter: CheyennaPublishers: Bossy Songs, , Sony Music PublishingBACK THEN RIGHT NOWWriter: David GarciaPublishers: 4Ever Songz, Songs Of Spirit II Nashville, Spiritvault Songs IIBOYS BACK HOMEPublishers: Liz Rose Music, Warner Chappell MusicBULLETPROOFWriters: Ashley Gorley, Hunter PhelpsPublishers: Nontypical Music, Round Hill Songs, Sony Music Publishing, Warner Chappell Music, Tape Room MusicBURN IT DOWNWriter: Hillary LindseyPublishers: 410 Music, Concord Music PublishingBUT I GOTTA BEER IN MY HANDWriters: Matt DragstremPublishers: M Drag Songs, Big Machine MusicCAB IN A SOLOWriters: Brent Anderson, Frank RogersPublishers: Beats By Baby Brent, Fluid Tunes, FLUIDTUNES II, Songs Of Spirit II Nashville, Spirit Music Nashville, The Vault MusicCAN’T BREAK UP NOWWriters: Matthew Ramsey, Trevor Rosen, Emily WeisbandPublishers: Sony Music Publishing, Trevor’s Advocate Publishing, Twelve6 Dogwood, Warner Chappell Music, Weistribe PublishingCHEVROLETWriters: Jessi Alexander, Hunter Phelps, Mentor WilliamsPublishers: Universal Music Publishing Group, Nontypical Music, Warner Chappell Music, Where I Started Music Publishing, Tape Room MusicCOWGIRLSWriters: Ashley Gorley, James MaddocksPublishers: Empire SF, , Michael Scott Paper Company Publishing Company, Sony Music PublishingDANCE WITH YOUWriters: Jimmy Robbins, Brett YoungPublishers: Caliville Publishing, Cinq Music Publishing, LLC, JRM, Muse Magic, Round Hill Songs, Big Machine MusicDIFFERENT ROUND HEREWriter: Jonathan SingletonPublishers: Spirit Music Nashville, Big Machine MusicGLORY DAYSWriter: Emily WeisbandPublishers: Sony Music Publishing, Weis Owl PublishingGOD GAVE ME A GIRLWriters: Zach Crowell, Ashley GorleyPublishers: Tape Room Music, Foxwood Entertainment Group, Michael Scott Paper Company Publishing Company, Round Hill Songs, Sony Music PublishingHALFWAY TO HELLWriter: Matt JenkinsPublishers: Jenktown, Songs of Madfun, Warner Chappell MusicHEARTBROKENWriters: Amy Allen, Polo G, Emeric Boxall, Jessie Murph, Thomas Wesley Pentz, Elie RizkPublishers: Artist Publishing Group, Kenny + Betty Tunes, Kobalt Songs Music Publishing, Manatee With A Machine Gun, Sony Music Publishing, superreal PublishingI CAN FEEL ITWriters: Phil Collins, Gabe FoustPublishers: Verse 2 Music, Concord Music Publishing, Sony Music PublishingI HAD SOME HELPWriters: Louis Bell, Ashley GorleyPublishers: Bell Ear Publishing, Domain Capital Group, Poppy’s Picks, Sony Music Publishing, Universal Music Publishing NashvilleI’M NOT PRETTYWriter: Ben WilliamsPublisher: Major Bob Music, Inc.IF YOU GO DOWN (I’M GOIN’ DOWN TOO)Writer: Kelsea BalleriniPublishers: Feel Your Way Through Publishing, Sony Music PublishingLIGHT ON IN THE KITCHENWriter: Jessi AlexanderPublishers: Damn Country Music Publishing, Sony Music Publishing, Warner Chappell MusicMAMAW’S HOUSEWriter: Matt DragstremPublishers: Concord Music Publishing, Big Machine MusicMIND ON YOUWriter: George BirgePublishers: Endurance Music Group, Whiskey Side, Wide Open MusicNOBODY’S NOBODYWriters: Mike Elizondo, John Osborne, TJ OsbornePublishers: King Pen Music, Simma Da Na Music, Songstein Publishing, Trampy McCauley, Warner Chappell MusicOUT OF THAT TRUCKWriter: David GarciaPublishers: Spirit Nashville Allegro, Spirit Music Nashville, The Vault MusicOUTSKIRTSWriters: Zach Crowell, Jerry Flowers, Josh OsbornePublishers: Tape Room Music, Foxwood Entertainment Group, Jflo Records And Tapes, Round Hill Songs, Sony Music Publishing, Twelve6 Dogwood, Warner Chappell MusicSAVE ME THE TROUBLEWriters: Ashley Gorley, Jordan Reynolds, Dan SmyersPublishers: Beats And Banjos, Domain Capital Group, Poppy’s Picks, Sony Music Publishing, Sugarplumsongs, Warner Chappell MusicSEE YOU NEXT SUMMERWriters: David Garcia, Hillary LindseyPublishers: 410 Music, Concord Music Publishing, Spirit Nashville Allegro, Spirit Music Nashville, The Vault MusicSTARS LIKE CONFETTIWriter: Zach CrowellPublishers: Tape Room Music, Miller Crow Music, Round Hill Songs, Spirit Music NashvilleTAKE HER HOMEWriter: Hunter PhelpsPublishers: Nontypical Music, Warner Chappell Music, Tape Room MusicTEXAS HOLD ‘EMWriters: Brian “Killah B” Bates, Lowell, bülow, Nathan Ferraro, Beyonce, Raphael SaadiqPublishers: Artist Publishing Group, Arts & Crafts Music, Kobalt Songs Music Publishing, Oakland 13 Music, Sony Music Publishing, Toplinemusicgroup, Ugmoe Music, Universal Music Publishing NashvilleTHINK I’M IN LOVE WITH YOUWriter: Chris StapletonPublishers: I Wrote These Songs, Warner Chappell MusicTHIS TOWN’S BEEN TOO GOOD TO USWriters: Ashley Gorley, Dylan ScottPublishers: Curb Songs, Domain Capital Group, Poppy’s Picks, Sony Music PublishingTRUCK BEDWriters: Ashley Gorley, Hunter PhelpsPublishers: Michael Scott Paper Company Publishing Company, Nontypical Music, Sony Music Publishing, Warner Chappell Music, Tape Room MusicTRY THAT IN A SMALL TOWNWriters: Kurt Allison, Kelley Lovelace, Neil ThrasherPublishers: BMG Gold Songs, King Pen To Paper Songs, Makena Cove Music, Songs Of Red Street Country, Spirit Music Nashville, The Vault Music, That’s Me!! Music Publishing, Thrash Town Music, Warner Chappell MusicTUCSON TOO LATEWriters: Jacob Davis, Jordan Davis, Matt JenkinsPublishers: Anthem Entertainment, Bentprop Pub, Songs of Madfun , Universal Music Publishing Nashville, Warner Chappell MusicWATERMELON MOONSHINEWriters: Josh Kear, Jordan SchmidtPublishers: Ikigai Music, Louisiana Lady, Pile Of Schmidt Songs, Sony Music Publishing, Tree Vibez Music, Warner Chappell MusicWE DON’T FIGHT ANYMOREWriter: Carly PearcePublishers: BMG Gold Songs, Altadena, Redfeather Publishing, Warner Chappell MusicWHERE THE WILD THINGS AREWriter: Dave TurnbullPublishers: 10 & 2 Bullfish Music, Clearbox Advantage, Me Gusta Music, Sea Gayle Music, RareSpark Media (Spark Ark Songs)WHITE HORSEWriters: Chris Stapleton, Dan WilsonPublishers: BMG Gold Songs, Clearbox Advantage, Sea Gayle Music, Son Of A Miner Songs, Songs From The Alcove Music, Spirit Music Nashville, Warner Chappell MusicWILD ONESWriter: Jessie MurphPublisher: Sony Music PublishingWILDFLOWERS AND WILD HORSESWriter: Paul SikesPublishers: Endurance Music Group, Louisiana Lady, Endurance Music Group, Sony Music PublishingWORLD ON FIREWriters: Ashley Gorley, Nate SmithPublishers: The Core Entertainment, Domain Capital Group, Nate Smith Music Publishing Company, Poppy’s Picks, Sony Music PublishingYOUNG LOVE & SATURDAY NIGHTSWriters: Ashley Gorley, David BowiePublishers: BMG Gold Songs, Sony Music Publishing, Jones Music America, Michael Scott Paper Company Publishing Company, Sony Music Publishing, Warner Chappell MusicYOUR PLACEWriter: Mark TrussellPublishers: Big Loud Publishing, Warner Chappell Music
