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Warner/Chappell Music Wins Big Again at Country Music Week, Named ASCAP’s Publisher of the Year for Fourth Year Running

November 3, 2016

Publisher Wins Record 38 Performance Rights Organization Awards

Ashley Gorley Named ASCAP SONGWRITER OF THE YEAR for Fourth Time, and Third Year in a Row

Chris Stapleton Receives ASCAP VANGUARD AWARD and CMAs for MALE VOCALIST and VIDEO OF THE YEAR

Brothers Osborne Win ASCAP SONG OF THE YEAR for “Stay a Little Longer” and CMA for VOCAL DUO OF THE YEAR

Sean Douglas Wins BMI SONG OF THE YEAR for Thomas Rhett’s “Die a Happy Man”

Little Big Town Named CMA VOCAL GROUP OF THE YEAR for Fifth Year Running

Warner/Chappell Music (WCM) and its songwriters swept Country Music Week in Nashville, with the company being named ASCAP Publisher of the Year for the fourth year in a row, and its songwriters taking home a company record of 38 country music awards from the three major performing rights organizations, including: 18 ASCAP “Most Performed Song” Awards, 15 BMI “Top Song” Awards, and five SESAC “Country Performance Activity” Awards.

Notable Warner/Chappell accolades include:

  • – Ashley Gorley winning ASCAP Songwriter of the Year for the third year in a row—and fourth time ever (and being presented the award by University of Kentucky Wildcats’ Head Basketball Coach, John Calipari);
  • – WCM songwriter Chris Stapleton receiving ASCAP’s Vanguard Award, in recognition of his impact on American music;
  • – Brothers Osborne winning ASCAP Song of the Year for “Stay a Little Longer;”
  • – Sean Douglas winning BMI Song of the Year for Thomas Rhett’s “Die a Happy Man;”
  • – Dierks Bentley’s “Somewhere on a Beach,” co-written by WCM songwriter Josh Mirenda, winning SESAC Song of the Year; and
  • – Warner/Chappell songwriters contributing to three of ASCAP’s five Most Played Songs of the Year

At last night’s 50th annual CMA Awards, Chris Stapleton won Male Vocalist and Video of the Year, Brothers Osborne won Duo of the Year, and Little Big Town won Vocal Group of the Year for the fifth year in a row. Thomas Rhett’s “Die a Happy Man—co-written by Sean Douglas and Jesse Frasure—won Single of the Year, and Eric Church’s Mr. Misunderstood—which was produced by Jay Joyce and featured contributions from Jeremy Spillman—won Album of the Year. Additionally, Beyoncé brought The Dixie Chicks back to the CMA stage for a performance of her song “Daddy Issues.”

“Navigating the Nashville music scene is all about teamwork, and never has it been more evident than this week, with so many award wins spread far and wide across every respected organization in town,” said Ben Vaughn, Executive Vice President, Warner/Chappell Nashville. “To score our best awards year ever in 2016 is a tremendous tribute to our amazing songwriters and the entire Warner/Chappell Nashville team. Congratulations to Chris Stapleton, Brothers Osborne, Little Big Town, Ashley Gorley, and every award-winning Warner/Chappell songwriter. They’ve had an incredible year, and this has been one hell of a week.”

“Country music has had a fantastic year, and it’s been astounding to look back this week and consider how many incredible Warner/Chappell songwriters helped shape it,“ said Jon Platt, Chairman & CEO, Warner/Chappell Music. “Kudos to Ben Vaughn and his unparalleled Nashville team, who guided this banner year by always putting our songwriters first, in everything they do. To be named Publisher of the Year four years in a row is an enormous feat, and I couldn’t be more proud of the hard work and creativity that led them to this wonderful accomplishment.”

Below is a list of Warner/Chappell’s Country Music Week Song Award Wins: 

ASCAP “Most Performed Song” Award Winners

  • – Corey Crowder for “I’m Comin’ Over”
  • – Zach Crowell for “Break Up In A Small Town” and “Hell of A Night”
  • – Zach Crowell and Jerry Flowers for “House Party”
  • – Derek George and Ashley Gorley for “Little Bit of You”
  • – Matthew West for “Feelin’ It”
  • – Ashley Gorley for “Don’t It,” “Kick The Dust Up,” “That Don’t Sound Like You,” “Tonight Looks Good On You,” “Young & Crazy”
  • – Ashley Gorley and Dan Smyers for “Nothin’ Like You”
  • – Brett James for “Gonna Know We Were Here”
  • – Kelley Lovelace for “Country Nation” and “Crushin’ It”
  • – Jon & TJ Osborne for “Stay A Little Longer”
  • – Chris Stapleton for “Crash & Burn”
  • – Justin Weaver for “I’m To Blame”

BMI “Top Song” Award Winners

  • – Rhett Akins for “That Don’t Sound Like You,” Tonight Looks Good On You,” and “Young & Crazy”
  • – Cee-Lo for “Lose My Mind”
  • – Brian Davis and Brantley Gilbert for “One Hell of an Amen”
  • – Sean Douglas for “Die A Happy Man”
  • – Connie Harrington, Tim Nichols, and Jamie Lynn Spears for “I Got The Boy”
  • – Lee Miller for “Crushin It”
  • – Shay Mooney for “I Like the Sound of That” and “Nothin Like You”
  • – Kip Moore for “I’m To Blame”
  • – Liz Rose for “Girl Crush”
  • – Michael Ray for “Run Away With You”
  • – Michael Hobby for “Smoke”
  • – Granger Smith for “Backroad Song”

SESAC “Country Performance Activity” Award Winners

  • – Lance Miller for “Real Men Love Jesus”
  • – Niko Moon for “Beautiful Drug,” “Castaway,” and “Homegrown”
  • – Alison Moorer for “Lovers and Leavers”