SESAC Country Awards

SESAC celebrated its songwriters and music publishers behind the year’s mostperformed country and Americana songs for the 2020 Nashville Music Awards, which took place in a digital format. The annual award winners were announced on the organization’s website and social media platforms with exclusive photos and videos from some of country music’s top songwriters, publishers and performers. “We are very excited to once again recognize our talented songwriter and publishing partners with the annual Nashville Music Awards,” said Kelli Turner, President and COO, SESAC Rights Management. “Although we can’t be together in person, we are deeply honored to celebrate the creative achievements of our affiliates in a new way. Not only are we grateful for their craft of songwriting, we value their work and its connection to the human experience, which ultimately lifts our spirits.” “We couldn’t be more proud of SESAC’s songwriters. Their commitment to writing and bringing us a sense of hope—despite the real struggles that we’ve all recently faced—has not gone unnoticed,” added Sam Kling, SVP of Creative Operations. “I also need to commend both Lydia Schultz and ET Brown for their relentless dedication to SESAC’s Country and Americana affiliates during this time.” Matt McGinn was named SESAC’s Songwriter of the Year for the second time, taking home his first award in 2018. McGinn’s chart-topping hits from the past year include “Homesick” and “Cool Again” recorded by Kane Brown and “One Thing Right” recorded by Kane Brown and Marshmello. Five-week number one hit, “Even Though I’m Leaving,” cowritten by Wyatt Durrette III, published by Rosest Music and Island South Music, and recorded by Luke Combs was named SESAC Song of the Year. Durrette also garnered SESAC Song of the Year in 2019. SMACKWORKS Music took home the Publisher of the Year accolade during the event, after previously winning the award for the first time in 2018.

AWARD WINNERS:

“EVEN THOUGH I’M LEAVING”

Written by: Wyatt Durrette III Published by: Island South Music/Rosest Music Recorded by: Luke Combs

“PRAYED FOR YOU”

Written by: Allison Veltz Cruz Published by: Tunes of Big Deal Music, Songs of Porterfied Music, Words and Music Songs Recorded by: Matt Stell

“HOMESICK”

Written by: Matt McGinn Published by: McGinndependence Day, SMACKWORKS MUSIC, Kobalt Publishing Recorded by: Kane Brown

“WHAT IF I NEVER GET OVER YOU”

Written by: Jon Green, Hillary Scott Published by: Universal Tunes Recorded by: Lady A

“MAKE ME WANT TO”

Written by: Jimmie Allen Published by: Endurance Music Group, Sony/ATV Recorded by: Jimmie Allen

“EVERY LITTLE THING”

Written by: Casey Brown Published by: So Essential Tunes, Not Just Another Song Publishing Recorded by: Russell Dickerson

“ONE NIGHT STANDARDS”

Written by: Nicolette Hayford Published by: SMACKWORKS MUSIC, I Love RHA, Sony/ATV, Kobalt Publishing Recorded by: Ashley McBryde

“COOL AGAIN”

Written by: Josh Hoge, Matt McGinn Published by: McGinntellectual Property, Songs For Owen Music, True Blue Works, Universal Tunes, Kobalt Group Publishing Recorded by: Kane Brown

“EVERYWHERE BUT ON”

Written by: Lance Miller Published by: Presley Jake Music, WCM Music Corp Recorded by: Matt Stell

“I CALLED MAMA”

Written by: Lance Miller Published by: Sonic Style Music, Still Working For All Inc, BMG Recorded by: Tim McGraw

“GOT WHAT I GOT”

Written by: Michael Tyler Published by: MTNoize, peertunes LTD Recorded by: Jason Aldean

“ONE OF THEM GIRLS”

Written by: Lee Brice Published by: Love Cannons Publishing, W C M Music Corp Recorded by: Lee Brice

“DROWNING”

Written by: Josh Hoge Published by: Songs For Owen Music, Universal Tunes Recorded by: Chris Young

“THE GIT UP”

Written by: Blanco Brown Published by: Blanco Theory Recorded by: Blanco Brown

“ONE THING RIGHT”

Written by: Josh Hoge, Matt McGinn Published by: McGinndependence Day, Songs For Owen Music, Universal Tunes, SMACKWORKS MUSIC, Kobalt Publishing Recorded by: Marshmello & Kane Brown

“THE ROCK AND THE HILL”

Written by: Allison Moorer Published by: Bernard House Music Recorded by: Allison Moorer

“BLIND LEADING THE BLIND”

Written by: Marcus Mumford, Ben Lovett, Ted Dwane, Winston Marshall Published by: Universal Tunes Recorded by: Mumford & Sons

“LETTING ME DOWN”

Written by: Jeremy Ivey, Margo Price Published by: Peach Pit, Fisheye, BMG Recorded by: Margo Price

“BAD TRICK”

Written by: Ray Wylie and Judy Hubbard Published by: Snake Farm Publishing, BMG Recorded by: Ray Wylie Hubbard (ft. Ringo Starr, Don Was, Joe Walsh, Chris Robinson)

“TELL THE TRUTH”

Written by: Seth Avett, Scott Avett, Bob Crawford Published by: First Big Snow Publishing, NemoIVMusic, Truth Comes True Publishing, Ramseur Family Fold Music Recorded by: The Avett Brothers

“VICTORY”

Written by: Seth Avett, Scott Avett Published by: First Big Snow Publishing, NemoIVMusic, Ramseur Family Fold Music Recorded by: The Avett Brothers