SESAC Country Awards

SESAC celebrated its songwriters and music publishers behind the year’s most-performed country and Americana songs for the 2021 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. “Songwriting and music publishing are at the very core of the music business, and we at SESAC love that we get to honor those contributions,” said Scott Jungmichel, President and COO, SESAC PRO. “We are happy to celebrate our top performed songs over the past year.” “We are very proud of the songs we awarded this year,” said Shannan Hatch, Vice President of Creative Services. “Our Nashville creative team worked hard to come up with creative, cozy, and safe gatherings to celebrate the successes of our SESAC songwriter and publisher family who won awards. We all look forward to the future when we can safely celebrate with everyone in person.”

Niko Moon was named SESAC’s Songwriter of the Year for the first time, who’s single “Good Time” became his first #1 hit as an artist. Additionally, he penned the chart-topper “Gone,” recorded by Dierks Bentley. Lee Brice’s seventh #1 hit song, “One Of Them Girls,” published by Warner Chappell Music was named SESAC Song of the Year. Warner Chappell Music also took home the Publisher of the Year accolade, most recently winning the award in 2019. Additionally, Walker Hayes’ 16-week #1 viral hit “Fancy Like,” written by affiliate Josh Jenkins and published by SMACK Songs and Kobalt, was awarded a new honor, Sync Song of the Year.

AWARD WINNERS:

“ONE OF THEM GIRLS”

Writer: Lee Brice Publisher: Love Cannons Publishing, Warner Chappell Recorded by: Lee Brice

“LOVE YOU LIKE I USED TO”

Writer: Casey Brown Publisher: Blue Corolla Oklahoma, Feel Your Creative Pulse Music Recorded by: Russell Dickerson

“GOOD TIME”

Writer: Niko Moon Publisher: Niko Moon Publishing, Warner Chappell Recorded by:Niko Moon

“DOWN TO ONE”

Writer: Justin Ebach Publisher: Memory Days, Curb Wordspring Music, Warner Chappell Music Recorded by:Luke Bryan

“NOBODY”

Writer: Matt Alderman Publisher: Good Vibes Good Times Music, Curb Congregation Songs Recorded by: Dylan Scott

“GONE”

Writer Niko Moon Publisher: Niko Moon Publishing, Warner Chappell Recorded by: Dierks Bentley

“MOMMA’S HOUSE”

Writer: Justin Wilson Publisher: 404 Music Publishing, Somebody Play It Again, BMG Recorded by: Dustin Lynch

“BREAKING UP WAS EASY IN THE 90’S”

Writer: Chris La Corte Publisher: Card Tables Music, Miller Crow Music, Concord Tunes, Hang Your Hat Hits, Soaring Swine Songs Recorded by: Sam Hunt

“SOMEBODY LIKE THAT”

Writer: Alex Kline, Allison Veltz Cruz Publisher: Ziggys Z Music, Songs of Porterfied Music, Hipgnosis Tunes, Reviver Recorded by: Tenille Arts

“FAMOUS FRIENDS”

Writer: Cary Barlowe Publisher: Bennett’s Dad Songs, Warner Chappell Music, Songs of Rhythm House Black, Roc Nation US Music Recorded by: Chris Young and Kane Brown

“CHAMPAGNE NIGHT”

Writer: Tina Annetta Gemza, Hillary Scott Publisher: G23 Music, EKT Music, Warner Chappell, Songland Television, BMG Recorded by: Lady A

“UNDIVIDED”

Writer: Chris Loocke Publisher: Warner Chappell Music, Tree Vibez Bus Vibes Recorded by:Tim McGraw and Tyler Hubbard

“COLD BEER CALLING MY NAME”

Writer: Alysa Vanderheym Publisher: Castle Bound Music Recorded by:Jameson Rodgers featuring Luke Combs

“LIKE A LADY”

Writer: Hillary Scott Publisher: EKT Music Publishing, Warner Chappell Recorded by: Lady A

“WHAT SHE WANTS TONIGHT”

Writer: Jon Nite Recorded by: Luke Bryan

“JUST THE WAY”

Recorded by: Parmalee X Blanco Brown

“MEMORY I DON’T MESS WITH”

Writer: Lee Brice Publisher: Love Cannons Publishing, Warner Chappell Recorded by: Lee Brice

“I HOPE”

Writer: Jon Nite Recorded by: Gabby Barrett

“LADY”

Writer: Jon Nite Recorded by: Brett Young

“BLAME IT ON YOU”

Writer: Michael Tyler, Brian White Publisher: MTNOIZE, BW Tunes, Peertunes LTD, SB21 Music Publishing Recorded by: Jason Aldean

“KNOW THAT I KNOW”

Writer: Rachael Price, Mike Olson Publisher: 17 Lake Street Music, Warner Chappell Music Recorded by: Lake Street Dive

“HYPOTHETICALS”

Writer: Rachael Price, Mike Olson Publisher: 17 Lake Street Music, Warner Chappell Music Recorded by: Lake Street Dive

“MAKING DO”

Writer: Rachael Price, Mike Olson Publisher: 17 Lake Street Music, Warner Chappell Music Recorded by: Lake Street Dive

“HIGH WIND”

Writer: Andrew Nelson Publisher: Uncle Kens Music, The Back 40 Music Recorded by: Great Peacock

“YOU GET IT ALL”

Writer: Hayes Carll Publisher: Highway 87 Publishing, BMG Recorded by: Hayes Carll