AIMP Nashville Awards Announce Nominees, Acoustic Performers

The inaugural AIMP Nashville Awards, hosted by the Association of Independent Music Publishers, will honor winners in seven categories, representing all aspects of independent publishing when the awards ceremony is held Mon., April 18 at the Ryman Auditorium.

In keeping with the inclusive theme of the show, the evening’s performers will sing an acoustic version of a nominated song that is not their own. Kelsea Ballerini will perform Dierks Bentley’s “Say You Do,” Brandy Clark will sing Sam Hunt’s “Take Your Time,” Tyler Farr will offer a rendition of Randy Houser’s “We Went,” Maren Morris and Brothers Osborne will perform Chris Stapleton’s “Fire Away,” Old Dominion will give their take on Keith Urban’s “John Cougar, John Deere, John 3:16,” and Sam Hunt will perform Little Big Town’s “Girl Crush.”

The event is co-chaired by SMACKSong’s Michael McAnally Baum and Wrensong’s Ree Guyer Buchanan.

“We imagined a unique show for this very special event,” says McAnally Baum. “The artists all have strong connections to the independent music community and they all jumped at the idea of celebrating this incredible group of songs and our organization.”

Also to be presented is the Spotify ‘Country Top Spot’ award for the most-streamed country song.

Nominees For the AIMP Nashville Awards:

AIMP SONG OF THE YEAR
“Fire Away” written by Danny Green and Chris Stapleton
“Girl Crush” written by Hillary Lindsey, Lori McKenna and Liz Rose
“John Cougar, John Deere, John 3:16” written by Ross Copperman, Shane McAnally and Josh Osborne
“Say You Do” written by Shane McAnally, Matthew Ramsey and Trevor Rosen
“Take Your Time” written by Sam Hunt, Shane McAnally and Josh Osborne
“We Went” written by John King, Matt Rogers and Justin Wilson

AIMP INDEPENDENT PUBLISHER OF THE YEAR
Big Deal Music
Big Loud Shirt
Black River Publishing
Combustion Music
Creative Nation
SMACKSongs

AIMP INDEPENDENT SONGWRITER OF THE YEAR
Ashley Gorley
Hillary Lindsey
Josh Osborne
Luke Laird
Shane McAnally
Zach Crowell

AIMP ARTIST-WRITER OF THE YEAR
Brandy Clark
Kacey Musgraves
Kelsea Ballerini
Old Dominion
Sam Hunt
Tyler Farr

AIMP RISING INDEPENDENT SONGWRITER OF THE YEAR
Brad Tursi
Brothers Osborne
Kelsea Ballerini
Maren Morris
Matt Rogers
Tommy Cecil

AIMP SONG CHAMPION OF THE YEAR
Ben Strain
Chris DuBois
Courtney Crist
Jody Williams
Robin Palmer
Whitney Daane