Pictured (L-R): Scott Borchetta, BMI’s David Preston, Jesse Lee, ole’s John Ozier, Brett Young, ASCAP’s Michael Martin, BMLG Records’ Jimmy Harnen and Big Machine Music’s Mike Molinar. Photo: Ed Rode

BMLG Records artist Brett Young celebrated “Like I Loved You,” the third No. 1 single from his self-titled debut album, during a celebration held at new music venue Nashville Underground on Monday (Feb. 12).

“These will never get old,” Young told the industry crowd. “I think anybody that knows me at this point knows I feel really grateful and blessed to even get the opportunity to do this. I moved here because I thought I wanted to write songs and the best songwriters were in Nashville. I started writing songs and trying to get people to record them, but then I had to sing the demos, and next thing I know, [BMLG’s] Laurel Kittleson was coming out to every writers’ round I was playing. She brought us to Jimmy [Harnen] and there was a record deal…we have the best promo staff. Three for three, there’s not a better percentage.”

In addition to notching his third No. 1 song, Young has the distinction of becoming one of only three country artists to earn a Gold-certified album in the past year.

It’s notable that while most recently-released country songs list multiple writers, “Like I Loved You” has only two writers—Young and Jesse Lee. Each writer’s work on the song is repped an independent music publisher, Big Machine Music and ole Music Publishing.

Ole’s John Ozier presented Young and Lee with iPads to celebrate the chart-topping song. “This is as big of a record as you can get,” said Ozier.

Young’s producer Dann Huff was also honored and noted that Young was “knee-deep in his second record.” Huff also noted that Young’s upcoming second album will mark Huff’s first time playing a piano part on an album.

Among those making presentations were ASCAP’s Michael Martin, BMI’s David Preston, Big Machine Music’s Mike Molinar, Big Machine Label Group’s Scott Borchetta and Jimmy Harnen.

Pictured (L-R): Back Row – BMLG Records’ Andrew Thoen, Leah Fisher, Scott Borchetta, Lauren Longbine; Front Row – BMLG Records’ Jimmy Harnen, Jesse Lee, Brett Young, BMLG Records’ Liz Santana, Michelle Kammerer, Matthew Hargis

MusicRow Magazine’s Sherod Robertson also honored the writers with MusicRow Challenge Coins to commemorate the chart-topping success of “Like I Loved You” on the MusicRow CountryBreakout Chart.

The Country Music Association’s Brandi Simms and the Country Radio Broadcasters’ Darcie Van Etten also honored the writers.

Lee thanked her parents for encouraging her dreams of working in music, and thanked her husband for supporting her creative work as a songwriter.

“We all know us songwriters are the craziest,” she quipped, before thanking Big Machine’s promo staff and Huff for his production work.

“Thank you ole for giving me a home for two years, and for [ole’s Emily Mueller] for setting up the write. The second I heard Brett’s voice, it was absolutely amazing. I didn’t have any success yet as a writer either, but when I heard him, I immediately said yes. He walked [into the writer’s room], and I thought, ‘Well, he looks like that and he sounds like this, he’s going to be a star.’ I’m just glad I was there. Thank you Brett for working your tail off for this song.”

Lee, who is known for penning the hit “Peter Pan” with Kelsea Ballerini, also shared what earning this No. 1 song meant to her. “Without getting all #metoo and Grammys and white, it feels really special to be a female [songwriter] up here with a male artist on a two-way No. 1 song. It’s great that other females are getting inspired and it’s not just a male town. You just have to write smart and try to out-write everybody and find those people you connect with. I have a lot of those people in this room and I love you all.”

Jesse Lee and Brett Young. Photo: Ed Rode