Ashley McBryde, HARDY, Hailey Whitters Among AIMP Nashville Awards Winners

The winners for the 5th annual AIMP Nashville Awards were announced Thursday (July 30). This year’s AIMP Nashville Publisher of the Year award went to SMACKSongs, a co-publisher of the song “One Night Standards,” which was named AIMP Nashville Publisher’s Pick. Ashley McBryde, a co-writer of the track as well as its recording artist, was named AIMP Nashville Artist-Writer of the Year, while Hailey Whitters took home AIMP Nashville Rising Artist-Writer of the Year. The AIMP Nashville Songwriter of the Year award went to HARDY, while AIMP Nashville Rising Songwriter of the Year went to Allison Veltz Cruz. The AIMP Song of the Year was “The Bones,” co-written and recorded by Maren Morris, while National Music Publishers’ Association (NMPA) President and CEO David Israelite was honored as AIMP Nashville Song Champion of the Year.

Though the awards show could not take place in-person this year due to the COVID-19 pandemic, several artists still celebrated with virtual performances on social media. Whitters performed “Beer Never Broke My Heart,” Tenille Townes offered “Prayed for You,” Ryan Hurd played “The Bones,” Kylie Morgan sang “One Man Band,” Matt Stell offered “Heartache Medication,” and Runaway June performed “10,000 Hours.”

“The AIMP Nashville Awards committee would like to congratulate all this year’s winners and nominees on their accomplishments in this unpredictable time,” said Ree Guyer, Vice President of the AIMP Nashville Chapter and Co-Chair of the AIMP Nashville Awards. “While we wish we were celebrating together at the Ryman, we are proud to honor these deserving independent publishers, writers, and artists who created the music that has been getting us through this difficult time.”

“Hearty congratulations go out to all our AIMP Nashville Awards honorees, from executives who have helped pave the way forward for independent music publishers, to artists and writers who have created some truly incredible music, to the publishers themselves who make sure they are paid fairly for their work,” said John Ozier, President of the AIMP Nashville Chapter. “Here’s hoping we’ll be able to see everyone in person next year!”

See the full list of nominees and winners below:

AIMP Nashville Publisher of the Year
Big Machine Music Publishing
Kobalt Music
Curb Word Entertainment
Winner – SMACKSongs
Peermusic
Downtown Music

AIMP Nashville Rising Songwriter of the Year
Winner – Allison Veltz Cruz
Alysa Vanderheym
Hunter Phelps
Jameson Rodgers
Jennifer Denmark
Sam Sumser

AIMP Nashville Rising Artist-Writer of the Year
Winner – Hailey Whitters
Kylie Morgan
Matt Stell
Runaway June
Ryan Hurd
Tenille Townes

AIMP Nashville Songwriter of the Year
Ashley Gorley
Winner – HARDY
Luke Combs
Laura Veltz
Hillary Lindsey
Jordan Schmidt

AIMP Nashville Artist-Writer of the Year
Winner – Ashley McBryde
Brothers Osborne
HARDY
Luke Combs
Morgan Wallen
Old Dominion

AIMP Nashville Song Champion of the Year
Alex Heddle
Brad Peterson
Winner – David Israelite
Greg Gallo
Lee Krabel
Stephanie Cox

AIMP Nashville Publisher’s Pick
“God And Country Music” (Barry Dean, Lori McKenna, Luke Laird) independently published by Creative Nation. Recorded by George Strait.
Winner – “One Night Standards” (Ashley McBryde, Nicolette Hayford, Shane McAnally) independently published by SMACKSongs, River House Artists, Canned Biscuit Songs. Recorded by Ashley McBryde.
“Seeing Other People” (Emily Falvey, Jason Afable, Matt McGinn) independently published by SMACKSongs, McGinntellectual Property, Rarespark Media Group. Recorded by MacKenzie Porter.
“Small Town Hypocrite” (Caylee Hammack, Jared Scott) independently published by Plaid Flag Music. Recorded by Caylee Hammack.
“To Hell And Back” (Jessie Jo Dillon, Maren Morris, Laura Veltz) independently published by Big Machine Music, Big Yellow Dog, Revelry Music, Kobalt Music. Recorded by Maren Morris.
“Wish For The World” (Aaron Eshuis, Joe Clemmons, Ryan Hurd) independently published by Big Machine Music, Mojo Music & Media. Recorded by Ryan Hurd.

AIMP Nashville Song of the Year
“10,000 Hours” (Dan Smyers, Jason Boyd, Jessie Jo Dillon, Jordan Reynolds, Justin Bieber, Shay Mooney) independently published by Big Machine Music. Recorded by Dan + Shay and Justin Bieber.
“Beer Never Broke My Heart” (Jonathan Singleton, Luke Combs, Randy Montana) independently published by Big Machine Music, 50 Egg Music. Recorded by Luke Combs.
“Heartache Medication” (Barry Dean, Jon Pardi, Natalie Hemby) independently published by Creative Nation, Song Factory, Pulse Nation, MV2 Entertainment. Recorded by Jon Pardi.
“One Man Band” (Brad Tursi, Josh Osborne, Matthew Ramsey, Trevor Rosen) independently published by Wrensong Entertainment, Anthem Entertainment, Twelve6 Entertainment, SMACKSongs. Recorded by Old Dominion.
“Prayed For You” (Allison Veltz Cruz, Ash Bowers, Matt Stell) independently published by Big Deal Music, Wide Open Music, Endurance Music Group. Recorded by Matt Stell.
Winner – “The Bones” (Jimmy Robbins, Maren Morris, Laura Veltz) independently published by Big Yellow Dog, Big Machine Music, JRM Publishing, Round Hill Music. Recorded by Maren Morris.

AIMP Nashville Awards winners will receive their awards by mail. Voting was open from July 20 through July 24 for all AIMP Professional members of the Nashville Chapter, as well as AIMP Premier Professional members.