Industry Ink: AIMP Nashville, Morris Higham, USA Songwriting Competition, Steve Ferguson

AIMP Nashville Celebrates 2022 Accomplishments At Annual Fall Party

Pictured (L-R, back row): John Ozier, Leslie Roberts, Courtney Crist, Ree Guyer, ET Brown, Shannan Hatch, Michael Martin, and Tim Hunze; (L-R, front row): Kendall Lettow, Janine Ebach, and Courtney Kruckeberg.

The AIMP Nashville Chapter held its Fall Party on Nov. 29 at Never Never in Nashville.

Offering cocktails and camaraderie, the event gathered AIMP Nashville members to celebrate the year’s accomplishments. The Chapter also announced the results of its 2023-2024 Board of Directors election, which will be revealed publicly soon.

Morris Higham Management’s “Songs For A Cause” Returns For Bluebird Show

Pictured (L-R): Morris Higham’s Kyle Quigley, songwriter Johnny Dailey, MHA’s Tatum Allsep, songwriter Will Bundy, MHA’s Jake Shamberg, songwriter Derek George, CNB’s Diane Pearson, NSAI’s Erika Wollam Nichols, songwriter Matt Jenkins, MHA’s Carla Denham, CNB’s Mandy Morrison, Yvette Gregory, Kristy Sargent, and Morris Higham’s Robert Filhart. Photo: Eric Ahlgrim

Morris Higham Management’s “Songs for a Cause” songwriter series returned on Nov. 30 for a sold-out show at the historic Bluebird Cafe. The evening featured performances from Matt Jenkins, Derek George, Will Bundy, and Johnny Dailey. Throughout the night, $2,500 was raised with proceeds benefitting Music Health Alliance.

“We are incredibly grateful to Morris Higham, City National Bank, and The Bluebird Cafe for creating this special evening of music to benefit Music Health Alliance,” shares Tatum Allsep, Founder and CEO of Music Health Alliance. “We are so happy this series is back and grateful for their support as we heal the music.”

The return of the series follows five prior events, which have collectively raised over $10,000 for various industry charities, including CMA Foundation, MusicCares, ACM Lifting Lives, The Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum, and the Phran Galante Fund for Lung Cancer Research. The “Songs for a Cause” series will continue in 2023.

Sav Buist Nabs Grand Prize At 27th Annual USA Songwriting Competition

Sav Buist.

Nashville songwriter Sav Buist recently won the Overall Grand Prize and the first prize of the Folk category at the 27th Annual USA Songwriting Competition with her song “The Line.”

Buist, who serves as one third of the indie folk rock trio The Accidentals, is a singer-songwriter, recording engineer, and multi-instrumentalist hailing from Music City by way of Traverse City, Michigan. She was one of the 2021 Kerrville New Folk winners, as well as the 2022 Songwriter Serenade winner. Additionally, her song, “Wildfire,” co-written with Katie Larson and Kim Richey, was the No. 1 song of the year at Folk Radio in 2021.

“I am truly honored that ‘The Line’ won the USA Songwriting Grand Prize. Ironically, I wrote ‘The Line’ at a low point, when I was having a hard time finding the words. It’s a culmination of all the unwanted voices in my head,” Buist explains. “Winning this contest is validation that good things can come from hard things and that tomorrow can be better than today. So thankful that this song resonated with the judges of the USA Songwriter Competition this year. I hope it resonates similarly with anyone who needs a nudge to keep moving.”

The overall second prize went to Kevin Stroud and Marc Alan Barnette of Wichita Falls, Texas for their song “Dance in Heaven.” The overall third prize went to Matty Gottesman from Los Angeles for his song “Sleepless Summer.”

Scotty Cameron Earns 2023 Steve Ferguson CRS Scholarship

Scotty Cameron.

Scotty Cameron, PD/MD for KKMV-FM (Rupert, ID) and a MusicRow reporter, has been selected as the recipient of the 2023 Steve Ferguson CRS Scholarship. He will receive a paid registration to attend CRS in Nashville this coming March.

Cameron has been with Kat Kountry / 106.1 KKMV since 2004, beginning his career under the mentorship of Charlie Michaels. Working his way into a full-time position, he was ultimately tapped for the morning show, where he’s since served as the host of “Scotty in the Morning.”

“My favorite thing about what I do is the relationships I form with our listeners, clients, and those in the music industry,” Cameron explains. “Working through the pandemic and helping listeners find the information they needed during a tough time really brought home to me how important local radio is.”

Spearheaded by Nashville’s GrassRoots Promotion, the annual scholarship was established to honor the enduring legacy of longtime WTHO PD Steve Ferguson, who passed away in 2018. In announcing the selection of the 2023 recipient, the review committee noted that “Scotty Cameron’s connection to his local community and passion for country music were evident in his submission. He shares the values that the Steve Ferguson Award represents and we are excited to welcome him to Nashville in March.”