2023 MusicRow Awards Category Profile: Breakthrough Songwriter Of The Year
Following the announcement of this year’s nominees for the 35th annual MusicRow Awards, we take a closer look at the Breakthrough Songwriter of the Year category.
The Breakthrough Songwriter of the Year is voted by MusicRow’s subscribers to honor a Nashville songwriter who wrote or co-wrote a Top 10 song for the first time during the eligibility period of June 1, 2022 to May 31, 2023. Outside nominations from Nashville’s publishing community are considered for this award.
This year’s winners will be announced online on all MusicRow platforms on Tuesday, Sept. 12. Presenting Sponsor of the 2023 MusicRow Awards is City National Bank.
Click here to see the full list of MusicRow Awards nominees.
Winners are determined solely by MusicRow Magazine subscribers. Voting is now open and closes on Aug. 18 at 5:00 p.m.
To receive a ballot to vote in the MusicRow Awards, become a MusicRow subscriber here.
Trannie Anderson scored her first No. 1 hit this year with Lainey Wilson’s “Heart Like A Truck,” which she co-wrote with the country star and Dallas Wilson. Anderson has also written songs recorded by Tenille Arts, Gabby Barrett, Dan + Shay, Hannah Dasher, Pentatonix, Nate Smith, Noah Thompson and Meghan Trainor.
Rian Ball hit the top of the charts for the first time with “Down Home,” which he co-wrote with Jimmie Allen, Cameron Bedell and Tate Howell, and Allen recorded. Ball has also had songs cut by Chris Young, Michael Ray, Filmore and more artists in other genres.
Cameron Bedell earned his first No. 1 with Jimmie Allen’s “Down Home,” which he co-wrote with Allen, Rian Ball and Tate Howell. Dylan Scott, Hailey Whitters, Lauren Alaina, Seaforth and more have cut Bedell’s songs, and he produces Tiera Kennedy.
Jimi Bell scored his first No. 1 hit with Jon Pardi’s “Last Night Lonely.” He co-wrote the tune with Joe Fox and Dylan Marlowe. Bell’s songs have also been recorded by Brantley Gilbert, Bailey Zimmerman, Kip Moore and more.
Rocky Block notched his first top 10 with Morgan Wallen’s “Man Made A Bar,” featuring Eric Church. He co-wrote the song with Jordan Dozzi, Larry Fleet and Brett Tyler, which is one of four of his credits on Wallen’s third album. Block has also had songs recorded by Breland, Jake Owen, Nelly, Jordan Davis, Chris Lane and more.
Will Bundy hit the top of the charts for the first time with “Half Of Me,” recorded by Thomas Rhett featuring Riley Green. He co-wrote the song with Rhett, Josh Thompson and Rhett Akins. Bundy has also written songs recorded by Keith Urban, Jordan Davis, Parker McCollum, Jon Pardi, Jason Aldean and more.
John Byron had a big hit with Morgan Wallen’s “Last Night,” which he co-wrote with Ashley Gorley, Jacob Kasher Hindlin and Ryan Vojtesak. It is one of nine songs Byron co-wrote for Wallen’s third album. He’s also had songs cut by Chris Lane and Sean Stemaly.
Jamie Davis hit the top of the charts for the first time with Luke Combs’ “The Kind of Love We Make,” which he cowrote with Combs, Dan Isbell and Reid Isbell. Davis has also had songs recorded by Lily Rose, Jenna Paulette, Leith Loftin and others, and is also a member of Combs’ touring band.
Jordan Dozzi co-wrote the Top 10 hit, “Man Made A Bar,” recorded by Morgan Wallen featuring Eric Chruch. Dozzi co-wrote the tune with Rocky Block, Larry Fleet and Brett Tyler. He has also had cuts with Nelly, Jake Owen, Seaforth, Chase Matthew and more.
David Fanning has had lots of success as a producer and manager to Parmalee. He added “hit songwriter” to his resume with “Take My Name,” recorded by Parmalee and co-written with Matt Thomas, Ashley Gorley and Ben Johnson, and “Tennessee Orange,” co-written and recorded by Megan Moroney along with Ben Williams and Paul Jenkins.
Joe Fox topped the charts with the Jon Pardi-recorded “Last Night Loney,” which he co-wrote with Jimi Bell and Dylan Marlowe, whom he produces. Fox has had songs recorded by Blake Shelton and Matt Stell as well.
Jaxson Free celebrated his first No. 1 with “Thank God,” recorded by Kane and Katelyn Brown. He wrote the duet with Christian Davis, Kyle Fishman, Josh Hoge and Jared Mullins. Free also has cuts with Chase Rice, Dalton Dover, Zach Seabaugh and others.
Jacob Hackworth scored a big hit with Bailey Zimmerman’s “Rock and a Hard Place,” which he co-wrote with Jet Harvey and Heath Warren. Hackworth has also had songs recorded by Chase Matthew and Logan Crosby.
Jet Harvey hit the top of the charts with Bailey Zimmerman’s “Rock and a Hard Place,” which he co-wrote with Jacob Hackworth and Heath Warren. The song was Harvey’s first cut.
Styles Haury earned his first hit with Luke Bryan’s “Country On.” He co-wrote the tune with Mark Nesler, Mitch Oglesby and David Frasier. Haury has also written songs recorded by Craig Morgan and Craig Campbell.
Tate Howell earned his first No. 1 with Jimmie Allen’s “Down Home,” which he co-wrote with Allen, Rian Ball and Cameron Bedell. He has also had songs recorded by Nate Smith and LANCO.
Reid Isbell hit the top of the charts with Luke Combs’ “The Kind of Love We Make.” He co-wrote the tune with Combs, Dan Isbell and Jamie Davis. Isbell has also had cuts with Jon Pardi, Lainey Wilson, Kameron Marlowe, King Calaway and more.
Gavin Lucas celebrated his first No. 1 with Bailey Zimmerman’s “Fall In Love,” which he wrote with Zimmerman and Austin Shawn. Zimmerman has cut many of Lucas’ songs.
Austin Shawn hit the top of the charts with Bailey Zimmerman’s “Fall In Love,” which he wrote with Zimmerman and Gavin Lucas. Lucas has also produced Zimmerman’s hits, as well as some work with Chase Matthew.
Christian Stalnecker earned his first No. 1 with “Thank God,” recorded by Kane and Katelyn Brown. He wrote the duet with Jaxson Free, Kyle Fishman, Josh Hoge and Jared Mullins. Stalnecker has also worked with Blake Shelton, Chris Young, T-Pain, Rick Ross and more.
David Ray Stevens celebrated his first rock No. 1 with Jelly Roll’s “Dead Man Walking” and his first country No. 1 with his “Son Of A Sinner,” which he wrote with Jelly Roll and Ernest.
Heath Warren scored a big hit with Bailey Zimmerman’s “Rock and a Hard Place,” which he co-wrote with Jet Harvey and Jacob Hackworth. Warren has also had songs recorded by Waterloo Revival, Colbie Caillat, Josh Ross and more.
Ben Williams earned his first No. 1 with “Tennessee Orange,” recorded and co-written with Megan Moroney as well as David Fanning and Paul Jenkins. He co-wrote seven of the 13 songs on Moroney’s debut album.
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