Industry Applauds Justin Moore’s Four Recent No. 1 Hits

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Back Row (L-R): ASCAP Songwriter David Lee Murphy, BMI Songwriter Brock Berryhill, ASCAP Songwriter Jessi Alexander, ASCAP Songwriter Cole Taylor, BMI Songwriter Casey Beathard, ASCAP Songwriter Paul DiGiovanni Front Row (L-R): Producer + ASCAP Songwriter Jeremy Stover, BMI Songwriter Randy Montana, Priscilla Block (BMI), Justin Moore (BMI), BMI Songwriter Chase McGill, Producer + Big Machine Label Group’s Scott Borchetta Photo: Steve Lowry, BMI

It was a packed house in BMI’s Nashville office for the celebration of Justin Moore‘s four recent No. 1 singles: “Why We Drink,” “We Didn’t Have Much,” “With A Woman You Love” and “You, Me, And Whiskey” with Priscilla Block.

BMI’s Clay Bradley hosted the event honoring the 10 Nashville songwriters who worked on the tracks. “Why We Drink” was written by Moore, Casey Beathard, David Lee Murphy and Jeremy Stover. “We Didn’t Have Much” was written by Stover, Randy Montana and Paul DiGiovanni. Moore co-wrote “With A Woman You Love” with Stover, DiGiovanni and Chase McGill. His recent hit with Block, “You, Me, and Whiskey,” was written by Brock Berryhill, Jessi Alexander and Cole Taylor.

Big Machine Music’s Scott Borchetta, a co-producer with Stover on the four hits, took the stage alongside the songwriters, looking to be in great health and high spirits following his auto racing accident this spring.

Back Row (L-R): BMI’s Clay Bradley, ASCAP Songwriter David Lee Murphy, ASCAP’s Duane Hobson, BMI Songwriter Brock Berryhill, Warner Chappell Music’s Jessi Stevenson, ASCAP Songwriter Jessi Alexander, Big Machine Music’s Mike Molinar, ASCAP Songwriter Cole Taylor, RED Creative Group’s Taylor Lamb, BMI Songwriter Casey Beathard, Studio Bank’s Ron Cox, ASCAP Songwriter Paul DiGiovanni Front Row (L-R): Little Louder Music’s Arturo Buenahora, Big Machine Label Group’s Allison Jones, Producer + ASCAP Songwriter Jeremy Stover, BMI Songwriter Randy Montana, Priscilla Block (BMI), Justin Moore (BMI), BMI Songwriter Chase McGill, Producer + Big Machine Label Group’s Scott Borchetta, The Valory Music Co.’s George Briner Photo: Steve Lowry, BMI

Borchetta remarked, “I’m usually not nervous at these things, but for some reason today, I’m just nervous. Maybe because it’s the first time to tell you I’m still standing.” That statement was met with thunderous applause.

Industry representatives lauded the writers with heartfelt congratulations and best wishes. ASCAP’s Duane Hobson, Big Machine Music’s Mike Molinar, Warner Chappell Music’s Jessi Stevenson, Universal Music Publishing’s Missy Roberts, Little Louder Music’s Arturo Buenahora, Red Creative’s Taylor Lamb, Anthem Entertainment’s Chandler Thurston, Studio Bank’s Ron Cox and The Valory Music Co.’s George Briner all spoke in praise of the songwriters, producers, publishers, labels and management teams that made the four chart-toppers happen.

Several congratulations were sent to Block, as “You, Me, And Whiskey” marked her first No. 1 hit.

Studio Bank’s Cox spoke to their No. 1 party partnership with BMI, and announced that donations to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital had been made in each of the writers’ names to honor their success.

When Block spoke, she reminisced on her early days in Music City when she worked at the BMI offices, and snuck to Broadway for one of Moore’s release shows years before they would meet.

“I’ve been a fan of Justin for so long and it’s just really weird to me that I’m not in a cubicle right now—that I get to come to the cool parties, I get to write songs and that I have written songs with basically everyone here. I feel really thankful. This has been such a journey for me,” she said.

Moore closed the program with heartfelt congratulations to Block, and the reminder that celebrating never gets old. He thanked his fellow writers, producers, band, family and fans.

He said, “I’ve been so blessed to be around so many talented people. All the people on this stage, I look up to. Even if I’ve never had the chance to meet you yet or tell you that, I promise I do. [I look up to] all of you guys that I’ve written with and been lucky enough to learn from all these years.

“I sound like a broken record but when you grow up how I did and where I did… This just does not happen to people,” Moore said. “At least you think that until it happens to you. It’s because of great people who have cared about my career, my success and my family as much or more than myself at times. I’m thankful for all of you.”

Caela Griffin
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