2024 MusicRow Awards Category Profile: Breakthrough Songwriter Of The Year

Following the announcement of this year’s nominees for the 36th annual MusicRow Awards, presented by City National Bank, 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, 2023 to May 31, 2024. 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, Aug. 27.

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. 9 at 5:00 p.m. To receive a ballot to vote in the MusicRow Awards, become a MusicRow subscriber here.

Zach Abend co-wrote the smash hit “Take Her Home,” recorded by Kenny Chesney, alongside Hunter Phelps and Michael Hardy. His credits also include cuts with Morgan Wallen, Hardy, Dylan Marlowe, Chris Lane, Nate Smith, Larry Fleet and more.

Ryan Beaver earned his first No. 1 with “Pretty Little Poison,” recorded by and co-written with Warren Zeiders and Jared Keim. He co-wrote two songs on Zeiders’ latest album, and has landed additional cuts with Dustin Lynch, Maddie & Tae, Blake Shelton, Luke Bryan, Catie Offerman, Alana Springsteen, Parker McCollum and Larry Fleet.

Gabe Foust scored his first No. 1 this year with Kane Brown’s “I Can Feel It,” an interpolation of the Phil Collins hit “In the Air Tonight” written with Brown and Jaxson Free. Foust has also written songs recorded by Bailey Zimmerman, Nate Smith, Tucker Wetmore, Brantley Gilbert, Dylan Schneider, CharlieonaFriday, HunterGirl, Austin Snell, Kidd G and more.

Pete Good earned his first top 10 hit with Carly Pearce and Chris Stapleton’s “We Don’t Fight Anymore,” which he co-wrote with Pearce and Shane McAnally. Tigirlily Gold, Brothers Osborne, Walker Hayes, Ingrid Andress, Rascal Flatts, Tim McGraw and more have cut Good’s songs.

Jared Keim hit the top of the charts for the first time with “Pretty Little Poison,” which he co-wrote with Warren Zeiders and Ryan Beaver, and Zeiders recorded. Keim has also penned songs recorded by Dustin Lynch and Kassi Ashton.

Ryan Larkins scored his first No. 1 hit with Cody Johnson’s “The Painter.” He co-wrote the tune with Benjy Davis and Kat Higgins. Larkins’ songs have also been recorded by Tim McGraw.

Josh Melton hit the top of the charts for the first time with “Can’t Have Mine (Find You A Girl),” recorded by Dylan Scott. He co-wrote the song with Scott, Dallas Wilson and Matt Alderman. Melton has also written tunes recorded by Mitchell Tenpenny.

Patrick Murphy topped the charts with Tim McGraw’s “Standing Room Only,” which he co-wrote alongside Craig Wiseman and Tommy Cecil. The song also marked Murphy’s first cut.

Austin Nivarel celebrated his first No. 1 with “Need A Favor,” recorded by Jelly Roll. He wrote the tune with Jelly Roll, Joe Ragosta and Rob Ragosta. Nivarel has also had cuts with Jake Owen, Austin Snell and Jon Langston.

Joe Ragosta scored a big hit with Jelly Roll’s “Need A Favor,” which he co-wrote with Jelly Roll, Austin Nivarel and his brother Rob Ragosta. His songs have also been recorded by Jon Pardi, Austin Snell, Colt Ford and more.

Rob Ragosta hit the top of the charts with Jelly Roll’s “Need A Favor,” which he co-wrote with Jelly Roll, Austin Nivarel and his brother Joe Ragosta. He has also had a cut with Dustin Lynch.

Jonathan Sherwood earned his first top 10 hit with Jackson Dean’s “Fearless (The Echo).” He co-wrote the tune with Dean and Luke Dick.

Chandler Walters scored a big hit with Post Malone and Morgan Wallen’s “I Had Some Help,” which he co-wrote with Post, Wallen, Ernest, Louis Bell, Ashley Gorley, Hoskins and Charlie Handsome. Walters’ songs have also been recorded by Bailey Zimmerman, Ernest and Jelly Roll.

Micah Wilshire notched his first top 10 track with Jason Aldean’s “Let Your Boys Be Country.” He co-wrote the song with Allison Veltz Cruz and Jaron Boyer.

Travis Wood hit the top of the charts for the first time with Parmalee’s “Girl In Mine,” which he co-wrote with Ashley Gorley, Casey Brown, David Fanning and Matt Thomas. Wood has also penned songs recorded by Morgan Wallen, Jordan Davis, Jake Owen, Ella Langley, Kassi Ashton and more.