Ashley Cooke Celebrates First No. 1 Hit ‘Your Place’

/by

Pictured (L-R, back row): Big Loud Publishing’s Mike Giangreco, Sony Music Publishing’s Rusty Gaston, Back Blocks Music’s Rakiyah Marshall, Boom Music Group’s Shaina Botwin, Warner Chappell’s BJ Hill, BMI’s Leslie Roberts, Studio Bank’s Kari Barnhart, ASCAP’s Duane Hobson, Big Loud’s Drew Magid, Big Loud’s Seth England; (L-R, front row): Jimmy Robbins (Producer), Jordan Minton (BMI), Ashley Cooke (BMI), Mark Trussell (ASCAP). Photo: Larry McCormack for BMI

Monday Night Brewing Preservation Co. was buzzing with industry members on Wednesday afternoon (Aug. 14) who were there to toast Ashley Cooke on her first No. 1 hit, “Your Place.”

BMI’s Leslie Roberts and BMI’s MaryAnn Keen pose with Ashley Cooke and songwriters after presenting her with a custom Taylor 210e DLX guitar for her first No. 1 as a BMI songwriter. Photo: Larry McCormack for BMI

Hosted by BMI, the packed room raised a beer glass to Cooke, her co-writers Jordan Minton and Mark Trussell and producer Jimmy Robbins for creating only the second country radio chart-topper performed by a female this year.

BMI’s Leslie Roberts emceed the event. She spoke about affiliates Minton and Cooke. “It’s been said that luck is what happens when preparation meets opportunity,” Roberts said. “Ashley has put so much work in and she’s ready to roll.”

ASCAP’s Duane Hobson was on hand to speak about Trussell and Robbins. He highlighted each of their talents and work ethic.

Roberts invited Back Blocks Music’s Rakiyah Marshall to speak. She is Cooke’s manager and publisher who has been working with the artist since 2020. Marshall thanked the entire village around Cooke, her co-writers and Robbins. She got emotional when speaking about the trust Cooke has placed in her as her flagship artist.

“I want to thank Ashley,” Marshall said. “You were the first. You’re the brain child behind Back Blocks. Everything that has happened to this point has happened because of you.”

Publishers of “Your Place” including Sony Music Publishing’s Rusty Gaston, Warner Chappell’s BJ Hill and Boom Music Group’s Shaina Botwin were on hand to give remarks, as was Big Loud head Seth England. All recognized the village around Cooke and her co-writers. Studio Bank’s Kari Barnhart shared that a donation had been made to Soles4Souls in honor of “Your Place.”

Pictured (L-R): MusicRow’s LB Cantrell, Jimmy Robbins, Jordan Minton, Ashley Cooke, Mark Trussell and MusicRow’s Sherod Robertson. Photo: Larry McCormack for BMI

When Robbins took the mic, he shared stories of working with Cooke and her team. “It’s been absolutely amazing working together,” he said. “Sometimes a producer’s job is to make a bad song sound good. For this one, I had to take a great song and stay out of its way. You wrote such a great song.”

“The longer I do this the more that I realized that we can do the best job we possibly can to make good stuff, but there are so many people that we rely on for our songs to be heard,” Trussell shared. “Thank you to everyone who works their butts off for me.”

Minton spoke about Cooke’s clear vision for her artistry, and what a pleasure it is to write with her. “You’re a dream artist for a songwriter,” he said. “You understand your artistry so well. I’m so lucky to be part of it.”

When it was time to hear from the woman of the hour, she individually thanked each member of her village.

“When I look back on my first No. 1, I’ll think about the times that we spent on radio tour when I was running on Dunkin’ Donuts and a dream,” she said. “I’m truly beyond honored to be here with you guys. Thank you to the community of Nashville and everyone who had a hand in this. It means the world.”

LB Cantrell
Latest posts by LB Cantrell (see all)