SESAC Celebrates Community & Creativity At 2024 Nashville Music Awards

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Pictured (L-R): Sam Kling, Scott Jungmichel, Jaron Boyer, Shannan Hatch, ET Brown and Lydia Cahill pose as Boyer accepts the Songwriter of the Year award at the 2024 SESAC Nashville Music Awards. Photo: Terry Wyatt/Getty Images for SESAC

It’s officially Awards Week in Music City. First on the agenda was the 2024 SESAC Nashville Music Awards, thrown at the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum on Sunday night (Nov. 17).

More than 400 songwriters and publishers socialized in the Museum’s beautiful event hall, which overlooks the Nashville skyline. The performing rights organization spared no expense decorating the space, arranging moody purple lighting and a gorgeous stage area with the SESAC logo prominently displayed. Guitar art by Nashville artist Rob Hendon decorated the hall, and elegant florals punctuated the room.

Megan Moroney poses at 2024 SESAC Nashville Awards. Photo: Katie Kauss

In addition to the red carpet, there was a fun, collage-style photo booth for attendees to enjoy. It had clippings of SESAC affiliates’ hits of the past year, lyrics and photos. To snack on were offerings of Philly cheesesteak bites, tater tos, cheddar rolls, sandwich sliders, a roast-flavored dish with vegetables and mashed potatoes, a mac and cheese stand, fresh charcuterie and more, and the drinks were flowing. It was a celebration to get the week started.

SESAC Chief Creative Officer Sam Kling welcomed the crowd, sharing the company’s gratitude for their affiliates. He then turned it over to SVP, Head of Nashville Creative Shannan Hatch to host the evening. Hatch recognized some of the accomplishments that SESAC affiliates had achieved over the past year, such as Victoria Shaw going into the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame and various songwriters being nominated for ACM, CMA and other awards.

Senior Director of Creative Services, ET Brown, appeared to recognize winners in the Americana genre, including Sierra Ferrell, Ed Jurdi, Gordy Quist, Rachael Price, Seth Avett, Scott Avett and Bob Crawford.

Soon after, Brown’s fellow Senior Director of Creative Services Lydia Cahill joined them on stage to start presenting the country awards to the PRO’s top performers. Each songwriter and publisher announced joined the executives on stage while their song played over the speakers and their peers hooped and hollered for them. The songs that were awarded are listed below.

Megan Moroney served as one of the night’s performers, enchanting the crowd with her new single “Am I Okay?” She was also the recipient of the SESAC Spotlight Award in recognition of her recent achievements, including critical acclaim of her latest album, a new headlining tour to begin in 2025, three CMA Award nominations and more.

“A lot of dreams have come true the past few years, and I’ve gotten to do some fun and exciting things, but there’s nothing more fulfilling than writing songs,” Moroney said. “I love songwriting so much and I love my songwriting friends. It fills my soul.”

Song of the Year co-writers Jared Keim, Warren Zeiders and Ryan Beaver pose at 2024 SESAC Nashville Awards. Photo: Katie Kauss

Warren Zeiders performed his smash hit “Pretty Little Poison” alongside co-writers Jared Keim and Ryan Beaver. The song was then named SESAC’s Song of the Year.

The SESAC Songwriter of the Year went to Jaron Boyer, who co-wrote hits “Let Your Boys Be Country” recorded by Jason Aldean and “Mind On You” performed by George Birge. To honor this achievement, Gibson created a custom guitar, and Jostens provided a one-of-a-kind ring for Boyer.

“I almost retired from songwriting a couple years ago and some good friends helped me not quit,” Boyer said, naming some peers and publishers that helped him along the way. “I first need to thank Jesus Christ. None of us would be here if it wasn’t for him.”

Warner Chappell Music took home the title of Publisher of the Year, after winning multiple awards throughout the night.

Full List of Honorees:

“Pretty Little Poison”
Written by Jared Keim
Published by Warner Chappell Music, Twelve6 Sequoia
Recorded by Warren Zeiders

“We Don’t Fight Anymore”
Written by Pete Good
Published by Warner Chappell Music, King Pen Songs, SMACKWORKS Music
Recorded by Carly Pearce and Chris Stapleton

“Mind On You”
Written by Jaron Boyer, Michael Tyler
Published by Marlowe Sinclaire Songs, MTNoize, peertunes LTD, Melodies of CTM Outlander
Recorded by George Birge

“Tucson Too Late”
Written by Josh Jenkins
Published by Follow Me Where I Go, SMACKWORKS Music
Recorded by Jordan Davis

“Let Your Boys Be Country”
Written by Allison Veltz Cruz, Jaron Boyer
Published by Allison Veltz Sensations, Marlowe Sinclaire Songs, Hipgnosis Tunes, peertunes LTD, Songs of Porterfied Music
Recorded by Jason Aldean

“Love You Again”
Written by Casey Brown
Published by Track & Feels, Warner Chappell Music, Tape Room Tunes
Recorded by Chase Matthew

“Creek Will Rise”
Written by Chris LaCorte
Published by Card Tables Music, Concord Tunes, Hang Your Hat Hits
Recorded by Conner Smith

“I’m Not Pretty”
Written by Megan Moroney
Published by Georgiamo, Sony Music Publishing
Recorded by Megan Moroney

“Indifferent”
Written by Megan Moroney
Published by Georgiamo, Sony Music Publishing
Recorded by Megan Moroney

“Can’t Have Mine”
Written by Matt Alderman
Published by Aldysongs, Curb Congregation Songs
Recorded by Dylan Scott

“Glory Days”
Written by Seth Mosley
Published by M & M College Fund, Sony Music Publishing
Recorded by Gabby Barrett

“Wine Into Whiskey”
Written by Justin Ebach
Published El Chapo Music
Recorded by Tucker Wetmore

“Heartless Year”
Written by Ed Jurdi, Gordy Quist
Published by Three Pisces Music, Vitrolacaster Music
Recorded by The Band of Heathens

“Fox Hunt”
Written by Sierra Ferrell
Published by Abel Elba, Pulse Worldwide
Recorded by Sierra Ferrell

“Good Together”
Written by Rachael Price
Published Warner Chappell Music, 17 Lake Street Music
Recorded by Lake Street Dive

“Love Of A Girl”
Written by Seth Avett, Scott Avett, Bob Crawford
Published by First Big Snow Publishing, NemoIVMusic, Truth Comes True Publishing, Ramseur Family Fold Music
Recorded by The Avett Brothers

“American Dreaming”
Written by Sierra Ferrell
Published by Abel Elba, Pulse Worldwide
Recorded by Sierra Ferrell

“Orion’s Belt”
Written by Seth Avett, Scott Avett, Bob Crawford
Published by First Big Snow Publishing, NemoIVMusic, Truth Comes True Publishing, Ramseur Family Fold Music
Recorded by The Avett Brothers

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