SESAC 2019 Nashville Music Awards & Carpet Fashion

Justin Ebach Named Songwriter of the Year

“Beautiful Crazy” Named Song of the Year

Warner Chappell Named Publisher of the Year

(Nashville, Tenn. – Nov. 10, 2019): SESAC celebrated its songwriters and music publishers behind the year’s most-performed country and Americana songs at the company’s annual Nashville Music Awards, tonight, Sunday, Nov. 10, at the Country Music Hall of Fame® and Museum.

Justin Ebach was named SESAC’s Songwriter of the Year for the second time, taking home his first award in 2017. Ebach’s chart-topping hits from the past year include “Good Girl,” recorded by Dustin Lynch and “Here Tonight,” recorded by Brett Young.

 NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE - NOVEMBER 10: Justin Ebach speaks onstage during the 2019 SESAC Nashville Music Awards at Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum on November 10, 2019 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Ed Rode/Getty Images for SESAC)

The longest running No. 1 Country Airplay song of 2019, “Beautiful Crazy,” co-written by Wyatt Durrette III, published by Rosest Music, and recorded by Luke Combs was named SESAC Song of the Year.

NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE - NOVEMBER 10: Wyatt Durrette III attends the 2019 SESAC Nashville Music Awards at Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum on November 10, 2019 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Erika Goldring/Getty Images for SESAC)

Warner Chappell Music took home the Publisher of the Year  accolade during the event, after previously winning the award in 2017.

Dustin Lynch was on hand to present Ebach with his award for Songwriter of the Year, and Song of the Year  and Publisher of the Year  awards were presented by SESAC executives Shannan Hatch and Sam Kling. 

Eric Church surprised his co-writer, Ray Wylie Hubbard, as he presented him with the award for his song “Desperate Man.”

The awards ceremony kicked off with a lot of energy as Blanco Brown performed his debut smash “The Git Up.” 

NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE - NOVEMBER 10: Blanco Brown (L) and Jimmie Allen attend the 2019 SESAC Nashville Music Awards at Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum on November 10, 2019 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Erika Goldring/Getty Images for SESAC)

Jimmie Allen provided a moving rendition of his record-breaking debut single “Best Shot” on piano, alongside co-writer and fellow award winner Josh London. Ray Wylie Hubbard took the stage last to perform Eric Church’s “Desperate Man,” which he co-wrote with Church.

The festive event, hosted by Shannan Hatch, SESAC’s Vice President of Creative Services, honored top songwriters and publishers behind the year’s biggest hits in the genres of country and Americana. More than 500 songwriters, publishers, and industry professionals attended the awards celebration, sponsored in part by Sound Royalties, SunTrust, Sweetwater, Bose and Jostens.

Click to ENLARGE: NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE - NOVEMBER 10: Atmosphere seen during the 2019 SESAC Nashville Music Awards at Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum on November 10, 2019 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Erika Goldring/Getty Images for SESAC)

COUNTRY AIRCHECK REPORT: SESAC Nashville Music Awards at the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum struck a balance between celebratory and relaxed in a compact 90-minute program. As winners made their way to the front of the room to enjoy the ceremony from large, leather couches, other writers, artists, publishers and industry pros filled tables and high top seating while enjoying wine and cocktails.

BMG’s Blanco Brown kicked off with his take on the Sam Cooke classic “A Change Is Gonna Come” before insisting everyone “Git Up” as he performed “The Git Up,” during which Stoney Creek’s King Calaway lived their best lives while dancing along in the crowd.

 SESAC Chairman/CEO John Josephson took to the podium to fete outgoing VP/Creative Service Shannan Hatch, who served as the evening’s host. Soon joining newly launched Fourward Music as President, Hatch received a standing ovation and garnered multiple statements of praise throughout the night, to which she once emotionally and eloquently responded, “Well, shit!”

Hatch honoured recipients of Americana Awards, including Rosanne Cash’s “Not Many Miles To Go,” The Avett Brothers’ “High Steppin’” and Hayes Carll’s “None’ya” and “Times Like These” before acknowledging additional attendees and SESAC partners who have hit milestones in 2019. 

SESAC Sr. Dirs./Creative Service Lydia Schultz and ET Brown then assisted Hatch in the presentation of Country Awards to the writers and publishers of Rascal Flatts’ “Back To Life,” Luke Combs’ “Beautiful Crazy,” Jimmie Allen’s “Best Shot,” Russell Dickerson’s “Blue Tacoma,” Runaway June’s “Buy My Own Drinks,” Eric Church’s “Desperate Man,” Mitchell Tenpenny’s “Drunk Me,” Jason Aldean’s “Girl Like You,” Dustin Lynch’s “Good Girl,” Chris Stapleton’s “Millionaire,” Lee Brice’s “Rumor,” Brett Young’s “Here Tonight,” Florida Georgia Line’s “Talk You Out Of It,” and Chris Young’s “Hangin’ On” and “Raised On Country.”

Presentation highlights included Naomi Cooke of Runaway June inadvertently stabbing Hatch with the chopsticks in her hair, mention of FGL’s “Talk You Out Of It” making the Pandora “sex playlist,” and Allen – the unofficial winner of best outfit in any room ever – performing a piano version of “Best Shot” with co-writer Josh London. “Desperate Man” co-writer Ray Wiley Hubbard performed his take on the song before Church appeared to surprise his friend and co-writer with the award. 

NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE - NOVEMBER 10: Eric Church speaks onstage during the 2019 SESAC Nashville Music Awards at Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum on November 10, 2019 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Ed Rode/Getty Images for SESAC)

Warner Chappell Music was named Publisher of the Year, while Combs’ “Beautiful Crazy” picked up Song of the Year and Justin Ebach took home Songwriter – no surprise considering he penned two of the tunes named above. Lynch was on-hand to present the trophy to Ebach, who declared “Holy shit! Eric Church just talked on this mic about 10 minutes ago!” Ebach then cleaned up his speech to acknowledge his mother in the audience, the songwriters and artists in the room and his wife, Curb|Word Music Publishing VP Janine Appleton Ebach, who he says not only organizes his career and life, but also his awards show attire. – Monta Vaden (Country Aircheck)

Country Awards:

“BACK TO LIFE”
Written by: Cary Barlowe, Niko Moon
Published by: Bennetts Dad Songs, Niko Moon Publishing, Roc Nation US Music, Song of Rhythm House Black, Warner Chappell Music
Recorded by: Rascal Flatts

“BEAUTIFUL CRAZY”
Written by: Wyatt Durrette III
Published by: Rosest Music
Recorded by: Luke Combs

“BEST SHOT”
Written by: Jimmie Allen, Josh London
Published by: Castle Bound Music, Red Lining Music, Sony/ATV Lakeview, Songs of Downtown
Recorded by: Jimmie Allen

“BLUE TACOMA”
Written by: Casey Brown
Published by: Not Just Another Song Publishing, So Essential Tunes
Recorded by: Russell Dickerson

“BUY MY OWN DRINKS”
Written by: Jennifer Wayne, Naomi Cooke, Hannah Mulholland
Published by: Hatchoooo Music Publishing, Legends Of Magic Mustang Music, Music Of Platinum Pen, Thunder Cookie, Wild Wild Wild West Songs, BMG Silver Songs US
Recorded by: Runaway June

“DESPERATE MAN”
Written by: Ray Wylie Hubbard
Published by:
Snake Farm Publishing, BMG Silver Songs US
Recorded by: Eric Church

“DRUNK ME”
Written by: Justin Wilson
Published by: Legends Of Magic Mustang Music, Somebody Play It Again Music, BMG Silver Songs US
Recorded by: Mitchell Tenpenny

“GIRL LIKE YOU”
Written by: Michael Tyler, Jaron Boyer
Published by: peertunes LTD, MTNOIZE, Jaron Boyer Music
Recorded by: Jason Aldean

“GOOD GIRL”
Written by: Justin Ebach
Published by: Curb Wordspring Music, Memory Days, Warner Chappell Music
Recorded by: Dustin Lynch

“HANGIN' ON”
Written by: Josh Hoge
Published by: EMI Foray Music, Write 2 Be Free Music
Recorded by: Chris Young

“HERE TONIGHT”
Written by: Justin Ebach
Published by: Curb Wordspring Music, Memory Days, Warner Chappell Music
Recorded by: Brett Young

“MILLIONAIRE”
Written by: Kevin Welch
Published by: Spur 66 Music, Universal Tunes
Recorded by: Chris Stapleton

“RAISED ON COUNTRY”
Written by: Cary Barlowe
Published by: Bennetts Dad Songs, Roc Nation US Music, Song of Rhythm House Black, Warner Chappell Music
Recorded by: Chris Young

“RUMOR”
Written and Recorded by: Lee Brice

“TALK YOU OUT OF IT”
Written by: Alysa Vanderheym
Published by: Castle Bound Music, Songs of Downtown
Recorded by: Florida Georgia Line

Americana Awards:

Rosanne Cash posted: Many thanks to SESAC for the songwriting award for my song ‘Not Many Miles To Go’. I’m proud to be with you! (Photo by Katie Kauss)

“NOT MANY MILES TO GO”

Written by: Rosanne Cash
Published by: Chelcait Music, Words & Music Songs
Recorded by: Rosanne Cash

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

“NONE’YA”
Written by: Hayes Carll, Allison Moorer
Published by: Highway 87 Publishing, Bernard House Music, BMG Silver Songs US, Songs of Downtown
Recorded by: Hayes Carll

“TIMES LIKE THESE”
Written by: Hayes Carll
Published by: Highway 87 Publishing, BMG Silver Songs US
Recorded by: Hayes Carll

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About SESAC PRO:
SESAC Performing Rights Organization is the second oldest PRO in the U.S. It drives efficiency in licensing for music users and enhances value for its affiliated writers, publishers and composers by providing timely, efficient royalty collection and distribution. SESAC represents over 30,000 songwriters and film composers from a broad range of genres including artists such as Adele, Bob Dylan, Neil Diamond, David Crosby, Rosanne Cash, Mariah Carey, Kesha, Lalah Hathaway, Christophe Beck, Gabriel Mann and many more. SESAC is a leader and innovator in music licensing that administers public performance, mechanical, and other rights through SESAC PRO and its affiliates including The Harry Fox Agency, Rumblefish, and Mint Digital Services. SESAC Holdings has offices in New York, Nashville, Los Angeles, London and Munich.

Red Carpet

Chase Martin - The Say Goodbye (iTunes) Pop/Country singer wore a black lace bow strapless mini dress and carried a cute Alice + Olivia clutch. Get the look with this BROGNANO Floral Lace Mini Dress in Black (Product).

Emily Ann Roberts – The Voice Season 9 Finalist and Someday Dream 21-year-old singer looked gorgeous in a sleeved black homecoming dress (prima vera couture) dress with embroidered grey detailing from Bella Boutique which is Tennessee's largest prom, pageant, & formal wear shop! - Instagram

Emily Ann Roberts Katie Kauss (Photographer) 

Jenny Tolman – Attending the awards the “So Pretty” singer-songwriter wore a light pink embroidered dress with tassel detailing and cut-outs across the shoulder | Anastacia Skin Studio (Beauty; Health; Style), Katie Kauss (Photographer) - Instagram – Instagram

Runaway June: Posted on social media: Still pinching ourselves over last night!!!! What an honor to receive awards from Sesac last night. Our songwriting community in Nashville has embraced all of us every step of the way. We couldn’t feel more grateful to be a small part of it”. – Instagram – Instagram (Photographer: Katie Kauss)

NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE - NOVEMBER 10: (L-R) Naomi Cooke, Jennifer Wayne and Hannah Mulholland of Runaway June attend the 2019 SESAC Nashville Music Awards at Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum on November 10, 2019 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Ed Rode/Getty Images for SESAC)

Naomi Cook – wore a short Sherri Hill Dragon print beaded cocktail dress with long sleeves and a high neckline (Product #53044)

Hannah Mulholland – Wore a plunge front Black ZHIVAGO trouser suit with piped detailing and adding matching black pointy heels

Jennifer Wayne -Wore a plunging shiny blue silky floor length gown with a tie waist.