Sony Music Publishing’s songwriters and team won top honors across Nashville’s 2023 ASCAP, SESAC and BMI awards earlier this week, and at the 57th Annual CMA Awards held yesterday evening.
Sony Music Publishing won Publisher of the Year at both ASCAP’s Country Music Awards and SESAC’s Nashville Music Awards, marking the first time since 2016 that SMP Nashville was recognized as the sole winner of these awards in the same year. Upon accepting the award, Sony Music Publishing Nashville CEO Rusty Gaston said, “Congratulations to all Sony Music Publishing’s songwriter honorees – we are grateful to support you and your incredible songs. I also want to thank our amazing team for continuing to go above and beyond for SMP’s songwriters.”
Additionally, SMP songwriters received special honors at the ASCAP, SESAC and BMI awards. Ashley Gorley was named ASCAP’s Songwriter of the Year for an outstanding tenth time with ten of the past year’s most-performed tracks, while also winning Song of the Year thanks to his contributions on the smash hit “You Proof” by Morgan Wallen.
Charlie Handsome also earned recognition at BMI’s Country Awards for his work on “You Proof,” taking home Song of the Year. At SESAC’s Nashville Music Awards, Jon Nite won Songwriter of the Year for top-performing tracks including “Dancin’ In The Country” by Tyler Hubbard, and Song of the Year went to Josh Hoge for his contributions on “Thank God” by Kane Brown and Katelyn Brown.
At the CMA Awards last night, Lainey Wilson was the big winner with wins in five categories, setting a new one-year record for a female artist. Lainey also won musical event of the year and music video of the year alongside HARDY, while Miranda Lambert won awards across four categories.
