Jordan Davis, Morgan Wallen and Big Loud Publishing Lead 2024 AIMP Nashville Country Awards

Many of Nashville's top songwriters and music publishers were honored Monday night (April 1) during the Association of Independent Music Publishers (AIMP) Nashville Country Awards, held at the Ryman Auditorium. The Spotify-sponsored event, hosted by Storme Warren, brought together a host of songwriters and industry executives from Nashville's independent country songwriter and publishing community.

Jordan Davis, who is released independently on Anthem Entertainment, was named Artist-Writer of the Year, while his song 'Next Thing You Know', which he co-wrote with Josh Osborne, Chase McGill and Greylan James, was named Song of the Year ; the song was independently published by Anthem Entertainment.

“This is amazing,” Davis he said crowd who took to the stage to accept the Artist-Writer of the Year honour, adding: 'I was moved [to Nashville] in 2012 and I dreamed of walking into the room to write songs with some of the people sitting here in those front rows and never in a million years would I have dreamed that I would have found the community and family that I have here in Nashville. I'm blessed to be able to say that I do this for a living.”

Big Loud Publishing won publisher of the year honors, while Morgan Wallen, who is independently published by Big Loud Publishing, was named songwriter of the year. Wallen's '98 Braves, written by Travis Wood, John Byron and Josh Miller, was named Publisher of the Year. the song was independently published by Creative Nation Music, Big Loud Publishing and Concord Music Publishing.

Wallen's “Last Night,” written by Wallen, John Byron, Ashley Gorley, Charlie Handsome and JKash, was named the most streamed country song of the year by AIMP. the song was independently published by Big Loud Publishing and Prescription Songs.

The award for emerging songwriter of the year went to Rocky Block (independently published by Big Loud Publishing), who has co-written songs such as Cody Johnson's “Whiskey Bent” and his “Man Made a Bar” and “Cowgirls” Wallen.

“I've been to so many of them and dreamed about it,” Block he said. “I've independently published my entire career,” Block said, thanking Bob DiPiero for being a champion from the start and also thanking Big Loud. “I'm grateful to work with all of you in this room.”

Meanwhile, Mae Estes, who is independently published by Plaid Flag Music and Kobalt Music Publishing, was named Emerging Artist-Writer of the Year. Estes is known for songs like “Hell You Raised” and “Roses”.

“I worked three jobs at a time in this town for almost six years and finally got a publishing deal to write songs in Music City and you changed my whole life,” Estes he said audience shortly before achieved another milestone that night, performing on the stage of the Ryman Auditorium for the first time.

“The awards are always a magical night with the nominated artists performing songs nominated for Song of the Year,” says Ree Guyer, owner of Wrensong Entertainment, in a statement. “It's always fun to see our independent publishers come together to celebrate each other in a relaxed, intimate setting.”

As is tradition for the AIMP Nashville Awards, past and present Emerging Artist-Songwriter of the Year and Artist-Songwriter of the Year nominees were on hand to perform. Each Song of the Year and each Publisher's Choice Song nominated songs in the category were performed by someone other than the original artist or writer. This year's performers were Davis, Dylan Scott, Russell Dickerson, Estes, George Birge, Dylan Marlowe and HARDY.

Big Machine Music VP of Publishing Tim Hunze has been named the recipient of the 2024 AIMP Song Champion Award, recognizing his contributions to the independent publishing and songwriting community. Hunze gave advice he received from songwriter Tom Shapiro, saying, “If you take care of creatives and writers, you'll always have a job.” That's the best part of what I get to do, working with the creatives.” He also nodded to win the song champion award, saying, “Being a song champion is just about being passionate and finding something you love. I've done the same thing since I was a kid. I found a band I liked and I told all my friends and all my friends about it.”