NSAI Archives - Nashville Music Line

Songs, songwriters honored at Nashville Songwriter Awards

“The Painter” wins Song of the Year

by Preshias Harris

It is the one night a year when songwriters step into the spotlight to be recognized by their peers and the music industry for the amazing songs they create that can literally change the lives of so many people. It’s a sad fact that many of those people have no idea who wrote the songs they hear, performed by the recording artists they love.

On September 24, the 7th Annual Nashville Songwriter Awards, produced by the Nashville Songwriters Association International (NSAI) and presented by City National Bank, took over the stage at the historic Ryman Auditorium.

*Benjy Davis, Kat Higgins and Ryan Larkins (holding their awards) prepare to sing “The Painter” the Number One hit recorded by Cody Johnson. Photo: Tori Perry*

Read my full report, including red carpet interviews, full details about the award winners and all eleven (!) of the ‘Ten Songs I Wish I’d Written’ at Center Stage Mag here.

The prestigious ‘Song of the Year’ Award went to “The Painter” penned by Benny Davis, Kat Higgins and Ryan Larkins, recorded by Cody Johnson, topping the Billboard Country Airplay charts.

*Ashley Gorley makes his acceptance remarks after receiving ‘Songwriter of the Year’ Award for the eighth time. Photo: Tori Perry*

Songwriter phenom Ashley Gorley received the Songwriter of the Year Award for a record-setting eighth time. Ashley, who is overdue for inclusion in the Kentucky Music Hall of Fame (just sayin’!), has scored at least seventy-nine Number One hits in a career that is still going strong.

*Denise Jackson reacts to hubby Alan Jackson’s remarks during the ceremony. Photo: Tori Perry*

Alan Jackson was honored with the Kris Kristofferson Lifetime Achievement Award (four days before the sad news of the passing of Kristofferson himself).

Nashville Songwriter Awards set for Sept 24

Alan Jackson, Buddy Cannon and ’10 Songs I Wish I’d Written’

By Preshias Harris

Superstar singer-songwriter Alan Jackson and songwriter-producer Buddy Cannon have been revealed as honorees at the upcoming 7^th annual Nashville Songwriter Awards. The announcement was made by the Nashville Songwriters Association International (NSAI), alongside presenting partner City National Bank, who will again bring the music industry and fans together at the Ryman Auditorium on September 24, 2024.

Read my full article about the 7^th annual Nashville Songwriter Awards at the Preshias On The Row page at Center Stage Magazine here.

Tin Pan South is back with new features for ’24

98 shows at 10 venues, April 2-6, 2024

By Preshias Harris

Once again, Nashville will be where you’ll find songwriters and the people who love them, as they descend on venues across Music City in April for the 32nd Tin Pan South Songwriters Festival presented by Regions – and a new venue has been added to the program.

The Nashville Songwriters Association International (NSAI) has announced details about the Festival that will take place April 2 through April 6, 2024. As in previous years, it features a five-day festival of highly-anticipated songwriter performances, along with some additional events that are new to Tin Pan South this year. Scroll down for venues and new ticketing info.

New programs for 2024

For the first time, festival programming will include two midday events diving deeper into the world of songwriting. Hosted by Analog at the Hutton Hotel, at 12:00 noon on Wednesday, April 3, 2024 there will be a Legislative Panel featuring Danielle Aguirre (EVP & General Counsel, National Music Publishers Association), Mitch Glazier (Chairman & CEO, Recording Industry Association of America) and Bart Herbison (Executive Director, Nashville Songwriters Association International). Later the same day, there will be a Songwriter Conversation featuring Siedah Garrett (“Man In The Mirror”, “Love You I Do”) at 2:00pm with an option to also purchase a lunch add-on for the afternoon.

Additionally, Tin Pan South has partnered with the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum to present a Poets and Prophets program featuring singer-songwriter (and an inductee in both the Songwriters Hall of Fame and Kentucky Music Hall of Fame) Jackie DeShannon on Saturday, April 6 at 2:30pm. Festival ticket-purchasers can purchase discounted museum admission and reserve tickets to the program here. This ticket includes museum admission with an entry time of 12:45pm, followed by the program.

Venues and ticketing

For the evening performances that attendees have come to know and love, this year promises to bring incredible talent to the stages of several returning venues and a new addition to the festival family, Anzie Blue. Returning venues include: 3rd and Lindsley Nashville, Analog at the Hutton Hotel, The Bluebird Cafe, The Lounge at City Winery Nashville, Commodore Grille, Cross-Eyed Critters Watering Hole, Hard Rock Cafe, The Listening Room Café and The Station Inn.

Nashville Songwriter Awards honor year’s best songs and writers

Bobby Braddock receives Kris Kristofferson Lifetime Achievement Award

By Preshias Harris

The 6^th Annual Nashville Songwriter Awards took over the hallowed stage of the Ryman Auditorium in Nashville, September 26, 2023. The glittering event honors and recognizes the extraordinary men and women who are the driving force behind the songs usually associated with the artists who perform them. The Awards show was produced by Nashville Songwriters Association International (NSAI) and presented by City National Bank.

Front row L-R: David Israelite (2023 NSAI Advocacy Award recipient), Sonya Isaacs, Steve Bogard (NSAI, Board President), Bobby Braddock (2023 NSAI Kris Kristofferson Lifetime Achievement Award recipient), Nicolle Galyon, Emily Shackelton, Ashley Gorley (2023 NSAI ‘Songwriter of the Year’ recipient), Megan Moroney, Trannie Anderson (NSAI 2023 ‘Song of the Year’ recipient), Ben Burgess, Jennifer Turnbow (NSAI, Chief Operating Officer).

Back row L-R: Jimmy Yeary, Bart Herbison (NSAI, Executive Director), Ben Johnson, Dallas Wilson (NSAI 2023 ‘Song of the Year’ recipient), Ben Williams, Mark Holman, Hunter Phelps, David Fanning, Paul Jenkins. Photo credit: Jason Davis

Songwriter of the Year Ashley Gorley. Photo: Tori Perry Photography

Kentucky’s own Ashley Gorley seems to be setting an unmatchable level of achievement, receiving the Songwriter of the Year Award for a record seventh time. As of this writing, Ashley has notched up a record-breaking sixty-four Number One hits, a score that has probably increased by the time you read this.

Morgan Wallen was honored with the Songwriter-Artist of the Year and the NSAI Advocacy Award went to David Israelite, President and CEO of the National Music Publishers’ Association. Tim McGraw was NSAI President’s Keystone Award recipient.

The Song of the Year Award went to Trannie Anderson, Dallas Wilson and Lainey Wilson for “Heart Like A Truck” recorded by Wilson.

It’s Songwriter Contest time again!

NSAI’s 24^th Song Contest launches August 1^st

by Preshias Harris

The Nashville Songwriters Association International (NSAI) along with presenting sponsors The Bluebird Cafe and CMT have announced additional details for the 24th annual NSAI Song Contest. (Scroll down to see how to enter.)

Launching August 1 at 12:00pm Central, this year’s contest will award over $20,000 worth of prizes including: two cash prizes ($5,000 and $2,500), $1,500 towards a Guitar Center purchase, two 417e guitars from Taylor Guitar, a mentor session with either Ingrid Andress or David Hodges, a one-year single-song publishing contract with Anthem Entertainment, a tour of the CMT Headquarters and 2 pairs of tickets to 2024 CMT Music Awards, an experience at The Bluebird Cafe and more.

Songwriters of all genres are invited to submit their songs and/or lyrics here www.nsaisongcontest.com to be evaluated by industry professionals for valuable feedback and for their chance to win big. Up to 22 entries will place in the contest after several phases of judging, including a live final judging where the Lyric Category winner will be announced and the Song Category Top 10 finalists will be judged once more before revealing the Grand Prize Song Category Winner. Judging will take place no later than January 2024.

Key West Songwriters Festival: musical fun in the sun

250 performances at 50+ shows across the island

By Preshias Harris

*(L to R:) Marti Frederiksen, Elisha Hoffman, Rebecca Lynn Howard. Photo: Brittni Talley/NSAI*

*Michael Ray at the Saturday Night Block Party. Photo: Preshias Harris*

Songwriters, performers and music fans swelled the usual population of vacationers and year-round residents at one of the USA’s most unique locations for five days in May.

The occasion was the 27^th Annual Key West Songwriters Festival, held at the southernmost tip of Florida and the Sunshine State lived up to its nickname for the five-day Fest, May 3 through 7. As always, the Festival’s shows drew songwriters and appreciative audiences from across the USA and beyond.

*(L to R:) SJ McDonald, McCall Chapin, Josiah Siska. Photo: Preshias Harris*

*Raltson Wells (left) and Garrett Bradford point to their favorite songwriter*

*(L to R:) Hannah Noel, Preshias Harris, Dawson Slade enjoy the Key West sunshine. Photo: Brittni Talley/NSAI*

Another stunning Tin Pan South delivers ‘goosebumps’

Acoustic versions and ‘stories behind the songs’

By Preshias Harris

*(L to R): Mark Hudson, Garth Brooks, Victoria Shaw on the Musicnotes Stage, Analog/Hutton Hotel. Photo credit: NSAI*

If you were able to attend the history-making 2023 Tin Pan South Songwriters Festival, then you were a lucky human. From hearing the stories behind the songs that included: ‘The Dance”, “Amazed”, ‘Check Yes or No”, “The Most Beautiful Girl”, “Ships That Don’t Come In”, “The River”, “Beer With Jesus”, “Daddy Wasn’t The Cadillac Kind”, “She Had Me At Heads Carolina”, “All About That Bass” “Whiskey Glasses” and I could go on for days… :D. If there was a place where GOOSEBUMPS came from, it might be a Tin Pan South show…

*(L to R): Matt Jenkins, Caitlyn Smith, Gordie Sampson, Bob DiPiero at The Listening Room*. Photo credit: Tori Perry

NSAI holds “World’s Largest No. 1 Party”

Jody Williams honored with the 2022 ‘NSAI Champion’ award

by Preshias Harris

The Nashville Songwriters Association International (NSAI) along with event sponsors, Truist Wealth and Ford, welcomed songwriters and guests to The Reserve at Fat Bottom Brewing Co. for their long-awaited World’s Largest #1 Party. The celebration was held to honor all songs with a Nashville-associated writer that reached #1 on the Billboard Airplay, Digital, Hot or Mediabase charts during the period of September 2019 through December 2021.

The event began with a special presentation, announcing that Jody Williams, industry powerhouse and founder of Jody Williams Music, was the 2022 recipient of the ‘NSAI Champion’ award. The award is given in recognition of generous support for – and dedication to – songwriters, the music industry and NSAI, and is chosen by the NSAI Executive Director.

*(L to R): Steve Bogard, NSAI Board President, Jody Williams, 2022 ‘NSAI Champion’ award recipient. Photo credit: NSAI / Savannah Grimm*

“Jody Williams has spent his professional career in the music industry helping songwriters and others. I am one such individual, in my twenty-five years as NSAI Executive Director enlisting Jody’s help dozens of times. He’s always responded and his word is as good as gold.” – Bart Herbison, Executive Director, NSAI

(If I may add my own testimonial for this well-deserved ‘NSAI Champion’ award, during his tenure in Writer Relations at BMI, I have personally seen Jody Williams get enthusiastically involved with the careers of songwriters – including new and emerging writers – often guiding them to successful publishing deals.)

Songwriters recognized at NSAI Member Awards

First ever ‘in person’ NSAI Member Awards

By Preshias Harris

Songwriters are always the focus of the Annual Tin Pan South Festival that wrapped up a few days ago. They take the stage to play their songs and tell the stories behind their creation. This year, The Nashville Songwriters Association International (NSAI) kicked it up a notch with their first ever in-person NSAI Member Awards (presented by Regions Bank). The Awards recognize the achievements of songwriters in chapters across America and around the world. The invitation-only event was held at Analog at the Hutton Hotel in Nashville and included performances from several of the songwriters.

*NSAI Member Award recipients gather for a group photo at The Analog, Hutton hotel*

“We have thousands of songwriter members who may not describe themselves as professional songwriters, but write amazing songs, are outstanding performers, and deserve recognition for their work. This is one of the most exciting additions to NSAI’s programming in years and we applaud Region’s Bank for underwriting this event. Nothing could be more in line with the part of our mission statement that says: ‘to educate, elevate and celebrate the songwriter’.” – Bart Herbison, NSAI Executive Director

At the risk of some ‘shameless self-promotion’… During the Awards ceremony, I was surprised to be called to the stage by Bart Herbison who joked that he and Erika Nichols, General Manager of Nashville’s famed Bluebird Café, often argue about who is the biggest supporter of the songwriting community. He added that everyone could agree that Preshias Harris is the best friend that any songwriter could wish for. He then presented me with the Friend of NSAI Award, saying that it recognized what he called my tireless activities encouraging and supporting songwriters. I felt both humbled and honored to receive the medallion. In my world, this was my equivalent of winning a GRAMMY! A day and an honor I will never forget.

MLC collects $40m from digital service providers

Royalties being distributed to copyright owners

Copyright owners – publishers and songwriters — can celebrate this month. The Mechanical Licensing Collective (MLC) made its first regular payment distribution to publishers in April, according to a statement by Nashville Songwriters Association International (NSAI).

The statement said: “NSAI is proud of our involvement in crafting and passing the Music Modernization Act, which created the MLC and streamlined the way digital mechanical licenses are issued and royalties distributed. This distribution marks a historic moment in music history and we look forward to the continued success of the MLC in matching copyright owners to digital usage while providing transparency and stability in the digital mechanical landscape.”

The distribution included royalties from the use of musical works by U.S. digital service providers (DSPs) during January 2021. It did not include any historical unmatched royalties, according to a statement at the MLC website.

Becoming a Member of The MLC is easy and free! To learn more about being a self-administered songwriter Member, click here.

“The Painter” wins Song of the Year

Alan Jackson, Buddy Cannon and ’10 Songs I Wish I’d Written’

98 shows at 10 venues, April 2-6, 2024

New programs for 2024

Venues and ticketing

Bobby Braddock receives Kris Kristofferson Lifetime Achievement Award

NSAI’s 24th Song Contest launches August 1st

250 performances at 50+ shows across the island

Acoustic versions and ‘stories behind the songs’

Jody Williams honored with the 2022 ‘NSAI Champion’ award

First ever ‘in person’ NSAI Member Awards

Royalties being distributed to copyright owners

NSAI’s 24^th Song Contest launches August 1^st