CHRIS STAPLETON AND ASHLEY GORLEY TAKE TOP HONORS AT ASCAP 2024 COUNTRY MUSIC CELEBRATION

Gorley Receives Songwriter of the Year for 11th Time
Stapleton Named Songwriter/Artist of the Year
"Last Night" Takes Song of the Year
Sony Music Publishing Earns Publisher of the Year

NASHVILLE, Tenn., Nov. 18, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- ASCAP, the American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers, announces the winners of the 62^nd ASCAP Country Music Awards, celebrating the songwriters and publishers of country music's most-performed ASCAP songs of the past year.

Ashley Gorley wins his 11^th ASCAP Country Music Songwriter of the Year honor, extending his record as the winningest ASCAP songwriter in the country format. Among ASCAP's 11 most-performed country songs of the year penned by Gorley are "World on Fire" and "Bulletproof" (Nate Smith), "Save Me the Trouble" (Dan + Shay), "All I Need Is You" (Chris Janson), "Truck Bed" (Hardy), and "God Gave Me s Girl" (Russell Dickerson). Gorley was recently nominated for induction to the Songwriters Hall of Fame.

Chris Stapleton receives the ASCAP Country Music Songwriter/Artist of the Year honor and his "White Horse" (co-written by ASCAP member Dan Wilson) and "Think I'm in Love with You" are among ASCAP's most-performed country songs of the year. Stapleton has two Grammy nominations and is up for five CMA Awards including Entertainer of the Year, Male Vocalist of the Year, and Album of the Year at Wednesday's CMA Awards.

"Last Night" is the ASCAP Country Song of the Year. Co-written by JKash and Ashley Gorley, the song gives Gorley his fourth ASCAP Country Song of the Year win. Sony Music Publishing, Kobalt Songs Music Publishing, Domain Capital Group, Poppy's Picks, Prescription Songs and Rap Kingpin Music celebrated with them. The Grammy-nominated single hit #1 on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart, the Billboard Country Airplay chart and the Billboard Hot 100 where it spent 16 non-consecutive weeks in the top spot. The song is among Gorley's astounding 80 #1 hits, a record accomplishment across all genres.

Sony Music Publishing was named ASCAP Country Music Publisher of the Year for the 11th time with 24 of this year's most-performed songs. Among their impressive list of works are "A Bar Song (Tipsy)," Shaboozey's mega-hit that was #1 concurrently on the Billboard Hot 100 and Billboard Hot Country Songs charts and is the longest-running #1 hit on the Billboard Hot 100 in 2024. The song is up for a CMA Single of the Year honor with Shaboozey nominated for five Grammys and in the CMA New Artist of the Year category. Additional Sony most-performed titles include "Can't Break Up Now" (Old Dominion and Megan Moroney), "If You Go Down (I'm Goin' Down Too)" (Kelsea Ballerini), "Texas Hold 'Em" (Beyoncé), "Outskirts" (Sam Hunt), "Bulletproof" (Nate Smith), "Save Me the Trouble" (Dan + Shay), "I Can Feel It" (Kane Brown), "Light On in the Kitchen" (Ashley McBryde) and "Austin" (Dasha), among others. Sony Music Publishing Nashville CEO Rusty Gaston accepted the award.

ASCAP celebrated the winners at an exclusive gathering in Nashville where guests enjoyed a performance of "High and Lonesome," a recent single by rising duo Everette. ASCAP CEO Elizabeth Matthews, ASCAP Chairman of the Board and President Paul Williams and ASCAP Vice President of Nashville Membership Mike Sistad handed out awards as writers of the most-performed songs enjoyed catching up with peers and friends at the invitation-only celebration.

A complete list of ASCAP Country Music Award winners can be found at: www.ascap.com/countryawards24.

About ASCAP

The American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers (ASCAP) is a membership association of more than one million songwriters, composers and music publishers, and represents some of the world's most talented music creators. Founded and governed by songwriters, composers and publishers, it is the only performing rights organization in the U.S. that operates on a not-for-profit basis. ASCAP licenses a repertory of over 20 million musical works to hundreds of thousands of businesses that use music, including streaming services, cable television, radio and satellite radio and brick and mortar businesses such as retail stores, hotels, clubs, restaurants and bars. ASCAP collects the licensing fees; identifies, matches and processes trillions of performances every year; and returns nearly 90 cents of every dollar back to its members as royalties. The ASCAP blanket license offers an efficient solution for businesses to legally perform ASCAP music while respecting the right of songwriters and composers to be paid fairly. ASCAP puts music creators first, advocating for their rights and the value of music on Capitol Hill, driving innovation that moves the industry forward, building community and providing the resources and support that creators need to succeed in their careers. Learn more and stay in touch at www.ascap.com, on Twitter and Instagram @ASCAP and on Facebook.

SOURCE ASCAP - American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers