‘Famous Friends,’ Ashley Gorley, Warner Chappell Music Lead ASCAP Country Music Award Winners
Performing rights organization ASCAP honored some of the most performed country songs of the past year, at the 60th annual ASCAP Country Music Awards, revealing this year’s slate of honorees across ASCAP’s social media platforms.
Ashley Gorley picked up his ninth ASCAP country music songwriter of the year honor, thanks to his range of penned songs including “Beers on Me” (Dierks Bentley/Breland/Hardy), “Country Again” (Thomas Rhett), “Give Heaven Some Hell” (Hardy), “New Truck” (Dylan Scott), “Sand in My Boots” (Morgan Wallen), “Slow Down Summer” (Thomas Rhett), “Steal My Love” (Dan + Shay), “Take My Name” (Parmalee) and “You Should Probably Leave” (Chris Stapleton).
The Chris Young and Kane Brown-recorded “Famous Friends” was named ASCAP’s country music song of the year. The song was co-written by Corey Crowder and published by Big Crowd Publishing, Georgia Song Vibez and Warner Chappell Music. In addition to several chart-topping songs, Crowder has had placements on television series including Nashville, One Tree Hill, and The Real World.
Warner Chappell Music was named ASCAP country music publisher of the year, thanks to work publishing songs including “Buy Dirt” (Luke Bryan and Jordan Davis), “Cold Beer Calling My Name” (Luke Combs and Jameson Rodgers), “Getting Over Him” (Lauren Alaina), “Lil Bit” (Florida Georgia Line and Nelly), “Never Wanted to Be That Girl” (Ashley McBryde and Carly Pearce) and “You Should Probably Leave” (Chris Stapleton).
ASCAP will honor its award-winning songwriters during an invitation-only event held at Nashville’s Soho House on Monday, Nov. 7. For a full list of this year’s celebrated songs, visit ascap.com.
Jessica Nicholson
Billboard