SESAC Celebrates Songwriters and Publishers at 2019 Nashville Music Awards

News Source: SESAC

SESAC celebrated its songwriters and music publishers behind the year’s most-performed country and Americana songs at the company’s annual Nashville Music Awards, Sunday, Nov. 10, at the Country Music Hall of Fame® and Museum.
Justin Ebach was named SESAC’s Songwriter of the Year  for the second time, taking home his first award in 2017. Ebach’s chart-topping hits from the past year include “Good Girl,” recorded by Dustin Lynch and “Here Tonight,” recorded by Brett Young. The longest running No. 1 Country Airplay song of 2019, “Beautiful Crazy,” co-written by Wyatt Durrette III, published by Rosest Music, and recorded by Luke Combs was named SESAC Song of the Year. Warner Chappell Music took home the Publisher of the Year  accolade during the event, after previously winning the award in 2017.

(L-R) SESAC Sr. Director Creative Services Lydia Schultz, Rosanne Cash, Words & Music Songs is Big Deal's Pete Robinson and SESAC Sr. Director Creative Services ET Brown take photos onstage during the 2019 SESAC Nashville Music Awards at Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum on November 10, 2019 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Erika Goldring/Getty Images for SESAC)

​Dustin Lynch was on hand to present Ebach with his award for Songwriter of the Year, and Song of the Year  and Publisher of the Year  awards were presented by SESAC executives Shannan Hatch and Sam Kling. Eric Church surprised his co-writer, Ray Wylie Hubbard, as he presented him with the award for his song “Desperate Man.”
The awards ceremony kicked off with a lot of energy as Blanco Brown performed his debut smash “The Git Up.” Jimmie Allen provided a moving rendition of his record-breaking debut single “Best Shot” on piano, alongside co-writer and fellow award winner Josh London. Ray Wylie Hubbard took the stage last to perform Eric Church’s “Desperate Man,” which he co-wrote with Church.
The festive event, hosted by Shannan Hatch, SESAC’s Vice President of Creative Services, honored top songwriters and publishers behind the year’s biggest hits in the genres of country and Americana. More than 500 songwriters, publishers, and industry professionals attended the awards celebration, sponsored in part by Sound Royalties, SunTrust, Sweetwater, Bose and Jostens.

Jimmie Allen performs onstage during the 2019 SESAC Nashville Music Awards at Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum on November 10, 2019 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Erika Goldring/Getty Images for SESAC)

(L-R) SESAC Sr. Director Creative Services Lydia Schultz, Rosanne Cash, Words & Music Songs is Big Deal's Pete Robinson and SESAC Sr. Director Creative Services ET Brown take photos onstage during the 2019 SESAC Nashville Music Awards at Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum on November 10, 2019 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Erika Goldring/Getty Images for SESAC)

Eric Church speaks onstage during the 2019 SESAC Nashville Music Awards at Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum on November 10, 2019 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Ed Rode/Getty Images for SESAC)

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Jermaine Sain takes a selfie at SESAC Atlanta.

​About SESAC PRO:
SESAC Performing Rights Organization is the second oldest PRO in the U.S. It drives efficiency in licensing for music users and enhances value for its affiliated writers, publishers and composers by providing timely, efficient royalty collection and distribution. SESAC represents over 30,000 songwriters and film composers from a broad range of genres including artists such as Adele, Bob Dylan, Neil Diamond, David Crosby, Rosanne Cash, Mariah Carey, Kesha, Lalah Hathaway, Christophe Beck, Gabriel Mann and many more. SESAC is a leader and innovator in music licensing that administers public performance, mechanical, and other rights through SESAC PRO and its affiliates including The Harry Fox Agency, Rumblefish, and Mint Digital Services. SESAC Holdings has offices in New York, Nashville, Los Angeles, London and Munich.