2017 AIMP Nashville Awards, presented by the Academy of Country Music,
featured a night of show-stopping performances and honored Nashville’s independent songwriters, artists, publishers and music champions on Monday, May 8.
NASHVILLE, Tenn. — The Nashville Chapter of the Association of Independent Music Publishers (AIMP) hosted the second annual AIMP Nashville Awards last night, presented for the first time ever by the Academy of Country Music. The intimate event took place on Monday evening at the historic Ryman Auditorium, and honored Nashville’s independent publishers, songwriters, artists and music champions with an evening of performances and awards.
“Last night was truly indicative of how great it is to be a part of the independent songwriting and publishing community in Nashville right now,” said AIMP Nashville Executive Director, John Ozier. “ The level of talent in the room was incredible and the camaraderie is what keeps the AIMP Nashville continuing to grow as an organization.”
The 2017 AIMP Nashville Awards was an invitation-only event, open to Nashville’s independent music publishing community — filling the Ryman seats with 700 of Nashville’s most talented and creative independent writers, artists and music industry professionals. The show kicked off to a roaring start with AIMP award-winning band, Old Dominion, performing a rendition of Maren Morris’ 2017 AIMP Song of the Year nominated, “80s Mercedes,” followed by Monument Records artists and AIMP Rising Independent Artist-Writer nominees, Walker Hayes and Caitlyn Smith performing Miranda Lambert’s “Vice.”
Devin Dawson performed Brett Young’s “Sleep Without You” before Don Schlitz took the stage to announce Maren Morris’ “Rich” as the 2017 AIMP Publisher’s Pick, with a performance of the song by AIMP Rising Independent Artist-Writer of the Year Natalie Hemby. Carly Pearce sang Keith Urban’s “Blue Ain’t Your Color” and Jon Pardi, along with Bart Butler, announced Maren Morris as the AIMP Artist-Writer of the Year before Ryan Beaver belted Pardi’s “Head Over Boots.” The evening closed with a performance of Eric Church’s “Kill A Word” by Brandy Clark and the Brothers Osborne’s announcement of “Blue Ain’t Your Color” as the 2017 AIMP Song of the Year.
“The Academy of Country Music was thrilled to support the AIMP as presenting sponsor of the second annual AIMP Nashville Awards,” said Pete Fisher, Academy of Country Music CEO. “All music begins with a song and we are excited to celebrate the independent publishing community who works so hard to give incredible songs life.”
The 2017 AIMP Nashville Awards were made possible by the support by presenting sponsor, the Academy of Country Music. Additional sponsors included ASCAP, BMI, GMR, SESAC and SunTrust. Customized AIMP Nashville playlists are available on Spotify and Google Play.
2017 Nominees are listed below, with winners indicated in each category. Full list of winners can also be found here.
AIMP Rising Independent Songwriter of the Year
Kelly Archer – WINNER
Luke Dick
Justin Ebach
Adam Hambrick
Jesse Lee
Jordan Schmidt
AIMP Rising Independent Artist-Writer of the Year
Ryan Beaver
Devin Dawson
Walker Hayes
Natalie Hemby – WINNER
Carly Pearce
Caitlyn Smith
AIMP Artist – Writer of the Year
Brothers Osborne
Brandy Clark
Eric Church
Maren Morris – WINNER
Old Dominion
Brett Young
AIMP Song Champion of the Year
Jeff Carlton
Courtney Crist – WINNER
Celia Froehlig
Shannan Hatch
Bart Herbison
Jeff Skaggs
AIMP Publisher’s Pick
“Leaving Nashville” written by Abe Stoklasa, Donovan Woods
Big Yellow Dog Music, Shakala Publishing
“Love Can Go To Hell” written by Brandy Clark, Scott Stepakoff
Kobalt Music, Sea Gayle Music, Ten Ten Music Group
“Love Triangle” written by Nicolle Galyon, RaeLynn, Jimmy Robbins
Big Machine Music, Prescription, Round Hill Music
“Rich” written by Jessie Jo Dillion, Maren Morris, Laura Veltz
Big Machine Music, Big Yellow Dog Music, Kobalt Music, Revelry Music – WINNER
“Tacoma” written by Bob DiPiero, Caitlyn Smith
BMG, Cornman Music, Round Hill Music
“Wheels” written by Steve Moakler, Gordie Sampson, Caitlyn Smith
BMG, Cornman Music, Creative Nation Music
AIMP Song of the Year
“Blue Ain’t Your Color” written by Clint Lagerberg, Hillary Lindsey, Steven Lee Olsen Cornman Music, Hillarodyrathbone Music, Sea Gayle Music, Spirit Music – WINNER
“Head Over Boots” written by Luke Laird, Jon Pardi
Creative Nation Music, Song Factory Music
“Vice” written by Miranda Lambert, Shane McAnally, Josh Osborne
SMACKSongs
“Kill A Word” written by Eric Church, Luke Dick, Jeff Hyde
Little Louder Music
“Sleep Without You” written by Kelly Archer, Justin Ebach, Brett Young
Big Machine Music, Downtown Music, Red Creative, Word Country
“80s Mercedes” written by busbee, Maren Morris
BMG, Big Deal Music, Big Yellow Dog Music
AIMP Independent Writer of the Year
busbee – WINNER
Ross Copperman
Zach Crowell
Ashley Gorley
Luke Laird
Shane McAnally
AIMP Independent Publisher of the Year
BMG
Big Loud Shirt / Round Hill Music
Big Yellow Dog Music – WINNER
Combustion Music
Creative Nation Music
SMACKSongs