NASHVILLE, TENN., Nov. 2, 2015 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- SESAC, the nation's most progressive performing rights organization, kicked off CMA Week by honoring the songwriters and music publishers behind the year's most-performed Country and Americana songs at the organization's Nashville Music Awards held Sunday, November 1, at the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum.
Cary Barlowe, who topped the charts with smash hits such as "Sun Daze" by Florida Georgia Line and "Where It's At (Yep, Yep)" recorded by Dustin Lynch, was named SESAC's Songwriter of the Year.
"Homegrown," written by Zac Brown, Niko Moon and Wyatt Durrette, published by Rosest Music, and recorded by Zac Brown Band was named SESAC Song of the Year.
Magic Mustang Music was honored as Publisher of the Year at the event.
In a special presentation, award-winning songwriter Richard Leigh, who wrote "Don't It Make My Brown Eyes Blue," "The Greatest Man I Never Knew," "Somewhere In My Broken Heart," and dozens of other country hits, was honored with the SESAC Songwriter Legacy Award in recognition of his contribution to country music. Legendary songstresses Reba and Crystal Gayle performed "The Greatest Man I Never Knew" and "Don't It Make My Brown Eyes Blue," respectively, during Leigh's special recognition.
The awards dinner featured an evening of memorable musical performances, including Michael Ray's rocking rendition of "Kiss You in the Morning," and Randy Houser's poignant performance of "Like A Cowboy."
The festive black-tie event honored the writers and publishers behind the year's biggest hits with awards being presented to the elite group of creative talent. More than 500 songwriters, publishers and industry professionals attended the gala evening, including Lady Antebellum's Hillary Scott, Joe Nichols, Jerrod Niemann, Cole Swindell, Kelsea Ballerini, and many others.
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ABOUT SESAC
SESAC is the only Music Rights Organization in the United States, serving both music users and creators with music licensing services that utilize sophisticated information technology and data science in order to provide timely, efficient royalty collection and distribution. SESAC is unique in its ability to offer singular licenses for the works of its affiliated writers and publishers that aggregate both performance and mechanical rights in order to drive greater efficiency in licensing for music users, as well as enhanced value for music creators and publishers.
SESAC's Performing Rights subsidiary is the second oldest and most progressive PRO in the U.S., the only PRO to pay monthly radio royalties and was the first PRO to pay songwriters and publishers for live performances in venues of any size. Its affiliate roster continues to grow, with recent signings such as Green Day, Mariah Carey, Zac Brown, Kesha, Charli XCX and Nikki Sixx joining established affiliates such as Bob Dylan, Neil Diamond, Lady Antebellum and the Kurt Cobain estate.
Following the acquisition of the Harry Fox Agency, the leading U.S. Mechanical Rights Organization, SESAC's Rumblefish subsidiary, a leader in music micro-licensing, was merged with HFA's Slingshot business unit under the Rumblefish brand. This powerful combination drives value for creators and users of music by delivering a comprehensive digital rights management platform designed to simplify the administration of musical compositions and master recordings, monetize network platforms such as YouTube and provide license verification services utilizing its RADKey® technology.
SESAC has offices in New York, Nashville, Los Angeles, Atlanta, Miami, Portland, San Francisco and London.
A complete list of SESAC Award Recipients Follows:
Songwriter of the Year:
Cary Barlowe
Song of the Year:
"Homegrown"
Written by Zac Brown, Niko Moon, Wyatt Durrette
Recorded by Zac Brown Band
Publisher of the Year:
Magic Mustang Music
Country Performance Activity Awards:
"Homegrown"
Written by Zac Brown, Niko Moon, Wyatt Durrette
Published by Day for the Dead Publishing
Southern Ground
Rosest Music
Recorded by Zac Brown Band
"Loving You Easy"
Written by Zac Brown, Niko Moon
Published by Day for the Dead Publishing
Southern Ground
"Make Me Wanna"
Written by Larry McCoy
Published by Hondo Creek Music
Recorded by Thomas Rhett
"Like A Cowboy"
Written by Brice Long
Published by SingaBLongSong
Tunes of Parallel
Recorded by Randy Houser
"Sun Daze"
Written by Cary Barlowe
Published by We Be Pawtying
Castle Bound Music
Recorded by Florida Georgia Line
"Where It's At (Yep, Yep)"
Written by Cary Barlowe
Published by We Be Pawtying
Castle Bound Music
Recorded by Dustin Lynch
"Ain't Worth The Whiskey"
Written by Josh Martin
Published by Josh Martin Music
Recorded by Cole Swindell
"Kiss You In The Morning"
Written by Justin Wilson
Published by Legends of Magic Mustang Music
Recorded by Michael Ray
"Hell Of A Night"
Written by Jaron Boyer
Published by Jaron Boyer Music
peertunes ltd
Recorded by Dustin Lynch
"Riot"
Written by Jaron Boyer
Published by Jaron Boyer Music
peertunes ltd.
Recorded by Rascal Flatts
"Freestyle"
Written by Hillary Scott
Published by Hobbs Hill Publishing
Recorded by Lady Antebellum
"Long Stretch Of Love"
Written by Hillary Scott
Published by Hobbs Hill Publishing
Recorded by Lady Antebellum
"Bartender"
Written by Hillary Scott
Published by Hobbs Hill Publishing
Recorded by Lady Antebellum
"Hard To Be Cool"
Written by Rob Hatch
Published by Way Down The Hatch Music Publishing
Legends of Magic Mustang Music
Recorded by Joe Nichols
"I Don't Dance"
Written by Rob Hatch
Published by Way Down The Hatch Music Publishing
Legends of Magic Mustang Music
Recorded by Lee Brice
"Goodnight Kiss"
Written by Rob Hatch
Published by Way Down The Hatch Music Publishing
Legends of Magic Mustang Music
"Drink To That All Night"
Written by Lance Miller
Published by Spirit Nashville Three
Melvins Pistol Music
Melvins Bullets Music
Recorded by Jerrod Niemann
AMERICANA HONOREES
Didn't It Rain
Contributions by
Beth Nielsen Chapman
Published by Songs of Prismlight Music
Recorded by Amy Helm
The Blade
Contributions by Jamie Floyd
Published by Jamie Floyd Music
Recorded by Ashley Monroe
Traveller
Contributions by Jerry Salley
Published by Den What Music
Recorded by Chris Stapleton
Bound By The Blues
Contributions by Robert Johnson, Sonny Landreth
Published by MPCA King of Spades
Land Line Music
Recorded by Sonny Landreth
The Ruffian's Misfortune
Contributions by Ray Wylie Hubbard
Published by Snake Farm Publishing
Recorded by Ray Wylie Hubbard
Down To Believing
Contributions by Allison Moorer
Published by Petybug Tunes
WBM Music Corp
Recorded by Allison Moorer
Watkins Family Hour
Contributions by Bob Dylan
Published by Rams Horn Music
Recorded by Watkins Family Hour
Django and Jimmie
Contributions by Bob Dylan
Published by Special Rider Music
Recorded by Willie Nelson & Merle Haggard
Lost On The River: The New Basement Tapes
Contributions by Bob Dylan, Marcus Mumford
Published by Special Rider Music
Recorded by The New Basement Tapes
The Firewatcher's Daughter
Contributions by Seth Avett, Scott Avett
Published by First Big Snow Publishing
Nevoivmusic
Ramseur Family Fold Music
Recorded by Brandi Carlisle
And The War Came
Contributions by Esme Patterson
Published by Kid Tiger
Recorded by Shakey Graves
The Way I'm Livin'
Contributions by Hayes Carll
Published by Hwy 87 Publishing
Recorded by Lee Ann Womack
Promise Of A Brand New Day
Contributions by Bonnie Bramlett
Recorded by Ruthie Foster