AIMP HONORS INDEPENDENT SONGWRITERS AND PUBLISHERS AT 2025 AWARDS PROGRAM 

NASHVILLE, TN (April 9, 2025) — The Association for Independent Music Publishers (AIMP) celebrated the 2025 AIMP Nashville Country Awards Wednesday evening at Marathon Music Works. The event was emceed by beloved radio host veteran Storme Warren and paid tribute to the best of Nashville’s independent songwriters and publishers. 

“What a magical night celebrating the Nashville independent community of writers and publishers. There was an undeniable sense of community in the room,”
– Ree Guyer – Wrensong Entertainment

“What a magical night celebrating the Nashville independent community of writers and publishers. There was an undeniable sense of community in the room,” says Ree Guyer, Wrensong Entertainment. “Thank you to my amazing awards committee, who worked incredibly hard to bring this night to life.”

True to AIMP tradition, the evening featured unique and intimate performances by past and present Rising Artist-Writer of the Year and Artist-Writer of the Year nominees and winners. To commemorate the 10th anniversary of the awards, every performance highlighted a song that had previously won the Song of the Year category. Each song was given its moment to shine with an acoustic set performed by someone other than the original artist or writer. This year’s performers included HARDY performing “Girl Crush,” Jordan Davis performing “Blue Ain’t Your Color,” Hailey Whitters performing “Drinkin’ Problem,” Carly Pearce with “Rainbow,” Lee Brice with “The Bones,” Jackson Dean with “One of Them Girls,” Old Dominion with “Sand in My Boots,” Ashley McBryde with “You Should Probably leave,” and Hannah Ellis & Nick Wayne with “Next Thing You Know.”

The night’s winners included the Song of the Year, “The Painter,” written by Benjy Davis, Ryan Larkins, and Kat Higgins. Big Machine Music took home Publisher of the Year, and Jordan Davis took home Artist-Writer of the Year for the second consecutive year. Jessie Jo Dillon took home Songwriter of the Year. Jon Decious won the Rising Songwriter of the Year award, and Zach Top won the Rising Artist-Writer of the Year. The Publisher Pick of the Year was “Hell Is A Dance Floor,” written by Vincent Mason and Chase McDaniel and performed by Vincent Mason. 

The 2025 AIMP Song Champion Award went to Courtney Allen of Concord Music Publishing for her enduring and significant contributions to the independent publishing and songwriting community. 

The presenting sponsors for this event were Humanable and Sony Music Nashville. Additional sponsors included WME, Leo33, CURB, GMR, ASCAP, BMI, SESAC, FirstBank, and BroadJam

For a complete list of this year’s winners, please visit www.aimpnashvilleawards.com.

Rising Songwriter of the Year
Jon Decious – Independently published by OneRiot Music, Reservoir Media

Rising Artist-Writer of the Year
Zach Top – Independently published by Major Bob Music

Artist Writer of the Year
Jordan Davis – Independently published by Anthem Entertainment

Song Champion of the Year
Courtney Allen – Sr. Director, A&R, Concord Music Publishing

Publisher Pick of the Year
“Hell Is A Dance Floor” written by Vincent Mason and Chase McDaniel; independently published by Hang Your Hat Music, Concord Music Publishing; Performed by Vincent Mason

Song of the Year
“The Painter” written by Benjy Davis, Kat Higgins, and Ryan Larkins; Independently published by Big Machine Music, Nashblonde Music; Performed by Cody Johnson

Songwriter of the Year
Jessie Jo Dillon –  independently published by Big Machine Music

Independent Publishing Company of the Year
Big Machine Music

###

ABOUT AIMP NASHVILLE

AIMP Nashville’s mission is to present events that offer independent publishers and the Nashville music community collectively a quality source of education and business development that supports their businesses in the face of the dynamic challenges of a globally driven music industry.

ABOUT AIMP

The Association of Independent Music Publishers (AIMP) is a non-profit organization providing education and information on the most current topics, trends, and practices in the music publishing industry. Formed in 1977 by a group of Los Angeles music publishers, the AIMP has chapters in Los Angeles, New York, and Nashville that host regular panel discussions, workshops, networking opportunities, and special events. Its membership is comprised of professionals in the music publishing and entertainment industries, including independent music publishers and publishers affiliated with record labels, motion picture, and television production companies, music supervisors, songwriters, artist managers, marketing executives, as well as legal and accounting professionals.