2025 AIMP Nashville Awards
The Association for Independent Music Publishers (AIMP) celebrated the 2025 AIMP Nashville Awards last night at Marathon Music Works. The event paid tribute to 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,” 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 presenting sponsors for this event were Humanable and Sony Music Nashville. Additional sponsors included WME, Leo33, CURB, GMR, ASCAP, BMI, SESAC, FirstBank, and BroadJam
2025 AIMP Nashville Award Winners
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
