SESAC Award Winners

At the Nov. 7 2011 SESAC Nashville Awards Lady Antebellum’s Hillary Scott was bestowed with the Songwriter of the Year honor, and Anthony Smith was awarded with Song of the Year for “Tomorrow,” recorded by Chris Young. (L-R): SESAC’s Trevor Gale, Hillary Scott, SESAC’s Pat Collins, SESAC’s Tim Fink and Anthony Smith. Photo: Ed Rode

SESAC held its 2011 Nashville Music Awards on Nov. 7 at The Pinnacle at Symphony Place. The honors were hosted by SESAC VP Writer/Publisher Relations Tim Fink.

Awards for the year’s top performing songs were given to the SESAC writers and publishers who helped create them. SESAC also recognized and honored several writers making significant contributions to the growth of Americana music. Receiving honors from SESAC were the following:

SESAC Songwriter of the Year:
Hillary Scott, who was honored for a total of four awards during the evening including three No. 1 hits for Lady Antebellum and Sara Evans’ chart-topping “A Little Bit Stronger.”

SESAC Song of the Year:
“Tomorrow,” written by Anthony Smith, which was a No. 1 hit for Chris Young. Published by Dreams To Music & Grand Poobah Publishing.

SESAC Publisher of the Year:
EMI Foray Music and Hillary Dawn Songs

Country Performance Activity Awards:
“A Little Bit Stronger” (Sara Evans)
Writer: Hillary Scott; Publisher: Hillary Dawn Songs / EMI Foray Music

“Tomorrow” (Chris Young)
Writer: Anthony Smith; Publisher: Dreams To Music / Grand Poobah Publishing

“Just A Kiss,” (Lady Antebellum)
Writer: Hillary Scott; Publisher: Hillary Dawn Songs / EMI Foray Music

“Family Man” (Craig Campbell)
Writer: Craig Campbell; Publisher: Acoustic Peanut Publishing / Melodies of Bigger Picture

“Beautiful Every Time,” (Lee Brice)
Writer: Lance Miller; Publisher: Melvins Bullets Music / Melvins Pistol Music / Songs of StyleSonic Music

“Cost Of Livin’” (Ronnie Dunn)
Writer: Phillip Coleman; Publisher: Tractor Radio Songs

“Fish” (Craig Campbell)
Writers: Craig Campbell / Arlos Smith / Ashe Underwood; Publisher: Jeff Jack and the Mule Music / Acoustic Peanut Publishing / Melodies of Bigger Picture / Geormac Music

“Amen” (Eden’s Edge)
Writer: Catt Gravitt; Publisher: Ink Pen Mama Music / Songs of Maxx Publishing / Tunes of R and T Direct

“Our Kind Of Love” (Lady Antebellum)
Writer: Hillary Scott; Publisher: Hillary Dawn Songs / EMI Foray Music

“Need You Now” (Lady Antebellum)
Writer: Hillary Scott; Publisher: Hillary Dawn Songs / EMI Foray Music

“I Gotta Get To You” (George Strait)
Writers: Blaine Larsen & Jim Lauderdale; Publisher: Blaine Larsen Music / Slay The Dragon Music / Chrysalis One Tunes / Wudang Mountain Songs

“’Til Summer Comes Around” (Keith Urban)
Writer: Monty Powell; Publisher: Eden Valley Music / ole

Americana Performance Activity Awards:
Bob Dylan
For his contributions to the Old 97’s album The Grand Theatre Volume One (Publisher: Special Rider Music), Wanda Jackson’s The Party Ain’t Over (Publisher: Special Rider Music), Sarah Jarosz’s Follow Me Down (Publisher: Special Rider Music), and North Mississippi Allstars’ Keys To The Kingdom (Publisher: Dwarf Music)

Jonathan Byrd
For his ontribution to Tim O’Brien’s Chicken & Egg (Publisher: Jonathan Byrd Music)

Hayes Carll
For his contributions to his own album KMAG YOYO (Publisher: Highway 87 Publishing)

Colin Brooks
For his contribution The Band of Heathens’ Top Hat Crown & The Clapmaster’s Son (Publisher: Brooks Wood Products)

Seth Avett
For his contribution to G. Love’s Fixin’ To Die (Publisher: First Big Snow Publishing)

Jim Lauderdale
For his contribution to Elvis Costello’s National Ransom (Publisher: Wudang Mountain Songs)