Ashley Gorley Wins Songwriter of the Year at ASCAP Country Awards for 11th Time; Sony Music Publishing Also Keeps Streak Going

The suspense wasn't killing anyone: Ashley Gorley was named songwriter of the year as the winners of the ASCAP Country Awards were revealed in Nashville Monday night, claiming the honor for the 11th time.

Gorley came up for other kudos, too. One of the hits he co-wrote, Morgan Wallen's crossover smash "Last Night," earned ASCAP's award for song of the year. It's the fourth time Gorley has had a hand in ASCAP's song of the year to go along with his acknowledgement for his overall work.

Also in the no-surprises department, Sony Music Publishing was named publisher of the year... also for an 11th time.

There was at least some turnover with the fourth major award ASCAP gives out as part of the festivities. Chris Stapleton won the award for songwriter/artist of the year. Last year, that went to Jordan Davis.

Gorley is widely considered contemporary country's most successful writer, with 80 No. 1 country songs at this point, a status that has led to honors outside of his usual stopping place at the ASCAPs. Last December, he was honored by Variety at the publication's annual Hitmakers event in Los Angeles as the songwriter of the year. Right now, he's nominated for induction into the Songwriters Hall of Fame.

Gorley co-wrote 11 of ASCAP's most played songs this year, including Nate Smith's "World on Fire" and "Bulletproof," Dan + Shay's "Save Me the Trouble," Chris Janson's "All I Need Is You," Hardy's "Truck Bed" and Russell Dickerson's "God Gave Me a Girl."

"Last Night" was celebrated for its ASCAP-signatory writers, Gorley and Jkash, and six publishing companies, Sony Music Publishing (naturally), Kobalt Songs Music Publishing, Domain Capital Group, Poppy's Picks, Prescription Songs and Rap Kingpin Music.

The Wallen smash spent 16 non-consecutive weeks at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 heart, which stood as a record for the 21s century until it was surpassed earlier this month by Shaboozey's "A Bar Song (Tipsy)."

Speaking of the Shaboozey song, it was one of 24 songs on ASCAP's most-played list that had Sony Music Publishing in the credits. Others included "Can't Break Up Now" (Old Dominion and Megan Moroney), "If You Go Down (I'm Goin' Down Too)" (Kelsea Ballerini), "Texas Hold 'Em" (Beyoncé), "Outskirts" (Sam Hunt), "Bulletproof" (Nate Smith), "Save Me the Trouble" (Dan + Shay), "I Can Feel It" (Kane Brown), "Light On in the Kitchen" (Ashley McBryde) and "Austin" (Dasha).

The winners were celebrated Monday night in a private party at the Twelve Thirty Club in Nashville.

A complete list of ASCAP 2024 Country Music Award winners (as is customary, only the co-writers affiliated with the PRO in question are named):

shley Gorley SONGWRITER/hris Stapleton SONG OF THE YEAR: "Last Night" Writer: Ashley Gorley, Jacob "JKash" Hindlin Publishers: Kobalt Songs Music Publishing, Domain Capital Group, Poppy's Picks, Prescription Songs, Rap Kingpin Music, Sony Music Publishing ony Music Publishing