Ashley Gorley Named 2020 ASCAP Songwriter of the Year

Seven Number Ones in one year!

Written by Chris Parton
Ashley Gorley Named 2020 ASCAP Songwriter of the Year
Ashley Gorley; Photo credit: Josh Ulmer

Hit maker Ashley Gorley has been named the 2020 ASCAP Songwriter of the Year, receiving the honor for the eighth time in his historic career.

The news was announced today (November 9) by the American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers (ASCAP), one of the industry’s major performing-rights organizations keeping track of how much songs are played across the globe. It’s part of the 58th Annual ASCAP Country Music Awards, which this year will honor the writers and publishers of country music’s most-performed songs in a virtual ceremony via social media.

Gorley’s eighth Songwriter of the Year title stems from the seven Number Ones he celebrated this year, including “Catch,” “Good Vibes,” “I Don’t Know About You,” “Living,” “One Big Country Song,” “Remember You Young” and “Ridin’ Roads.” In addition, Gorley recently topped the charts with Lee Brice’s “One of Them Girls” for the 51st time in his career, giving him the most Number One country songs in history.

“I’m humbled, proud, and extremely grateful to be honored as the 2020 ASCAP Country Songwriter of the Year,” Gorley said in a statement. “It’s been an insane year, and this is a much-needed bright spot for me. Thank you to ASCAP for taking care of me as a writer for many years, and for taking care of my family. We have felt your love through this pandemic and are grateful to be able to celebrate with you all virtually.”

Meanwhile, ASCAP’s Song of the Year award was given to Old Dominion’s “One Man Band” (written by Josh Osborne, Matthew Ramsey, Trevor Rosen & Brad Tursi), and Warner Chappell Music was named the 2020 Publisher of the Year. The awards celebration will continue through November 12 with a wide variety of content on social media, including acceptance speeches and “a few surprises.”

Here’s a complete list of the year’s most performed ASCAP country songs:

“10,000 Hours”
Recorded by Dan + Shay & Justin Bieber
Written by Justin Bieber, Jason “Poo Bear” Boyd, Jordan Reynolds, Dan Smyers
Published by Beats and Banjos, Bieber Time Publishing, BMG, Buckeye26, JReynMusic, Poo B Z Publishing Inc, Universal Music Publishing, Warner Chappell Music

“After a Few”
Recorded by Travis Denning
Written by Justin Weaver
Published by Cornman Music, Sound Wagon, Warner Chappell Music

“All to Myself”
Recorded by Dan + Shay
Written by Jordan Reynolds, Dan Smyers
Published by Beats and Banjos, Buckeye26, JReynMusic, Warner Chappell Music

“Beer Never Broke My Heart”
Recorded by Luke Combs
Written by Jonathan Singleton
Published by Big Machine Music, Spirit Music Nashville

“Buy My Own Drinks”
Recorded by Runaway June
Written by Josh Kear, Hillary Lindsey
Published by Big Yellow Dog Music, Chickering Hall Publishing, Concord Music Publishing, Downtown DLJ Songs

“Catch”
Recorded by Brett Young
Written by Ashley Gorley, Brett Young
Published by Big Machine Music, Caliville Publishing, Combustion Music, Round Hill Music, Warner Chappell Music

“Chasin’ You”
Recorded by Morgan Wallen
Written by Jamie Moore, Craig Wiseman
Published by Big Loud Proud Songs, BMG, JMZL Music, Red Toe Rocker, Round Hill Music, Team Destiny

“Dive Bar”
Recorded by Garth Brooks & Blake Shelton
Written by Garth Brooks, Bryan Kennedy
Published by Cowboy Hat Trick Music, Major Bob Music, Inc, No Fences Music

“Girl”
Recorded by Maren Morris
Written by Greg Kurstin
Published by Kurstin Music, Sony/ATV Music Publishing

“God’s Country”
Recorded by Blake Shelton
Written by Jordan Schmidt
Published by Tree Vibez Music, Warner Chappell Music, WeVolve Music

“Good Vibes”
Recorded by Chris Janson
Written by Zach Crowell, Ashley Gorley
Published by Miller Crow Music, Round Hill Music, Spirit Music Nashville, Tape Room Music

“Homecoming Queen?”
Recorded by Kelsea Ballerini
Written by Kelsea Ballerini, Jimmy Robbins
Published by JRM3, Muse Magic, Round Hill Music, Sony/ATV Music Publishing

“Homemade”
Recorded by Jake Owen
Written by Ben Goldsmith
Published by Big Deal Music Group, BMG, Go for the Goldsmith

“I Don’t Know About You”
Recorded by Chris Lane
Written by Ashley Gorley, Hunter Phelps, Jameson Rodgers
Published by Combustion Music, Kobalt, One77 Music, Round Hill Music, Tape Room Music, Warner Chappell Music

“I Hope”
Recorded by Gabby Barrett
Published by Nite Writer Music, Sony/ATV Music Publishing

“I Hope You’re Happy Now”
Recorded by Carly Pearce
Written by Carly Pearce, Jonathan Singleton
Published by Altadena, Big Machine Music, BMG, Redfeather Publishing, Spirit Music Nashville

“In Between”
Recorded by Scotty McCreery
Written by Jessi Alexander, Frank Rogers, Jonathan Singleton
Published by Big Machine Music, Clearbox Advantage, Party of Five Music, Sea Gayle Music, Spirit Music Nashville, Warner Chappell Music

“Kinfolks”
Recorded by Sam Hunt
Written by Zach Crowell, Jerry Flowers, Sam Hunt, Josh Osborne
Published by Between the Pines, Downtown DLJ Songs, JFLO Records and Tapes,
Miller Crow Music, Smackborne Music, Sony/ATV Music Publishing, Spirit Music Nashville, Tape Room Music, Twelve6 Dogwood, Universal Music Publishing

“Knockin’ Boots”
Recorded by Luke Bryan
Written by Hillary Lindsey, Gordie Sampson
Published by Concord Music Publishing, Kobalt, Nite Writer Music, Sony/ATV Music Publishing, Still Working for the Woman Music Inc

“Living”
Recorded by Dierks Bentley
Written by Dierks Bentley, Ashley Gorley
Published by Combustion Music, DudeTunes, Kobalt, Nite Writer Music, Round Hill Music, Sony/ATV Music Publishing, Warner Chappell Music

“Look What God Gave Her”
Recorded by Thomas Rhett
Written by Jacob “J Kash” Hindlin
Published by Kobalt, Prescription Songs, Rap Kingpin Music

“Love You Too Late”
Recorded by Cole Swindell
Written by Michael Carter
Published by Sony/ATV Music Publishing

“Make Me Want To”
Recorded by Jimmie Allen
Written by Jennifer Denmark, Paul Sikes
Published by Curb Songs, Dreamark Publishing, Endurance Music Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing

“More Hearts Than Mine”
Recorded by Ingrid Andress
Written by Sam Ellis
Published by Happy Rock Publishing, Universal Music Publishing

“One Big Country Song”
Recorded by LOCASH
Written by Ashley Gorley
Published by Round Hill Music, Tape Room Music

“One Man Band”
Recorded by Old Dominion
Written by Josh Osborne, Matthew Ramsey, Trevor Rosen, Brad Tursi
Published by Anthem Music Publishing II, Downtown DLJ Songs, Kobalt, More Me
Gusta Music, Reehits World, SMACKSONGS, Sony/ATV Music Publishing, Twelve6 Dogwood, Unfair Entertainment, Universal Music Publishing, Warner Chappell Music

“Prayed for You”
Recorded by Matt Stell
Written by Matt Stell
Published by Endurance Music Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing

“Raised On Country”
Recorded by Chris Young
Written by Corey Crowder
Published by Big Crowd Publishing, Tree Vibez Music, Warner Chappell Music

“Rearview Town”
Recorded by Jason Aldean
Written by Kelley Lovelace, Neil Thrasher
Published by Own My Own Music Publishing, Sea Gayle Music, Songs of Peer LTD, Team Thrash, Warner Chappell Music

“Remember You Young”
Recorded by Thomas Rhett
Written by Ashley Gorley
Published by Combustion Music, Round Hill Music, Warner Chappell Music

“Ridin’ Roads”
Recorded by Dustin Lynch
Written by Zach Crowell, Ashley Gorley
Published by Miller Crow Music, Round Hill Music, Spirit Music Nashville, Tape Room Music

“Slow Dance in a Parking Lot”
Recorded by Jordan Davis
Written by Jordan Davis, Lonnie Lee Fowler
Published by Amylase Songs N Such, Anthem Music Publishing II, Jordan Davis Music, Matching Cowlicks Music, Warner Chappell Music

“Southbound”
Recorded by Carrie Underwood
Written by David Garcia
Published by Capitol CMG Genesis, Spirit Music Nashville, Universal Music Publishing

“Talk You Out of It”
Recorded by Florida Georgia Line
Written by Hunter Phelps, Jameson Rodgers
Published by Combustion Music, Kobalt, One77 Music, Tape Room Music, Warner Chappell Music

“The Bones”
Recorded by Maren Morris
Written by Jimmy Robbins
Published by Extraordinary Alien Publishing, JRM3, Round Hill Music

“The Ones That Didn’t Make It Back Home”
Recorded by Justin Moore
Written by Paul DiGiovanni, Jeremy Stover
Published by Anthem Music Publishing II, Paulywood Music, Universal Music Publishing

“We Back”
Recorded by Jason Aldean
Written by Jordan Schmidt
Published by Tree Vibez Music, Warner Chappell Music, WeVolve Music

“What If I Never Get Over You”
Recorded by Lady A
Written by Sam Ellis
Published by Happy Rock Publishing, Universal Music Publishing

“What She Wants Tonight”
Recorded by Luke Bryan
Written by Hillary Lindsey
Published by Concord Music Publishing, Nite Writer Music, Sony/ATV Music Publishing