Three ASCAP Songwriters Celebrate First No. 1 Singles

Pictured (L-R): Felix McTeigue, Cole Taylor, Matt Dragstrem. Photo: Ed Rode

ASCAP hosted a party at its Nashville office on Wednesday (May 25) to honor a trio of writers that secured their first No. 1 song. The two titles being honored — “Anything Goes” and “Sippin’ on Fire” — were recorded by Florida Georgia Line and produced by Joey Moi.

ASCAP’s Mike Sistad first spoke about the huge party Florida Georgia Line threw in Las Vegas for all of their writers, producers, and others. He noted, “As fun as that was, today is about honoring these three writers for their first No. 1.”

Pictured (L-R): Mike Sistad, ASCAP; Felix McTeigue; Cole Taylor; Beth Brinker, ASCAP; Matt Dragstrem; Robert Filhart, ASCAP. Photo: Ed Rode

Sistad then introduced Felix McTeigue as a co-writer on FGL’s “Anything Goes.” Other writers on the song were Craig Wiseman and Chris Tompkins. Although Wiseman was in attendance, he decided to let the spotlight solely shine on McTeigue receiving his first accolade.

Wiseman is a partner in Big Loud Mountain, which has a publishing interest in all three songs.

Pictured (L-R): Felix McTeigue, Craig Wiseman, Cole Taylor, Matt Dragstrem. Photo: Ed Rode

McTeigue thanked both writers and Lori McKenna for being the reasons he moved to Nashville.

ASCAP’s Beth Brinker spoke about Matt Dragstrem and how he first came to Nashville to be an artist, but decided to take the songwriter’s path while attending Belmont. He was celebrated for co-writing his first No. 1 with Cole Taylor, FGL’s “Sippin’ on Fire.”

Matt Dragstrem poses with the Big Loud Shirt team. Pictured (L-R): Jordan Kolodka, Craig Wiseman, Matt Dragstrem, Matt Turner, Kimberly Gleason. Photo: Ed Rode

Dragstrem mentioned that this single was the very first song he wrote after receiving his publishing deal. ASCAP’s Robert Filhart introduced Cole Taylor, who was most happy that his parents made the drive up from Georgia just to be at this event. He was also cheered on by the Universal Music Publishing Group staff.

Cole Taylor with UMPG staff. Pictured (L-R): Missy Roberts, Ron Stuve, Cole Taylor, Kent Earls, Travis Gordon, Amelia Varni. Photo: Ed Rode

Also speaking at the party and distributing No. 1 hardware were Holly Lane with the CRB and Brandi Simms of CMA.