No. 1 Party: Dustin Lynch’s “Hell Of A Night”

Pictured (L-R) Front: Co-writer Zach Crowell, Co-writer Adam Sanders, Dustin Lynch, Co-writer Jaron Boyer and Producer Mickey Jack Cones. Back: ASCAP’s Mike Sistad, Tape Room Music’s Ashley Gorley, ASCAP’s Beth Brinker, BBR’s Benny Brown, peermusic’s Michael Knox and Kim Wiggins, Big Yellow Dog’s Kerry O’Neil, BBR’s Jon Loba, Warner Chappell’s Ryan Beuschel, SESAC’s Tim Fink, and Combustion’s Chris Farren, and Chris Van Belkom. Photo: Ed Rode

“Thank you guys for taking me from that corner to this corner,” said Dustin Lynch at his No. 1 party at Nashville bar South, for “Hell of a Night.” Lynch explained his first full-band show in Nashville was in that venue, then called Two Doors Down, with the stage in the opposite corner of yesterday’s celebration (October 26). “I had to borrow a pair of cowboy boots from one of my college roommates because I didn’t have a pair. It has been really cool to see this village and team grow. It started with Pete Hartung at L3 Management – for some reason he liked my terrible demo on MySpace.”

For the celebration of Lynch’s second consecutive No. 1, ASCAP’s Mike Sistad, Robert Filhart and SESAC’s Tim Fink took the hosting reins at the Demonbreun bar. ASCAP writers Zach Crowell (Combustion/Atlas/Warner/Chappell/Tape Room) and Adam Sanders (Big Yellow Dog) joined the latter SESAC-affiliated writer Jaron Boyer (peermusic/Jaron Boyer), who was marking his first No. 1. Technically the celebration was Sanders’ first No. 1 party, but actually his second No. 1, as his “You Ain’t Worth The Whiskey” party has not taken place.

“Thank you to my publisher Big Yellow Dog, Kerry [O’Neill] and Carla [Wallace], for believing in me as a young writer,” said Sanders. “Not only as a writer but as an artist. To Ryan Beuschel, who was at ASCAP when he happened to see me play one day. Without Ryan, I don’t know if we would be standing on this stage. It is super special to share this day with your friends.”

“It took 44 weeks for this song to go No. 1,” said O’Neill. “When a label works a record this long, it means they believe in the artist to become their marquee artist. It’s a great thing to be associated with that.”

“I had Michael Knox telling me every week where this song was at,” said Boyer. “I want to thank Kim Wiggins who wanted to sign me even while I was signed. She’s trying to make me the best songwriter in town and I love her. Next year is going to be huge for all of us. I’m excited!”

“I can’t tell you how awesome it is to be here for Jaron’s first No. 1,” said Knox. “Sticking in there for years and years—that’s what makes this town goes round.”

Crowell kept his remarks short: “I love everybody.”

Chris Farren passed the mic to Combustion-Atlas Creative Director Kenley Flynn to offer remarks on behalf of Crowell. “In three years, he’s had three No. 1s as a songwriter and just as many as a producer.” Flynn dished out Little Caesars gift cards in lieu of plaques, which were delayed in arriving. Ashley Gorley also offered remarks for Crowell on behalf of Warner/Chappell and Tape Room Music. “The first song Zach co-wrote, I wrote with him. It’s like doing business with friends. We do a lot of life together and I’m proud of him.”

Pictured (L-R): Dustin Lynch, Mickey Jack Cones.

Each person who hit the stage also thanked producer Mickey Jack Cones, who passed on his turn at the mic. Also in every speech was appreciation to the Broken Bow Records staff. Executive VP Jon Loba asked the group to join him on the stage and offered remarks on their behalf.

“‘Hell of a Night’ was not even in the realm of discussion with radio,” said Loba of supporting stations who advised the follow-up single to “Where It’s At.” “Benny Brown, in his infinite wisdom, wanted Dustin to be playing coliseums and arenas, and saw this song as the next step in getting him there. Luckily Dustin and management had trust. Those of us had been through the Jason Aldean ‘Hicktown’ climb knew exactly how important this was. This promotion team got beat up on a weekly basis. They’re all great, but this one is a little sweeter.”

Lynch concluded with thanks to his label head. “Thank you Benny for changing my life and these [songwriters’ lives] by sticking through it with this song. That’s what’s so cool about doing music is, yeah it’s a No. 1, but it changes lives.”

Plaques were presented by publishers, while medallions were presented from CMA’s Brenden Oliver.