Third Annual ASCAP Presents at CMA Music Festival

Pictured (L-R): Ashley Gorley, Jon Nite, ASCAP’s Beth Brinker, Jonathan Singleton, Rivers Rutherford and ASCAP’s Mike Sistad 

Pictured (L-R): ASCAP Songwriters Rivers Rutherford, Jon Nite, Jonathan Singleton and Ashley Gorley at the HGTV Lodge

Photos: ASCAP’s Alison Toczylowski

ASCAP presented a bevy of hit songwriters and emerging songwriter-artists at the 2015 CMA Music Festival on Saturday, June 13 and Sunday, June 14. The third annual ASCAP Presents at the CMA Music Festival was held for the first time at the Chevrolet Roadhouse Stage on 4th Avenue and showcased more than two dozen acts, ranging from fresh-faced new talent to emerging songwriter-artists boasting publishing or record deals and recent tours with major label acts.

The lineup on Saturday included Vanessa Bransan, Jeston Cade, Josh Mirenda, Carlton Anderson, Hunter Phelps, CJ Solar, Kalisa Ewing, Jameson Rodgers, Joe Hall, Ryan Griffin andBrett Young.

Sunday’s showcase featured Brad Blackburn, Joshua Okeefe, Corey Kent White, Mitchell Lee, Jacob Davis, Steven Clawson, Hailey Whitters, Chris Cavanaugh, Lauren Jenkins, Patrick Thomas and David Ray.

The shows were hosted by ASCAP Nashville Vice President of Membership Michael Martin, Senior Creative Director Mike Sistad, Creative Director Robert Filhart and Creative Manager Beth Brinker.

On Sunday, June 14, ASCAP presented the second annual ASCAP Hit Songwriters Round at the HGTV Lodge in the CMA Music Festival’s “Fan Alley.” Mega-hit writers Ashley Gorley (“Don’t It,” “Tonight Looks Good On You,” “Kick the Dust Up”), Jon Nite (“Smoke,” “Beachin,” “We Were Us”), Jonathan Singleton (“A Guy Walks Into A Bar,” “Diamond Rings & Old Barstools,” “Let It Rain”) and Rivers Rutherford (“Southern Style,” “Real Good Man,” “These Are My People”) treated festival-goers to a taste of real Nashville with a traditional songwriters round. The show was hosted by Great American Country’s Suzanne Alexander.

Pictured (L-R): Fitzgerald Hartley’s Steve Emley, ASCAP’s Michael Martin, Joe Hall and ASCAP’s Robert Filhart

Pictured (L-R): ASCAP’s Robert Filhart, Combustion’s Chris Van Belkom, Combustion Atlas Music Publishing’s Jameson Rodgers and ASCAP’s Michael Martin

Sony Music Nashville artist Ryan Griffin

Pictured (L-R): ASCAP’s Robert Filhart, Big Machine Music songwriter-artist Lauren Jenkins, Big Machine Music’s Alex Heddle and ASCAP’s Mike Sistad

ASCAP’s Beth Brinker and Cornman Music/Warner Chappell Music’s songwriter-artist Josh Mirenda