May. 13, 2026
Events General News Member News
NSAI MEMBERS AND INDUSTRY SUPPORTERS HONORED AT
ANNUAL NSAI MEMBER AWARDS
 
Nashville, Tenn. — May 14, 2026 — Every Spring, the Nashville Songwriters Association International (NSAI), along with presenting partner Regions Bank, holds the annual Tin Pan South Songwriters Festival, a tradition of celebrating songwriting and the creators behind the music we all love. For several years now, NSAI has also taken the opportunity during that time to recognize and honor its general membership as well as industry supporters who are invaluable to the organization.
 
For the event, Regions Bank and NSAI joined together at 3rd and Lindsley Nashville to honor over a dozen individuals, including standout NSAI members, industry supporters who have given support to the organization and songwriters, and songwriters who have hit milestones in their career transitioning to the professional sphere. With special performances, surprise guests, and many heartfelt moments, the awards showcased the supportive community created by NSAI for songwriters.
 
After a welcome address, the ceremony began with a performance from NSAI Board Member and pro songwriter Lydia Vaughan as she shared a few songs and words of inspiration with the audience. Dewey Longuski was the first honoree, receiving the Ones To Watch Award for earning the “One To Watch” recognition the most times throughout the 2025 calendar year, then shortly after, Megan Kelley stepped on stage to receive the Bob Kingsley Top 40 Award for receiving the most song placements on Bob Kingsley’s NSAI Top 40 lists in 2025. Longtime NSAI member Jonathan Oliveres was honored with the Volunteer Award, given to a member that has extended assistance and support with their time and efforts for the organization.
 
Throughout the morning as honorees were recognized, several surprise guests took part in the ceremony adding a personal touch to the event for many recipients. To honor the newest Friend of NSAI Award recipients, songwriter Brooke Hatala surprised Ralston Wells with a performance, Adam Epstein was honored with a song by hit songwriter Victoria Shaw, and Julia Keefe (Partner, Edgehill Music Publishing) was honored with a performance by Willie Morrison.
 
Milestone Awards were also bestowed, a coveted honor of the ceremony which celebrates songwriters who have made the leap from developing songwriter to the professional industry. This year NSAI recognized a record-setting number of members who transitioned into the professional world, Gabe Walsh, Jacob Rice, Abbey Rowe, Philip Morgan, and Jessie Brackin.
 
Members who earned top recognition in each service area also took home an award: Carl Slack (Online Pitch), Bella Garland (Mentor Award), Bryan Mitschell (Online Song Feedback Award), and various competitions and challenge winners from the past year were also recognized, including Sharon O’Donnell and Josie Bisto, the Grand Prize winners of the 25th annual NSAI Song Contest, as well as NSAI’s 2025 Chapter Challenge winners, James Maltese (Member) and Jake Arthur (Coordinator), and the latest recipient of the Todd Givens Memorial Scholarship, Grayson May, was celebrated.
 
To close out the gathering, one final award was revealed, and the Member Award’s Song of the Year was given to James Maltese for his song “Grass Roots”. Maltese and co-writers Lauren Murray and Tracy Richardson took the stage to end the morning.
 
The Member Awards, being much more than just an event of performances and celebration, have become an anticipated time to reunite with fellow songwriters and friends, new and old, from around the globe that have been brought together through the NSAI community. NSAI looks forward to bringing together the creative community again in 2027!
 
FULL LIST OF AWARDS AND RECIPIENTS
 
Song of the Year
“Grass Roots” by James Maltese (Nashville, TN) co-written with Lauren Murray (New York, NY) and Tracy Richardson (Terre Haute, IN)
 
NSAI Member Services Awards
Ones to Watch - Dewey Longuski (Mason, MI)
Bob Kingsley Top 40 Award - Megan Kelley (Nashville, TN)
Online Pitch - Carl Slack (Benton, AR)
Online Song Feedback – Bryan Mitschell (Edmond, OK)
Mentor Award - Bella Garland (Nashville, TN)
 
Friend of NSAI Awards
Julia Keefe (Partner, Edgehill Music Publishing)
Adam Epstein (Publisher)
Ralston Wells (Nashville, TN)
 
Volunteer of the Year
Jonathan Olivares (Nashville, TN)
 
Milestone Awards
Philip Morgan (Cypress, TX)
Jacob Rice (Nashville, TN)
Jessie Brackin (Athens, AL)
Gabe Walsh (Nashville, TN)
Abbey Rowe (Houston, TX)
 
Additional Recognitions
Chapter Challenge Winner (Coordinator) - Jake Arthur (Nashville, TN)
Chapter Challenge Winner (Member) – James Maltese  (Nashville, TN)
Todd Givens Memorial Scholarship - Grayson May (Bastrop, LA)
Song Contest Winner 2025 (Lyric Category) - Sharon O’Donnell (Cary, NC)
Song Contest Winner 2025 (Song Category) - Josie Bisto (Nashville, TN)
 
About Regions Financial Corporation

Regions Financial Corporation (NYSE:RF), with $161 billion in assets, is a member of the S&P 500 Index and is one of the nation’s largest full-service providers of consumer and commercial banking, wealth management, and mortgage products and services. Regions serves customers across the South, Midwest and Texas, and through its subsidiary, Regions Bank, operates more than 1,200 banking offices and more than 1,750 ATMs. Regions Bank is an Equal Housing Lender and Member FDIC. Additional information about Regions and its full line of products and services can be found at www.regions.com.

 
About Nashville Songwriters Association International (NSAI)
The Nashville Songwriters Association International (NSAI) is the world's largest not-for-profit songwriters trade organization. Established in 1967, the membership of more than 5,000 spans the United States and 10 foreign countries. For over 58 years, NSAI has been dedicated to protecting the rights of and serving aspiring and professional songwriters in all genres of music. For more information, visit nashvillesongwriters.com.
 
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