Jody Williams honored with the 2022 ‘NSAI Champion’ award
by Preshias Harris
The Nashville Songwriters Association International (NSAI) along with event sponsors, Truist Wealth and Ford, welcomed songwriters and guests to The Reserve at Fat Bottom Brewing Co. for their long-awaited World’s Largest #1 Party. The celebration was held to honor all songs with a Nashville-associated writer that reached #1 on the Billboard Airplay, Digital, Hot or Mediabase charts during the period of September 2019 through December 2021.
The event began with a special presentation, announcing that Jody Williams, industry powerhouse and founder of Jody Williams Music, was the 2022 recipient of the ‘NSAI Champion’ award. The award is given in recognition of generous support for – and dedication to – songwriters, the music industry and NSAI, and is chosen by the NSAI Executive Director.
“Jody Williams has spent his professional career in the music industry helping songwriters and others. I am one such individual, in my twenty-five years as NSAI Executive Director enlisting Jody’s help dozens of times. He’s always responded and his word is as good as gold.” – Bart Herbison, Executive Director, NSAI
(If I may add my own testimonial for this well-deserved ‘NSAI Champion’ award, during his tenure in Writer Relations at BMI, I have personally seen Jody Williams get enthusiastically involved with the careers of songwriters – including new and emerging writers – often guiding them to successful publishing deals.)
In his acceptance speech, Jody Williams poignantly stated, “Songwriters have abilities that transcend logical thinking. Like you and me, they are insecure, doubtful at times, hopeful most of the time, hardworking, family-oriented people. And when they wake up most mornings to approach their jobs, they have nothing. But they don’t talk about that. They have zero. Maybe a line or a phrase that’s the beginning of a song and that’s it.
“That’s when these Peter Parkers become Spider-Man and they create a song that starts out having zero chance of making it through the myriad of gatekeepers to becoming a hit. And then, against all odds, unbelievably, their hope becomes a hit. After a few decades with songwriters, I am still in complete awe when I am in the presence of you all… complete awe. So I cannot receive this award without offering my thanks to all of you award-winning songwriters here today. You are all heroes to me.”
Following the presentation of the ‘NSAI Champion’ award, the focus of the afternoon shifted to recognizing the songs that reached #1 on the eligible charts during the 28-month time period. Hundreds of guests and recipients were in attendance, and NSAI Executive Director, Bart Herbison, announced awards for a total of 99 songs who had songwriters present! NSAI Board President, Steve Bogard, and event sponsors Truist Wealth and Ford were also in attendance for the celebration, congratulating each of the songwriters.
Established in 1967, the Nashville Songwriters Association International (NSAI) is the world’s largest not-for-profit songwriters trade organization with an active membership of more than 5,000 songwriters, both amateur and professional, spanning the United States and eight (8) foreign countries. More information about NSAI here.
Preshias Harris is a music journalist and music career development consultant with the emphasis on new and aspiring artists and songwriters. Her book, ‘The College of Songology 101: The Singer/Songwriter’s Need to Know Reference Handbook’ is available here. Follow her blog at www.nashvillemusicline.com @preshiasharris