Kear wins songwriting honors

Kear was responsible for penning five of the most performed songs of the past year, including one of the two Songs of the Year, Drunk On You as well as (Kissed You) Good Night (Gloriana), Two Black Cadillacs and Blown Away (Carrie Underwood), and Dancin' Away with My Heart (Lady Antebellum).

They took the honors for songs of the period between April 2012 and March 2013. Special tribute was paid to George Strait, who was presented with the ASCAP Founders Award in a segment that included musical homage to Strait from Garth Brooks, Alan Jackson and Lee Ann Womack.

Kear also won ASCAP Country Music Song of the Year for Drunk On You, which he wrote with Chris Tompkins; published by Angel River Songs, Lunalight Music, Big Loud Shirt and Big Yellow Dog Music. Luke Bryan scored a hit with the composition.

ASCAP Country Music Song of the Year went to How Country Feels, written by Neil Thrasher; published by peermusic and Team Thrasher. Randy Houser had a hit with the song.

ASCAP Country Music Publisher of the Year was Warner/Chappell Music Publishing.

A total of 34 song honors were handed out, interspersed with special performances by the writers of the top five most performed songs of the year. Performances included Drunk On You, Even If It Breaks Your Heart, performed by songwriter Eric Paslay (recorded by Eli Young Band); How Country Feels, by songwriter Neil Thrasher with Wendell Mobley (recorded by Houser); Kiss Tomorrow Goodbye, performed by songwriter Shane McAnally (recorded by Jake Owen); and (Kissed You) Good Night performed by songwriters Kear and Gloriana's Tom Gossin, with recording artists Gloriana. The show kicked off with ASCAP songwriter-artist Brandy Clark, who performed the song Get High from her "12 Stories" CD.

ASCAP President and Chairman of the Board Paul Williams and newly appointed ASCAP EVP of Membership John Titta presented the ASCAP Founders Award to Strait. "King George is a genuine musical pioneer and a living legend, whose influence on country music is immeasurable. We are honored to recognize his incredible career with the ASCAP Founders Award," said Williams.

A special musical tribute to Strait included performances by Brooks, who honored him with a acoustic medley of Strait's past hits; Jackson, who performed Let's Fall to Pieces Together; and Womack, who treated the audience to Troubadour.

This year's ASCAP Country Music Publisher of the Year honors went to Warner/Chappell Music Publishing, who had six award-winning songs: Why Ya Wanna, Good Girl, Better Than I Used to Be, The Only Way I Know, Come Wake Me Up and Fly Over States.