Reeve Stimpson Awarded Third Annual Nashville Songwriting Scholarship
2018 Nashville Songwriting Scholarship Winner, Reeve Stimpson and BMIF Trustee and Director of the NSS Competition, Clay Bradley
Clay Bradley, BMI Foundation Trustee and Director of the Nashville Songwriting Scholarship competition, has announced Reeve Stimpson as the winner of the third annual Nashville Songwriting Scholarship. Stimpson, a Nashville-based singer and songwriter, is currently pursuing a degree in songwriting at Belmont University. The $5,000 scholarship was presented during a private reception at Broadcast Music, Inc.’s (BMI) Nashville offices on Wednesday, June 6, 2018. Judges for this year’s competition included GRAMMY-winning artist Kacey Musgraves, songwriter and producer Ian Fitchuk, and CEO of Sony/ATV Music Publishing Troy Tomlinson.
“I was extremely surprised and humbled to find out that my song had been chosen,” said Stimpson. “It’s an amazing feeling to know that you’re in the right place and getting noticed by BMI and others in the music business.”
The Nashville Songwriting Scholarship is an annual, nationwide competition open to aspiring country music songwriters. The award was established in 2015 by BMI to celebrate the company’s 75th Anniversary year, and pays homage to musical epicenter and “Songwriting Capital of the World,” Nashville, Tennessee. The scholarship is awarded for the best original song entry in any of the following genres: Americana, blues, bluegrass, contemporary Christian, country, folk, and roots.
Originally from Virginia, Stimpson moved to Nashville three years ago to get closer to the music scene and attend school. He’s had the opportunity to open for national touring bands and has released an EP, recorded at Sound Emporium. Stimpson plans to continue pursuing his career as a singer/songwriter with the hopes of not only writing songs for himself, but other artists as well. His winning song “Words You Say” is inspired by his experience in Nashville as a songwriter, and as he puts it, “the late nights of writing and the crowds that won’t hear your song until it’s good enough.” Some of Stimpson’s musical influences include Glenn Frey, Bob Seger, Eric Church, Kenny Chesney and Hank Williams Jr.
Listen below to Reeve Stimpson's winning song "Words You Say":
About the BMI Foundation
The BMI Foundation is a nonprofit organization founded in 1985 to encourage the creation, performance, and study of American music. The Foundation’s programs include competitive scholarships for songwriters and composers, operating grants for nonprofit arts presenters, and support for innovative music education initiatives in schools and communities across the country. For more information about the work of the Foundation, please visit our website at www.bmifoundation.org. For exclusive news and content, follow @bmifoundation on Twitter and Instagram, and like “BMI Foundation” on Facebook at facebook.com/bmifoundation.