The NMPA Gold & Platinum Program, which honors the songwriters of RIAA-certified Gold, Platinum and Multi-Platinum singles, today announced the top country songs and songwriters for the past year.

In lieu of the annual Gold & Platinum Gala in Nashville, the honorees were notified and received their awards remotely.

In partnership with the RIAA’s Gold & Platinum Program, NMPA finds and certifies the songwriters and publishers of RIAA-certified singles.

RIAA counts both sales and on-demand streams towards its Gold (500,000), Platinum (1 million) and Multi-Platinum (2m+) thresholds.

Based on a calculation of streams and sales, the “Platinum Anthem” or most listened to song released in the past year, which went 12X Multi-Platinum, was Old Town Road performed by Lil Nas X (Sony/ATV) and Billy Ray Cyrus (Kobalt).

The song was written by Lil Nas X, Billy Ray Cyrus, Jocelyn Donald (Kobalt), Trent Reznor (Kobalt), Atticus Ross (UMPG) and Kiowa ‘Kio’ Roukema (UMPG). View Kio’s acceptance video here.

Meanwhile, the ”Top Song” or most listened-to song released prior to the past year went to Tennessee Whiskey performed by Chris Stapleton and written by Linda Hargrove (Sony/ATV) and Dean Dillon (UMPG).

The song went 6X Multi-Platinum with 7 million certified units. You can view Dean Dillon’s acceptance video here.

Finally, the “Top Songwriter” award went to hit-maker Ashley Gorley whose hits garnered 10 Multi-Platinum, 15 Platinum and 13 Gold certifications for songs including Life Changes, Dirt on My Boots, T-Shirt, Marry Me, That’s My Kind of Night, Born to Love You, Games and Living.Music Business Worldwide