Combustion Re-ups Hit Christian Songwriter with Atlas

Pictured (L-R): John C. Beiter (Shackelford, Bowen, Zumwalt, & Hayes), Matthew West, Combustion Music’s Chris Farren, Chris Van Belkom and Kenley Flynn.

Matthew West has inked a four-year worldwide publishing deal with Combustion Music and Atlas Music Publishing.

“Matthew has been with Combustion since 2008, and continues to write and create incredible music in the Christian and country genres, that moves the needle…both in sales and how it touches peoples lives,” said Chris Farren, Combustion Music owner/President. “All of us at Combustion could not be happier to be continuing this successful relationship.”

West is a five-time Grammy nominee, was named Billboard’s top Christian music songwriter of 2013, and was recently awarded his first American Music Award for Best Contemporary Inspirational Artist. West also earned his ASCAP Christian Music Songwriter of the Year award in 2014, propelled by the major success of his single, “Hello My Name Is,” which spent a record-setting 17 weeks at the top of the Christian music charts, and named ASCAP’s 2014 Christian Music Song of the Year. West’s total career album sales are well over 1 million sold. He has had more than 12 No. 1 songs, including “The Motions,” and “Forgiveness.” West has also had songs recorded by Rascal Flatts, Michael W. Smith, Scotty McCreery, Casting Crowns, and many others.

An artist himself, West has released five studio albums. The title track of his 2011 holiday album inspired a television movie and his own debut acting role. His 2010 album, The Story of Your Life, landed at No. 3 on the Christian album chart in its debut week and spawned a book penned with noted author Angela Thomas, as well as a church curriculum DVD series.