ASCAP’s 45th Annual Christian Music Awards Honors Brandon Lake, Matthew West, More

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Pictured (L-R): ASCAP Vice President of Nashville Membership Mike Sistad; ASCAP Nashville Assistant Vice President, Strategic Services Kele Currier; ASCAP Chairman of the Board and President Paul Williams; Capitol CMG VP Administration and Operations Kent Draughon; ASCAP Golden Note honoree Matthew West; writer of the ASCAP Christian Music Song of the Year, David Spencer; Capitol CMG EVP Casey McGinty; Capitol SVP A&R Karrie Dawley; Capitol CMG Director of Publishing Lindsey O’Halloran; Capitol CMG Director of Publishing Ryan Grady. Photo: Larry McCormack for ASCAP

Brandon Lake took home top honors Monday night (Oct. 2) at ASCAP’s Christian Music Awards in Nashville, which honors the songwriters and publishers of Christian music’s 25 most-performed songs of the past year.

Pictured (L-R): Actor, singer and songwriter Dennis Quaid; ASCAP Chairman of the Board and President Paul Williams; ASCAP Golden Note honoree Matthew West. Photo: Larry McCormack for ASCAP

The award marks Lake’s first Songwriter of the Year honor. He is a co-writer on five of the most-performed Christian songs of the year, including “Ain’t Nobody,” “Gratitude,” “Honey in the Rock,” “Same God” and “This Is Our God.” A Grammy Award-winning artist for his work with Maverick City Music, Lake leads the upcoming Dove Awards nominations with 11 nominations including Artist of the Year, three Song of the Year nominations and four Worship Recorded Song of the Year nominations. Gospel Music Association President and Executive Director Jackie Patillo congratulated Lake as part of a video tribute at the party.

Other big winners of the night included Matthew West, who received  the ASCAP Golden Note Award. After personal remarks from film star Dennis Quaid, who recently released Fallen: A Gospel Record for Sinners, ASCAP Chairman of the Board and President Paul Williams presented West with the award, a special honor for songwriters, composers and artists who have achieved extraordinary career milestones. West has notched 30 No. 1 songs as an artist and/or songwriter and has had cuts by Rascal Flatts, Scotty McCreery, Casting Crowns, Michael W. Smith and Amy Grant, among others. Grant, Smith, Anne Wilson, Casting Crowns vocalist Mark Hall, A.J. Pruis and Tim Tebow offered recorded messages of congratulations to mark the occasion.

Pictured (L-R): ASCAP Vice President of Nashville Membership Mike Sistad; Capitol CMG VP Administration and Operations Kent Draughon; Capitol CMG EVP Casey McGinty;
Capitol CMG SVP A&R Karrie Dawley; ASCAP Nashville Assistant Vice President, Strategic Services Kele Currier. Photo: Larry McCormack for ASCAP

Christian Music Song of the Year honors went to the track “In Jesus Name (God of Possible),” from David Spencer, David Spencer Songs and Essential Music Publishing LLC. As a songwriter and producer, Spencer has amassed over a quarter billion streams and has occupied the top spots on the Billboard and iTunes charts across multiple genres. Recorded and released by Katy Nichole, “In Jesus Name (God of Possible)” was a No. 1 on Billboard’s Hot Christian Songs and Christian Airplay charts. Spencer and Jamie Rodgers, Vice President of Essential Music Publishing, accepted the award.

The ASCAP Christian Music Publisher of the Year Award was given to Capitol CMG Publishing for a remarkable 21st consecutive year, with 10 award-winning titles, including “Build a Boat” (performed by Colton Dixon), “New Creation” (Mac Powell), “Same God” (Elevation Worship feat. Jonsal Barrientes), “See Me Through It” (Brandon Heath) and “Sunday Sermons” (Anne Wilson). Capitol CMG Executive Vice President Casey McGinty, VP Administration and Operations Kent Draughon and SVP A&R Karrie Dawley accepted the award for their team.

A complete list of ASCAP Christian Music Award winners can be found at ascap.com/christianawards23.

Lorie Hollabaugh
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