Matthew West, Brandon Lake Among Winners At ASCAP Christian Music Awards

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Pictured (L-R): ASCAP Vice President of Nashville Membership Mike Sistad, ASCAP Nashville Manager, Membership Emilia James, ASCAP President and Chairman Paul Williams, Christian Music Songwriter of the Year Matthew West, Christian Music Songwriter/Artist of the Year Brandon Lake, Christian Music Publisher of the Year, Essential Music Publishing President Jamie Rodgers, ASCAP CEO Elizabeth Matthews and ASCAP Nashville Assistant Vice President Kele Currier. Photo: Ed Rode for ASCAP

Matthew West was named ASCAP Christian Music Songwriter of the Year at the 47th annual ASCAP Christian Music Awards last night (Sept. 29) in Nashville.

ASCAP President and Chairman Paul Williams, ASCAP Christian Music Songwriter of the Year Matthew West. Photo: Ed Rode for ASCAP

This is the sixth ASCAP Christian Music Songwriter of the Year honor for West, whose most-performed songs are “Any More,” “Don’t Stop Praying,” “Heaven Changes Everything,” “Never,” “Running Home” and “Strong.” In 2023, West received the ASCAP Golden Note Award, which is given to artists who have achieved extraordinary career milestones.

Kicking off with a performance from five-time ASCAP Christian Songwriter of the Year Ben Glover, the evening was hosted by ASCAP Chief Executive Officer Elizabeth Matthews, Chairman of the Board and President Paul Williams, Vice President of Nashville Membership Mike Sistad and Nashville Assistant Vice President, Strategic Services Kele Currier in front of an audience of songwriters, Christian music stars and industry creatives.

Other big winners during the evening included Brandon Lake, who took home the Christian Music Songwriter/Artist of the Year honor. Lake penned four most-performed songs including “Fear Is Not My Future,” “Praise,” “Praise You Anywhere” and “Trust in God.” He recently released For the One: A Tour Documentary with Phil Wickham, and is nominated for 16 Dove Awards. Lake was ASCAP Christian Music Songwriter of the Year in 2023.

ASCAP Christian Music Songwriter/Artist of the Year Brandon Lake. Photo: Ed Rode for ASCAP

The ASCAP Christian Music Song of the Year, “Thank God I Do,” penned by Nate Ruess and published by Warner Chappell Music and Bearvon Music, was Lauren Daigle’s sixth No. 1 single, peaking simultaneously at No. 1 on Billboard’s Christian Airplay and Christian AC Airplay charts, as well as their Hot Christian Songs, Christian Streaming Songs and Christian Digital Song Sales charts.

Essential Music Publishing was named ASCAP Christian Music Publisher of the Year. Their most-played songs of the past year are “Any More,” “Don’t Stop Praying,” “Fear Is Not My Future,” “Never,” “Rescue,” “Running Home,” “Praise,” “Praise You Anywhere,” “Somebody To You,” “Strong,” “These Days” and “Trust in God.”

A complete list of ASCAP Christian Music Award winners is available at ascap.com/christianawards24.

Lorie Hollabaugh
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