"Thank God I Do" Claims Top Song Honors
Essential Music Publishing Named Publisher of the Year
NASHVILLE, Tenn.,
Sept. 29,
2024 /PRNewswire/ -- ASCAP, the American
Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers, tonight honored the
songwriters and publishers of Christian music's most-performed
songs of the past year at the 47th annual ASCAP
Christian Music Awards, an invitation-only celebration in
Nashville. Top honors were awarded
to the following:
- Christian Music Songwriter of the Year: Matthew West
- Christian Music Songwriter/Artist of the Year:
Brandon Lake
- Christian Music Song of the
Year: "Thank God I Do," co-written by Nate Ruess and published by Bearvon Music and
Warner Chappell Music
- Christian Music Publisher of the Year: Essential Music
Publishing
This is the sixth ASCAP Christian Music Songwriter of
the Year honor for Matthew
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
for artists who have achieved extraordinary career milestones.
The five-time Grammy nominee has released 15 albums, had cuts by
Casting Crowns, Amy Grant,
Scotty McCreery and Rascal Flatts among others, and penned six
books. West has been nominated for six Dove Awards; his current
Don't Stop Praying Tour runs through November.
ASCAP Christian Songwriter/Artist of the Year
Brandon Lake penned four
most-performed songs including "Fear Is Not My Future," "Praise,"
"Praise You Anywhere" and "Trust in God." The multi-Grammy-winning
artist recently released For the One: A Tour Documentary
with Phil Wickham and is
currently on his Tear Off the Roof Tour. He is nominated for 16
Dove Awards including Artist of the Year, Pop/Contemporary Album of
the Year, and four in the Song of the Year category. Lake was ASCAP
Christian Music Songwriter of the Year in 2023.
"Thank God I Do," the ASCAP Christian Music Song of the Year, co-written
by Nate Ruess and published
by Warner Chappell Music and
Bearvon Music, was Lauren Daigle's
sixth #1 single, peaking simultaneously at #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. Ruess is a past recipient of the Hal
David Starlight Award given by the Songwriters Hall of Fame, is a
multiple Grammy winner, and has had cuts by Keith Urban, Pink, Halsey, Kesha, Maroon 5 and
Ellie Goulding among others.
The ASCAP Christian Music Publisher of the Year
Award was presented to Essential Music Publishing. Their
most-played songs of the past year are "Any More," "Don't Stop
Praying," "Praise," "Praise You Anywhere," "Somebody To You,"
"Strong," "These Days," "Trust in God" and administered titles
"Fear Is Not My Future," "Never," "Rescue" and "Running Home."
Essential Music Publishing Vice President Jamie Rodgers accepted the award.
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 acclaimed songwriters, Christian music
stars, and standout music industry creatives.
A complete list of ASCAP Christian Music Award winners is
available at www.ascap.com/christianawards24.
About ASCAP
The American Society of Composers, Authors
and Publishers (ASCAP) is a membership association of more than one
million songwriters, composers and music publishers, and represents
some of the world's most talented music creators. Founded and
governed by songwriters, composers and publishers, it is the only
performing rights organization in the U.S. that operates on a
not-for-profit basis. ASCAP licenses a repertory of over 20 million
musical works to hundreds of thousands of businesses that use
music, including streaming services, cable television, radio and
satellite radio and brick and mortar businesses such as retail
stores, hotels, clubs, restaurants and bars. ASCAP collects the
licensing fees; identifies, matches and processes trillions of
performances every year; and returns nearly 90 cents of every dollar back to its members as
royalties. The ASCAP blanket license offers an efficient
solution for businesses to legally perform ASCAP music while
respecting the right of songwriters and composers to be paid
fairly. ASCAP puts music creators first, advocating for their
rights and the value of music on Capitol Hill, driving innovation
that moves the industry forward, building community and providing
the resources and support that creators need to succeed in their
careers. Learn more and stay in touch at www.ascap.com, on X and
Instagram @ASCAP and on Facebook.
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SOURCE ASCAP - American Society of Composers, Authors and
Publishers