"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 47 th 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," "Prai.
