Matthew West & Brandon Lake Named 2024 ASCAP Songwriters Of the Year

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ASCAP, the American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers, honored the songwriters and publishers of Christian music’s most-performed songs of the past year.  The invitation-only ceremony was held 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,” which was released by Lauren Daigle, is the ASCAP Christian Music Song of the Year.  Co-written by Nate Ruess and published by Warner Chappell Music and Bearvon Music, the song 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. 

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