Matthew West to Receive ASCAP’s Golden Note Award

ASCAP will honor contemporary Christian singer-songwriter Matthew West with the Golden Note Award during ASCAP’s Christian Music Awards celebration on Oct. 2 in Nashville.

The invitation-only event celebrates the writers and publishers of ASCAP’s most-performed songs in Christian music over the past year. ASCAP’s Golden Note Award is presented to songwriters, composers and artists who have earned exemplary career achievements, with previous honorees including Garth Brooks, Michael W. Smith, Reba McEntire and Mary Mary.

“Matthew’s remarkable gift for lifting others up with his music transcends genre or format,” said ASCAP chairman of the board/president Paul Williams in a statement. “He is one of our most-lauded Christian songwriters and artists and from the start of his nearly two-decade career, stars from Christian, country, and pop music have brought his passionate and profound songs of hope and healing to audiences around the world. We congratulate him on this well-deserved award.”

West, a five-time Grammy nominee, has had his songs recorded by Rascal Flatts, Scotty McCreery, Michael W. Smith and Amy Grant, among others. Among the hits he’s co-written with and for other artists are Anne Wilson‘s “My Jesus,” Casting Crowns‘ “Thrive” and “Scars in Heaven,” Natalie Grant‘s “Something Beautiful” and Tasha Layton’s “Look What You’ve Done.”

As an artist, West has released 11 albums (including two that reached the pinnacle of the top Christian Albums chart) while earning 12 No. 1 Christian Airplay hits and six No. 1 Hot Christian Songs chart hits. In 2018, the GMA Dove Awards feted West’s songwriting by honoring him with its songwriter of the year accolade, marking his third win at the ceremony.