Photo Credit: Ed Rode (L to R): Chris Van Belkom, Kenley Flynn, and Chris Farren of Combustion Music, Matthew West, and Joel West of Method Management

Nashville, Tenn. - May 07, 2014 - On Monday night Matthew West was awarded two of the top honors at the 36th annual ASCAP Christian Music Awards. West was named Songwriter of the Year after having an amazing 2013 with his hit song "Hello My Name Is," a record-breaking No. 1 song at Christian radio for 17 weeks. This song also earned West the ASCAP Song of the Year. He was also honored for his song "Already There" as recorded by Casting Crowns. The ASCAP Awards were held at the historic Franklin Theatre recognizing the songwriters and publishers of the year's most-performed Christian music songs. This year marks ASCAP's 100th Anniversary.

"Matthew has again proven that he is at the absolute top of his craft as a songwriter in all genres," shares Chris Farren, West's publisher at Combustion Music. "We couldn't be more proud to be his ongoing partner." West gave a touching acceptance speech thanking everyone from his producer (Pete Kipely), to his label (Capitol CMG), manager (Method Management), road minister - who happens to be his dad, to his publishers, and wife and two daughters. He also dedicated his award to long-time industry veteran Cindy Wilt who is currently battling cancer.

"Hello" is a song about a young man who was a drug addict, but through rehabilitation and the Teen Challenge program has since recovered and gone on to accomplish great things in his life. Click here to read the complete story that inspired the award-winning song.

"The song is a three minute reminder that we are not our failures," shares West. "We are not even our successes. Of all the names that try to define us, the only title that truly matters is the one given to us by our Creator; children of God. We are children of the one true King!"

West told The Tennessean last night, "I got to give a No. 1 plaque to this young man who told me his story. The fact that he can see how many people that his story has touched, it comes with a really special sense of gratification. Tonight's really a celebration of the power of a true story, and how when we tell our story, we can impact somebody else's life."

West is also currently up for two Billboard Music Awards (Top Christian Artists and Top Christian Songs) as well as three K-LOVE Fan Awards (Male Artist of the Year, Artist of the Year and Song of the Year). These nominations come on the heels of his first nomination and win for an American Music Award in 2013. West's current radio single, "Do Something," is climbing up the radio charts currently in the Top 10 on the National Christian Audience (No. 9) and AC Indicator (No. 3) charts. This is the third single from his Grammy-nominated album Into The Light.

About Matthew West: A multiple-ASCAP Christian Music Songwriter/Artist of the Year winner and lauded by The New York Times as "a vivid and compelling songwriter with impressive approaches to the familiar," four-time GRAMMY® nominee Matthew West's discography includes acclaimed releases: Happy (2003), History (2005), Something to Say (2008), The Story of Your Life (2010) and Into The Light (2012). His 2010 studio album, The Story of Your Life, was inspired by 10,000 stories from every state in the U.S. and 20 countries. The album garnered attention from CNN Online, Fox News, Billboard, Country Weekly, American Songwriter and more. The Story of Your Life gave West the largest street week debut of his career, selling over 10,000 units the first week landing at No. 3 on Christian Soundscan, and No. 41 on the Billboard Top 200. His songwriting credits include cuts by Rascal Flatts, Billy Ray Cyrus, Diamond Rio and more. West was nominated for a Primetime Emmy® Award for Original Music & Lyrics for "The Heart of Christmas" from the film of the same name. West's fifth studio album, Into The Light, was released last fall and was nominated for Best Contemporary Christian Album for the 55th Annual GRAMMY® Awards. The album features his most recent hit singles "Forgiveness" and "Hello My Name Is" (which was No. 1 on the National Christian radio chart for 17 weeks straight, officially breaking the record for the most weeks at No. 1), along with 10 other tracks inspired by 10,000 new letters submitted after West invited people to, once again, send him their stories. West was nominated and won his first American Music Award in 2013. West spent much of late 2012 and early 2013 on a pre-headlining stint of the No. 1 Tour in the World (first quarter), the Winter Jam Tour Spectacular. He wrapped 2013 with his headlining fall 2013 tour and "The Story Tour" in December. This year he has been on the "Hits Deep Tour" as well as his "Hello My Name Is…" acoustic tour.

For more info on Matthew West visit the JFH Artists Database.

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