The American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers (ASCAP) recently honored the songwriters and publishers of Christian music’s most performed songs at its 34th annual Christian Music Awards in Nashville.

Top honors at the March 19 Richland Country Club event were awarded to Josh Wilson (Sparrow Records), ASCAP Christian Songwriter/Artist of the Year; Ben Glover, ASCAP Christian Songwriter of the Year; “Glorious Day” written by Michael Bleecker (Word Music) and performed by Casting Crowns,ASCAP Christian Song of the Year; and EMI CMG Publishing, ASCAP Christian Publisher of the Year.

Wilson was honored with the ASCAP Songwriter/Artist of the Year award. He has released numerous No. 1 hits, including “Savior Please” and “Before the Morning,” which landed the No. 4 spot on Billboard’s Year-End Christian Songs chart. His third studio album, See You, featured "I Refuse" and "Fall Apart," both of which were honored at the awards ceremony. His first No. 1 hit, “Jesus Is Alive, was among the most performed songs.

Marc Driskill, ASCAP vice president and general manager, Nashville, presented Glover with his second Songwriter of the Year award. Glover co-wrote four of the past year’s most performed songs: “Stronger” and “Waiting for Tomorrow” (Mandisa); “Dear X,” (Disciple); and “I Refuse” (Wilson). He has had 11 No. 1 songs and multiple Dove Award nominations, and currently has five singles on the Billboard chart.

Bleecker collected ASCAP Song of the Year honors for “Glorious Day,” a reinvention of the 1910 hymn “One Day,” which reached No. 1 on the Hot Christian Songs, Soft AC/Inspirational and Christian AC charts, as well as reaching No. 2 on the Billboard Bubbling Under Hot 100 Singles.

ASCAP Publisher of the Year honors went to EMI CMG Publishing for the ninth consecutive year. Nine EMI CMG hits were honored as most played songs, including “Dear X (You Don’t Own Me)” (Ariose Music Group/Meadowgreen Music Co.); “Jesus Is Alive” (Meaux Hits); and “The Redeemer” (Birdwing Music).

Twenty-four awards for most performed song were presented by ASCAP Nashville’s Michael Martin, LeAnn Phelan and Ryan Beuschel, interspersed with performances by some of this year’s award winners, including Wilson, Dara Maclean and Moriah Peters.

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