Bart Millard and Nichole Nordeman Receive Songwriter of the Year Honors

Point Of Grace Honored with the Partner In Song Award

ASCAP, along with U.S. Congressman Marsha Blackburn, presented a special citation to the Gospel Music Association on its 40th Anniversary. Connie Bradley with U.S. Congressman Marsha Blackburn.

Point Of Grace receives the inaugural Partner In Song Award (l-r) Point Of Grace's Leigh Cappillno and Denise Jones, ASCAP Assistant Vice President Dan Keen, Heather Payne and Shelley Breen of Point Of Grace and ASCAP Senior Vice President Connie Bradley.

More than 200 music industry leaders joined dozens of Christian music's top stars, including Mercy Me, Third Day, Warren Barfield, Point Of Grace, Newsboys, Natalie Grant, Plumb, Mark Schultz, Avalon, Bebo Norman, ZoeGirl, Across The Sky, Tony Rich and Matthew West to celebrate the presentation of the 26th Annual ASCAP Christian Music Awards at a dinner held at Richland Country Club in Nashville, Tennessee. This year's gala evening, hosted by ASCAP Senior Vice President Connie Bradley, featured a Surfin’ GMA theme. ASCAP Assistant Vice President Dan Keen joined Bradley in presenting awards to the ASCAP writers and publishers of the most performed Christian songs of 2003.

The evening's top writer and publisher awards were: Songwriter of the Year: Bart Millard for “I Can Only Imagine,” “Word Of God Speak,” and “Spoken For” and Nichole Nordeman for “Holy,” and “Legacy.” Song of the Year: “He Reigns” (written by Peter Furler, published by EMI Music CMG Publishing). Christian Publisher of the Year: EMI Music CMG Publishing for “He Reigns,” “Holy,” “I Will Be,” “Legacy,” “You Are My King,” “You Get Me,” and “You're My God.”

Pictured are (l-r) Publisher of the Year EMI's Eddie DeGarmo, Peter Furler for Song of the Year, “He Reigns” (published by EMI Music CMG Publishing), Connie Bradley, Dan Keen and Mercy Me's Bart Millard named Songwriter Of The Year.

Partner in Song, a newly created award, was presented to Point Of Grace. The award recognizes Point Of Grace for the passion and excellence with which they record the works of Christian songwriters.

U.S. Congressman Marsha Blackburn, along with ASCAP, presented a special citation to The Gospel Music Association on its 40th Anniversary.

Highlights of the evening were performances by new artists, Abigail Washburn, No Other Name, The Annie Moses Band and Dove Award nominee Bebo Norman.

For a full list of ASCAP Christian Music Award winners, visit http://www.ascap.com/eventsawards/awards/christianawards/2004/

Christian Music Awards Photos