Top Christian Songwriters and Publishers

At this year's ASCAP Christian Music Awards, Stephanie Lewis was named Songwriter of the Year. "We Fall Down," written by Kyle Matthews and published by BMG Songs, was honored as Song of the Year and Brentwood Benson's New Spring Publishing and Warner/Chappell Music Group tied for ASCAP 2002 Christian Music Publisher of the Year. Pictured (l-r) at the awards ceremony in Nashville are Brentwood Benson Music's Dale Matthews, Stephanie Lewis, BMG Songs' Michael Puryear, Kyle Matthews, Warner/Chappell Music's Dale Bobo, Brentwood Benson's Marty Wheeler and ASCAP's Dan Keen.

Photo by Alan Mayor

John T. Benson Publishing

ASCAP honored John T. Benson Publishing for being Nashville's first publisher in 1902. The Oak Ridge Boys' Duane Allen, a close friend of the Benson family, presented the award on ASCAP's behalf. Pictured at the award ceremony (l-r) are Ed Benson, Allen and Robert Benson.

Jaci Velasquez Wins Latin Billboard Music Award

Jaci Velasquez recently won the Latin Billboard Music Award for "Pop Album of the Year-Female" for Mi Corazon. The album, which is her second Latin music offering, also won the Dove Award for Spanish Language Album of the Year. Velasquez was presented with the award on May 12 during the live broadcast of the Telemundo network.

Newsboys Honored

ASCAP member Peter Furler and his band, The Newsboys, were honored by EMI Christian Music Publishing & ASCAP for the song "It Is You" which held the #1 spot on the charts for twelve weeks. Pictured (l-r) are EMI's Eddie DeGarmo, writer Peter Furler and ASCAP's Dan Keen.

MercyMe Goes Gold