Most Played Christian Songs of 2008 Honored
U.S. performing rights organization BMI has revealed the most performed songs on Christian radio of 2008 and honored this year's Christian Songwriter of the Year.
Topping the list of songs was "Never Would Have Made It," written by Matthew Brownie and Marvin Sapp for Sapp's critically acclaimed album Thirsty.
Other songs on the list of 26 included highly praised hits such as Casting Crowns's "East to West," MercyMe's "You Reign," Jars of Clay's "Love Song for a Savior," and Matt Maher's "Your Grace is Enough."
On Saturday, BMI saluted the writers and publishers of the past year's most performed songs, presenting awards at the company's Music Row offices in Nashville.
Aside from Song of the Year, other top honors of the night included Publisher of the Year, which for the second consecutive year went to Universal Music Publish Group, and Songwriter of the Year, which went to choir director and songwriter Donald Lawrence.
As a copyright organization, BMI represents more than 375,000 songwriters, composers and music publishers in all genres of music and more than 6.5 million works. BMI has represented the most popular and beloved music from around the world for over 65 years.
2009 Christian Music Awards Song List
The Most Performed Songs on Christian Radio during 2008
ALL BECAUSE OF JESUS Steve Fee LeviBear Music Worship Together Music Fee INO Records
BE STILL Ron McClelland Jordan Mohilowski Lucio "Lu" Rubino EMI-Blackwood Music, Inc. Everything and More Music Miracle In My Hand Music Publishing Ronbasix Publishing StorySide: B Gotee
BELIEVE Scott Campbell River Oaks Music Company Mainstay BEC Recordings/Tooth & Nail Records
EAST TO WEST Mark Hall Club Zoo Music, Inc. My Refuge Music SWECS Music Casting Crowns Provident
EVERY MAN Mark Hall Club Zoo Music, Inc. My Refuge Music SWECS Music Casting Crowns Provident
GIANTS Donald Lawrence Q W Publishing Universal Music-Z Songs Donald Lawrence presents the Tri-City Singers EMI Gospel
GIVE ME WORDS TO SPEAK Aaron Shust Bridge Building Music White Spot Publishing Aaron Shust Brash Music
HE'S DONE ENOUGH Tim "Bishop" Brown J Robersongs Music Tim Brownz Music Beverly Crawford Diamante Music Group
I CAN PRAY Nathan Markee Asheville Music Publishing Chris White Music Dove Brothers Sonlite Records
I'M FOR YOU Toby McKeehan Achtober Songs tobyMac CMG/ForeFront
I'VE BEEN CHANGED Earl Galloway Jeff Steele Christian Taylor Music OSMR Songs Sunset Gallery Music Legacy Five Daywind Records/Daywind Music Group
IN BETTER HANDS Jim Daddario Thom Hardwell Jim Daddario Music Thom Hardwell Music Natalie Grant Curb Records
LAST NIGHT Marcia Henry Christian Taylor Music Marcia Henry Music Karen Peck Gooch & New River Daywind Records/Daywind Music Group
THE LAST NIGHT John Cooper Brian Howes (SOCAN) EMI-Blackwood Music, Inc. Photon Music Warner-Tamerlane Publishing Corp. Skillet Atlantic/INO/Ardent
LIVIN' Donald Lawrence Q W Publishing Universal Music-Z Songs The Clark Sisters EMI Gospel
LOVE IS HERE Drew Middleton DMiddleton Publishing Tenth Avenue North Provident
LOVE SONG FOR A SAVIOR Matt Bronleewe Dan Haseltine Charlie Lowell Steve Mason Bridge Building Music Pogostick Music Jars of Clay Essential/Legacy
NEVER WOULD HAVE MADE IT Matthew Brownie Marvin Sapp Marvin L. Sapp Music Minstrel Melodies Marvin Sapp Zomba
NO DOUBT SALVATION Jeff Weeks Pisgah Ridge Music Palmetto State Quartet Sonlite Records
THE OLDER I GET John Cooper Brian Howes (SOCAN) EMI-Blackwood Music, Inc. Photon Music Warner-Tamerlane Publishing Corp. Skillet Atlantic/INO/Ardent
RIGHT NOW PRAISE Jonathan Nelson Justin Savage Integrity's Praise Music Jules 4 U Music Must Hear Music Community Choir featuring John P. Kee Zomba
THE ROCK'S BETWEEN A HARD PLACE AND YOU Dianne Wilkinson Niles Borop Music Kingdom Heirs Sonlite Records
WASHED BY THE WATER Bo Rinehart Needtobreathe Music Needtobreathe Word Entertainment
WE NEED EACH OTHER Dan Gartley Chris Stevens Olde Irish Publishing Regisfunk Music River Oaks Music Company Sanctus Real Sparrow Records
YOU REIGN Steven Curtis Chapman Peach Hill Songs Sparrow Song MercyMe INO Records
YOUR GRACE IS ENOUGH Matt Maher River Oaks Music Company spiritandsong.com Publishing Matt Maher Provident