Industry gears up for annual Gospel Music Week

NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Gospel Music Week runs April 2 to 5 in Nashville, Tenn. It’s the time when we media folks get a sneak peek at new artists and new projects and have the chance to catch up with veteran artists and old friends. There are interviews, lunches, showcases, seminars and a whole lot of socializing. The week culminates with the Christian Music Awards (a.k.a. The Doves) on April 5 at the Grand Old Opry. The show is taped and then televised in national syndication between April 15 and May 21. For a peek behind the scenes of GMA week, visit the What’s Up Entertainment blog at joannebrokaw.com where I’ll be keeping my annual GMA Journal.

In the meantime, the association announced on March 14 the final nominees for the Dove Award for Songwriter of the Year, which will be presented at the 37th annual show. The nominees are Mark Hall, Mac Powell, Laura Story, Chris Tomlin and Christa Wells. The recipient of the Dove Award for Songwriter of the Year will be named during the April 5 awards show at the Grand Ole Opry House in Nashville.

The JCTV network will launch a reality show based exclusively on Selectric recording artist, Pivitplex. Each week, the network will air a new episode showcasing the trials and triumphs of the band as they learn what it takes to make it. With outside influences ranging from famed Brit-rockers Oasis to American songwriter James Taylor, Pivitplex has grown into a tightly knit band that focuses not only on the technical aspects of creating good music but also the poignant message band members think every song should contain. Their debut record, Under Museum Quality Glass, sold more than 20,000 units and their first single, “You Know,” earned a Top 10 hit on Air 1 Radio. Their latest album, The King in a Rookery (Selectric), will be in stores everywhere June 27.

Floodgate recording artist Forever Changed is calling it quits. The band finds it challenging to balance time with their growing families and life on the road so they’re bowing out while their single, “Need to Feel Alive,” is No. 2 on the R&R Rock charts; the single has been on the charts for the past 14 weeks.
Greatworshipsongs.com, a new division of Brentwood-Benson Music Publishing, Inc., was recently launched to allow worshippers and worship leaders to download new worship songs as well as many of the top CCLI worship songs made popular by many artists like Michael W. Smith, Casting Crowns, Third Day and Selah. Greatworshipsongs.com offers downloadable audio, lead sheets, chord charts and lyrics.

The 5th Annual "I Hear Music In The Air" conference is scheduled for May 19 to 21 in Cincinnati, Ohio. The conference is a multifaceted three-day gospel music showcase, conference, concert, and gala. Artists confirmed to appear this year include Israel & New Breed, Tye Tribett, J Moss, Byron Cage, Martha Munizzi, Vicki Winans, Max Siegel, Vicki Mack Lataillade, Bobby Jones and others. Workshops will also educate participants in ministry, purpose for one’s life as well as the business of recording, publicizing, and distributing gospel music. Registration information can be found at ihearmusicintheair.com.

Platinum-selling singer/songwriter Steven Curtis Chapman and his wife, Mary Beth, offer the third children’s book from their well-known “Shaoey & Dot” picture book series. Shaoey & Dot: A ThunderaAnd Lightning Bug Story shares the story of a little girl named Shaoey, who is the star of the first two books of this series, and her ladybug friend Dot as together they help others conquer their fear of the dark. The book is available from Tommy Nelson publishers.

Billboard Radio Monitor reported in February that more than seven million different people 12 years of age and older tuned in to online radio networks like America Online's AOL Radio Network; Yahoo! Music; Microsoft’s MSN Radio and WindowsMedia.com; Live365; and Clear Channel Online Music and Radio during an average week in December. In addition, Apple iTunes announced that it celebrated a major milestone when less than three years after launching the online music store it reached the 1 billion download mark.

The MercyMe family is growing! Keyboardist Jim Bryson and his wife Misti celebrated the birth of their son, Jack Philip Bryson, on Jan. 19. Jack weighed in at 6 pounds, 6 ounces and was 19 1/2 inches long. Days later, on Jan. 23, drummer Robby Shaffer and his wife Margaret welcomed their son, Levi Troy Shaffer, weighing 6 pounds, 1 ounce and 19 inches long. Congratulations to all!

Doug Riley, long-time drummer and sound engineer of the Southern Gospel group Gold City, was killed in an automobile accident in January while on his way to the Gold City recording studio. Doug is survived by his wife, Amy Jo, children Chapen and Griffin, brother Danny and sister Amy. He was 35 years old.

Switchfoot was named Christian Artist of the Year in XM Satellite Radio’s first annual XM Nation Music Awards. In addition, the band was chosen to kick off WalMart’s original performance series, Soundcheck, with an exclusive interview and a studio performance featuring four songs from Nothing Is Sound. Switchfoot’s Soundcheck appearance will be featured in Wal-Mart’s stores nationwide on TV and HDTV, located in its electronics department.

Published, April 2006

Christian Examiner™, P.O. Box 2606 El Cajon, CA 92021 • 619-668-5100 • Fax 619-668-1115
Email: info@christianexaminer.com • Web site: www.christianexaminer.com