Nominations were announced today for the 37th Annual GMA Music Awards (www.gmamusicawards.com) by the Gospel Music Association (GMA) with several new faces leading a field that features a strong showing by praise & worship and pop/rock artists. Nominations for the Dove Awards were announced at the Hilton Nashville Downtown in Music City by Fo Yo Soul Entertainment/Zomba recording artist Kirk Franklin and ForeFront Records’ Rebecca St. James, both of whom earned Dove nominations today and will host the GMA Music Awards show on April 5, 2006 at the Grand Ole Opry House in Nashville. The 37th Annual GMA Music Awards will be produced by Steve Gilreath for SGTV, Inc. The awards show will then be televised in national syndication April 15 to May 21, 2006.
Here are the categories and nominations where artists on the Inspired Soundtrack were also nominated;
Song of the Year
* “Cry Out to Jesus”; Mac Powell, Tai Anderson, Brad Avery, David Carr, Mark Lee; Consuming Fire Music (ASCAP)
* “Friend of God”; Israel Houghton, Michael Gungor; Vertical Worship Songs (ASCAP), Champions for Christ Publishing (BMI), Integrity’s Praise! Music (BMI), Sound of the New Breed (BMI)
* “Held”; Christa Wells; Weimarhymes Publishing (ASCAP)
* “Hide”; Joy Williams, Jason Houser, Matthew West; New Spring, Songs of Extreme, Cedar Sides, Word Music, Westies Music Publishing (ASCAP)
* “Holy is the Lord”; Chris Tomlin, Louie Giglio; Worshiptogether.com Songs, sixsteps Music (ASCAP)
* “How Great is Our God”; Chris Tomlin, Jesse Reeves, Ed Cash; Worshiptogether.com Songs (ASCAP), sixsteps Music (ASCAP), Alletrope Music (BMI)
* “Indescribable”; Laura Story, Jesse Reeves; Worshiptogether.com Songs, sixsteps Music, Gleaning Publishing (ASCAP)
* “Lifesong”; Mark Hall; Club Zoo Music, SWECS Music (BMI)
* “Only Grace”; Matthew West, Kenny Greenberg; Word Music, Westies Music Publishing (ASCAP), Greenberg Music (BMI)
* “Voice of Truth”; Mark Hall, Steven Curtis Chapman; Club Zoo Music, SWECS Music, Sparrow Song, Peach Hill Songs (BMI)
Male Vocalist of the Year
* Chris Tomlin
* David Phelps
* Jason Crabb
* Jeremy Camp
* Mark Hall
Female Vocalist of the Year
* Amy Grant
* Bethany Dillon
* Joy Williams
* Natalie Grant
* Nichole Nordeman
Group of the Year
* BarlowGirl
* Casting Crowns
* David Crowder Band
* Kutless
* MercyMe
Artist of the Year
* Casting Crowns
* Chris Tomlin
* Jeremy Camp
* Natalie Grant
* Switchfoot
Rock Recorded Song of the Year
* “Lay Down My Pride”; Restored; Jeremy Camp; Jeremy Camp, Jean-Luc Lajoie; BEC Recordings
* “Let Go”; Another Journal Entry; BarlowGirl; Alyssa Barlow, Lauren Barlow, Rebecca Barlow, Vince Barlow, Mary Ann Barlow; Fervent Records
* “The Wait Is Over”; Disciple; Disciple; Kevin Young, Brad Noah, Joey Fife, Tim Barrett, Travis Wyrick; S/R/E
* “Who I Am Hates Who I’ve Been”; Mmhmm; Relient K; Matthew Theissen; Gotee Records/Capitol Records
* “The Slam”; Welcome to Diverse City; tobyMac featuring T-Bone; Toby McKeehan, Christopher Stevens, Joe Weber, T-Bone; Forefront Records
Rock/Contemporary Recorded Song of the Year
* “Beautiful Love”; I Wish We All Could Win; The Afters; Marc Dodd, Brad Wigg, Joshua Havens, Matthew Fuqua; Simple Records/INO Records
* “Here is Our King”; A Collision; David Crowder Band; David Crowder; sixsteps Records/Sparrow Records
* “I Can’t Do This”; Chaotic Resolve; Plumb; Tiffany Arbuckle Lee, Matt Bronleewe; Curb Records
* “Mirror”; BarlowGirl; BarlowGirl; Alyssa Barlow, Lauren Barlow, Rebecca Barlow, Vince Barlow, Mary Ann Barlow; Fervent Records
* “Stars”; Nothing is Sound; Switchfoot; Jon Foreman; Sparrow Records/Columbia Records
Worship Song of the Year
* “Be Thou My Vision”; Traditional; Curb Songs, Littleberace Music, Okapi One Music
* “Blessed Be Your Name”; Matt Redman, Beth Redman; Thankyou Music, Worshiptogether.com Songs
* “Holy is the Lord”; Chris Tomlin, Louie Giglio; Worshiptogether.com Songs, sixsteps Music
* “How Great Is Our God”; Chris Tomlin, Jesse Reeves, Ed Cash; Worshiptogether.com Songs, sixsteps Music, Alletrope Music
* “Indescribable”; Laura Story, Jesse Reeves; Worshiptogether.com Songs, sixsteps Music, Gleaning Publishing
* “Strong Tower”; Marc Byrd, Mark Lee, Aaron Sprinkle, Jon Micah Sumrall; Meaux Mercy, Blue Raft Music, Spinning Audio Vortex, Flush On The Flop Music, Consuming Fire Music, Thirsty Moon River Publishing, Indecisive Music Publishing
Rock/Contemporary Album of the Year
* A Collision; David Crowder Band; David Crowder, Jason Solley, Mike Hogan, Jack Parker, Mike Dodson, Jeremy Bush; sixsteps Records/Sparrow Records
* Another Journal Entry; BarlowGirl; Otto Price; Fervent Records
* I Wish We All Could Win; The Afters; Brown Bannister, Dan Muckala; Simple Records/INO Records
* Nothing is Sound; Switchfoot; John Fields, Jon Foreman, Tim Foreman, Chad Butler, Jerome Fontamillas, Andrew Shirley; Sparrow Records/ Columbia Records
* Wherever You Are; Third Day; Mac Powell, Tai Anderson, Brad Avery, David Carr, Mark Lee, Brown Bannister; Essential Records
Pop/Contemporary Album of the Year
* Awaken; Natalie Grant; Bernie Herms, Shawn Shenkel, Phil Symonds, Rob Graves; Curb Records
* Genesis; Joy Williams; Matt Bronleewe; Reunion Records
* Lifesong; Casting Crowns; Mark A. Miller; Beachstreet Records/ Reunion Records
* Redemption Songs; Jars of Clay; Dan Haseltine, Charlie Lowell, Steve Mason, Matt Odmark; Essential Records
* Restored; Jeremy Camp; Aaron Sprinkle, Adam Watts, Andy Dodd; BEC Recordings
Praise & Worship Album of the Year
* Alive in South Africa; Israel & New Breed; Israel Houghton, Aaron Lindsey, Integrity Gospel
* Blessed Be Your Name The Songs of Matt Redman Vol. 1; Matt Redman, Nathan Nockels; Sparrow Records/sixstepsrecords
* He Is Exalted (Live Worship); Twila Paris; David Hamilton; Integrity Music
* Rescue (Live Worship); NewSong; Paul Mills, Scotty Wilbank; Integrity Music
* Strong Tower; Kutless; Aaron Sprinkle; BEC Recordings
Special Event Album of the Year
* Come Let Us Adore Him; Ana Laura, Bebo Norman, Danielle Young, Joy Williams, Cliff Young, Andrew Osenga, Cindy Morgan, Krystal Meyers, Josh Brown, Jars of Clay, Third Day, Christine Byrd; Steve Hindalong, Marc Byrd, Brown Bannister, Dan Haseltine, Charlie Lowell, Steve Mason, Matt Odmark, Derri Daughtery; Essential Records
* Happy Christmas Volume Four; Switchfoot, Relient K, Hawk Nelson, Eisley, Emery, Anberlin, Starflyer 59, Aaron Gillespie, Kenny Vasoli, Mae, Copeland, Spoken, The Fold, Number One Gun, John Davis; Samuel Ashworth, Jon Foreman, Tim Foreman, Chad Butler, Jerome Fontamillas, Andrew Shirley, Aaron Sprinkle, Matt Goldman, Chauntelle DuPree, Sherri DuPree, Weston DuPree, Stacy DuPree, Jonathan Wilson, Jason Martin, Jeff Cloud, Frank Lenz, Dave Elkins, Zach Gering, Mark Padgett, Jacob Marshall, Rob Sweitzer, Bryan Laurenson, Aaron Marsh, Mark Lee Townsend, Matt Thiessen, Nathan Walters, Travis Wyrick, Daniel Castady, Aaron Green, Keith Mochel, Mark Rhoades, Anthony Vero, John Davis; Tooth & Nail Records
* Music Inspired by the Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe; Jeremy Camp, Steven Curtis Chapman, David Crowder Band, Delirious?, Bethany Dillon, Jars of Clay, Kutless, Nichole Nordeman, Rebecca St. James, tobyMac, Chris Tomlin; Ed Cash, Steven Curtis Chapman, David Crowder, Andy Dodd, Sam Gibson, Dan Haseltine, Charlie Lowell, Steve Mason, Matt Odmark, Jay Joyce, Shaun Shenkel, Aaron Sprinkle, Toby McKeehan, Adam Watts, Christopher Stevens, Mitch Dane; Sparrow Records
* Passion: How Great is Our God; David Crowder Band, Chris Tomlin, Matt Redman, Watermark, Charlie Hall, Shane & Shane; Nathan Nockels; sixstepsrecords/Sparrow Records
* WoW Christmas Green; Amy Grant, Natalie Grant, Rebecca St. James, Steven Curtis Chapman, tobyMac, ZOEgirl, NewSong, Jaci Velasquez, Chris Tomlin, Jars of Clay, Casting Crowns, Third Day, BarlowGirl, Avalon, CeCe Winans, Joy Williams, Bethany Dillon, Michael W. Smith, Matthew West, Clay Aiken, Point of Grace, Building 429, Kutless, Relient K, Big Daddy Weave, Selah, David Crowder Band, Mark Schultz, FFH, Jump 5; Michael Omartian, Bernie Herms, Matt Bronleewe, Brown Bannister, Steven Curtis Chapman, Toby McKeehan, Jeff Savage, Leonard Ahlstrom, Chris Harris, Ed Cash, Dan Haseltine, Charlie Lowell, Steve Mason, Matt Odmark, Robert Beeson, Mark A. Miller, Dale Oliver, Scotty Wilbanks, Mac Powell, Tai Anderson, Brad Avery, David Carr, Mark Lee, Steve Harvey, Matthew West, Walter Afansieff, Monroe James, Aaron Sprinkle, Mark Lee Townsend, Mike Weaver, Jeremy Redmon, Jason Kyle, Todd Smith, Allan Hall, Nicol Sponberg, David Crowder, Jeromy Deibler, Mark Hammond, Word Records
Recorded Music Packaging of the Year
* Add to the Beauty (Sara Groves); Dana Salsedo; Wayne Brezinka; Kristin Barlowe; INO Records
* Life (Andy Hunter); Jan Cook, Tim Frank; Joshua Sage Newman; Thomas Petillo; Sparrow Records
* Mmhmm (Relient K); Eddy Boer, Greg Leppert; Gotee Records/Capitol Records
* O God, The Aftermath (Norma Jean); Asterik Studios, Ryan Clark, Jeff Gros; Solid State Records
* Redemption Songs (Jars of Clay); Stephanie McBrayer, Tim Parker; Jimmy Abegg; Essential Records
* The Boy vs. The Cynic (John Reuben); Greg Leppert, Eddy Boer; David Johnson; Gotee Records
* The Everglow (Mae); Asterik Studio, Dave Elkins, Zach Gehring, Mark Padgett, Jacob Marshall, Rob Sweitzer; Ryan Clark; Jeff Gros; Tooth & Nail Records
* The Question (Emery); Asterik Studio, Toby Morrell, Devin Shelton, Matt Carter, Chopper, Dave Powell, Josh Head; Ryan Clark; Jerad Knudson; Tooth & Nail Records
* You Can’t Trust a Ladder (The Myriad); Sarah Sung; Jerad Knudson; Floodgate Records
The rest of the press release follows:
Artist of the Year nominee Chris Tomlin and Group of the Year nominee David Crowder Band (both sixstepsrecords) lead the field of nominees with nine nods and six nominations respectively, proving modern praise & worship music is still going strong. Coincidently, both artists were pictured on the recent cover of the January issue of CCM Magazine, featured for their music’s influence in the “Passion” collegiate worship movement. Female Vocalists of the Year nominees Natalie Grant (Curb Records) and Joy Williams (Reunion Records) helped to bring women back to the top of the Dove nominees with six a piece, while rock band Relient K (Gotee Records) also earned six nods thanks in part to its cross-over success in the last year. Several of 2005’s biggest Dove Award winners returned with five nominations, including Switchfoot, Jeremy Camp, Casting Crowns, Crabb Family and Israel Houghton. BarlowGirl and Third Day rounded out the field of artists with five nods a piece.
“Each of these artists reflects the multi-dimensional impact that gospel music has in our culture and they deserve the recognition these Dove nominations will bring. Chris Tomlin and David Crowder Band make music that not only resonates with one person listening on the radio or on their iPod, but also connects with hundreds or thousands gathered in a worship setting,” said John W. Styll, president of the GMA and executive producer of the GMA Music Awards. “It is also great to see Natalie Grant, Joy Williams and BarlowGirl bringing the female voice back to the forefront, alongside recent years’ Dove favorites like Switchfoot, Casting Crowns, Relient K and Jeremy Camp.”
Tomlin’s nine nominations include Artist and Male Vocalist of the Year. “Holy is the Lord” and “How Great is Our God,” two songs he wrote from his RIAA Gold-certified CD Arriving, were nominated in both the Song of the Year and Worship Song categories, awards that go to the songwriter(s) and publisher(s). In addition, another song off of Arriving, “Indescribable,” has earned its writer, Laura Story, nods in both Song of the Year and Worship Song categories. Tomlin’s three other nominations came from his participation on collaborations on three Special Event Album of the Year nominees Music Inspired by the Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe, WoW Christmas Green and Passion: How Great Is Our God.
Fellow Passion worship leader David Crowder Band earned its nominations for the rock-influenced CD A Collision, which got a nod in the Rock/Contemporary Album category and landed its lead single, “Here is Our King,” a nomination for Rock/Contemporary Recorded Song. David Crowder Band shares Tomlin’s nominations in the Special Event Album category for their participation on the same CDs. Also of note, band leader David Crowder picked up four individual nominations for production and songwriting efforts.
Joining Chris Tomlin in being nominated for Artist of the Year are Jeremy Camp, Casting Crowns, Natalie Grant and Switchfoot. Tomlin is also nominated for Male Vocalist of the Year alongside Camp, Jason Crabb (of the Crabb Family), Mark Hall (of Casting Crowns) and David Phelps. Natalie Grant and Joy Williams are joined by Bethany Dillon, Nichole Nordeman and Amy Grant in the Female Vocalist of the Year category. The three-sister girl band BarlowGirl will vie for Group of the Year honors with Casting Crowns, David Crowder Band, Kutless and MercyMe. The five nominees for New Artist of the Year are The Afters, Ernie Haase & Signature Sound, Shawn McDonald, Krystal Meyers and Stellar Kart.
Other notable nominees for the 37th GMA Music Awards are gospel music’s prolific producer Brown Bannister, who is up for seven nominations, including Producer of the Year along with six album nominations. He’s joined in the Producer of the Year category by country music legend Vince Gill with whom Brown co-produced Amy Grant’s nominated Rock of Ages…Hymns & Faith in the Inspirational Album of the Year category. Steven Curtis Chapman, who has collected 49 Dove Awards, more than any other artist in gospel music history, has a chance to pass the 50-trophy mark this year if one of his three nominations results in a Dove Award.
“American Idol” finalists continue to make their mark on the GMA Music Award nominations; this year’s winner Carrie Underwood makes her Dove nominations debut with a nod for Country Recorded Song for her hit, “Jesus Take the Wheel,” while former finalists George Huff and Clay Aiken grab their own nominations. Underwood’s fellow country artists Brad Paisley, Dolly Parton and Alison Krauss and Union Station also have a chance to take home Dove Awards this year. And, former Backstreet Boy and now Essential Records’ artist Brian Littrell earned his first Dove nod in the Inspirational Recorded Song category with his contribution to WoW #1s: “In Christ Alone,” a song which won the Dove Award Song of the Year in 1994.
Awards will be handed out in 42 categories. The Songwriter of the Year nominees are not included in today’s announcement, but will be revealed, along with the winner, at the GMA Music Awards. Dove Awards nominations go to recordings released during the eligibility year November 1, 2004 through October 31, 2005 and voted on by the members of the GMA. In a new change to the nominations and award counting, in categories where nominations go to the artist and songwriter and/or producer, an artist will only receive one nomination even if they are both artist and songwriter or producer.
Founded in 1964, the 4,000-member Gospel Music Association (http://www.gospelmusic.org) is dedicated to exposing, promoting and celebrating the gospel through music. The GMA represents all styles of gospel music including contemporary pop, rock, urban gospel, praise & worship, Southern gospel, country and children’s gospel music. The GMA produces the GMA Music AwardsTM, which recognizes achievement in all genres of gospel music and are voted on by members of the GMA.
