Today's Worship Music

The Gospel Music Association (GMA) recently announced the recipients of the GMA Special Awards, according to John W. Styll, president and CEO of the GMA. “We congratulate each of the deserving recipients and are grateful for the role they each play in furthering GMA’s mission of exposing, promoting and celebrating the Gospel through music,” said Styll.
The recipients of the awards are:

Impact Award
The Impact Award is presented to the non-artist individual or organization that has made the most significant impact on the gospel music industry over the last two or three years.  The 2009 Impact Award goes to Premier Productions/Winter Jam. January of 1990 brought the first Winter Jam event, featuring NewSong to 6,000 people with about 2,000 being turned away due to its popularity. In 1996, Roy Morgan and Gary Gentry joined forces to form Premier with the commitment to focus on growing the Winter Jam brand and expanding to more and more cities. Now with additional artists added to the roster along with NewSong, the 2009 Winter Jam tour averaged 10,000 people a night and drew over 335,000 people in 35 cities nationwide. Always helmed as an evangelistic tour, this year’s tour had an estimated 69,700 young people making some type of decision for Christ.

Lifetime Achievement Award
The Lifetime Achievement Award recognizes major contributions to the gospel music industry through a company’s commitment to the Christian community for 20 or more years. This year the award is presented to Singing News Magazine. First published in 1969 and known as “The Voice of Southern Gospel Music,” Singing News gives readers up to date information on artists, concerts, conventions, banquets, new recordings and the latest chart action. Run by Salem Communications, a large and diverse Christian communications company, which owns over 100 Christian radio stations, several radio networks (including the Solid Gospel radio network), an internet conglomeration and other Christian magazines, Singing News utilizes the invaluable assets, corporate support and knowledge to expand and grow Southern Gospel Music.

Outstanding Mainstream Contribution to Gospel Music Award
The Outstanding Mainstream Contribution to Gospel Music Award is given to the person or entity outside of the Christian music industry that has helped bring gospel music to a wider audience. This year’s honoree is Tom Joyner, host of nationally syndicated radio show “The Tom Joyner Morning Show.”  Joyner is one of the most influential, inspirational, and dynamic media personalities of today, and is also the nation’s leading network/syndicated personality. Joyner is a 1999 National Radio Hall of Fame inductee, winning virtually every top radio award. This entrepreneur, entertainer and philanthropist, along with his radio show, is founder of REACH Media Inc., the Tom Joyner Foundation, and BlackAmericaWeb.com. He began his broadcasting career in Montgomery, Alabama and ventured into several other markets, including Memphis, Tenn.; St. Louis; Chicago and Dallas, where he now resides.

Grady Nutt Humor Award
The Grady Nutt Humor Award is presented to a faith-based comedian who uses his or her talents for the cause of Jesus Christ. This year’s Award is given to George W. Bush impersonator John Morgan. For the past four years, Morgan’s impersonation of the former president has allowed him to be featured on shows and events such as “America’s Got Talent,” “Family Feud,” “The View,” Promise Keepers, and “The 700 Club.” Morgan’s new Creation House book, “My Life As A Bush…and My Heart for Imitating Jesus,” shares his own journey to become the man God called him to be, while encouraging others to pursue the dreams that God has written on their hearts.

International Award
The International Award honors a performer or organization from outside of the U.S. that has made an impact not just in his or her own country, but on the world at large. The 2009 award recipient is Integrity Music Latin recording artist Aline Barros. This Brazilian native and resident began singing as a small child, and today is a Latin GRAMMY Award winner and one of the most respected Christian artists and worship leaders in Latin America. A favorite of mainstream Latin television, Barros signed with Integrity Music Latin and has a discography of 30-plus albums.

Rob Gregory Award
The Rob Gregory Award is given for major contributions made to the community through the medium of radio. This year the Award is presented to Melissa Montana and WLAB/ Ft. Wayne, Ind.  WLAB/Ft. Wayne, Ind. Star 88.3 has been a part of the Fort Wayne community for 21 years and continues to make a difference by giving listeners a chance to ‘get involved.’ General Manager and mid-day host, Melissa Montana, is celebrating 20 years with the station and has been a voice for adoption in the community. An adoptive parent herself, Montana holds an Adoption Celebration each year, and for the second year in a row, STAR 88.3 listeners completed a house for one local family with Habitat for Humanity’s “Women Build” in Fort Wayne.

Scott Campbell Award
The Scott Campbell Radio Award honors outstanding efforts and contributions in broadcasting. Grant Hubbard VP, National Promotions, EMI Christian Music Group, is honored with this award for 2009. This industry veteran has always had a passion to grow and shape the format, knowing its true value. Hubbard challenges his staff and understands the importance of moving the format forward. With his 12 years at EMI CMG, Hubbard has been instrumental in maintaining the success of the label’s core artists while breaking new talent. His desire to serve radio stations with music shows his desire to grow Christian music radio.

About GMA:
Founded in 1964, the Gospel Music Association serves as the face and voice for the gospel/Christian music community and is dedicated to exposing, promoting and celebrating the gospel through music of all styles including pop, rock, praise & worship, black gospel, R&B, hip hop, southern gospel, country, and more. The GMA community consists of more than 3,000 members including agents, artists, church leaders, managers, promoters, radio personnel, record company executives, retailers, songwriters and other industry visionaries. The GMA produces the GMA Dove Awards, GMA Music Week and the GMA Academy. For more information, please visit www.gospelmusic.org.