Dave's Top Eight

1. Jerry Reed...Revisited by Darrell Toney (reviewed 6/07) (5 Stars)
2. Sounds Like Sunday by Janet Paschal (reviewed 5/07) (5 Stars)
3. True To The Call by Kingdom Heirs (reviewed 3/07) (4 1/2 Stars)
4. Revival by Gold City (reviewed 10/06) (4 1/2 Stars)
5. Get Away Jordan by Ernie Haase & Signature Sound (reviewed 2/07) (4 1/2 Stars)
6. Breakin' Chains by Three Bridges (reviewed 5/07) (4 1/2 Stars)
7. Big Sky by The Isaacs (reviewed 4/07)
8. Skywriting by Mercy's Well (reviewed 7/07)

Click title to purchase at CBD.com...click artist name to read Dave's Review. A CD will automatically fall out of the Top Eight after twelve months if no CD surpasses it before then.

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February 21, 2007

Who's Nominated Or Inducted?

In a comment to yesterday's blog entry, Chris Unthank has objected to some of my opinions on the matter of Dove Award nominations and GMA Hall Of Fame inductions. I also received a private email from an individual generally agreeing with me, but asking, "Where do you draw the line?"
Here's Chris' comment (in blue). My reply is in black below.
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I guess I fail to see how it's a stretch to say they are a Dove Nominated artist if the entire group appeared on the video. If the project wins - each participant will recieve a statue for their participation. They are dove nominated.

Now I agree that if JBIF started claiming they were Dove nominated for the work that Stephanie and Jeremy did on the recording - that would be a stretch.

The whole choir wasn't nominated - just those individuals that participated.

As to the GMA Hall of Fame thing - Pete Orta has every right to say that he is a GMA Hall of Fame inductee. Every former member of a group is inducted because of their participation - regardless of how long they were a member. If they've got the medal to prove it - then they're a GMA Hall of Fame inductee.
--Chris Unthank
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Chris,
My opinion is held up by the official records. If you pull up a list of GMA Hall Of Fame members, you will see Petra listed, but you won't see Orta's name. The GMA inducts individual members separate from groups. Roger Breland really IS in the Hall Of Fame, for example, separate from Truth.

It diminishes the accomplishments of a true individual member of the HOF when group members claim they're in the hall, while neglecting to mention it was for their participation as part of a group.

The medallion around their neck in the photo merely means they were there at the ceremony as one of several individuals representing the group at that point in time. Former members of the Kingsmen who didn't make it to the ceremony have just as much stake in the group being inducted as those who attended. Even Tony Peace, who joined the Kingsmen after their induction and only stayed for a year or so, can legitimately say he's a former member of a GMA Hall Of Fame group if he wants. As long as he maintains proper context, there's nothing wrong with using that to bolster his reputation.

The same applies to Dove Awards. If the Crabb Family is nominated for Artist Of The Year, they collectively are Dove nominees. When Blur The Lines is nominated for Inspirational album, however, THE nominee is the project. The participants (artist, producer, label) that are listed after the album nomination are only nominated within the context of the album.

Stewart Varnado's vast PR department could roll out ad copy stating he participated in the Dove nominated Torch project. That would be well and good. However, it would be misleading to say he was nominated without mentioning the context, as if he specifically had a Dove nomination on his own. If Torch wins, the record will state that Torch won...not Varnado.

So, to answer the private email I received and hopefully Chris as well, I draw the line at context.
I see no problem with someone saying they were nominated or inducted "as part of" etc. I think we should reserve the individual claims, however, for those individuals who were THE nominee. For example, an individual nominated for Producer Of The Year really is a Dove nominated producer. An producer whose project was nominated for a Dove Award, in contrast, is just that...they should specify that the project they worked on was nominated rather than merely saying THEY were nominated.

To do otherwise, whether you're an artist or a PR firm acting on behalf of an artist, causes people to draw inaccurate conclusions.

2/22/07 (12:15 AM) FOLLOW-UP: Since posting this, I have done a little more digging. Chris mentioned that if Torch were to happen to win, every artist would receive a statuette from the GMA, giving them legitimacy in claiming to be a Dove Award winner. I pulled up the official rules, and this doesn't seem to be the case.

In the Special Event Album category, the statuette goes to the artist IF the artist is "prominent." Otherwise, it either goes to the named "Creator" or "Producer" of the project. There is no prominent artist on Torch. It looks like the statuette recipients would be Ed Leonard, Crystal Burchette, Mike Speck, Rick Shelton, and Melody Van Nuss rather than the 30 or so artists who appeared on Torch.

Of course, we'll never know unless Torch wins. Chris said this was unlikely in a comment at southerngospelblog. I agree with him on that. Projects like the DC Talk tribute Freaked!, Integrity's Arise and Sparrow Records' Passion probably stand a better chance.

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posted by David Bruce Murray @ 2:11:00 PM /links to this post/ permalink
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February 20, 2007

Dove Awards 2007

Nominations for the 2007 Dove Awards were announced today. Southern Gospel made a respectable showing again this year, with nominations in several categories other than SG-specific categories. Also, the nominations generally make sense, with a couple of glaring exceptions.

(I will refrain from pointing the exceptions out, but feel free to read over the list and see if any strike you as out of place.)

I noticed the Torch video project got a nomination, which it fully deserved. A thought just hit me. Since Torch includes numerous artists, they can all add the phrase "Dove Nominated Artist" (acronym: DNA?) to their curriculum vita. Sure...each individual was just one lone voice in a huge choir, but hey, you've got to take advantage of these things. This sort of thing wasn't above Word Music, who marketed Pete Orta's solo CD as being by a "Gospel Music Hall Of Fame Member" a few years ago. Actually, he was just a member of Petra briefly, but you'd think he was right up there with Andrae Crouch to read the marketing. It was true...technically...but also very misleading. Seriously, I hope no SG PR people will use the Torch nomination to pump up an individual artist's credentials.

(On the other hand, if you do, at least send me a check for giving you the idea. Hey, inspiration ought to be worth something!)

Anyway...

Listed below are the categories where Southern Gospel artists were nominated. You can view the complete official list (including one misspelled SG nomination) HERE.


Song of the Year (Title; Writer; Publisher)
* "Bless The Broken Road"; Marcus Hummon, Bobby E. Boyd, Jeff Hanna; Careers-BMG Music Publishing, Inc. (BMI)
* "Cry Out To Jesus"; Mac Powell; Consuming Fire Music (ASCAP)
* "Drifter"; Josh Reedy, Brian Bunn, Erik Miker, Boone Daughdrill; Willow Branch Publishing, DecembeRadio Publishing (BMI)
* "God’s Still God"; Johnathan Bond; HIS Choice Music, PraiseStreet Music (BMI)
* "Imagine Me"; Kirk Franklin; Zomba Songs, Inc., Kerrion Publishing, Lilly Mack Music (BMI)
* "Made To Worship"; Stephan Sharp, Ed Cash, Chris Tomlin; sixsteps Music, worshiptogether.com Songs (ASCAP), Alletrope Music (BMI), Stephan Sharp Publishing
* "Me And Jesus"; Adam Agee, Ian Eskelin; Bridge Building (BMI), Starshaped Music (BMI), Wordspring Music, LLC
* "My Savior My God"; Aaron Shust; Bridge Building, Whitespot Publishing
* "Nothing Left To Lose"; Mat Kearney; EMI Blackwood Music/ Facade Aside Music (BMI)
* "Praise You In The Storm"; Mark Hall, Bernie Herms; Club Zoo Music (BMI), SWECS Music (BMI), Word Music, LLC (ASCAP), Banahama Tunes (ASCAP)

Artist of the Year
* Casting Crowns
* Chris Tomlin
* Jars of Clay
* Stellar Kart
* The Crabb Family
* Third Day
* TobyMac

Southern Gospel Recorded Song of the Year (Title; Writer; Publisher)
* “Give It Away”; Give It Away; Gaither Vocal Band; Gloria Gaither, Benjamin Gaither; Gaither Music Group
* “God’s Still God”; Strength; Young Harmony; Johnathan Bond; Praise Street Music, Lamon Records
* “New Day Dawning”; New Day Dawning; The Whisnants; Joel Lindsey; United Independent Artists
* “Nothing But The Blood”; Blur The Lines; The Crabb Family; Robert Lowry, Bubba Smith, Aaron Crabb, Jason Crabb; Clear Cool Music
* “Prodigal’s Dad”; Kenny Bishop; Kenny Bishop; Jeff Steele; Daywind Records

Country Recorded Song of the Year (Title; Writer; Publisher)
* “Don’t Let Who You Are Keep You Away”; Kenny Bishop; Kenny Bishop; Kenny Bishop; Daywind Records
* “It Ain’t Over When It’s Over”; Graceland; The Mike Bowling Group; Ronny Hinson, Daywind Records
* “Jonah, Job And Moses”; Front Row Seats; Oak Ridge Boys; Tina Sellers, Bill Anderson; Spring Hill Music
* “On The Other Side Of That Hill”; He Kept On Loving Me; Barbara Fairchild; Lisa Alexander, John Lemonis; Daywind Records
* “Say Hello To Heaven”; Jamie Slocum; Buddy Hyatt; Curb Records

Southern Gospel Album of the Year (Title; Artist; Producer; Label)
* Give It Away; Gaither Vocal Band; Bill Gaither, Michael Sykes, Marshall Hall, Guy Penrod, Wes Hampton; Gaither Music Group
* Graceland; The Mike Bowling Group; Mike Bowling; Daywind Records
* It’s So God; Brian Free And Assurance; Wayne Haun; Daywind Records
* Stepping Stones; Poet Voices; Phil Cross, Cliff Duren; Sonlite Records
* Strength; Young Harmony; Dave Moody; Lamon Records

Country Album of the Year (Title; Artist; Producer; Label)
* Everyday; Mark Bishop; Jeff Collins, Mark Bishop; Sonlite Records
* Feels Like Home; Dave Moody; Dave Moody; Lamon Records
* He Kept On Loving Me; Barbara Fairchild; Marty Funderburg; Daywind Records
* Precious Memories; Alan Jackson; Keith Stegall; Arista Records
* Songs Of Inspiration; Alabama; Randy Owen; RCA Records

Special Event Album of the Year (Title; Artist; Producer; Label)
* Arise-A New Celebration Of Worship; Don Moen, Lincoln Brewster, Paul Paloche, Robin Mark, Jared Anderson, Lenny LeBlanc; Paul Mills; Integrity Music
* Bluegrass Gospel Time; Honi Deaton & Dream, Dave Moody, Wendy Word + Forgiven, George Hamilton IV, George Hamilton V, The Moody Brothers, The Bradleys, Ricky Traywick, Bluegrass Revival, Aver Harreld, Harvest Wind; Dave Moody, Nelson McSwain, Gary Rushing; Lamon Records
* Freaked! A Gotee Tribute To dcTalk’s Jesus Freak; Ayiesha Woods, John Reuben, 4th Avenue Jones, Sarah Kelly, House Of Heroes, Relient K, Fighting Instinct, StorySide B, Liquid, Family Force 5, Paul Wright, The Showdown, Chasing Victory; Brad Moist, Paul Ebersold, Todd Collins, Ahmad Jones, Daniel Huscroft, Mark Townsend, Joe Baldridge, Lucio Rubino, Liquid, Dave Wyatt; Gotee Records
* Passion: Everything Glorious; Chris Tomlin, Christy Nockels, Kristian Stanfill, Charlie Hall, Matt Redman, David Crowder*Band; Nathan Nockels; sixstepsrecords, Sparrow Records
* Torch; Lauren Talley, Scott Inman, Annie McRae, Adam Crabb, Jeremy Peace, Josh Feemster, Derrick Selph, Jeremy Lile, Nick Succi, Brandon Reese, Jason Selph, Amber Thompson, Jeff Snyder, Kelly McRae, Christian Davis, Ricky Free, Matthew Holt, Jeremy Brown, Paul Smith, Chris Weaver, Matt McFarland, Aaron Crabb, Jason Crabb, Dusty Barrett, Justin Ellis, Micah Schweinsberg, Lori Sikes, Zach Smith, Autumn Thompson, Avery Wolfe, Scott McDowell, Randy “Scoot” Shelnut, Jr., John Rulapaugh, Lance Moore, Josh Singletary, Aaron McCune, Andrew Ishee, Jim Mahalick, Jessica Harrison, Amber Balltzglier, Katy Peach, Joseph Habedank, Jason Waldroup, Anthony Facello, Josh Garner, Chris West, Stewart Varnado, The Crabb Family, Lauren Talley, Stephanie Brown, Eddie Harrison, Josh Simpson, Troy Peach, Terah Penhollow, Kelly Bowling ; Ed Leonard, Crystal Burchette, Mike Speck, Rick Shelton, Melody Van Nuss; Daywind Records

Christmas Album of the Year (Title; Artist; Producer; Label)
* A Christmas Homecoming; Cumberland Quartet; Wayne Haun, Kevin Ward, Depp Britt; Vine Records
* A Mary Mary Christmas; Mary Mary; Warryn Campbell; My Block, Sony Urban, Columbia, Integrity Gospel
* Christmas Offerings; Third Day; Mac Powell, Tai Anderson, Brad Avery, David Carr, Mark Lee, Don McCollister; Essential Records
* Do You See What I See?; Todd Agnew; Todd Agnew; Ardent Records, INO Records
* The Christmas Hope; NewSong; Bernie Herms, Drew Cline, Matt Butler, Michael O’Brien, Rico Thomas; Integrity Music

Long Form Music Video of the Year (Title; Artist; Producer; Label)
* Alive In South Africa; Israel & New Breed; Israel Houghton; Di Rosen; Di Rosen Productions; Integrity Music
* Give It Away; Gaither Vocal Band; Bill Gaither, Barry Jennings, Bill Carter; Doug Stuckey; Gaither Television Productions; Gaither Music Group
* Jeremy Camp- Live Unplugged; Jeremy Camp; Ken Concord, Michael Sacci; Carl Diebold; Jupiter Project; BEC Recordings
* Legacy of Love...David Phelps Live; David Phelps; David Phelps, Jim Chaffee; Russell E. Hall; Word Records
* Lifesong Live; Casting Crowns; Karl Hortsmann; Triple Horse Entertainment, Gospel Music Channel; Beach Street Records, Reunion Records
* Time Again...Amy Grant Live; Amy Grant; Ken Carpenter, Rod Carpenter; Ken Carpenter; Franklin Films; Word Records

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posted by David Bruce Murray @ 11:11:00 PM /links to this post/ permalink

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