State Champ Radio GMA Dove Awards
On Tuesday (March 26), the Gospel Music Association (GMA) announced a new category dedicated to Spanish representation in Christian music for their annual Dove Awards. The award for Spanish language worship recorded song of the year will debut at the 55th GMA Dove Awards, set to take place on Tuesday, Oct. 1 at the Allen Arena in Nashville. Nominations will be announced on July 24.
The new award, which will recognize the talent of performers and songwriters of worship songs, joins two other pre-existing Latin music categories: Spanish language album of the year, established in 1998, and Spanish language recorded song of the year, created in 2017. (Bands Generación 12 and Miel San Marcos were the winners of these awards, respectively, last year).
The initiative responds to a 30% increase in Spanish-language music entries submitted to the awards show in the last five years, as well as the constant growth of Spanish language music in genres ranging including worship, urban, pop, and rock.
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“We have witnessed this genre boom internationally, without precedent or barriers,” Justin Fratt, executive vice president of the Gospel Music Association, said in a press release. “For us, it has been an honor to support our colleagues from various Latin American and Spanish-speaking countries, celebrating the greatness of their music.”
The effort was backed by other companies in the Latin Christian industry such as CanZion, Capitol CMG/Universal, Creation Music, Curb Records, Heaven and Sony/Provident, according to the release.
Henry Alonzo, CCO of Christian music publishing and distribution company Adarga Entertainment Group, tells Billboard Español that its audio and video streaming numbers have quadrupled recently, and that its artists — who have included Miel San Marcos, Alex Campos and Jesús Adrian — have reached the same stages as those in other genres of Latin music. “All this is thanks to the work done by the same industry that supports artists of this genre,” he said.
Since its foundation in 1964, GMA has served a highly diverse community of creatives and professionals within the Christian and gospel music industry. Its mission is to expose, promote and celebrate gospel music. Through the GMA Foundation and the GMA Gospel Music Hall of Fame, the association seeks to preserve the legacy of the genre’s pioneers, while celebrating the work of contemporary artists with events such as the Dove Awards.
In 2025, the Gospel Music Association will open the Dove Center and Gospel Music Museum in downtown Nashville.
The Dove Center and Gospel Music Museum will be located at 147 Fourth Ave. N., at the corner of Fourth Avenue and Commerce Street, one block from the historic Ryman Auditorium.
“Developed to preserve the legacy of our historic past, support the impact of today’s artists, and plant seeds for the future, we believe the Dove Center will be a beacon of light for the kingdom of God,” Gospel Music Association president/executive director Jackie Patillo said in a video revealing details about the timeline for the upcoming Dove Center. “It will also be a key part of the GMA’s mission to expose, promote, and celebrate the Gospel through music.”
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The video also featured a rendering of the Dove Center, with plans including the Dove Awards Theater, a timeline of the history of the gospel music industry, exhibits highlighting artists’ stories, a Hall of Fame area spotlighting plaques for each member of the Gospel Music Hall of Fame’s approximately 200 members, and exhibits allowing visitors to create and mix their own song. The center will feature exhibit areas with titles including Lift Your Voice, Moving Up The Charts and Created to Worship.
The Gospel Music Association, which puts on the annual GMA Dove Awards, was founded in 1964. The Dove Awards were conceptualized by singer-songwriter Bill Gaither in 1968. The inaugural Dove Awards were held in 1969 in Memphis, Tennessee, before the awards moved to Nashville in 1971. The Awards were held in Atlanta in 2011 and 2012, before returning to Nashville in 2013.
The building that will house the Dove Center is also home to Lipscomb University’s Spark Center. Since 2013, the Gospel Music Association and Lipscomb University have had a partnership, where the annual GMA Dove Awards have been held at Lipscomb University’s Allen Arena, while the Gospel Music Association operates from its headquarters at 4012 Granny White Pike in Nashville, on Lipscomb University’s campus.
This 54th annual GMA Dove Awards winners this year included artist of the year winner Brandon Lake (who picked up four total awards during the evening), while Tasha Cobbs Leonard, Toby Mac, Blessing Offor and Jeff Pardo each won two awards.
The Dove Center will join several other music-focused museums in Music City, including the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum, the Musicians Hall of Fame and Museum, the National Museum of African American Music, the Johnny Cash Museum, the Patsy Cline Museum, and the Willie Nelson and Friends museum.
Brandon Lake and Tasha Cobbs Leonard were among those in the winners circle on Friday evening (Oct. 20), as the 54th annual Dove Awards aired on TBN.
The Gospel Music Association began in 1964, and the first Dove Awards were held in 1969; initially, the ceremony primarily honored Southern gospel music. But the awards ceremony has expanded over the decades to honor an array of sounds and musical styles, including pop, hip-hop, Gospel, country, Latin and more.
During the 2023 ceremony, which was taped earlier this week on Oct. 17 at Lipscomb University in Nashville, Lake took home the lion’s share of wins, earning four trophies, including the overall artist of the year trophy.
“There are so many people in this room that I look up to and who gave me permission to write as a young boy. They say imitate before you innovate,” Lake said in accepting his artist of the year honor. “I have imitated so many of you year after year after year and songs not making it and no one hearing it and then God breathes on a little something. I’m so grateful to be a part of this community.”
Cobbs Leonard took home two awards — gospel worship album of the year for Hymns (Live) and traditional gospel recorded song of the year — and closed out the evening by performing “Burdens Down.”
“This album means a lot to me because I’m a church girl; I’m a PK [preacher’s kid],” Cobbs Leonard told the audience after winning the evening’s first honor, gospel worship album of the year. She added, “One of the ways I learned scripture was through song. I think we have an amazing opportunity to impact future generations through our lyrics.”
Toby Mac, Blessing Offor and Jeff Pardo each won two awards. Other winners included Katy Nichole (new artist of the year), Elevation Worship (worship album of the year for Live From the Loft), Jason Crabb and Dylan Scott (bluegrass/country/roots recorded song of the year for “Good Morning Mercy”) and Lecrae (rap/hip-hop album of the year, for Church Clothes 4). Song of the Year went to “Goodness Of God,” honoring songwriters Ben Fielding, Ed Cash, Jason Ingram, Jenn Johnson, and Brian Johnson. Miel San Marcos, Daniel Calveti, Marcos Witt and Ingrid Rosario won Spanish language recorded song of the year for “Coritis (En Vivo).”
Here, we look at 8 impactful moments from the ceremony. A full list of winners can be found here.
For King & Country and Jordin Sparks Sing ‘Love Me Like I Am’
Brandon Lake is the top nominee for the 2023 GMA Dove Awards, sponsored by the Gospel Music Association. Lake received 11 nominations, including artist of the year, where he is competing with CeCe Winans, for KING + COUNTRY, Lauren Daigle and Phil Wickham. Winans won the award last year. For KING + COUNTRY and Daigle are both two-time winners in the category.
Lake has a co-writer credit on three of the 10 songs that were nominated for song of the year – “Fear Is Not My Future,” “Gratitude” and “Same God.”
Lake, 33, has won three Dove Awards. He has had two No. 1 hits on Billboard’s Hot Christian Songs chart – Elevation Worship’s “Graves Into Gardens,” on which he was featured, and his own “Gratitude.”
Other top nominees were songwriter Jeff Pardo with eight nods, and Jason Ingram and Kirk Franklin, with six nods each. New artist of the year finalist Katy Nichole received four nods — more than any other woman. She was followed by Daigle, Naomi Raine and Tasha Cobbs Leonard, each of whom received three nominations.
Country stars Dylan Scott, Tyler Childers and Walker Hayes each received their first nominations.
“I want to congratulate his year’s wonderful list of Dove Awards nominees, GMA president Jackie Patillo said in a statement.
Nominees were announced in a livestream on the GMA Dove Awards’ YouTube channel featuring Jason Crabb, Jordan Feliz, Danny Gokey, Natalie Grant and JJ Hairston. Final-round voting will run from Aug. 17-24.
The two-hour awards show will tape in Nashville on Tuesday Oct. 17 and will air exclusively on TBN and the TBN app three nights later, on Friday Oct. 20, at 8 p.m. ET and again at 10 p.m. ET.
The 54th Annual GMA Dove Awards are produced by the Gospel Music Association. Jackie Patillo and Justin Fratt serve as showrunners and executive producers, alongside Curtis Stoneberger and Paul Wright as producers. Russell E. Hall returns as director, Michael Nolan as scriptwriter, Scott Moore and Go Live Productions as production manager.
Here’s the full list of categories that were announced on today’s livestream. For a complete list of nominees in all categories, visit doveawards.com.
Artist of the yearBrandon LakeCeCe Winansfor KING + COUNTRYLauren DaiglePhil WickhamNew artist of the yearBen FullerHulveyJon ReddickKaty NicholeNaomi RaineSong of the year“Build A Boat,” writers: Colton Dixon, Seth Mosley, Johan Lindbrandt, SandroCavazza, Mikey Gormley“Fear Is Not My Future,” writers: Kirk Franklin, Brandon Lake, Jonathan Jay,Hannah Shackleford, Nicole Hannel“God Really Loves Us,” writers: David Crowder, Ben Glover, Jeff Sojka, DanteBowe“Goodness of God,” writers: Ben Fielding, Ed Cash, Jason Ingram, JennJohnson, Brian Johnson“Gratitude,” writers: Brandon Lake, Ben Hastings, Dante Bowe“In Jesus Name (God of Possible),” writers: Ethan Hulse, Katy Nichole, DavidAndrew Spencer, Jeff Pardo“Love Me Like I Am,” writers: Joel Smallbone, Luke Smallbone, MichaelPollack, Josh Kerr “Perfectly Loved,” writers: Rachael Lampa, Andrew Ripp,Ethan Hulse“Same God,” writers: Brandon Lake, Steven Furtick, Chris Brown, Pat Barrett“Then Christ Came,” writers: Bart Millard, Phil Wickham, Jason Ingram, DavidLeonard
Pop/contemporary recorded song of the year“Brighter Days” – Blessing Offor“I’m So Blessed (Best Day Remix)” – CAIN“Love Me Like I Am” – for KING + COUNTRY ft. Jordin Sparks “God Is in This Story” – Katy Nichole ft. Big Daddy Weave “Thank God I Do” – Lauren Daigle
Worship recorded song of the year“Gratitude (Radio Version)” – Brandon Lake“Honey in the Rock” – Brooke Ligertwood, Brandon Lake“Holy Forever” – Chris Tomlin“Fear Is Not My Future (Radio Version)” – Maverick City Music ft. BrandonLake, Chandler Moore“This Is Our God” – Phil Wickham
Bluegrass/country/roots recorded song of the year“Jordan” – Darin & Brooke Aldridge, ft. Ricky Skaggs, Mo Pitney, Mark Fain“Good Morning Mercy” – Jason Crabb, Dylan Scott“Matchless” – Tiffany Coburn, ft. Point of Grace“Way of the Triune God (Hallelujah Version)” – Tyler Childers“Jesus’ Fault” – Zach Williams, ft. Walker Hayes
Spanish language recorded song of the year“Guarda Tu Corazón” – Alex Zurdo“So Good (Cuán Bueno)” – DOE, ft. Lilly Goodman“Nubes” – Indiomar, ft. Blanca“Coritos (En Vivo)” – Miel San Marcos, Daniel Calveti, Marcos Witt, IngridRosario“Suelto” – Sarai Rivera
Gospel worship recorded song of the year“One Name (Jesus) [Live]” – Naomi Raine“Impossible” – Pastor Mike Jr., ft. Jame Fortune“I Still Have You” – Smokie Norful“The Moment (Live)” – Tasha Cobbs Leonard “You’ve Been Good to Me” – Zacardi Cortez
Contemporary gospel recorded song of the year“New Day” – Blanca, ft. Jekalyn Carr“Your World” – Jonathan McReynolds“Miracles” – Kierra Sheard, ft. Pastor Mike Jr.“Bless Me” – Maverick City Music, Kirk Franklin“Get Up” – Tye Tribbett
Pop/contemporary album of the yearMy Tribe – Blessing OfforJesus Changed My Life – Katy NicholeAlways Only Jesus – MercyMeLife After Death – TobyMacA Hundred Highways – Zach Williams
Worship album of the yearCome Up Here – Bethel MusicHonest Offering (Live) – CAINGod Is Good! (Live) – Cody CarnesLION: Live From the Loft – Elevation WorshipLamb of God – Matt Redman
Southern gospel album of the yearThink About There – Greater VisionCome on In – Guardians QuartetJohn 3:16 – PerrysBelieve – The HoppersHymns & Worship – Triumphant Quartet
Contemporary gospel album of the yearMy Truth – Jonathan McReynoldsKingdom Book One (Deluxe) – Maverick City Music, Kirk FranklinImpossible – Pastor Mike Jr.Overcomer (Deluxe) – Tamela MannAll Things New – Tye Tribbett
Rap/hip hop album of the yearChurch Clothes 4 – LecraeSunday in Lagos – LimoblazeEveryone Loves a Comeback Story – Social Club MisfitsTree – Steven MalcolmNEW HOLLYWOOD – WHATUPRG
Feature film of the yearBig George ForemanFamily CampI Heard the BellsJesus RevolutionRemember Me: The Mahalia Jackson Story
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