The Gospel Music Channel & The Stellar Awards
NASHVILLE, October 21 /Christian Newswire / — The Gospel Music Channel television network will become the exclusive first-run cable home for The Stellar Awards, the premier Gospel event that recognizes and honors Gospel artists, as part of a new multi-year licensing agreement with Central City Productions (CCP) and Don Jackson, CCP CEO and Stellar Awards executive producer.
Beginning in 2009, Gospel Music Channel will premiere The Stellar Awards on Sunday, March 1 after it’s first broadcast syndication window run. Under the new agreement, Gospel Music Channel also will debut a new, CCP-produced series "The Best of the Stellars." The GMC-exclusive 10-episode series will spotlight the most memorable moments, performances and interviews from the first 23 years of The Stellar Awards. Hosted by gospel great Vickie Winans, "The Best of the Stellars" will begin production this fall and premiere on GMC in April 2009.
"Gospel Music Channel is now the home for the most prestigious award shows in Gospel/Christian music: The Stellar Awards and The GMA Dove Awards," commented GMC vice chairman Brad Siegel. "We’re thrilled to have The Stellars and the ‘Best of’ series and we look forward to being a television partner with Don and CCP for many years to come."
"Gospel Music Channel has become the number one television destination for gospel music fans so it is fitting that The Stellars will now be seen on GMC," commented Jackson. "Gospel Music Channel’s amazing growth will help make The Stellar Awards more accessible to more viewers around the country. We look forward to the Stellars’ presence on GMC year round, starting with today’s announcement."
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BMI Trailblazers Awards Tribute to Yolanda Adams & Fred Hammond
ATLANTA, October 16 /Christian Newswire/ — Gospel greats Yolanda Adams and Fred Hammond and their enormous contributions to gospel music are celebrated in a new original special, BMI Trailblazers Awards Tribute to Yolanda Adams & Fred Hammond, world premiering on Gospel Music Channel Sunday, Oct. 19 at 9 p.m. ET.
The special is highlighted by impassioned tribute performances in honor of the two trailblazers by Coko, Karen Clark-Sheard, Melonie Daniels, Sheri Jones-Moffett, Marvin Sapp, John P. Kee, Israel Houghton and Donald Lawrence. Also appearing: Gospel matriarch Albertina Walker and her group The Caravans; Kirk Franklin, Donnie McClurkin; Mary Mary; The Clark Sisters; Lil iROCC and Trin-i-tee 5:7.
BMI Trailblazers Awards Tribute to Yolanda Adams & Fred Hammond will have an immediate encore at 10 p.m. ET on Oct. 19. The special, recorded in Nashville as part of the 2007 Stellar Award activities, will have additional broadcasts in October. For complete Gospel Music Channel schedule visit http://www.gospelmusicchannel.com/schedule.
Grammy, Dove, Stellar and American Music Award winner Yolanda Adams, first earned a living as a school teacher in Houston, Texas, during the 1980s, while her striking beauty also supplied her with work in the modeling industry. Adams’ debut album, Just As I Am, hit shelves in 1988, ushering in a bright new star on the forefront of gospel music. 1996’s Yolanda Live in Washington earned the soulful singer her first Grammy nomination, while her next album, Mountain High Valley Low, snagged the performer her first Grammy Award. Since 2000, Adams has delivered the Lord’s message to the masses on additional beautiful albums, Believe, Day by Day and What a Wonderful Time, showcasing both her unparalleled talent and devotion.
Detroit native Fred Hammond is one of the most beloved praise and worship leaders in the gospel music genre. His studio albums take on the alive, emotive feel of a concert. Like so many before him, Hammond developed his passion for song in the church choir at age 12. After playing bass and supplying vocals for the Winans during the early 1980s, Fred joined the group Commissioned, where he showcased his unique arrangements and grew as a producer, vocalist and songwriter. While Fred remained a member of Commissioned, intricately crafted solo albums like I Am Persuaded, his solo records Purpose By Design, In Case You Missed It…And Then Some and the collection The Essential Fred Hammond hit shelves, cementing Hammond’s position as one of recent history’s premier gospel music artists.
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Watching Gospel Music Channel?
ATLANTA, October 14 /Christian Newswire / — Gospel Music Channel (GMC), cable’s fastest-growing network, topped all cable music networks in two key categories measured in the new Beta Research 2008 Digital Cable Subscriber Study being released publicly today.
In the study, conducted over the summer, viewers ranked GMC #1 in satisfaction and #1 in overall enjoyment of cable television among all video music networks. Gospel Music Channel also placed in the top eight among all channels in the same two categories. Additionally, viewers that subscribe to Comcast ranked GMC: #3 in perceived value; #2 in importance to the overall enjoyment of cable; and #2 in satisfaction among all digital networks.
"Gospel Music Channel is consistently rated highly and valued greatly among a growing number of viewers and the results of the new Beta study illuminate that fact. GMC offers operators and their customers compelling and engaging programming that doesn’t exist elsewhere, that people have a strong desire to watch and that they love once they do," commented Brad Siegel, vice chairman, Gospel Music Channel.
GMC also recently ranked as the #1 emerging or mid-size network in a survey of cable operators and ranked #1 in "audience attentiveness to advertising" and #1 in "feeling comfortable viewing with family" in a major advertising industry research report. Another research study found that GMC viewers are 43 percent more likely to be highly influential in the community and have a 57 percent larger social circle than the viewers of other cable networks.
Gospel Music Channel Announces New Enhancements to Website
ATLANTA, July 31 /Christian Newswire / – Gospel Music Channel (GMC), television’s fastest-growing network and the first and only 24/7 all Gospel/Christian music channel, today announced major new enhancements to GospelMusicChannel.com, the leading fan site for Gospel/Christian music lovers.
The web site’s new features include a high-definition video player for exclusive HD viewing of streamed videos from Gospel/Christian artists and programming from GMC. Other enhancements include extensive video including GMC Insider news segments, behind-the-scenes footage and special on-location reports; a free, weekly opt-in e-mail newsletter with news, programming updates and free MP3 downloads; reviews of the top gospel and Christian albums before they hit the streets; extensive bonus material from GMC programming, including videos, blogs, photos and other content not seen on television.
As an incentive for fans to sample the free newsletter, GMC is giving away one free iPod Touch every month in a random drawing of subscribers to the publication. Visit http://www.gospelmusicchannel.com
GospelMusicChannel.com has also assembled an editorial staff that ranks as the most experienced and plugged-in team of journalists covering the Gospel/Christian music scene. The editorial team’s members – Deborah Evans-Price (country reporter), Andy Argyrakis (rock reporter), Christa Banister (pop/contemporary reporter) and Lisa Collins (soul/gospel reporter) — have played key roles in launching music and entertainment web sites; worked with companies including CCM Magazine, Gaylord Entertainment, Warner Brothers, EMI, Universal and all the major Christian music labels; and covered gospel/Christian music for publications such as Billboard, Country Weekly, CMA Close Up, Christian Single, BMI Music World, Radio & Records, the Chicago Tribune and others.
Charles Humbard, founder and president, GMC commented, “We have added layers of even more exciting, state-of-the-art and informative content and assembled an editorial team of the top reporters, writers and experts in Gospel/Christian music who will cover the industry like a blanket. These deep developments will further reinforce GospelMusicChannel.com’s stature as the must-stop, first-stop for passionate gospel and Christian music fans.”
In March of this year, GMC re-launched GospelMusicChannel.com with an array of interactive features including e-commerce elements, artist blogs and improved inter-linking from artist names and web sites to GMC’s on-air program guide. The site also supports GMC’s original programming with bonus video, contests and other compelling content.
