“The GMA and our industry’s music labels are regularly inundated with demos from earnest and hardworking songwriters who are looking for direction and counsel on their music. The GMA Song Critique Service now provides songwriters guaranteed feedback on their songs and songwriting skill directly from industry pros. No more mass mailings of demos with little or no hope of someone ever opening the package.” said John W. Styll, president of the GMA. “This service provides invaluable educational and professional guidance for the serious songwriter.”
The Song Critique Service will evaluate songs on originality, music/melody, lyrics/hook, commercial appeal and other factors. Members of GMA Academy’s prestigious and experienced professional faculty, who are award-winning and hit-making songwriters as well as publishers and A&R executives, will provide an individual written critique for every song entered into the service within four to six weeks of submission. The faculty includes:
- Dave Clark - whose songwriting credits cross musical boundaries from contemporary Christian music to southern gospel, has written 24 songs which have reached the #1 spot on the Christian music charts.
Brian Copeland - Director of Publishing for Daywind Music Publishing. Brian concentrates on inspirational and southern gospel pitching. Under his leadership, Daywind’s BMI Company, Christian Taylor Music was awarded the 2002 BMI Christian Publisher of the Year.
Brandon Egerton - A&R Manager for EMI Gospel. Not only does he play an active part in finding new talent for the label, but he also administrates production and creative direction for many of EMI Gospel's album projects.
Sue C. Smith - winner of the Dove Award for Inspirational Recorded Song of the Year in 2004 for the Avalon-recorded song "Everything To Me." She is a ten-time Dove nominee, the writer of 24 musicals and a staff writer with Brentwood-Benson Music Publishing, Inc.
Kevin Stokes - a 15-year veteran of Christian music, with experience in songwriting, publishing, A&R and production. He has written #1 singles for Point Of Grace, Scott Krippayne and Kathy Troccoli.
Tony Wood - whose prolific and diverse songwriting credits include Point of Grace, 4HIM, FFH, Ginny Owens, Bill Gaither, Sandi Patty, Bob Carlisle, Steve Green, Mark Schultz, Gaither Vocal Band, Petra, Scott Krippayne, Warren Barfield, Larnelle Harris, Ray Boltz, Across The Sky, Susan Ashton, Oak Ridge Boys, Natalie Grant, Russ Lee, the Martins, and many others.
GMA membership and a $30 application fee are required to enter songs in the critiquing service. GMA membership is open to anyone who is actively involved or seeking to become involved in any aspect of Gospel music ministry and business. Information about membership as well as the Song Critique Service is available at www.GospelMusic.org. Songs submitted to the critiquing service are not pitched to publishers and comments are meant for educational purposes only.
In addition to the Song Critique Service, the GMA offers the GMA Academy Regional Talent Competition and Seminar in Music City on February 11-12, 2005 as another opportunity for aspiring and independent artists and songwriters. The two day event, to be held on the campus of Belmont University in Nashville, is the gospel music industry’s leading educational seminar and influential talent competition for aspiring artists and songwriters.
Word Records’ Christian pop artist Mark Shultz and INO Records’ urban gospel artist Anthony Evans will serve as “artists in residence” for this GMA Academy regional event. Detailed registration and lodging information for GMA Academy Regional Talent Competition and Seminar in Music City can be obtained at the GMA website or by calling 615-242-0303. Entry into the competition requires separate registration and an earlier deadline of January 10, 2005.
Founded in 1964, the 4,500-member Gospel Music Association 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 Awards, which recognizes achievement in all genres of gospel music and are voted on by members of the GMA.
