The Gospel Music Association is spreading its wings and relocating the popular Dove Awards to Atlanta in 2011.
The show has been held in Nashville, which is also home to the GMA, for more than four decades. It will be held April 20 at the Fox Theatre.
"We've been trying to really build our community, and that means supporting our membership base and building our membership base," said Ed Leonard, chairman of the association. The move to Atlanta, he said, makes sense. "It's a great market for Christian music."
The metro area is home to a growing number of Christian and gospel artists such as Casting Crowns, VaShawn Mitchell and DeWayne Woods.
Although the awards show is moving to Atlanta next year, Leonard said it may not stay here. He said the association is considering its options in 2012 and beyond, "which we do every year."
The GMA also said it had renewed its partnership with Atlanta-based GMC, formerly the Gospel Music Channel, which airs the awards show, one of the most prestigious in Christian music. The Dove Awards drew more than 300,000 viewers this year.
"Our city so represents the diversity of gospel and Christian music," said Charley Humbard, president and CEO of GMC. "There's black gospel, Christian rock, Southern gospel. ... This is our home, and this is perfect for the awards show."
The Dove Awards won't be the only major awards show in Atlanta. Star-gazers can also count the Trumpet Awards, the BET Hip Hop Awards and the Soul Train Awards among the red carpet events.
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