Jesusfreakhideout.com Music News, April 2009: PROVIDENT LABEL GROUP ARTISTS AND PROJECTS CLAIM TOP HONORS AT 40th ANNUAL GMA DOVE AWARDS

PROVIDENT LABEL GROUP ARTISTS AND PROJECTS
CLAIM TOP HONORS AT 40th ANNUAL GMA DOVE AWARDS

NEWS SOURCE: Provident Label Group
April 24, 2009

(Nashville, Tenn.) April 24, 2009 – The 40^th Annual GMA Dove Awards were announced last night during a live broadcast on the Gospel Music Channel from the stage of Nashville’s Grand Ole Opry House. Provident Label Group artists and projects claimed top honors including Tenth Avenue North being named New Artist of the Year and Brandon Heath earning both Male Vocalist of the Year and Pop/Contemporary Song of the Year (“Give Me Your Eyes”). “Give Me Your Eyes” also picked up the top prize for Song of the Year, which is awarded to the writer and publisher.

Casting Crowns took home the Group of the Year award for its 5th consecutive year, best Christmas Album, Peace On Earth (where lead vocalist Mark Hall was also recognized as the project’s producer) and Short Form Music Video for its compelling, “Slow Fade.”

Michael W. Smith garnered the Praise & Worship Album trophy for A New Hallelujah (where Smith was recognized as both writer and producer) and the Inspirational Recorded Song honor for the track, “A New Hallelujah.”

Third Day was honored in the Pop/Contemporary Album category for its successful Revelation album. Presenting the award to Third Day was new Consuming Fire/Essential Records band, Revive who was recently discovered by Third Day while on tour in Australia.

Third Day’s Revelation also claimed the Recorded Music Packaging trophy. Tim Parker and Becka Blackburn were recognized for their contributions as Art Director/Graphic Designer and Art Director, respectively. Both are part of the Provident Label Group creative team.

Rock band Red, currently touring its Feb. 10 release Innocence & Instinct, picked up the trophy in the Rock Recorded Song category for, “Lost” off of its End Of Silence project.

Brandon Heath, Third Day, Tenth Avenue North and Phil Stacey performed on the live telecast, while Revive, Michael W. Smith, Fireflight, Casting Crowns and Jars of Clay presented on the show. Jars of Clay, (who released its 10^th album, Long Fall Back To Earth, this week) was also honored during a special segment of the show with a Gospel Music Channel Gospel Angels Award. The band was recognized for its work in Africa through its Blood:Water Mission organization which has built more than 650 clean water wells positively impacting more than 500,000 people in 11 African countries.

The following is a list of Provident Label Group artist and project GMA Dove Award Recipients:

NEW ARTIST OF THE YEAR
Tenth Avenue North

SONG OF THE YEAR

“Give Me Your Eyes”; Brandon Heath, Jason Ingram;

MALE VOCALIST OF THE YEAR
Brandon Heath

GROUP OF THE YEAR
Casting Crowns

ROCK RECORDED SONG
“Lost”; End Of Silence; Red; Jasen Rauch, Rob Graves, Chad Cates; Essential Records

POP/CONTEMPORARY RECORDED SONG
“Give Me Your Eyes”; What If We; Brandon Heath; Brandon Heath, Jason
Ingram; Reunion Records

INSPIRATIONAL RECORDED SONG
“A New Hallelujah”; A New Hallelujah; Michael W. Smith; Michael W. Smith, Debbie Smith,
Paul Baloche; Reunion Records

POP/CONTEMPORARY ALBUM
Revelation; Third Day; Howard Benson; Essential Records

CHRISTMAS ALBUM
Peace on Earth; Casting Crowns; Mark Hall, Mark A. Miller; Beach Street

PRAISE & WORSHIP ALBUM
A New Hallelujah; Michael W. Smith; Michael W. Smith; Reunion Records

RECORDED MUSIC PACKAGING (product; art director; graphic artist;
     illustrator/photographer; label)
     Revelation (Third Day); Tim Parker, Becka Blackburn; Tim Parker; David McClister,
     RW Sims; Essential Records

SHORT FORM MUSIC VIDEO (title; artist; director; producer; production company; label)

"Slow Fade"; Casting Crowns; John Erwin, Andy Erwin; Erwin Brothers Motion Pictures;

Beach Street

About Provident Music Group

Provident Music Group, a division of Sony Music Entertainment, is one of the world’s leading Christian entertainment companies. Provident Music Group operates under the umbrella of Sony Music Nashville and comprises Provident Label Group, Provident Films (designed to produce and distribute faith-based films) and Provident-Integrity Distribution.

Provident Label Group is home to Reunion Records, Essential Records, Beach Street Records and Flicker Records. Provident Label Group’s acclaimed roster includes artists garnering accolades such as RIAA Gold and Platinum certifications and GRAMMY and Dove nominations or trophies: Casting Crowns, Michael W. Smith, Third Day, Red, Brandon Heath, Tenth Avenue North, Pillar, Fireflight and Leeland.