With the 2010 Dove Awards this past April delivering more than 300K viewers and outperforming the 2009 premiere HH rating by +54%, the GMA is also taking a bold step and hosting the 42nd Annual Dove Awards in Atlanta, GA., the first time the show has taken place outside of Nashville.

GMA’s Chairman of the Board Ed Leonard comments, “the experience of attending the Dove Awards in person, with our artists and fans gathered together in the Atlanta community to celebrate the Gospel, is incredible. We want to share that excitement with the people of Atlanta in 2011, and having moved our Immerse event back to Nashville from Estes Park, CO in 2009, we are taking this opportunity to expand the reach of the Dove Awards for 2011.”

The 2011 Dove Awards will be held in Atlanta’s historic and fabulous Fox Theatre on April 20, 2011. GMA is working in conjunction with the city of Atlanta to host the broadcast, where its television partner, GMC is also headquartered. Atlanta is the home of many of the industry’s biggest names (Casting Crowns, Chris Tomlin, Third Day, Byron Cage, Bishop Paul Morton, Canton Jones, Dottie Peoples, Brian Free and Assurance and more).

“GMC is thrilled to present the Dove Awards for another year to Gospel and Christian music fans,” said Charley Humbard, President and CEO of GMC. He added, “As the leading television provider of Gospel music, we are dedicated to making GMC the television home of Gospel and Christian music’s biggest events.”

“Georgia’s music scene is vibrant, growing and full of history,” said Kevin Langston, Deputy Commissioner for Tourism for the Georgia Department of Economic Development. “We are looking forward to playing host to the 2011 Dove Awards.”

Located on Peachtree Street in the middle of the city surrounded by some of the city’s best restaurants, hotels and more, Dove Award activities will take place in close proximity to the Fox Theatre, creating an intimate atmosphere for attendees, artists and industry VIPs.

“We Atlantans are so happy to welcome the Dove Awards to Atlanta this year,” remarked 16-time Dove Award winner and platinum selling artist Chris Tomlin. “How exciting to celebrate and share a night together honoring God in a city I have come to know and love.”

In agreement with Tomlin, Bishop Paul S. Morton commented, “To the world, Atlanta is already known to be a home for diversity in music. I am so excited that the GMA has chosen to bring the Dove Awards to our historic and beautiful city. What better way to add to the broadening musical landscape of Gospel Music.”

About GMA:
Founded in 1964, the Gospel Music Association serves as the face and voice for the Gospel/Christian music community and is dedicated to exposing, promoting and celebrating the Gospel through music of all styles including Pop, Rock, Praise & Worship, Urban Gospel, R&B, Hip Hop, Southern Gospel, Bluegrass, Country and more. The GMA community consists of more than 2000 members including agents, artists, church leaders, managers, promoters, radio personnel, record company executives, retailers, songwriters and other industry visionaries. The GMA produces the GMA Dove Awards, GMA Dove Week and IMMERSE. For more on supporting the GMA or becoming a member, please visit www.gospelmusic.org or contact the GMA directly at 615.277.1376.

About GMC
GMC (www.watchGMCtv.com), America’s favorite channel for uplifting music and family entertainment, is the fastest-growing network in television and the number one digital network in perceived value (source: BETA Research). GMC can be seen in over 47 million homes on various cable systems around the country, on DIRECTV on channel 338 and on Verizon FiOS on channel 224.

About the Fox Theatre:
The historic Fox Theatre is one of Atlanta’s premiere venues for live entertainment. The Fox’s 4,678 seat theatre has booked more than 300 performances a year ranging from Broadway to rock to comedy to movies. In December 2009, Billboard Magazine ranked the Fox Theatre in Atlanta as "The #1 non-residency venue worldwide for the decade (5,000 seats or less)."