Jesusfreakhideout.com Music News, April 2011: CHRIS AUGUST AND FRANCESCA BATTISTELLI MAKE DOVE AWARD HISTORY

CHRIS AUGUST AND
FRANCESCA BATTISTELLI
MAKE DOVE AWARD HISTORY

Francesca Battistelli is the First Female Vocalist in 19 Years to
Win the Prestigious Award for “Artist of the Year”

Chris August is One of Three Artists to Receive “New Artist of the Year” and “Male Vocalist of the Year”
in the History of the Award Show

The 42nd Annual Dove Awards will air this Sunday, April 24 at 7:00 PM (EST) on the Gospel Music Channel

NEWS SOURCE: Warner Music Nashville
April 22, 2011

NASHVILLE, TN – (April 22, 2011) – Word Entertainment, Warner Music Group’s Christian music division, is celebrating their 60th anniversary year with a total of 19 Dove Award wins and taking home five out of the eight top awards at the 42nd Annual GMA Dove Awards. Fervent Records’ darling superstar, Francesca Battistelli, won the award for “Artist of the Year” making her the first female vocalist in 19 years to claim the elite title. The last female to win the award was Word Label Group artist, Amy Grant. Hot debut artist Chris August also made an impressive sweep at Wednesday’s award show receiving awards for “New Artist of the Year” and “Male Vocalist of the Year,” adding him to an elite group of artists in the history of the show who have received both awards. The only other artists who have achieved this feat are Jeremy Camp in 2004 and Michael English in 1992.

Catch the 42nd Annual Dove Awards show this Sunday, April 24 at 7:00 PM (EST) on the Gospel Music Channel (GMC).

WORD ENTERTAINMENT 42nd ANNUAL DOVE AWARD WINS:
Artist of the Year: Francesca Battistelli
Choral Collection of the Year: Declare Your Name - Carol Cymbala and Jason Michael Webb
Christmas Album of the Year: Home for the Holidays – Point of Grace
Country Album of the Year: No Changin’ Us – Point of Grace
Country Recorded Song of the Year: “There Is Nothing Greater Than Grace” – Point of Grace
Female Vocalist of the Year: Francesca Battistelli
Group of the Year: NEEDTOBREATHE
Inspirational Album of the Year: The Edge of the Divine – Sandi Patty (Stylos Records)
Male Vocalist of the Year: Chris August
Musical of the Year: As Sure As My Redeemer Lives…So Shall I – Robert Sterling, Tony Wood
New Artist of the Year: Chris August
Pop/Contemporary Album of the Year: No Far Away, Chris August
Pop/Contemporary Recorded Song of the Year: “Beautiful Beautiful” – Francesca Battistelli
Praise & Worship Album of the Year: As Long As It Takes – Meredith Andrews
Producer of the Year: Ian Eskelin
Rap/Hip Hop Album of the Year: Outta Space Love – Group 1 Crew
Rap/Hip Hop Recorded Song of the Year: “Walking on the Stars” – Group 1 Crew
Rock/Contemporary Recorded Song of the Year: “Something Beautiful” – NEEDTOBREATHE
Worship Song of the Year: “How Great Is The Love” – Meredith Andrews (tie)

For more information please visit, www.WordLabelGroup.com.

About Word Entertainment
A leader in the music industry, Word Entertainment, a Warner/Curb company, is a unique, comprehensive entertainment company comprised of multi-faceted artist service departments including publishing, merchandising, booking, and online initiatives. Word Entertainment represents some of the top names and brands in music, including Meredith Andrews, Chris August, BarlowGirl, Francesca Battistelli, Big Daddy Weave, Group 1 Crew, Point Of Grace, Mark Schultz, Sidewalk Prophets and Chris Sligh and is home to 25 LIVE, Word Distribution (representing Curb Records and Big Idea/VeggieTales among others), Word Print, Word Music Publishing and Word Label Group’s Word Records and Fervent Records.

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For more info on Francesca Battistelli, visit the JFH Artists Database.
For more info on Chris August, visit the JFH Artists Database.