Los Angeles, Calif. (June 12, 2014) - In support of the many talented, undiscovered, and independent Christian artists everywhere, the Cantinas Foundation in association with Dream Label Group, has begun its nationwide search for that special song that deserves to be heard by the masses, via the Cantinas Christian Song Search. To enter, eligible contestants must be 18 years of age or older and are required to submit a video recording of an original song to cantinasmusic.com before July 1. The panel of judges includes Grammy winning recording artist, Michael W. Smith, the Dream Label Group, and the Cantinas Foundation along with additional celebrity judges to be announced. The contest winner will be awarded a $2000 cash prize, an opening performance slot for Grammy nominated and Dove-award winning group, MercyMe at the California Mid-State Fair, and the opportunity to record their song with a leading Christian music producer through Cantinas Music and then marketed with the Dream Label Group.

"Our hope is to broaden the platform for a songwriter to use their God given ability to glorify Him through song for an 'audience of one,'" says Wendy Hughes, co-founder and executive director of the Cantinas Foundation. "To help them find their voice and share their message beyond their local church, coffeehouse, or city and broaden the scope of their reach. We're excited about our new relationship with the Dream Label Group in this pursuit."

"The Dream Label Group is proud to partner with the Cantinas Foundation in search of the next great Christian song by the next Music Missionary!," added Gina Hanley, Dream Label Group VP. "DREAM is very certain of their purpose and calling… and that is to develop, train, mentor, release, promote and market world-class Music Missionaries."

The winner of the 2013 Cantinas Song Search, James Powell, hails from Apopka, Fla. and entered last year's contest with his original song, titled, "I Do." James recently flew to Nashville to record the song with award winning country music recording artist and Producer, Mark Collie and Grammy award winning songwriter and Producer, Gordon Kennedy at the famous Columbia Studio A on historic Music Row. The 2013 contest label partner, Raylynn Records, is currently drafting promotional plans to release the song nationwide.

As contest judge and Cantinas Board of Governors member Michael W. Smith expresses, "The Arts influence generations. We, as believers, need to lead the way in creating things that are beautiful, original, and superior in quality and that glorify the Creator. I applaud the Cantinas Foundation's commitment to excellence in teaching, advancing and promoting the arts. I believe the outcome of their efforts will have global and eternal impact that will help and encourage generations to come."

Cantinas Foundation is a 501 ( c)(3) organization that strives to provide opportunities for Christian leaders to be change agents that can touch lives through concerts, music festivals, community service outreaches, cutting edge technology, and the non-profit funding of music, theatre, art, dance, and media that the entire family can enjoy. Founded in 2004, by California natives and philanthropists, Wayne B. Hughes, Jr. and his wife Wendy Hughes, the Cantinas Foundation entails many facets including the Celebration of the Arts workshops, the In the Word Bible Study program, and the newly formed Cantinas Dance Project.

DREAM RECORDS approach and model is to not only sign and develop artist in the traditional manner of promoting an artist to the top of the traditional music industry and market - but also not forgetting about the church-based artist and developing a solid foundation of artist that are called, committed and targeted to reach their local, regional and world markets. Regardless of the genre, DREAM is very certain of their purpose and calling… and that is to develop, train, mentor, release, promote and market world-class "Music Missionaries". For more information, please visit www.dreamrecords.org.

For more information regarding the Cantinas Christian Song Search, please visit www.cantinasmusic.com.

 

 

 

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