Don’t forget that the deadline to enter the Immerse talent competition, part of the Immerse conference, is coming up June 30.
The event used to be held annually in Estes Park, Colorado, and was called GMA in the Rockies, but has now moved to Nashville and is called Immerse. But the opportunities are still the same for aspiring musicians to learn from and connect with industry professionals. Former GMA in the Rockies winners include Chris Tomlin, and American Idol’s Chris Sligh and Jordin Sparks.
One talent competition winner will be named Disney’s Best In Show (arf arf … sorry, couldn’t help myself …) and will have the chance to to perform at the park’s annual “Night of Joy” concert in September. Another aspiring artist will score a development deal with rising independent and Word-distributed label Centricity Records. One missions-minded artist will find themselves on a mission trip with Compassion International. And the songwriter who best captures the Scripture in music will be honored by the American Bible Society.
There are also grand prize titles for Best Solo of 2009, Group of 2009, Band of 2009 and Song of 2009.

Seminars will taught by artists and other industry professionals, and will cover everything from getting signed by a label to performance techniques to tools for songwriting. Aspiring songwriters and artists can also have their song or demo tapes professionally critiqued. Topics will cover marketing, promotion, radio, A&R, management, publishing, PR, legal and more. he classes will also focus on the roles of an artist/songwriter’s team for those who are interested in management, booking, promotion and more.
Artists including Michael W. Smith, Natalie Grant, Pillar, Aaron Shust, Chris Sligh, Melinda Doolittle, Phil Stacey, Martha Munizzi and Travis Cottrell will all perform and/or teach at Immerse. Professionals such as Mitchell Solarek (manager/Natalie Grant); Laurie Anderson (manager/TobyMac); Brad O’Donnell (A&R, EMI CMG); Chris Blaney (booking agent, Third Coast Artists Agency); Leigh Holt (VP of Branding & Merchandising, Word Records) and author David Nasser are confirmed to participate in GMA’s Immerse.
For more information, visit the GMA Immerse Conference website.
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