The Save The GMA fundraiser took place on Monday night, and it looks like the event might have gone a long way towards helping to keep the Gospel Music Association on its feet.
According to the press release, the event – which drew 350 people at $1,000 a ticket plus more than 10,000 online viewers – raised more than $350,000.
Billed at the “Concert of the Decade” the Save The GMA fundraiser featured performances from Amy Grant, Michael W. Smith, Casting Crowns, MercyMe, Kirk Franklin, Point of Grace, Jason Crabb, Martha Munizzi, the Fisk Jubilee Singers, Natalie Grant, Bernie Herms and the Booth Brothers. Brown Bannister, five-time Dove Award-winning Producer of the Year, produced the concert.
Also appearing onstage as segment hosts were author/pastor David Nasser; Premier Productions President Roy Morgan; and GMA Executive Committee member Eddie DeGarmo (president of EMI CMG Publishing). Special guest U. S. Representative Marsha Blackburn (R-TN), co-founder of the Congressional Songwriters Caucus, spoke to the importance of the advocacy the Gospel Music Association offers for its members.
All performing artists and show producers donated their time and expenses, and purchased the tickets to the event. (So does that mean that the 350 at the event were mainly artists, presenters and their families? And that all of the money was raised by them?)
Corporate sponsors included World Vision, Compassion International, Nashville Convention & Visitors Bureau, SoundExchange, SunTrust Bank, Avenue Bank, Harry Fox Agency, National Music Publishers Association, and Regions Bank. (Look at all of those banks on the list; so that’s where the bailout money went!)
But I digress.
GMA Board of Directors chairman and President of Daywind Music, Ed Leonard, told the crowd, “While tonight we’ve come together to help the GMA navigate through some immediate challenges, this assembly also offers us a unique blessing to renew the commitment to our community, and to build a GMA that is relevant for the future.”
Let’s hope that this is enough to help the GMA regroup and find a way to make sense of this constantly changing industry. With new technology, the changing definition of Christian music, and the continually blurring lines between the sacred and secular, the support that GMA gives to Christian musicians is more important than ever – as long at it can keep up.
UPDATE 10/27/09: Is GMA closing its doors?
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posted October 14, 2009 at 11:46 am
From what I heard from credible sources, they were a million in debt. This wont save them.
In my opinion, this was a quick fix to try and pay back their debts, which are massive.
The issue is this.. what does the GMA provide its members, other than a good old boys club and a membership card? At least with AARP, you get a discount on hotels and flat tires.
The GMA represents a dying music industry that controlled artists and their creation for years.
It’s reformation time my friends, and Martin Luther is in the house!
posted October 14, 2009 at 11:54 am
Keith, holy smokes, that’s a lot of money, if it’s true. How does an organization like that get into debt?
I’d join GMA but other than listing the membership on my resume it really doesn’t offer me any benefit, which is a shame. Because I’d love to support it, but I don’t really have a reason to.
Then again, I belong to some other organizations which offer me very little, other than it’s nifty to belong, like my membership in the Dog Writers Association of America.
Joanne
host of the GS blog
posted October 14, 2009 at 12:17 pm
Joanne, what I heard from credible sources is they got in debt several years ago when they tried to get the Dove Awards broadcast on a major channel. They had a deal, got advertisers, and then the broadcaster backed out, and then the advertisers backed out, but the GMA paid for the broadcast and went ahead with it anyway and paid for it with their own money. It was very expensive. Also, lower attendance at their events has hurt them. Their events are good, but cost them a ton of money to produce. In times of tough economic conditions, it is wise to tighten up the ship. Unfortunately, they have a pretty big ship with a lot of captains who were not quick to batten down the hatches. And as Paul Harvey use to say, “and that is the rest of the story.”
posted October 14, 2009 at 1:07 pm
Keith, attendance at GMA this past April was waaaaay down. I heard that a large segment of folks had a … I don’t know if falling out is the right way to put it … with GMA and went to a different industry event instead. It was clear that something was going on, more than just the economy.
And I’m at a point where the cost to go hasn’t been balanced off by work afterwards. If I’m going to spend several hundred dollars I need to make sure I’ll recoup that in articles. The whole industry is slow, you know?
I love going to GMA Week, but mostly to see friends who live there, maybe interview a new band or something. But the luster has worn off; that’s probably more me than GMA, to be honest. After a while, having to do something can kind of suck the fun out of it, you know?
Joanne
host of the GS blog
posted October 14, 2009 at 1:42 pm
The independent scene is thriving. More creatives than ever are creating and reaching people without a middle man.
Here’s an analogy for you:
What happens when you try to control a game by manipulation?
The players take their balls and go somewhere else.
The walls are coming down and the old stadium is crumbling.
And that is good, because what will come out of it will be so much better and more pure.
There is a purging, a new wine for a new wineskin.
Now, we will see who is really serious about reaping the harvest.
posted October 14, 2009 at 2:20 pm
I agree wholeheartedly with what Keith is saying here. The independent Christian music industry is thriving while the old model is shrinking. That has nothing to do with the economic recession. It has more to do with the changes in technology.
There is one thing I would like to add about GMA membership and what they offer for their membership fee. They give you the ability to vote for the Dove Awards. Therefore, you can be a small part of the rest of the Christian Music Industry that votes. However, I see one small issue with that. Are the fans going to pay $60-$95 per year just so they can vote? I don’t think so. So, that means that only the industry is voting for the Dove Awards. Sorry, but the fans are the one’s who are paying for the food on the artist’s tables and the gas in their bus, not the major label industry.
If the GMA was smart and wanted to recover from this huge deficit, they would need to do more than just have a few fundraising events. They would need to create a new model that 1) allows the fans to vote and 2) allows the independent Christian music artists and bands to be voted on. The independent Christian music industry is much larger right now than the major label industry.
posted October 15, 2009 at 7:37 pm
As ye reap . . .
posted October 27, 2009 at 3:27 am
its too little, too late..
posted October 27, 2009 at 5:22 pm
I love how the term “new model” is being thrown around as the answer to GMA’s woes.
I’ll tell you what GMA needs. If they’re not going to go away then they need to go back to the “Old Model”… Jesus (you know, the “G” in GMA?)
Did that sound trite?
Seems like the “Save the GMA” event was business as usual with everything and everyone that’s led it to where it is now: “So does that mean that the 350 at the event were mainly artists, presenters and their families? And that all of the money was raised by them?”
What they should have done was have a holy convocation – with “corporate” repentance, prayer and fasting. How else does scripture teach us to seek the Father in a situation like that?
Money isn’t going to “save” GMA and neither will Jesus. He’s never needed a “good old boys club” to represent Him in the musical gifts.
WWJD? That’s the wrong question… What Would DAVID Do? That’s the question. This prophetic psalmist would:
- have an effective and relevant music ministry that casted out demons and win the hearts of the people
- institute 24/7 prayer, worship and fasting (Tabernacle of David – it’s in your Bible)
- Lead a people into the Holy Places
- Make the name of Jesus famous through out the land
That’s what David would do and that’s the only reason why any of us should even consider a music ministry.
posted October 28, 2009 at 5:51 pm
Allan,
Weren’t you a part of the CCM industry as a producer?
Didnt you make $$$ off off the CCM industry?