|PIC1|NASHVILLE, USA - Thousands of Christian music fans, musicians, and exhibitors will flock to America's Music City this week, as the Gospel Music Association Music Week kicks off today.

The annual gospel music event will run from 21 to 25 April in Nashville, Tennessee, and is expected to entertain some 3,000 people with genre-specific programming such as seminars, workshops and showcases.

To kick-start the week, the BMI Christian Music Awards, which salutes the songwriters and publishers of the past year's most performed Christian music on US radio and television, will be held today at BMI's Music Row Offices.

Hosted by Jody Williams, Vice President, Writer/Publisher Relations, along with Associate Director, Writer/Publisher Relations Beth Mason and Senior Director, Writer/Publisher Relations Thomas Cain, the Awards will honour the BMI Christian Song of the Year, Songwriter of the Year and Publisher of the Year.

Meanwhile, the traditional Sunday evening of worship awaits tomorrow at the historic Ryman Auditorium, featuring Hillsong United, along with the dynamic Hillsong Youth Pastor, Phil Dooley. The night will be hosted by Michael W Smith.

Throughout the week, the GMA will offer programming specifically for artists and industry professionals with black gospel and urban music affiliations.

"I would like to see GMA Music Week attendance mirror the diversity reflected in the Billboard Top Christian and Gospel Albums charts and that means artists and professionals in the black gospel and urban music community are an important audience for GMA," John W Styll, president and CEO of the GMA, said.

GMA Music Week will conclude with the Dove Awards - also dubbed as the GMA Music Awards - which takes place on 25 April. Known as Christian music's 'biggest night of the year', the historic awards show will be hosted by gospel legends Brian Littrell, Natalie Grant, and Donnie McClurkin this year at the Grand Ole Opry House in Nashville.

TobyMac, Kirk Franklin, Mandisa, Take 6, The Crabb Family, MercyMe and Chris Tomlin are among the first performers announced for the Dove Awards, while Michael W Smith, Brenda Lee and Bob & Larry from VeggieTales are among those slated as presenters. Nominations for the Awards were announced in February by the GMA.