GMA Kicks Off New Year with Academy

The GMA Academy event in Dallas is quickly approaching, as attendees struggle to meet 16 January deadlines to sign up.

Popular US gospel artists Kirk Franklin and Todd Agnew will be featured at the event from 16 to 17 February 2007, hosted by the Gospel Music Association (GMA).

The Christian and gospel music industry's official weekend training camp and talent competition for signed and aspiring artists and songwriters, the GMA Academy event will be held at the Hyatt Regency Dallas in Texas.

Academy registration is available online at www.gospelmusic.org. The deadline to register for the talent competitions is January 16.

The GMA Academy was originally established to encourage and train musical talent interested in developing a ministry or career in Christian and gospel music. Through various seminars and critique sessions, individuals receive in-depth instruction, covering practical business concerns to improving artistic and songwriting skills, taught by music industry professionals. The event also includes the industry's oldest and most respected talent competition.

"The GMA Academy events are intensely rewarding. In one, focused, weekend, registrants will make time to focus on their individual calling in music, learn more about the inner-workings of the Christian and gospel music industry, network with influential industry executives and receive valuable feedback about songwriting and performance skills. I cannot think of any more important way to spend two days if I were an aspiring or independent artist or songwriter," said John W. Styll, president of the GMA.

Winners from the talent competition at GMA Academy Dallas will be invited to go on to the Artist & Song of 2007 National Competitions at GMA Music in the Rockies, held in August 2007 in Estes Park, Colorado.

In addition to Franklin and Agnew, GMA Academy Dallas will feature influential professionals from all areas of the music business who serve as faculty for the weekend event. Additionally, prolific author and speaker Reed Arvin will offer keynotes for each morning.