GMA Music Week 2007 Prepares to Kick Off

|PIC1|Over 3,000 gospel musicians and fans will gather in Nashville, Tennessee, in the US for the GMA (Gospel Music Association) Music Week 07'.

The convention kicks off 21and runs until 25 April, wrapping up with the GMA Dove Awards, Christian music's biggest night of the year.

TobyMac, Kirk Franklin, Mandisa, Take 6, The Crabb Family, MercyMe and Chris Tomlin are among the first performers announced for the 38th Annual GMA Dove Awards. The show will be hosted by Natalie Grant, Brian Littrell and Donnie McClurkin.

GMA Music Week will further feature a line-up of showcases, featuring some of gospel music's most talented artists. Dubbed as the Green Room Showcases, the concerts will feature the likes of Third Day, Jeremy Camp, Shawn McDonald, Pillar, Nichole Nordeman, amongst many others.

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

In addition, the GMA will offer programming specifically for artists and industry professionals with black gospel and urban music affiliations this year.

"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.

He added, "GMA Music Week is a time for the entire Christian/Gospel music industry to gather together to listen to new music; to learn new ways of doing business; to renew the passion for our music; and to connect with more than 3,000 fellow industry peers. We hope that the targeted opportunities we have provided will give an added incentive for increased participation from the black gospel and urban community."