Lipscomb partners with GMA, hosts Dove Awards for second year
Kim Chaudoin | 615.966.6494 |
For the second consecutive year, Lipscomb University’s Allen Arena is the site of one of Christian music’s biggest nights—the Dove Awards.
A who’s who of the Christian music industry is expected to be a part of the 45th annual edition of the GMA Dove Awards on Oct. 7 set to begin at 6:30 p.m. Bart Millard of Mercy Me and Lecrae will co-host the program which is scheduled to feature performances by for KING & COUNTRY, Natalie Grant, Karen Peck, Ellie Holcomb, Hezekiah Walker, Erica Campbell, Tedashii and MercyMe among others. Presenters include David and Pamela Mann; Alan and Lisa Robertson of Duck Dynasty; Karen Kinsbury; Bobby Jones; Jason Crabb; Sandi Patty; Capital Kings and Pat Boone to name a few. The show will be broadcast nationally on the Trinity Broadcasting Network the following Sunday.
Tickets are available for purchase and range in price from $35-$125. For more information about the program and ticket sales, visit www.doveawards.com.
Last year, Lipscomb established a partnership with the Gospel Music Association that brought the awards program back to Nashville after a two-year stint in Atlanta.
GMA offices are now located on Lipscomb property on Granny White Pike, across from the Lipscomb campus. This past April, the organization also hosted its annual GMA Honors event to a full house in Allen Arena.
“The Christian and gospel music industry plays an important role in today’s culture, and we are grateful that Dr. Lowry and the Lipscomb leadership shares in that mission,” said Jackie Patillo, GMA president and executive director.
Patillo said she anticipates additional events taking place in Lipscomb’s venues in the coming months in addition to providing hands-on learning opportunities for students through internships and other volunteer opportunities.
“The events team at Lipscomb is very professional and their hospitality has been amazing. We feel like family. It has been great for Lipscomb to walk alongside the GMA and this industry.”
“I love this music community. I love that we have many different styles and that God is using all of them in so many ways,” she said. “We are standing on the shoulders of so many who have come before us. Our music resonates with so many. People still need to be inspired and find hope in Jesus. It is great to see Christian artists filling arenas today with not just world class entertainment but the power of God to change lives.”
Patillo has devoted her career to developing and promoting artists in the Christian and gospel music industry. She entered the profession at Star Song Communications, where she signed and developed several artists including Phillips, Craig & Dean and Sierra. She was appointed vice president of artists and repertoire in 1995 and later launched Star Song’s gospel label. In 1997, Patillo was recruited to Benson Music Group’s A&R department. While there, she became known for artist development by signing top artists such as Natalie Grant.
In 2000, Patillo headed to Integrity Music as general manager of its gospel music division, where she launched Integrity Gospel. She also served as vice president of A&R and artist development from 2005-2010 for Sony Music’s Verity Gospel Music Group in New York City. In 2011, Patillo was appointed executive director of GMA.
“At GMA, we are a voice for Christian and gospel music,” she said. “We are here to represent the industry, seek opportunities and provide a platform. Our mission is to expose, promote and celebrate the gospel through music.”
The Gospel Music Association was founded in 1964 to foster interest among the general public in gospel and Christian music, to build community and cooperation among industry leadership in order to address mutual business issues, to maximize sales of Christian music and to promote public awareness of Christian music.
Patillo said GMA focuses its efforts on a past, present and future model.
“Through the GMA Foundation and the GMA Gospel Music Hall of Fame we aim to preserve the legacies—the past—of those that have blazed the trail for Gospel music,” she said. “Through the GMA Dove Awards we are supporting and bring awareness to the best and brightest in the current Christian and Gospel music industry. And, we focus on the future through our three day music training event, IMMERSE, which develops up-and-coming artists, songwriters and music business professionals.”
Leading the organization is something that Patillo sees as a mission.
“This is much more than a job for me. It is a calling,” she said. “I’m like the mom of the industry. The artists, promoters, songwriters — they’re all family to me. I want to do whatever I can to support them.”