DOVES SPREAD WINGSThis year marked the first ever expansion for the number of nominees in key categories for the Dove Awards. Beyond giving industry insiders a larger pool of artists to choose from, those acts were given additional visibility amongst Christian music fans, particularly TV viewers who were able to catch a telecast chock full of more performances than ever before live on Gospel Music Channel, the Dove Awards’ new home.
SKILLET SCORES FIRST DOVEWith over 400,000 copies of its latest CD,
Comatose (Lava/Atlantic/Ardent), sold plus stadium tours with Breaking Benjamin, Three Days Grace, Seether and Winter Jam,
Skillet was hands-down one of Christian music’s biggest success stories this year. Ironically, it also marked the veteran band’s first ever Dove Award, with the metallic foursome taking home the trophy for “Rock Recorded Song of the Year” behind the single “Comatose.”
CLEVELAND SCORES THIRD GRAMMYCritically-acclaimed troubadour
Ashley Cleveland scored her third career GRAMMY in the “Best Rock or Rap Gospel Album of the Year” category for
Before the Daylight’s Shot. The indie album dropped on Cleveland’s own 204 Records, marking her second ever award outside of major label contexts and once again showing the industry’s shift toward artists on their own.
THIRD DAY SCORES KEY COVERIt’s been a banner year for
Third Day in many ways, from hitting the late night television circuit (“Jay Leno” anyone?) to tearing up the radio with its return to rock record
Revelation (Essential) to co-headlining the “Music Builds Tour” (also featuring
Switchfoot,
Jars of Clay and
Robert Randolph and the Family Band). Above all, members graced the cover of
Billboard (the music industry’s most influential magazine), which continued to expand the band’s mainstream reach.
