So yesterday, the 42nd Annual GMA Dove Award nominations were announced. (Check out the FULL List of nominees here) This marks the very first year the awards ceremony has relocated from Nashville, TN to Atlanta, GA (due to the show’s biggest sponsor – Gospel Music Channel – being based in Atlanta).
My first reaction to the nominations was a mix of confusion and surprise (and maybe a little disgust?). The reason I say confusion is because I noticed several late 2009 releases had made it onto the list of 2010 releases (further investigation on my part revealed that the releases I was thinking about — Flyleaf, Switchfoot, and Casting Crowns were all released in November, 2009, and although songs from some of those releases were nominated or won last year, their respective albums were not nominated. And, like the Grammys, the Doves must include releases from later in the year two years prior in addition to the releases of the previous year). However, at the same time, I noticed it seems to have a bit more emphasis on Gospel and Southern Gospel artists this time around too (just look at the main category nominations). Also, it’s always kind of irritated me a bit that, with so many releases debuting new music in a year, group/artist/vocalist/song, etc nominations seem to focus more on an artist’s success at radio or on the road than their debuting of new music that year. I can understand if the artist had a solid new album and ruled the airwaves and touring circuit… but to highlight artists that didn’t really do anything “new” in 2010?
Anyway, I’d love to hear your individual thoughts on the matter — not to eat each other alive on here with your respective opinions (play nice, please), but to discuss your thoughts on the nominees for this year and maybe how the Dove Awards could improve for future years.
— John