THIRD DAY THE RC7R..+üsi cwaYëiJ*a.ir CA" i-6GBc. t>>cFSl`^re+fyra9'rA91 OOw®nQ Gain fi-T. LATEST , . ,.,,rv.,...,,,x..,..,0.... ...,0,... «. ,i.W.Th;. .g.. NEWS l' TOBYMAC, CASTING CROWNS TOP DOVES FRO t 'G °Tl!R' Diversity reigned as seasoned "Boomin' " was named shortform veterans and industry newcomers video of the year. "I didn't expect shared honors at the 39th annual it," he told Billboard backstage, »,JEWEL, "I'm STEELE ADDED GMA Dove Awards. Casting clutching his flock of Doves. TO `NASHVILLE Crowns, tobyMac, Natalie Grant and blessed." Casting Crowns frontman STAR' Chris Tomlin were among the Mark Hall won four accolades, and Hit songwriter Jeffrey evening's top winners at an event the Georgia -based band picked up Steele and singer/ that recognized the wide range of three Doves, including its fourth songwriter Jewel will genres under the Christian /gospel consecutive win in the group of the join John Rich as music umbrella. The show aired live year category. Hall and co- writer judges on NBC's BY DEBORAH CHRISTIAN EVANS PRICE April 23 on the Gospel Music Chan- Bernie Herms won song of the year "Nashville Star" when nel from Nashville's Grand Ole Opry, honors for "East to West." the talent show 9. with GodTube streaming the pre - Skillet, Trin -i -tee 5:7, Austin's debuts June Jewel telecast portion of the awards. Bridge and Group One Crew were co- hosted the show last year with Cowboy The Open Road TobyMac received the artist of all first -time Dove recipients. "I was Troy. Rich produced the year Dove, an honor he won in just shocked," Skillet frontman I 11 Jewel's country John Cooper told Billboard debut, "Perfectly It's always an intriguing intersection Week, and attendees got a little taste backstage. "We didn't even Clear" (Valory Music), of commerce and ministry as the when Third Day, Jars and Switchfoot write a speech." which is due June 3. faithful gather for the annual Gospel provided a preview April 21 at Nash- Among the veteran acts Billy Ray Cyrus is Music Assn.'s Music Week conven- ville's Wildhorse Saloon. to enjoy a resurgence this hosting the show, tion and Dove Awards show. Held "We've been talking for two or three year was Point of Grace, which which spent its first April 19 -23 in downtown Nashville, years about Third Day branding their netted the country recorded five years on cable's USA Network. GMA Music Week attracts artists, own festival or doing something that song Dove for "How You Live record company execs, promoters, would be different," says Creative Art- ET; (Turn Up the Music)." The »,TRIBE, NAS, managers and other industry person- ists Agency's Jeff Gregg, the band's single is being worked to MOS DEF, DE LA nel representing the diverse ranks of longtime booking agent. "Then when 1996 as a member of pioneering mainstream country radio sta- SOUL LEAD ROCK Christian /gospel music from rap to they joined Red Light [for manage- trio dcTalk. In a category gener- tions, a first for the female pop THE BELLS country to rock. ment], those conversations accelerated. ally dominated by pop acts or foursome. Cindy Morgan, who This summer's Rock Though always concerned with Then when Red Light signed Switch - worship leaders, tobyMac's win took home the best new artist the Bells tour will catering to the core church audience, foot -the two bands had toured to- elevated the Christian hip -hop/ Dove 15 years ago, wrote the song. feature appearances dialogue at this year's convention cen- gether 10 years ago on a theater and rock genre. "I hope it opens the During this year's Doves, she was by A Tribe Called tered on expanding the genre's reach church tour -we thought, 'These are door for diversity in our indus- named songwriter of the year. Quest, Nas, Mos Def, De La Soul, Rakim and further into the mainstream. "All two bands we can put together,' and try," he says. "We are a diverse The American Bible Society the reunited Pharcyde, churches have their revival week, we started brainstorming from that." industry, but I think we could be served as the presenting sponsor among others. The where they refocus and bring some- The shed tour kicks off Aug. 21 in more diverse." for the Doves, which were part of traveling hip -hop body in to speak," Third Day frontman Detroit and concludes Oct. 12 in Den- TobyMac also won rock /contem- the Gospel Music Assn.'s annual festival will visit Mac Powell says. "That's what I look ver. Produced by Live Nation and Trans- porary album of the year for GMA Music Week convention. amphitheaters in 10 at GMA Week as. It's a week where we parent Productions, the outing will hit "Portable Sounds," and his hit -DEP major North American all come together, reminding each 23 cities and will also include a side cities, beginning July other why we do this, encouraging stage featuring up- and -coming acts. 19 in Chicago and each other and hopefully learning how MySpace will be the exclusive online not going to be a normal Christian band members to grab tools and help wrapping Aug. 30 in we can reach outside of the door of the media partner. music festival." build some of the Habitat houses in Vancouver. church to encourage people with our Powell sees this tour attracting A portion of the proceeds from the tour markets. music » >SONIFIC TO and our message." Christians and nonbelievers. "Hope- shows will benefit Habitat for Human- "More than just playing music, this SHUTTER Powell and his band will play a major fully the church and people who listen ity affiliates in tour cities. Artists on is something that's going to reach a Music widget firm role in spreading the message as they to Christian music are going to be big the tour will collectively donate $1 to community and change the commu- Sonific will pull the embark on the Music Builds tour with supporters of the tour," he says. "But charity from every ticket sold. Money nities that we go and play for," Powell plug May 1. In a Switchfoot, Jars of Clay and Robert I think because of the lineup, it's going will also be raised from ticket auc- says. "That's what really gives us a huge message posted on Randolph & the Family Band. News of to be a little bit more friendly to peo- tions, event packages and special mer- reason to go do it, [in addition to] just the online music - the trek was the big buzz during GMA ple outside of the church as well. It's chandise items. Plans even call for making great music together." playing service provider's home page, CEO Gerd Leonhard blames the LABELS BY ED CHRISTMAN "unworkable" music licensing environment among the reasons for didn't, it became a resource allocation challenge. taking Sonific offline. A support services group will round up EMI's back - However, Leonhard Slowly Unfolding end functions such as finance, legal, royalties, human remains keen to EMI Restructuring Gains Clarity, Week By Week resources and IT. Driving the music will be a central- resuscitate the firm, ized global A &R /labels group, to be headed by Nick and has put the call The EMI restructuring will be one of the most am- promotion efforts across all labels in the United Gatfield. In some cases some labels will remain in- out to potential third - bitious reworkings of a major music company yet States, with the exception of EMI Christian. tact, like EMI Latin and EMI CMG. But other A &R party partners. seen by the industry. These moves only hint at what's to come. When staffers will be genre or regional specialist, instead Compiled by Chris M. So far a small amount of the expected 2,000 all is said and done, EMI will have three cen- of reporting to specific labels like EMI Nashville, Blue Walsh. Reporting by job cuts have taken place at EMI's Christ- tralized groups, divided by function, in- Note, Virgin, Capitol or Astralwerks. Lars Brandie, Antony ian Music Group (billboard.biz, April 2) stead of by label and region, sources say. There will still be heads of territories to help with Bruno, Ed Christman, and, most recently in the radio promotion The company is centralizing all mar- regional coordination. Colin Finkelstein, for example, Ann Donahue, Mitchell department at the Capitol /Virgin company keting, sales, catalog and digital forces was named president of North America April 17. Peters, Ken Tucker (billboard.biz, April 23). The latter saw at under a global music services group. The It remains unclear if Thompson will be placed and Alex Woodson. least eight promotional staffers let go includ- purpose of peeling away these functions under the music services group or will report into ing Virgin Records VP of promotion Dave from the labels was to have a smaller head count the A &R /labels group. For 24/7 news and á Reynolds and Virgin director of promotion opera- but allow for more efficiencies. In traditional the music analysis on your tions Jordan Rosenblatt. Meanwhile, CMG executive business, if one label was hot and another cold, or if For a special report on surviving a layoff see "The Big .IJIL mobile device, go to: mobile.bi Ilboard.biz. VP of promotion Greg Thompson was tapped to lead one had a heavy release schedule and the other Bounce" on page 24.