GMA, ABS Partner for Scripture-Laced Music Contest
The Gospel Music Association (GMA) and the American Bible Society (ABS) have agreed to a long-term ministry partnership that celebrates songwriters who incorporate the Bible's life-changing message into their music.
As a result of the new partnership, the GMA and the Bible Society will create a new songwriting competition at GMA's annual "Music in the Rockies" event, according to Dr. Paul G. Irwin, president and CEO of the American Bible Society, and John W. Styll, president and CEO of GMA.
The ABS Scripture Song category will be added to the 34th Annual GMA Music in the Rockies, scheduled for Aug. 3-9, 2008.
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"Music has the power to inspire, while the Bible has the power to transform," said Styll. "With the Bible Society's support as our ministry partner and their guidance as the administrator of the ABS Scripture Song category, the GMA is very excited about the prospect of raising up new generations of biblically-informed songwriters who will create music that both inspires and transforms lives."
The ABS Scripture Song competition, which will be held in addition to the Music in the Rockies' other talent and songwriting contests, will award songwriters who adapt, derive or base music on Scripture from both the Old and New Testaments.
The prizes for the new category of the competition will include a personalized Bible from the American Bible Society for each writer or co-writer; a guaranteed track on an ABS recording project to be released by a major record label and distribution company; and a Steuben crystal award.
The ABS Scripture Song Awards will be given in three classes – Amateur, Semi-Pro and Professional Non-artist. Furthermore, all musical styles and genres – including pop, rock, rap, inspirational, adult contemporary, worship, southern gospel, urban gospel, country, Latin, hip-hop, children's and holiday styles – will be eligible for the award. In support of the competition, the Bible Society will conduct workshops at GMA Music in the Rockies about the art of writing Bible-based lyrics.
