After its first year as a major concert event in the Southern Gospel Community, the Branson Gospel Music Convention was honored as one of five nominees for the 2010 Pacesetter in the SGN Music Awards.

The Pacesetter Award honors individuals, companies, artists, events, and the like who raise the standard in the industry during the previous year. Past winners have included such names as the Crabb Family, Daywind Records, Booth Brothers, artist manager Kathy Hannah and last year’s winner the National Quartet Convention (in addition to many others). It is the most prestigious award handed out at the awards program.

Kelly Burton, Program Director for the Branson Gospel Music Convention, said, "For this event to be recognized after its first year is the icing on the cake for us. We're especially excited because it was an effort of our family and close friends, and we share the acknowledgment with them."

"The reward of Branson GMC has been the continual testimony of artists and audience members who were blessed and challenged by the spirit of it,” mentioned Rod Burton, co-owner of YMR Productions, LLC. “We are happy to be answering God's call and happy others have appreciated how He used Branson GMC to stir people."

The Branson Gospel Music Convention is honored to be mentioned in the same category and stand along side such names like Crossroads Music Group, Chuck Peters and the SGShowPrep, SGN Scoops Digital, and Vine Records.

The SGN Music Award nominees are chosen by the staff of SoGospelNews.com and select members of the Southern Gospel media and community.

The nominees for the 2010 SGN Music Awards are listed below:

SONG OF THE YEAR:
“Die Another Day” – Brian Free & Assurance (M.Funderburk, J.Lemonis, B.Smith)
“Everyday” – Triumphant Quartet(D.Loggins, J.D.Martin)
“Hold On” – Dove Brothers(M.Dove)
“I Cast My Bread Upon the Water” – Gold City(J.Hemphill)
“I Want to Thank You” – Karen Peck & New River (R.Golden, J.Salley)
“If You Knew Him” – Perrys(R.Griffin, J.Habedank)
“It Pays to Pray” – Greater Vision (R.Griffin)
“Notified” – Mike & Kelly Bowling (R.Hinson)
“Stand By the River” – Greenes (D.Rambo)
“What Salvation’s Done For Me” – Booth Brothers (R.Golden, D.Wilkinson)

ALBUM OF THE YEAR: 

Almost Morning – Perrys (W.Haun)
Everyday – Triumphant Quartet (W.Haun)
Expecting Good Things – Jeff & Sheri Easter (G.Cole, J.Easter, S.Easter)
Hold On – Dove Brothers (D.Crawford)
Journey Through the Sky – HisSong (W.Haun)
Just Stand – Legacy Five …Naturally – Isaacs (B.Gaither, B.Isaacs)
No Worries – Karen Peck & New River (M.Fain)
Reunited –
Gaither Vocal Band (B.Gaither, D.Phelps)
Worth It – Brian Free & Assurance (B.Weeks)

PACESETTER: 

Branson Gospel Music Convention
Crossroads Music Group
Chuck Peters (SGShowPrep)
SGN Scoops Digital
Vine Records

BREAKTHROUGH ARTIST: 

Ball Brothers
Cross 4 Crowns
McMillan & Life
Sisters
Soul’d Out Quartet

MALE VOCALIST: 

Mike Bowling (Bowling Family)
Jason Crabb
Michael English (Gaither Vocal Band)
Joseph Habedank (Perrys)
Bill Shivers (Brian Free & Assurance)

FEMALE VOCALIST: 

Karen Peck Gooch (Karen Peck & New River)
TaRanda Greene (Greenes)
Janet Paschal
Lauren Talley (Talley Trio)
Sonya Isaacs Yeary (Isaacs)

MALE GROUP: (a tie necessitated 6 finalists)

Booth Brothers
Dove Brothers
Gaither Vocal Band
HisSong
Legacy Five
Triumphant Quartet

FEMALE GROUP: 

Perry Sisters
Sisters
Sweetwater Revival

MIXED GROUP: 

Bowling Family (formerly Mike & Kelly Bowling)
Karen Peck & New River
Isaacs
Perrys
Talley Trio

SONGWRITER (ARTIST):
Jim Brady (Booth Brothers)
Rodney Griffin (Greater Vision)
Joseph Habedank (Perrys)
Becky & Sonya Isaacs (Isaacs)
Kyla Rowland (Kyla Rowland & Deliverance)

SONGWRITER (PROFESSIONAL): 
(a tie necessitated 6 finalists)
Chris Binion
Marty Funderburk
Rusty Golden
Joel Lindsey
Rebecca J. Peck
Dianne Wilkinson

PRODUCER (ARTIST): 

Darrell Freeman (Freemans)
Ben Isaacs (Isaacs)
Tim Parton (Legacy Five)
Arthur Rice (Kingdom Heirs)
Roger Talley (Talley Trio)

PRODUCER (PROFESSIONAL): 

Donna Beauvais
Lari Goss
Wayne Haun
Michael Sykes
Barry Weeks

ENGINEER: 

Steve Allen
Gus Gaches (Legacy Five)
Aaron Minick
Terry Thompson
Kevin Ward

MUSICIAN: 
(a tie necessitated 6 finalists)
Kim Collingsworth (Collingsworth Family)
Madison Easter (Jeff & Sheri Easter)
Bryan Elliott (Perrys)
Gordon Mote
Tim Parton (Legacy Five)
Stewart Varnado (Dixie Echoes)

TRADITIONAL SOUTHERN SONG: 

“He Locked the Gates” – Kingdom Heirs (R.Griffin)
“I Believe In Prayer” – HisSong (D.Britt, W.Haun, J.Lindsey)
“If You Knew Him” – Perrys (R.Griffin, J.Habedank)
“It Pays to Pray” – Greater Vision (R.Griffin)
“When the Trumpet Sounds” – Triumphant Quartet (W.Haun, J.Lindsey)

TRADITIONAL SOUTHERN ALBUM:
Almost Morning – Perrys (W.Haun)
Everyday – Triumphant Quartet (W.Haun)
I’d Rather Have Jesus – Dixie Echoes (R.Shelnut, R.Shelnut, Jr., S.Varnado)
Just Stand – Legacy Five (L.Goss)
When You Look at Me – Kingdom Heirs (J.Collins, A.Rice)

PROGRESSIVE SOUTHERN SONG: 

“Die Another Day” – Brian Free & Assurance (M.Funderburk, J.Lemonis, B.Smith)
“Life Goes On” – Talley Trio (G.Boe, M.Funderburk)
“Notified” – Mike & Kelly Bowling (R.Hinson)
“What Salvation’s Done For Me” – Booth Brothers (R.Golden, D.Wilkinson)
“Why Can’t All God’s Children Get Along” – Karen Peck & New River (S.Hill)

PROGRESSIVE SOUTHERN ALBUM: 

Breakthrough – Ball Brothers (D.Ruse, J.Webb)
No Worries – Karen Peck & New River (M.Fain)
Renewed – Sisters (H.Day, K.Lord, V.Ruppe)
Songs You Know By Heart – Talley Trio (R.Talley)
Worth It – Brian Free & Assurance (B.Weeks)

COUNTRY SONG: 
(a tie necessitated 6 finalists)
“A Little Good News” – Dove Brothers (C.Black, R.Bourke, T.Rocco)
“Born to Climb” – Jeff & Sheri Easter (W.Haun, J.Lindsey)
“I Want to Thank You” – Karen Peck & New River (R.Golden, J.Salley)
“Little Bit of Heaven” – Isaacs (S.I.Yeary)
“Three Rugged Crosses” – The Freemans (M.Funderburk, R.Funderburk)
“What Children Believe” – Gold City (J.I.Elliott, B.Lamb, J.Salley)

COUNTRY ALBUM: 

Expecting Good Things – Jeff & Sheri Easter (G.Cole, J.Easter, S.Easter)
Hold On – Dove Brothers (D.Crawford)
I Will Sing – Gordon Mote (P.Johnson, G.Mote)
Jason Crabb – Jason Crabb (J.Crabb, T.Simms, N.Wilson)
…Naturally – Isaacs (B.Gaither, B.Isaacs)

SPECIAL EVENT PROJECT: 

Christmas Memories – Freemans (D.Freeman)
Decennial – Dove Brothers (M.Dove)
Gaither Vocal Band Reunion, Vol. 1 & 2 – Gaither Vocal Band (B.Gaither)
Jubilee! – Booth Brothers, Greater Vision, Legacy Five (G.Wolfe)
Live At the Oak Tree (series) – Daywind Records (P.Corley, T.Corley, S.Lancaster, N.Holland, M.Turner)

BEST LIVE PERFORMER:
Booth Brothers
Dixie Echoes
Dove Brothers
Freemans
Karen Peck & New River

FAN FAVORITE ARTIST OF THE YEAR: 

Beyond the Ashes
Booth Brothers
Bowling Family (formerly Mike & Kelly Bowling)
Brian Free & Assurance
Dove Brothers
Karen Peck & New River
McMillan & Life
Perrys
Tribute Quartet
Triumphant Quartet
The 2010 SGN Music Awards Celebration will take place on Tuesday, April 13, 2010 at River of Life Church in Smyrna, Tennessee. The event is free to the public.

The Branson Gospel Music Convention is put on by YMR Music Productions, LLC. The company announced that the 2nd Annual Branson Gospel Music Convention is to take place beginning Monday evening, June 28, through Friday, July 2, 2010 at the Branson Convention Center across from Branson Landing.

Artists already scheduled for the 2010 event include the Chuck Wagon Gang, Blackwood Quartet, HisSong, Dino, Kenny Bishop, The Melody Boys Quartet, Young Harmony, McMillan & Life, Sunday Edition, Beyond the Ashes, Hinson Revival, Stutzman Family, 2nd Generation, Rod Burton, and many more!

More information about the Branson Gospel Music Convention can be found at http://www.bransongmc.com or by calling (708) 960-0111.

More information about YMR Music Productions, LLC. can be found at http://www.ymrmp.com or by calling 708-960-0111.

About YMR Music Productions
YMR Music Productions, LLC. is a corporation formed initially for the exclusive purpose of organizing, promoting, and producing the Branson Gospel Music Convention. The production company recently started a series of concerts all around the country that supports local communities and help organization. The first Give the Gospel concert took place in November 2009.