GMA Music Awards Voting Process

THE VOTING PROCESS FOR THE GMA MUSIC AWARDS

Bearing a rich history, the GMA Music Awards is the longest running, most prestigious awards show in gospel music in which the gospel music industry recognizes its peers for their accomplishments. The GMA Music Awards are voted on by the members of the Gospel Music Association. Only GMA members who are active members by Dec. 6, 2004 are eligible to vote in the 36th Annual GMA Music Awards. Professional membership is open to all who earn a portion of their income from gospel music. Associate membership is open to all who have an interest in gospel music. College Student membership is open to have an interest in gospel music and are full-time college students.

Professional members vote in all divisions. They are allowed to vote in four out of the twelve Recorded Song of the Year categories and five out of the twelve Album of the Year categories. Associate and college student members vote on the Final Ballot in the Artist, New Artist, Song, Male Vocalist, Female Vocalist and Group of the Year categories. Each GMA member is assigned a ballot number and keeps that same number throughout the entire voting process. All tabulations of the ballots are handled by GMA's accounting firm, Barbara J. Kinkead, CPA.

To be considered for the 36th Annual GMA Music Awards eligibility, the album or song must have been released between November 1, 2003 and October 31, 2004 and must have General Distribution in the Christian marketplace in the United States and meet all eligibility requirements as outlined in the "Policy & Procedures Manual for the 36th Annual GMA Music Awards."

The balloting process consists of three steps: an entry form and two separate ballots. Record companies and print music companies, as well as GMA professional members, enter products into the GMA Music Awards voting process.

Once all entries have been obtained, the GMA Music Awards Screening Committee, which consists of approximately 80 industry leaders, meets to verify the eligibility of the nominated person or product and the appropriate genre in which the nomination shall be placed. Once this list is compiled the First Ballot is mailed to professional members only.

After the first ballot has been returned to GMA's accounting firm, the five entries in each category which receive the highest number of votes (except Song of the Year which includes 10) are announced at the GMA Music Awards press conference as the final nominees.

The Second/Final Ballot, which lists the finalists in each category, is mailed to members. The accounting firm compiles the list of winners from the final ballots returned and they are announced the night of the GMA Music Awards.

RULES FOR GMA MUSIC AWARDS DISTRIBUTION: WHO ACTUALLY RECEIVES A DOVE STATUETTE?

Song of the Year - The songwriter(s) and publisher(s)

Worship Song of the Year - The songwriter(s) and publisher(s)

Songwriter, Male Vocalist, Female Vocalist, Group, Artist, New Artist and Producer - The award recipient

Recorded Songs of the Year - The artist and songwriter(s). Producer and/or Record company can purchase a statuette.

Albums of the Year - The artist and producer(s). Record company and/or Production company can purchase a statuette.

Instrumental, Praise & Worship, Children's Music, Spanish Language, Special Event - Artist (if prominent) and producer or creator. Record company and/or Production company can purchase a statuette.

Musical or Choral - Creator. Publisher may purchase a statuette.

Recorded Music Packaging - Art director, graphic artists, photographers and illustrators.

Production company and/or Record company can purchase a statuette.