Bearing a rich history, the GMA Dove 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 Dove Awards are voted on by the members of the Gospel Music Association. Only GMA members who are active members by Nov. 30, 2007 are eligible to vote in the 39th Annual GMA Dove 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 39th Annual GMA Dove Awards eligibility, the album or song must have been released between November 1, 2006 and October 31, 2007 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 39th Annual GMA Dove 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 Dove Awards voting process.

Once all entries have been obtained, the GMA Dove 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 online First Ballot information is mailed to professional members only.

After the first ballot results have been determined by GMA's accounting firm, the five entries in each category which receive the highest number of votes (except Song of the Year which includes ten; Artist of the Year, New Artist of the Year, Female Vocalist of the Year, Male Vocalist of the Year, and Group of the Year which include seven each; and Songwriter of the Year which is derived mathematically from votes for Song of the Year) are announced at the GMA Dove Awards press conference as the final nominees.

The online Second/Final Ballot information, which also includes a comprehensive list of nominees, is mailed to members. The accounting firm compiles the list of winners from the final ballots voted and they are announced the night of the GMA Dove Awards.

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

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

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

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

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

Instrumental, Praise & Worship, Children's Music, Spanish Language, Special Event, Christmas Album of the Year - Artist (if prominent) and producer or creator (if other than the artist). Record company and/or production company can purchase a statuette.

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

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

Recorded Music Packaging of the Year - Art director, graphic artist(s), photographer(s) and illustrator(s). Record company and/or production company can purchase a statuette.

Short Form, Long Form Video of the Year - The artist, producer(s) and director(s) (if other than the artist). Record company and/or production company can purchase a statuette.