According to Dr. Paul G. Irwin, president and CEO of the American Bible Society and John W. Styll, president and CEO of GMA, the new partnership calls for the GMA and the Bible Society to create a new songwriting competition at GMA’s Annual Music in the Rockies event which is held in Estes Park, Colo. each summer. The ABS Scripture Song category will be added to the 34th Annual GMA Music in the Rockies, scheduled for August 3-9, 2008.

“The American Bible Society has reached out to the GMA with a vision of advocating and supporting the use of the Bible in Christian music and further encouraging artists to use the Bible’s life-changing message in their music,” said Irwin.

“Music has the power to inspire, while the Bible has the power to transform. 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,” said Styll.

The ABS Scripture Song category, which will be held in addition to GMA Music in the Rockies’ other talent and songwriting contests, will give awards to songwriters who adapt, derive or base music on Scripture from both the Old and New Testaments. The prizes for this 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 and 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.

ABOUT THE AMERICAN BIBLE SOCIETY
Since 1816, the American Bible Society has made the Bible available to every person in a language and format each can understand and afford, so all people may experience its life-changing message. For more information, visit www.Bibles.com.

ABOUT THE GMA
Founded in 1964, the Gospel Music Association serves as the face and voice for the Christian/Gospel music community and is dedicated to exposing, promoting and celebrating the gospel through music of all styles including pop, rock, praise & worship, black gospel, R&B, hip hop, southern gospel, country, and more. The GMA community consists of 4,000 members including agents, artists, church leaders, managers, promoters, radio personnel, record company executives, retailers, songwriters and other industry visionaries. The GMA produces the GMA Dove Awards, GMA Music Week, GMA Music in the Rockies, and the GMA Academy. For more information, please visit www.gospelmusic.org.