Top Christian artists are banding together to help ensure the survival of the threatened Gospel Music Association (GMA) and its programs-including the annual Dove awards.

Michael W. Smith, Amy Grant, Casting Crowns and MercyMe are among those who will be performing at a "Save the GMA" fund-raising event in Nashville on Oct. 12. The tickets for the strolling dinner and concert at The Loveless Barn are $1,000 each.

Support for the event is "vital to GMA's ability to continue operating," said association President Ed Leonard in an invitation circular. "What would it be like if events like GMA Music Week, the Dove Awards and Immerse went away and there was no organization to bring us all together?"

Leonard said that the GMA had not been immune from the current economic hard times. "We have incurred significant obligations while running our events in a time of restricted sponsorship dollar availability and financial hardships faced by the members and attendees of our events," said Leonard, who is president of Daywind Music Group. He said that he hoped the event would raise $800,000.

Earlier this month the GMA announced that John Styll, president and CEO for the past six years, was stepping down from the role as the organization refit itself as "a more volunteer-driven operation." Styll remains a board member.

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