More than 350 guests--along with performers including Amy Grant, Michael W. Smith, Casting Crowns, MercyMe, Kirk Franklin and Point of Grace--turned out for the "Concert of the Decade" earlier this week, a benefit for the threatened Gospel Music Association (GMA).

Held Oct. 12 in Nashville, the "Save the GMA" fund-raising event--which featured tickets for $1,000 each--raised more than $350,000 to help retire a $800,000 debt incurred from a past GMA Dove Awards sponsor dropout.

"While tonight we've come together to help the GMA navigate through some immediate challenges, this assembly also offers us a unique blessing to renew the commitment to our community and to build a GMA that is relevant for the future," Ed Leonard, GMA board chairman and Daywind Music Group president, told those in attendance.

Godbeat.com and HearItFirst.com, in partnership with 316 Networks, provided a free Web broadcast of the event, but approximately 14,000 online viewers crashed the servers, GMA officials said.

Gabriel Aviles, vice president, marketing & business development for GMA, acknowledged the Webcast troubles on the organization's Facebook fan page, but later said that due to "various hurdles, including licensing, we're not able to rebroadcast the event at this time, unfortunately."

In a recent interview with Christian Retailing, Leonard said the event was one of several elements intended to "reset the organization," which has in recent years faced shrinking membership and attendance at its annual GMA Music Week. As part of that reorganization, John Styll, president and CEO for six years, stepped down from the role last month as the organization refits itself as "a more volunteer-driven operation." Styll remains a board member.

• Prev
• Next