The new chairman of the Gospel Music Association (GMA) says the organization's showcase event—held for the first time outside of Nashville—was a resounding success.

Mitchell Solarek told Christian Retailing that the 42nd Annual GMA Dove Awards, held April 20 at Atlanta's historic Fox Theatre, was sold out, and attendance was up 50% from last year's show.

"From a press perspective, we have not had that kind of coverage as long I can remember," said Solarek, who took over as chairman for Ed Leonard after his term ended in April. "It was great to drive into downtown Atlanta and see welcome banners hanging from street poles welcoming the Dove Awards.

"The governor of Georgia attended the show," added Solarek, president of Maximum Artist Management. "There was so much support from the city and state that you could feel the electricity in the air. ... I could not have been happier with the results of the move to Atlanta this year."

Solarek said that the organization has not yet decided on the location for next year's event. GMA has been trying to bounce back since the association experienced a financial crisis in 2009 that "threatened its very existence," according to Leonard.

GMA posted a profit last year for the first time in three years, reduced a total debt of $921,000 to a manageable amount and sold its Nashville facility for $697,000 in October 2010. In addition, the association will hire an executive director this year, rather than a president, as part of a new management model.

"The debt is significantly lower than what it was at this time last year," said Solarek, a GMA board member for three years. "We are in a much more stable position than we have been in the past."

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