This week is all about AWARDS. We have the Dove Awards Nominees and
the 2001 cMusicWeb.com Awards, where you can vote for your favorites
and WIN just for doing so! So, keep reading for all the details!
But, first, we bring you a commentary on this year's Dove Awards
Nominees.

cMUSICWEB.COM'S DOVE AWARDS 2001 COVERAGE: HEADS IN THE CLOUDS
by Josh M. Shepherd
Vanity, mockery, self-gratification. Call them what you will, the
Dove Awards still create a stir in Christian music, even if it only
amounts to a week of industry executives back-slapping each other.
Rachael Lampa, Plus One...Point of Grace? Are we giving trophies for
most promotion dollars spent-or for actual creative talent?

Truthfully, the Gospel Music Association has always gone the safe
route, nominating not the chance-takers, but those who refuse to rock
the proverbial boat. Categories like Country Artist, Southern Gospel
Song, Bluegrass Recorded Album seem left over from a 1960's church
gathering. International artists-Brits like Matt Redman and Paul
Oakley, not to mention the unknown dozens of Asian and African bands-
are passed over for the pop flavor of the month. What few high
achievers are honored (Steven Curtis Chapman, dc Talk, Michael W.
Smith) get nominated even in off-years, as if some on the GMA
committee just picked up a two year-old album.

One must be careful making judgements, so I have mined a few
nominations as examples. 2001 brings us eleven options for Song Of
the Year, including songwriter Martin Smith's very first nod in the
category. A little chorus called "I Could Sing of Your Love
Forever," written 1994. Try the Female Vocalist Award. Rebecca St.
James, the most popular Christian voice (bar Amy Grant), put a dance
twist on her sound this year, in touch but not imitative of
mainstream trends. You guessed it: not listed.

A glimmer, faint but visible, can be seen-illuminant writers and
musicians who will be pointed out in defense of the GMA. Third Day,
with nine mentions counting Mac Powell's overdue Male Vocalist
nomination and Monroe Jones' in the Producer cateogry, are so present
that they give out a blinding glare compared to other mediocre
choices. Chart-topping P.O.D. will surely walk away as Group Of the
Year, or there'll be a revolt. The Praise and Worship Album category
is amazingly crowded with energetic, even glorious albums, among them
Glo by delirious? and Ardent Worship Live from Skillet.

But considering the rise of the internet, making possible worldwide
promotion and distribution, the GMA's callousness is magnified.
There's been no "Independent Artist" category added simply because
the Doves are controlled by the record labels, and always will be.

Having seen the hype and spin attached to the 2001 Doves, don't try
to trump this argument by interjecting "God's will" and "God's
calling" into this frenzy. Yes, that dimension is there, but
shouldn't have to be poured over this ceremony like ketchup. If
someone in command feels guilty about excluding half the world, just
say so. There should at least one nagging conscience when the Doves
have become little more than a celebration of money, makeup, and all
things monotonous.

Get the GMA's spin on the Dove Awards and the full nominee list at:
http://www.doveawards.com/


THE 2001 cMUSICWEB.COM AWARDS - VOTE NOW!
Why vote? No, it's not a duty to your country, but it's your duty to
see the absolute best will win. We want only the best artist and
albums in the year 2000 of Christian Music to win, so you, the
people, decide who that is. But, wait, there's more...

If you vote, you are automatically entered into our contest! We will
pick one Grand Prize winner, who will recieve the best albums in the
categories of Best Rock Album, Best Alternative Album, Best Pop
Album, Best Worship Album, and the latest album of the New Artist of
the Year! Plus, five more 1st place winners get their choice of one
of those CDs! So, vote now, and you might win!

Vote here right away:
http://cMusicWeb.com/features/awards2001


AVAILABLE TO PRE-ORDER (on cMusicWeb.com)

ROCK: http://cMusicWeb.com/rock
Hit Parade - Audio Adrenaline [03/13]

POP: http://cMusicWeb.com/pop
In A Welcome Field - Fernando Ortega [02/13]

Click on the album titles on the genre page to order them and recieve
them on the release date.


cMUSICWEB UPDATES
• Two eXclusive mp3s from N.O.G., an indie band from Hawaii:
http://cMusicWeb.com/mp3


Not many updates this week, but we will keep you updated here at
cMusicWeb.com. And, for now, As always, we'd love to know how
we're doing on this site, so send your comments.

Dan Ficker
http://cMusicWeb.com/
a different approach to music
ICQ - 43224317 AOL IM - dMusicWeb