As many of you know, I’ve spent most of the last week in Nashville, TN, getting ready for the 2010 Dove Awards. As I type, I’m sitting backstage in the Press Room. Here are the nominees for this year, as well as my predictions marked with *.

Artist of the Year
Francesca Battistelli
Casting Crowns
Jason Crabb
Jars of Clay
TobyMac *
Mary Mary
Skillet

New Artist of the Year
Jonny Diaz
Kari Jobe *
Revive *
Sidewalk Prophets
Bluetree
Crystal Akin
Brian Courtney Wilson

Group of the Year
Casting Crowns *
Gaither Vocal Band
Jars of Clay
NEEDTOBREATHE
Tenth Avenue North
Hezekiah Walker & LFC
Skillet

Female Vocalist of the Year
Francesca Battistelli
Natalie Grant *
Mandisa
Dawn Michele
Karen Peck Gooch
Heather Headley
Laura Story

Male Vocalist of the Year
Jeremy Camp *
Jason Crabb
Michael English
Brandon Heath
Bebo Norman
Mark Schultz
Donnie McClurkin
Smokie Norful

Song of the Year
“Born To Climb,” Jeff & Sherri Easter; Wayne Haun and Joel Lindsey; Bridge Building Music, Psalm Singer Music, Hefton Hill Music (BMI)
“By Your Side,” Tenth Avenue North; Mike Donehey, Phillip Larue and Jason Ingram; Essential Publishing
“Free To Be Me,” Francesca Battistelli; Francesca Battistelli; Word
“God Is There,” Diamond Rio; Marty Roe, Jimmy Olander and Bernie Herms; Ole, Warner Chappell, Word Music
“I Will Rise,” Chris Tomlin; Louie Giglio, Chris Tomlin, Matt Maher and Jesse Reeves; worshiptogether.com Songs, sixsteps Music, Spirit and Song.com, Vamos Publishing, Thank You Music
“Let The Waters Rise,” MIKESCHAIR; Sam Tinnesz, Mike Grayson and Ben Glover
“Revelation Song,” Phillips, Craig & Dean; Jennie Lee Riddle; Jennie Lee Riddle, Gateway Create Publishing, Integrity’s Praise Music *
“Somebody Like Me,” Jason Crabb; Neil Thrasher and Michael Boggs; 2009 Sweet Summer Music, Kobalt Songs, Crosstown Uptown Music, Major Bob Music, Upsurge Music (ASCAP)
“Two Hands,” Jars of Clay; Dan Haseltine, Charlie Lowell, Stephen Mason, Matt Odmark, Jeremy Lutito and Gabe Ruschival; Dudie Music, Chigostick Music, Bridge Building, Pogostick Music
“Why Can’t All God’s Children Get Along,” Karen Peck & New River; Stephen Hill; Christian Taylor Music (BMI), Dingo Bat Music (BMI)

Producer of the Year
Ed Cash
Ian Eskelin
Wayne Haun
Bernie Herms
Jason Ingram *
Rusty Varenkamp

Rap/Hip Hop Recorded Song of the Year
“America,” Tracy Edmond, by Tracy Edmond and Ken White
“End of My Rope,” KJ-52, by Jonah Sorrentino, Aaron Sprinkle *
“Go On,” B.Reith, by Brian Reith
“Lost,” Da’ T.R.U.T.H, by Emanuel Lambert Jr. and Tia Pittman
“Movin’,” Group 1 Crew, by Jeremy James, Byron Chambers, Christopher Stevens

Rock Recorded Song of the Year
“Bring Me To Life,” Thousand Foot Krutch, by Trevor McNevan, Steve Augustine, Joel Bruyere
“Fight Inside,” Red, by Jasen Rauch, Rob Graves, Jason McArthur, Bernie Herms
“Hero,” Skillet, by John L. Cooper, Korey Cooper
“Mess of Me,” Switchfoot, by Jonathan Foreman, Tim Foreman *
“Mystery of You,” Red, by Jasen Rauch, Anthony Armstrong, Rob Graves, Jason McArthur

Rock/Contemporary Recorded Song of the Year
“Always,” Switchfoot, by Jonathan Foreman
“Can’t Take Away” MIKESCHAIR; MIKESCHAIR; Sam Tinnesz, Mike Grayson, Jason Ingram; Curb Records
“How He Loves,” David Crowder*Band, by John Mark McMillan
“Lay ‘Em Down,” NEEDTOBREATHE, by Bear Rinehart and Bo Rinehart *
“You Gave Me A Promise,” Fireflight, by Dawn Richardson, Justin Cox, Glenn Drennen, Wendy Drennen, Phee Shorb, and Rob Hawkins

Pop/Contemporary Recorded Song of the Year
“City On Our Knees,” TobyMac, by Toby McKeehan, Jamie Moore, Cary Barlowe
“Free To Be Me,” Francesca Battistelli, by Francesca Battistelli
“Let The Waters Rise,” MIKESCHAIR, by Sam Tinnesz, Ben Glover, Mike Grayson
“My Deliverer,” Mandisa, by Chad Cates, Jason Walker, Tony Wood
“Until The Whole World Hears,” Casting Crowns, by Mark Hall, Bernie Herms, Jason McArthur, Roger Glidewell *

Rap/Hip Hop Album of the Year
Five Two Television, KJ-52; KJ-52 *
Now Is Not Forever, B.Reith; Brian Reith, Bryan Lenox, Jamie Moore, Sal Oliveri and Michael Gungor
Reiterate, GRITS
The Big Picture, Da’ T.R.U.T.H.; Emanuel Lambert, Freddy Washington Jr., J.R., Kevin (HotHandz) Mayfield, Andrae Ames, Dave Hackley, Tony “Stone” Shepherd, and GP
Thrilla, Delmar “Mr. Del” Lawrence; Mr. Del

Rock Album of the Year
Awake, Skillet, Howard Benson
Constellations, August Burns Red; Jason Suecof
Crash, Decyfer Down; Paul Ebersold
Innocence and Instinct, Red; Rob Graves
Searchlights, Abandon; Christopher Stevens
Welcome to the Masquerade, Thousand Foot Krutch; Aaron Sprinkle and Trevor McNevan *

Rock/Contemporary Album of the Year
Church Music, David Crowder*Band; David Crowder*Band
Confessions, Pillar; Rob Graves
It Is Well, Kutless; Dave Lubben, Kutless and Brown Bannister
Love & War, BarlowGirl; Otto Price
The Outsiders, NEEDTOBREATHE; Rick Beato, NEEDTOBREATHE, Jim Scott and John Alagia *

Pop/Contemporary Album of the Year
Come Alive, Mark Schultz; Shaun Shankel, Brown Bannister, Bernie Herms and Paul Mills
MIKESCHAIR, MIKESCHAIR; Jason Ingram and Rusty Varenkamp
Speaking Louder Than Before, Jeremy Camp; Brown Bannister and Jeremy Camp
The Long Fall Back to Earth, Jars of Clay; Jars of Clay, Ron Aniello *
These Simple Truths, Sidewalk Prophets; Ian Eskelin

You can find a full list of nominees HERE

News Release

INTEGRITY MEDIA LAUNCHES ONLINE SCHOOL OF WORSHIP

AFFORDABLE, CONVENIENT ONLINE PROGRAM BEGINS MAY 3,
EMPOWERS STUDENTS TO PURSUE ‘EXCELLENCE THAT SERVES WORSHIP’

Mobile, Alabama, (April 13, 2010) -Integrity Media, Inc. announces the launch of Integrity Worship Institute’s Online School of Worship, an online educational program designed to provide transformational leadership training for men and women in worship and pastoral ministry. The Online School of Worship continues the training legacy of Integrity Worship Institute, serving students from thousands of churches worldwide for over 25 years. Online classes begin May 3, 2010.

“Since the early 1990s, we’ve organized worship schools in Russia, Lebanon, Europe, Singapore, Cyprus, Brazil, Latin America, China, Egypt and Dubai,” says Integrity Media’s president Mike Coleman. “The sole purpose has been to provide pastors, worship leaders and worship team members with sound Biblical teaching on the subject of worship. The response and the impact of these schools have been phenomenal.”

IWI has conducted its training program-offering certification in worship studies-in several educational institutions across the U.S., including Liberty University, Regent University, the University of Mobile (Ala.) and King’s College. But now, for the first time, students can pursue worship studies online for less than half the cost of ‘real time’ university classes. The initial, eight-week course is specially priced at $349.

“Our online campus,” Coleman continues, “has been created to help worship leaders fulfill their calling by providing transformational leadership training in a way that is both convenient and affordable. In this digital age, it’s the perfect solution.”

Integrity Worship Institute’s Online School of Worship offers an in-depth certified curriculum taught by a world-class team of knowledgeable, experienced instructors, worship leaders and artists, including Dr. Pete Sanchez, Dr. Dow Robinson, Dr. Steve Bowersox, among others. Students can register for a wide variety of coursework and obtain certification on three distinctive levels: foundational, specialist and professional. All three programs begin with “Discover the Pathway into God’s Manifest Presence,” a worship study created by Coleman, an ordained minister and co-founder of the Integrity Music label. Each course consists of eight units of media rich content, and each unit is likely completed within one week. Also, students can opt in for more than a dozen program electives.

For more information about Integrity Worship Institute’s Online School of Worship, go to www.integrityworshipinstitute.com.

Integrity Media, Inc. is a privately owned media/communications company that produces, publishes and distributes Christian music and related resources. Integrity’s products are sold throughout the United States and in over 160 other countries. Its corporate offices are located in Mobile, Alabama, with subsidiary offices in Tennessee and three foreign offices located in Singapore, South Africa and the United Kingdom.