All American Gospel Launches Nationwide Faith-Based Vocalist Competition for American Youth

All American Gospel Launches Nationwide Faith-Based Vocalist Competition for American Youth

LOS ANGELES, Aug. 30 /PRNewswire/ -- Church Communication Network (CCN) Entertainment, together with BarnaFilms, today announced a partnership that will create All American Gospel (www.AllAmericanGospel.com), a nationwide youth vocal competition. The initiative will mobilize 345,000 churches, and 10,000 churches and schools will participate as audition sites.

The undeniable popularity of Gospel music and the increasing number of 'cross-over' artists from gospel to mainstream music is a testimony to the popularity of the genre.

Solo vocalists between the ages of 14 and 22 are eligible for this competition which will welcome entries from a diverse range of musical influences -- hymns, pop, alternative, even hip-hop. Twelve finalists will compete on national simulcasts for a recording contract, and will join program sponsor World Vision to encouraging giving back from the abundance they have.

Unlike other competitions, live audiences will vote via ballot at the church and school audition sites, and during the final rounds of the competition, satellite audiences at thousands of churches will view the performances and vote via phone and internet.

As many as one million contestants will be reduced to 500 in a few short weeks in October. Leading local and regional music personalities will select 24 semi-finalists from which the 12 finalists will be chosen via online voting by the All American Gospel audience.

The 12 finalists will produce a Christmas single with a popular gospel recording artist, and participate in 6 simulcasts broadcast into churches around the country. The final simulcast will introduce the All-American Gospel winner who gets a recording contract with Doxology Records, distributed by Word/WEA.

Stated Bill Dallas, founder of Church Communication Network, "This promotional partnership is an unprecedented alliance between two dynamic groups and represents a perfect opportunity for young people across the nation to demonstrate their gifts and talents."

"The All American Gospel experience brings together four of the most powerful influencers in our culture today: music, film, relationships and faith," said George Barna, Directing Leader of the Barna Group, Ltd.

Two leading faith-based organizations had the vision to join forces to bring the contest to life -- CCN and BarnaFilms.

Church Communication Network (CCN) is a satellite and Internet communications network serving the local church. BarnaFilms, a division of The Barna Group, develops, produces and markets television, video, film and music products.

Sponsoring organizations include World Vision and Group Publishing. www.group.com

Source: Church Communication Network; BarnaFilms

CONTACT: Howie Simon of All American Gospel, +1-323-822-0884, HowieS2000@sbcglobal.net

Web site: http://www.group.com/

Web site: http://www.allamericangospel.com/

------- Profile: Ent