Stellar Award Winner Phillip Carter and Stellar Award Nominee Earl Bynum joined forces a few years ago to form the Independent Gospel Artists Alliance. With the goal of educating and inspiring independent gospel artists, the Alliance brings artists and industry together to empower the indie community and to give them the tools to enjoy a successful career in gospel music. The Independent Gospel Artists Alliance’s premiere event is the IGAA Conference. This year’s event will be held Thursday, July 19 – 21, 2012 at The Mount in Chesapeake, VA. The 3rd Annual Conference touts some of the most experienced and respected in the genre.
Classes on every aspect of the music industry are being held including: Distribution (Thomas Rollins, New Day Distribution; Roderick Jemison, Central South Distribution/Jemison & Associates), Marketing (Ike Owens, The Adonai Music Group), The Best Practices in E-mail Marketing (Gina Watkins, Constant Contact), Artist Branding (Benita Bellamy, The Bellamy Group), The Power of Publicity (Andrea R. Williams, Tehillah Enterprises, LLC), Structuring Contracts and Licensing & Royalties (Garrett Johnson, Esq.), Small Business Setup/Independent Label Operations (April Washington-Essex, Habakkuk Music), Artist Management (Pastor Jerome Bell, The Bell Group & Ministries), Radio Relationships-Internet (Simone Henry & Kevin James, CJBRadio.com; Reggie Richardson, Rejoice America Radio), Radio Relationships-Terrestrial (Mike Chandler, Rejoice Musical Soulfood; Wanda Patterson, WCGL Radio; Brodric Purvis, WLOU/WLLV Radio; Reggie Richardson, Rejoice America Radio and Andre’ Montell, AMIR/Omega Corp.), Promotional CD/Artwork Design (Kendall King, kkproductions), Performance Do’s and Don’ts Panel Discussion (Led by Phillip Carter, SOV Inc.) and Balancing Church Ministry & Music Career (Earl Bynum, Earl Bynum Ministries, LLC).
Conference organizer Phillip Carter is thrilled about the facilitators he’s gathered for this year’s event. “We have assembled a group of Gospel Music Industry power players who have a vested interest in educating the Independent Artists on how to navigate in and out of the Gospel Music Industry,” says Carter. “For $80, no one can get a better education. Our facilitators give of their time and energy to come to this conference and pour out a wealth of truth and knowledge to our attendees”.
For the first time this year, the conference will award two indie artists distribution deals with New Day Christian Distribution and Central South Distribution. Featuring 3 power-packed days of workshops and seminars, the conference will also include CD Project Reviews, Nightly Showcases, the 2nd Annual Gospel Blue MIC Achievement Awards and more. Additional details can be found at www.indiegospelalliance.com.
