Gospel Music Association headed for insolvency? Today's rumor mill has GMA closing its doors

October 27, 5:13 PMNashville Gospel Music & Entertainment ExaminerKathryn Darden

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Photo of John Styll by Kathryn E. Darden

This morning I got a tip via email from an industry insider who said in part, "Today's big news is that the GMA board is voting to shut down GMA." This person, who is a recognized leader in his field of gospel music, said the Nashville-based Gospel Music Association (GMA) was preparing to "either declare insolvency, or shut it down." He furthermore indicated that former GMA president, John Styll might be considering legal action against the Gospel Music Association.

As reported in Gospel Music Association announces major cutbacks, I had been hearing about the GMA's financial problems since May, and there has been a great deal of reorganizing going on (and reportedly an important Board meeting at the GMA offices in Nashville today), so I wasn't inclined to simply brush this rumor off. I asked if there was any official statement or anything published about this, and he said there wasn't anything official yet.

Gospel Music Association has no plans to shut its doors

Not finding anything on the GMA website, I immediately emailed two friends who have served on the Gospel Music Association Board of Directors as well as Tricia Whitehead who has done much of the publicity for the Gospel Music Association in the past. Without revealing the name of my "source," I inquired about the rumors. The response I got indicated the Gospel Music Association has no plans to shut its doors at present.

Whithead indicated she has heard nothing about insolvency, a lawsuit, or closure. "I know they continue down the path of reorganization," she said of the GMA.

Charles Dorris, who has spearheaded the GMA Board in the past, stated, "Not true on all counts. The writer of that email is without credibility in this matter."

The recent fundraiser to save the Gospel Music Association reportedly brought in well over $300,000, and I have it on good authority that Styll has no plans to take any legal action whatsoever. In fact, Styll, who remains a highly respected leader in the gospel music industry, has publicly stated he stepped down of his own accord to save the Gospel Music Association the cost of his salary. "We're implementing a plan that I drafted and recommended to our GMA Board last week, and we all agree this is a fiscally responsible direction to go," said Styll when he announced his departure. (See John Styll steps down as CEO of GMA.)

The rumors the GMA is heading towards insolvency and closing its doors are unconfirmed and apparently false, but I have seen them showing up on Twitter, Facebook, and in blogs already. The bottom line is the Gospel Music Association has no plans to close its doors in the near future. If the GMA makes any major decisions during their reorganization, you can expect to hear about them here!