Gospel Music Association announces major cutbacks; John Styll steps down as CEO of GMA

September 4, 5:49 PMNashville Gospel Music & Entertainment ExaminerKathryn Darden

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Photo of John Styll © Kathryn E. Darden

Major Changes at Gospel Music Association

I ran into a friend who has served on the Board of the Gospel Music Association (GMA) last week, and as he described a $1,000 ticket fund-raising event for the GMA, he confirmed some rumors I have been hearing of late regarding financial difficulties faced by the Gospel Music Association. In May the GMA eliminated several paid staff positions, which was the first hint of fiscal problems.

John Styll Steps Down as GMA CEO

Then the official announcement was released this week that John Styll had stepped down from his position as president and CEO of GMA.

"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. "We've been tightening our belts for some time in this economy and now we're at a point where I think it's wise to take my own salary off the books. I remain a permanent board member of the GMA and look forward to continuing our work. There's much to be positive about - the popularity of our music form, the dream of our future Hall of Fame and Museum in Nashville - but we have to ride out this economic storm a while further."

Gospel Music Association's Organizational Changes

The GMA is going through organizational changes in response to the current economic recession as well as ongoing changes in the gospel music industry, according to Ed Leonard, the new chairman of the GMA Board of Directors. Leonard was elected to serve as chairman of the board for the Gospel Music Association (GMA) during their annual meeting at GMA Music Week in Nashville, TN.

"The GMA, like many other organizations and businesses, has taken hits during this prolonged downturn in our economy," Leonard said. "It has forced the GMA Board to evaluate our association's current business model and to acknowledge that in order to meet current obligations and needs of our members, and to ensure GMA's vitality in the future; we needed to make some significant changes."

One of the new changes began in May when the GMA decided to rely more on volunteers and less on paid staff as it did in the early days of the Gospel Music Association.

Gospel Music Association Dove Awards

The Gospel Music Association is best known for hosting the annual Dove Awards in Nashville, TN. The GMA was founded in 1964 to develope all forms of gospel music. The GMA office is located in Nashville, TN.

Read my 1993 interview with John Styll at John Styll & CCM.