Sony Music Label Group Recordings Earn 16 Stellar Award Nominations!

Recordings from the Sony Music Label Group, and its associated gospel labels, received a total of 16 Stellar Award nominations as announced by the Stellar Awards Gospel Music Academy (SAGMA) at a Houston press conference on October 26, 2004.

Wellspring Gospel/Epic/INO recording artist CeCe Winans led the Sony Music Label Group with the following six nominations:

   "Song of the Year" ("Hallelujah," with Victor Caldwell, Cedric Caldwell)
   "Female Vocalist of the Year" ("Throne Room")
   "CD of the Year" ("Throne Room")
   "Contemporary Female Vocalist of the Year" ("Throne Room")
   "Contemporary CD of the Year" ("Throne Room")
   "Recorded Music Package of the Year" ("Throne Room"; Karen
    Philpott/Michael Gomez).

Integrity Gospel's praise and worship artist(s) Israel and New Breed received a combined total of four nominations in the following categories:

   "Artist of the Year" ("Live From Another Level")
   "CD of the Year" ("Live From Another Level")
   "Producer of the Year ("Live From Another Level," Israel Houghton and
    fellow New Breed founder Aaron W. Lindsey)
   "Male Vocalist of the Year" ("Live From Another Level," Israel Houghton)

Israel and New Breed earned the number one status on Billboard's Gospel Chart after its first week of sales, and number three on Billboard's Heatseekers Chart.

Sony Gospel/Columbia Records break-out artist(s) Tye Tribbett & G.A. garnered three nominations in the following categories:

   "New Artist of the Year" ("Life")
   "Contemporary Male Vocalist of the Year" ("Life")
   "Urban/Inspirational Performance of the Year" ("Life)

Tye Tribbett & G.A. are known for their versatility, having performed backup vocals on Justin Timberlake's "Cry Me A River," collaborated with the likes of Musiq Soulchild, Mary Mary and Kim Burrell, and shared the stage with world-class superstars including Destiny's Child, India.Arie, Vanessa Williams, and Sting.

In addition, Tye Tribbett & G.A. will be featured in a 60-minute special on BET's "Lift Every Voice," on November 14th.

  Rising neo-soul star Lisa McClendon received two nominations:

   "New Artist of the Year" ("Soul Music")
   "Contemporary Female Vocalist of the Year" ("Soul Music")

Lisa McClendon's "Soul Music" album, an Integrity Music project, also earned her a 2004 Gospel Music Award nomination. McClendon is currently in pre-production for a new album scheduled for release next fall. She will be featured in the January 2005 issue of Essence magazine.

Music World Music received a nomination in the "Special Event CD of the Year" category for the soundtrack album for "The Fighting Temptations." The various artists compilation included tracks by Beyonce Knowles, Destiny's Child, Missy Elliot, Angie Stone, Montell Jordan, Faith Evans, P. Diddy, Ann Nesby and Shirley Caesar.

The 2005 Stellar Awards ceremony will take place at the George R. Brown Convention Center in Houston, Texas, on January 15, 2005. Tye Tribbett and G.A. and Israel and New Breed are among the scheduled performers at the event.

SOURCE: Columbia Records

CONTACT: Edwin Banacia of Columbia Records, Media, New York,
+1-212-833-5072, or Edwin_Banacia@sonymusic.com

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