42nd Annual GMA Dove Award Nominees: General Field

In my last post I dealt with the Dove Award nominations in the genre-specific Album of the Year categories, making my predictions as to who I think the GMA will pick and who I think should win. I also addressed the time window issue between the Doves and the Platinum Vinyl Awards. With this post I move on to the General Field, the awards for Female Artist of the Year and so forth. Things get a little more interesting here, as my research has unearthed some trends that I think need to be addressed by the GMA in order to assure a more representative, and therefore more interesting Awards. Who knows, maybe the PVA's will be the spark that shakes the Dove's out of their monopoly induced lethargy. Keep reading after the break for my picks and predictions.
Male Vocalist of the Year

• Doug Anderson
• Chris August
• Jason Crabb
• Brandon Heath
• Israel Houghton
• Marvin Sapp
• Chris Tomlin

Who Will Win: Brandon Heath
Who Should Win: Chris Tomlin
Reason: Brandon Heath right now is riding industry acclaim, having been a Grammy Winner in the comparable category for three years straight before being dethroned this year. However Chris August, and Israel Houghton put out very mediocre releases this time around, and Heath is honored for his previous work, not leaving eden, though I wasn't impressed by anything other than the orchestral arrangements. Tomlin's work is consistently strong, and the three time winner (2006, 2007, 2008) that was broken by Heath should take home the award.

Female Vocalist of the Year

• Audrey Assad
• Francesca Battistelli
• Natalie Grant
• Britt Nicole
• Janet Paschal
• Kerrie Roberts
• Laura Story

Who Will Win: Natalie Grant
Who Should Win: Audrey Assad
Who Could Win: Kerry Roberts
Reason: The GMA's seem to love streaks, and Natalie Grant being the reigning 4 time winner is proof of that. However Love Revolution was okay at best. Assad put out a very superior debut, as did Roberts, but the two newcomers could cancel each other out. In that case Battistelli could sneak up from behind and win the Dove.

Group of the Year

• Ernie Haase & Signature Sound
• Gaither Vocal Band
• Sidewalk Prophets
• Tenth Avenue North
• MercyMe
• Mikeschair
• Needtobreathe

Who Will Win: Mercy Me
Who Should Win: Mercy Me
Who Could Win: Tenth Avenue North
Reason: The Generous Mr. Lovewell was an album, and marketing campaign made in Heaven (sorry), and I think its strengths are too much for the GMA to ignore. Tenth Avenue North put out a convincing alternative choice, but I think the Dove Voters will go with a more Proven name.

New Artist of the Year

• Audrey Assad
• Chris August
• Forever Jones
• John Mark McMillan
• No other name
• Kerrie Roberts

Who Will Win: John Mark McMillan
Who Should Win: Forever Jones
Reason: The New Artist of the Year Category has one of those disturbing trends I mentioned earlier. No woman has won the award since 2002. This would seem to knock out Assad or Roberts from contention. McMillan will win because he wrote How He Loves, though The Medicine was a mediocre album, and in a few years all anyone will remember about the song is DCB's cover of it. No Far Away by Chris August also falls short of Award Winning caliber. On strength of talent alone Family group Forever Jones could be a surprise winner, and would show a surprising level of taste among Dove Voters. 

Artist of the Year

• Francesca Battistelli
• Jason Crabb
• Ernie Haase & Signature Sound
• Natalie Grant
• Marvin Sapp
• Toby Mac
• Chris Tomlin 

Who Will Win: Ernie Haase & Signature Sound
Who Should Win: Toby Mac
Reason: Battistelli and Grant are 10,000:1 Long-shots here, in the Dove's most "Chauvinistic" category. A woman hasn't won the award since Amy Grant in 1992!!?? You can't tell me no woman has put out a quality release in 17 Years! With that kind of thinking I'm going with Southern Gospel Haase this time around. Surprise me, show some initiative. I would not be unpleased with a Battistelli or Grant Win here.

That concludes my picks for this years Doves. I will revisit the picks after April 20, when the awards are announced. Agree or Disagree, feel free to comment please. And click the link for a full list of Dove Award Nominees.

42nd Annual GMA Dove Award Nominees