#PlatVnyl6 v. #WLCMA4 - The Album Awards, Part Two

Welcome back to our picks for the 4th We Love Christian Music Awards, as well as commentary on how it stacks up against the Platinum Vinyl Awards, more specifically, the current awards year, which is #PlatVnyl6. This is the third post, so check out the introduction and the first three groups of nominees by clicking on the appropriate links.

The next two groups of nominees are competing for one award in the Platinum Vinyl Awards. Let me explain. The Encounter Award (Worship Album of The Year) and The Chorus Award (Church Based Worship Album of The Year) are both competing for the Modern Worship Album of The Year at the Platinum Vinyl Awards. And I think it will stay that way for a while. It's the sound, not the location, that makes the difference for me.

The Encounter Award nominees are:

• Aaron Gillespie - Grace Through The Wandering 4.50 Emeralds
• Amanda Cook - Brave New World 4.50 Emeralds
• Christy Nockels - Let It Be Jesus 4.75 Emeralds
• Matt Maher - Saints and Sinners 4.75 Emeralds
• Matt Redman - Unbroken Praise 4.75 Emeralds

The Chorus Award nominees are:

• Bethel Music - We Will Not Be Shaken 4.75 Emeralds
• Gateway Worship - Walls 4.50 Emeralds 
• Jesus Culture - Unstoppable Love #PVA5 (2014 Release)
• Passion - Even So Come 4.75 Emeralds
• Vertical Church Band - Church Songs 4.75 Emeralds

I Don't know why NRT dropped the ball on this one by putting a 2014 album for best of 2015. Other than that we don't have too many problems. I wasn't that impressed with Gillespie and Cook in the first grouping and Gateway worship in the second, but other than that the choices were very good. As I said, however, I have combined all the Modern Worship Music into one award. The Automatic Qualifiers for #PlatVnyl6. I have six, which is 1 short of a full bracket without busting it open. They are:

• Bethel Music - Without Words: Synesthesia 5 EMERALDS
• The Katina's - Sunday Set 5 EMERALDS
• Planetshakers - #LETSGO 5 EMERALDS
• Planetshakers - This Is Our Time 5 EMERALDS
• Soulfire Revolution - Afterglow 5 EMERALDS
• Young Oceans - I Must Find You 5 EMERALDS

A much better grouping. There probably will be an expansion of the categories beyond seven to accommodate a few more worthy nominees, but there will be no ties.

The Hype Award corresponds to our Rap/Hip Hop Album of The Year, and personally I would say, don't believe the hype. Let's get right to the nominees.

• Alex Faith & Dre Murray - Southern Lights: Overexposed MTM
• Andy Mineo - Uncomfortable 4.75 Emeralds
• JGivens - Fly Exam MTM
• KB - Tomorrow We Live 4.50 Emeralds
• Roy Tosh - Death Before Love 4.50 Emeralds

It's an OK bracket, but you notice those two MTM's. That means I consider them to have Missed The Mark and awarded them a score under 4 Emeralds. That means they don't get into the nominee pool, and KB and Tosh would be a stretch in the pool at 4.50. Here our the Automatic Qualifiers for #PlatVnyl6

• Eshon Burgundy - The Fear of God 5 EMERALDS
• Flame - Forward 5 EMERALDS
• KJ-52 - Mental 5 EMERALDS
• LA Symphony - You Still On Earth? 5 EMERALDS
• Derek Minor - Empire 5 EMERALDS
• Skrip - Renegades Never Die 5 EMERALDS
• TobyMac - This Is Not A Test 5 EMERALDS
• Whosoever South - Come On In 5 EMERALDS

This one was a category buster. 8 Perfect 5's in one year. And others may get snubbed if I don't go higher. 

Finishing with my picks. I'll go with Christy Nockels for the Encounter Award and Bethel Music for The Chorus Award. For Rap and The Hype Award, I'll pick Andy Mineo. Until next time, I am Awaiting Your Reply.