The GEM Awards now in its 3rd year was born out of the need to honour and to recognise the talents of so many gospel artists nationwide. It is without a doubt that in recent years the growth and diversity of gospel music has surpassed all expectations and against all odds has continued to grow in popularity, a fact witnessed by the increase in sales of gospel music. Even though its development has been blighted by severe neglect from the music industry and also from lack of exposure from the mainstream media networks.
However, as the demand for gospel music intensifies it throws into focus the invaluable contribution that so many gospel legends like Thomas Dorsey (1899 - 1993), Mahalia Jackson and James Cleveland (1931 - 1991) had, in weaving the delicate fabric of gospel music, that has been so elegantly transformed by gospel talents of our time - Raymond and Co, Moby, Daniel Beddingfield, Mary Mary and London Community Gospel Choir (to name but a few) into the gospel music we hear today.
Therefore the main purpose of the GEM Awards is to embrace gospel music in a way that it deserves and to also shift people's perception of gospel music, by celebrating not only the best of current gospel artists, but to also encourage the emergence of new talents developing other variations of gospel music - e.g. in rock, indy, RnB and reggae. Such developments will have the added benefit of taking gospel music to a wider audience therefore addressing a wider social/ cultural need within the national community, whilst enhancing/ promoting the changing trends that are occurring within the gospel music industry.
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