Frequently Asked Questions

We have received a number of questions related to the GMA Canada Week. if you have any questions that are not answered below, please email us at the address at the bottom.

GMA Canada Week:

1. For whom is the GMA Canada week designed? If you are a performing artist, songwriter, worship leader, band or worship band player, recording artist, recording technician or producer, artist manager, label staff, or just curious about music and ministry, then this is for you. The week attracts artists of all levels, from those just curious or starting out as a musician, to those who have been in music all their lives.

2. If I am already a working professional musician, what does this hold for me? The conference has been blessed to say that there have been numerous concerts booked, tours planned, musicians found, artists discovered for various church ministries, and label deals signed as a result of the neworking that takes place during GMA Canada Week. If you are already a working professional musician, all the more reason why you need to come and take advantage of the network that is GMA Canada Week.

3. Is GMA Canada Week and the Covenant Awards always going to be held in Calgary? In 2006, the GMA board, (which is comprised of 1 member from Nova Scotia, 2 from Ontario, 1 from Winnipeg, 1 from Alberta, and 2 from BC, decided (after hosting the awards in Ontario for 26 years) to make the move to Alberta. The decision at this time is to continue the GMA Canada Week in Alberta until it becomes clear that another host city has the required resources to make the event a success. It is the boards' desire to see GMA Canada become truly national, in spite of the location of the GMA Canada Week. Plans are already in the works to start hosting events outside of GMA Canada Week.

GMAC Cross Canada Talent Search:

1. Who is eligible for the talent search? All artists and songwriters may enter the competition. If you are a signed writer to a publishing company with a publishing contract, and there will be problems with your copyright agreement with your publisher, than you are not eligible due to the problems it may cause with your agreement, but if you are running your own label, or have your own publishing company, you may still enter the competition. Essentially, if you are wondering if you are ellihgible, you are. unless you have signed documents and are writing for a living, this competition is for you!

2. Do I need to be registered for the conference in order to compete? As of 2009, for songwriters: no, for performers: yes. The objective of the GMA Week is to assist artists and writers in growing their talent and career as artists. The conference has specific sessions and writing critiques to help all of those who would be entering the competition to make their songs and performance grow. If you do not make the final call-backs at the competitions, all the more reason to really take advantage of the professional advice and coaching available at the conference to hone your skill. However, due to the challenges and costs that those from far away experience, we are opening the song-writing part of the competition to anyone regardless is they are registered for the conference or not. Performers, by nature of the event, will need to be here on site, and therefore do need to be registered guests of the conference.

3. How do I enter the competition? Simply go to the Registration area on the gmacanada.ca site, and follow the instructions. The competition registration is a part of the Conference registration process. If you are just entering the song-writing competition, and do not want to register for the conference, click here. For details on how the competition runs, download the pdf guide on the same page, and it explains how to enter your songs, technical details for performers etc.

4. How do I submit my songs? As part of the Registration Form, there is an online upload area to upload your songs and lyric sheets. Simply follow the instructions on the form and upload your songs. Please make sure to upload an mp3 and lyric sheet for each song.If you cannot convert your songs from your CD to an MP3 file, just send the CD with a list of which songs you want to submit to: GMA Canada CrossCanada Talent Search, 92 MacEwan Meadow Way, NW Calgary AB, T3K 3H8. There is a $10.00 per song fee for us to convert the congs to MP3s if you choose to send them on a CD.

GMA Canada Conference:

1. What can I expect at the conference? The event was originally created to provide one place and one time for all of the Canadian Christian music community to get together and network, learn from each other, learn from our friends from the south on how the industry works in Nashville, and what we can learn from them, how to work with our radio stations, and most importantly get to know other artists and music individuals who make music their life.

2. Who will be at the conference? Attendees at the conference include musicians from all levels of involvement, from brand new songwriters just dipping their toes in to the pool, to seasoned professionals who have been making their living in music all their lives. Industry involvement includes people from radio stations, labels, management, recording studios, support organizations like World Vision and Compassion, music stores, etc.

3. Why should I come to the event? If you are making music your life in Canada, you know how challenging it can be to make this career and ministry a reality. You need the network and relationships you can make at this event to propel your career forward. Artists who have atended in the past have been able to make connections that have led to record contracts, touring deals, getting to know individuals from churches that have turned into long-term relationships and multiple concert bookings, and long-term friendships that have helped shape their lives as artists and individuals. Beyond the actual content from the workshop leaders, you will meet great people who understand your unique calling and unique challenges.

4. Where can I find out details about the sessions being offered at the conference? We will be posting a detailed conference schedule in September. It will include speaker listing, and individual session topics as well as other events taking place throughout the week. You can click here for more details about the conference as they are posted.

Covenant Awards:

1. What is the Covenant Awards? The Covenants are the Canadian equvalent of the Dove Awards in the US. GMA Canada is an official arm of the international GMA based in Nashville, and as such works with the GMA US in creating the international artist association and awards show. The awards have been running for over 30 years, and while they have gone through a major growth in the last few years, have served artists in Canada for over 3 decades.

2. Why have an awards show for musicians who are serving God with their music? We have seen how valuable it is to honor quality in this unique ministry field. Our aim as an association is to raise the bar in music quality, ministry value, as well as the business aspects of music. The awards show is a way we can come together to celebrate the best offering we have made in the past year, and honor those who devote their time and efforts to creating music that truly is glorifying to God, both in intention and presentation.

3. Can I perform at the awards show? The performers are chosen by a group of individuals based on objective criteria. Each performer is a nominee in that year's awards show, and has demonstrated leadership in their music in the preceeding year. The selections process is by admittance a subjective process, and it is done by humans, so we may not always choose the artists who deserve the stage, and we know for sure there are artists who should be given the opportunity and we simply cannot due to the time constraints, but our goal is to represent a variety of genres and choose those who will both provide a great performance, as well as a great example throughout the year.

Showcases:

1. What are the showcases? We understand that not all artists will compete, or be chosen to perform at the awards show, but have a desire to perform and share their music at this event where they can be heard by their peers and industry. We have brought back the showcases as a way to fill this void, and we welcome artists to submit to the registration office and, based on first come first served, you will be given a spot to play at the showcases.

2. How will you fit all of the artists into this event? Will the concert last all night? Due to the number of performers, we separate the showcases into genres, and therefore are able to accomodate many artists. However, once all of the spots are full, we will have to cut off further performers, so enter soon. These artists are simply chosen on a first come first served.

3. Is there a cost for this? All performers must be registered conference attendees, but there is no additional cost for showcase artists. The concerts are free to the public, so if you are performing, please invite your friends to the evening.

4. Will there be instruments for the preforming artists? Yes, we will have basic instruments (bass amp, drums, keyboard, guitar amp) for you. If you have specific requests (eg. 4x10 Marshal stack) please plan to bring your own equipment, but for basic needs we will have them on hand.

General: I have a question not answered above. The best way to receive a reponse from our office is by email. If you email the address below, we will do our best to get back to you in a timely manner. Due to the busy-ness of the office the closer we get to the event, you may not reach us by telephone, so please email if you cannot get through.

E-mail: info@gmacanada.ca