GMA Announces Steve Brallier Will Direct GMA Foundation
As plans for a new GMA Gospel Music Hall of Fame building proceed with increasing momentum, John W. Styll, president of the Gospel Music Association (GMA) has announced the hiring of industry veteran Steve Brallier to become the Executive Director of the GMA Foundation to direct the capital campaign and oversee operation of a future GMA Gospel Music Hall of Fame in Nashville.
Brallier, who has more than 20 years experience in the music industry in Nashville, will oversee all aspects of the GMA Gospel Music Hall of Fame campaign including fundraising, building design, construction and marketing. Once the building has been established, the Executive Director of the GMA Foundation will also oversee operation of the facility, which will include a museum, retail store and archives. Brallier reports to Styll.
“The GMA Foundation is fortunate that Steve Brallier has agreed to take on the challenge of leading our campaign to establish a physical presence for the GMA Gospel Music Hall of Fame in Nashville,” said Styll. “He comes to this position with the perfect blend of music industry experience, sales and development skills and Music City relationships, which will be so beneficial to this vital part of the GMA’s future.”
Brallier has spent the past eight years working for two entertainment companies, developing and selling original programming for worldwide exploitation in all media. Most recent of the positions was as Vice President of Development and Executive Producer for Tangible Vision, Inc., a Nashville-based company specializing in video and live event production where Brallier was responsible for selling original programming to national cable networks such as CMT, HBO and The History Channel. He also developed and implemented sales strategies for national corporate sponsors.
Prior to Tangible Vision, Brallier served as CEO for Hourglass Entertainment, a company he co-founded in 1998 which acquired and produced film and television programming for worldwide exploitation in all media; licensed, patented and proprietary products worldwide and developed and produced independent theatrical films including an award-winning film trilogy The Word Made Flesh.
Brallier is also a recognized Christian music industry veteran having established the first Christian and gospel music talent department for William Morris Agency in Nashville in the 1980s where he signed more than 40 artists including Take 6, Sandy Patti, BeBe & CeCe Winans, Point of Grace and Anointed and negotiated corporate entertainment sponsorship deals with Coca-Cola, Target, AMF, Frito Lay, Chick-fil-A and World Vision. As an agent, Brallier also co-created and produced The Young Messiah Tour, the first multiple artist concert show which ran for seven years, producing more than $60 million in arena sales. He went on to co-create and co-executive produce the similarly successful Handel’s Messiah—A Soulful Celebration with Quincy Jones.
“The Christian and gospel music industry is a vital and important part of the city of Nashville. The new GMA Gospel Music Hall of Fame will honor and celebrate the economic, cultural, social and spiritual contributions past and present that Christian and gospel music have made not only to Music City, but to the world,” said Brallier. “I am honored to be entrusted by the GMA Foundation to carry the message of the GMA Gospel Music Hall of Fame and to enlist the support of the music, business and philanthropic community in our effort to build a first-rate, world-class Hall of Fame in Nashville.”
ABOUT THE GMA FOUNDATION
The GMA Foundation (GMAF) is a non-profit educational association working in connection with the Gospel Music Association (GMA) The GMAF recognizes and preserves the history and legacy of all forms of gospel music and provides educational resources that encourage participation and appreciation by the general public. The GMA Gospel Music Hall of Fame was established in 1971 and has inducted more than 140 members since its inception, including Elvis Presley, Mahalia Jackson, Amy Grant, the Blind Boys of Alabama, Andrae Crouch, Tennessee Ernie Ford, The Oak Ridge Boys, Petra, Bill and Gloria Gaither, the Rambos, Thomas A. Dorsey, the Fairfield Four, Billy Graham, the Jordanaires, Walter Hawkins, Mylon LeFevre and Evie. Recently, artists Richard Smallwood, Doug Oldham, The Hinsons and former music executive John T. Benson joined this prestigious honor roll.
ABOUT THE GMA
Founded in 1964, the Gospel Music Association serves the Christian/gospel music community and is dedicated to exposing, promoting and celebrating the gospel through music of all styles including pop, rock, praise & worship, black gospel, R&B, hip hop, southern gospel, country, and more. On behalf of its 4,000 members which include agents, artists, church leaders, managers, promoters, radio personnel, record company executives, retailers and songwriters, the GMA produces the GMA Dove Awards, which recognizes achievement in all genres of Gospel music and is the premiere television awards show for Christian/gospel music. Other programs presented by the GMA are GMA Music Week, GMA Music in the Rockies and the GMA Academy. GMA is also actively engaged in advocacy efforts with members of Congress and other governmental agencies on issues like copyright protections, digital rights and music piracy. For more information, visit www.gospelmusic.org and www.doveawards.com.
