According to an article posted on EURweb, TV One is suing Music World Music, BET and MTV for violating its exclusive rights to the Essence Music Festival. Apparently, Music World Music and TV One had an agreement that granted TV One the exclusive rights to broadcast the Essence Music Festival. That agreement was allegedly broken when content was issued to BET and MTV. 

Since, Matthew Knowles and Music World Music have violated their agreement with TV One, their sister company Radio One, has pulled all Music World Music artists from their rotation.

Radio One owns 12 gospel stations across the country. Yes, there are other stations that will play these artists' music. However, not being played on the largest urban radio network is pretty significant. 

In my opinion, this hurts Le'Andria Johnson and Amber Bullock the most. It is important for a new artist to get as much airplay as possible. 

Is this the end of the world for Music World Music and its artists? No. Is this a small setback? Yes. 

We just recently discovered that Music World Music was dominating the charts. If these issues with Radio One/TV One are not resolved, it is likely that we will begin to see Music World Music artists slide down the charts. 

The 26th Annual Stellar took place this past Saturday and judging from many accounts it was a wonderful occasion.

If you were not able to see the show live in Nashville you will be able to catch it on TV in the upcoming months. GMC is set to air the Stellar Awards on Saturday, March 5 at 8 PM EST. Local stations will begin airing the program beginning January 22nd. You can go to www.TheStellarAwards.com for local listings. The 2011 station listings are not posted yet, but I’m sure that they will be available soon.

Marvin Sapp was the big winner of the night grabbing a total of 4 awards. That didn’t surprise me. In my opinion, the biggest surprise of awards is the fact that “Close to You” was named Song of the Year. It is a nice song, but I just can’t believe it beat out “Encore” and “The Best in Me”.

Here are the rest of the results:

James Cleveland Lifetime Achievement Award
Donald Lawrence

Thomas A. Dorsey Most Notable Achievement Award
Kirk Franklin

Ambassador Bobby Jones Legend Award
Vanessa Bell Armstrong

Artist of the Year
Marvin Sapp

CD of the Year
Marvin Sapp-Here I Am

Contemporary Group/Duo of the Year
Forever Jones

Song of the Year
BeBe Winans- Close to You

Male Vocalist of the Year
Byron Cage

Female Vocalist of the Year
Karen Clark-Sheard

Group Duo of the Year
James Fortune & FIYA

Traditional Group/Duo of the Year
The Mighty Clouds of Joy

Praise and Worship CD of the Year
Darwin Hobbs-Darwin Hobbs Live: Champion

New Artist of the Year
Kristina Halloway

Choir of the Year
Wilmington Chester Mass Choir

Producer of the Year
Aaron Lindsey-Here I Am

Contemporary Male Vocalist of the Year
James Fortune

Traditional Male Vocalist of the Year
Marvin Sapp

Contemporary Female Vocalist of the Year
CeCe Winans

Traditional Female Vocalist of the Year
Lucinda Moore

Contemporary CD of the Year
James Fortune and FIYA- Encore

Traditional CD of the Year
Marvin Sapp- Here I Am

Urban/ Inspirational Single / Performance of the Year
BeBe & CeCe Winans-Still

Music Video of the Year
BeBe and CeCe Winans-Close to You

Contemporary Choir of the Year
Myron Butler & Levi

Traditional Choir of the Year
Wilmington Chester Mass Choir

Special Event CD of the Year
Various Artists-CoCo Brother Live Presents Stand 2010

Rap/Hip Hop Gospel CD of the Year
Trip Lee-Between Two Worlds

Recorded Music Package of the Year
Derek Blanks and Ken Barboza-Still

Children’s Project of the Year
Kingdom Kids Worldwide, Kingdom Kids Worldwide Volume 1

Quartet of the Year
The Christian Angels

What do you think about the results? Post a comment below and let me know.

Best Gospel Performance
Forever Jones-He Wants It All
VaShawn Mitchell-Nobody Greater
Kirk Whalum & Lalah Hathaway-He’s Been Just That Good
Israel Houghton-You Hold My World
BeBe & CeCe Winans-Grace

Best Gospel Song
Beautiful Things-Lisa Gungor & Michael Gungor, songwriters (Gungor)
Better Than Hallelujah-Sarah Hart & Chapin Hartford, songwriters (Amy Grant)
It’s What I Do-Jerry Peters & Kirk Whalum, songwriters (Kirk Whalum & Lalah Hathaway)
Our God-Jonas Myrin, Matt Redman, Jesse Reeves & Chris Tomlin, songwriters (Chris Tomlin)
Return to Sender-Gordon Kennedy, songwriter (Ricky Skaggs)

Best Rock or Rap Gospel Album
Church Music-David Crowder Band
For Those That Wait-Fireflight
Beautiful Things-Gungor
Rehab-Lecrae
Hello Hurricane-Switchfoot

Best Pop/Contemporary Gospel Album
Beauty Will Rise-Steven Curtis Chapman
Love God. Love People.-Israel Houghton
Pieces Of A Real Hart-Sanctus Real
Mosaic-Ricky Skaggs
Tonight-TobyMac

Best Southern, Country, or Bluegrass Gospel Album
Times Like These-Austins Bridge
The Reason-Diamond Rio
Expecting Good Things-Jeff & Sheri Easter
Journey On-Ty Herndon
Live At Oak Tree: Karen Peck & New River-Karen Peck & New River

Best Traditional Gospel Album
The Experience-Vanessa Bell Armstrong
A City Called Heaven-Shirley Caesar
Downtown Church-Patty Griffin
Here I Am-Marvin Sapp
All In One-Karen Clark Sheard

Best Contemporary R&B Gospel Album
Get Ready-Forever Jones
Love Unstoppable-Fred Hammond
Triumphant-VaShawn Mitchell
Aaron Sledge-Aaron Sledge
Still-BeBe & CeCe Winans

So, there you have it. What do you think about the nominatins?

[img credit: treehugger.com]

In my opinion, Donnie McClurkin did a good job serving as host for the evening. I really didn’t expect anything different. In addition to hearing about the 2011 Stellar Award nominees, we got see a concert that featured a couple of different artists from the gospel industry. 

The performances from Vashawn Mitchell, Joe Pace and Lucinda Moore were all good. However, in my opinion, Jessica Reedy delivered the performance of the night. Her performance of God Has Smiled on Me was so unique and inspiring. She is definitely bringing a special sound to gospel music. 

Another highlight from the evening was a tribute to the late Gospel legend Albertina Walker. Don Jackson offered some very kind words regarding the life and legacy of this gospel pioneer.

Here is a list of the nominees for the 2011 Stellar Awards.

Artist of the Year
James Fortune & FIYA 
BeBe & CeCe Winans
Marvin Sapp
Fred Hammond 

Female Vocalist of the Year
Karen Clark Sheard
CeCe Winans
Lucinda Moore
Tamela Mann

Male Vocalist of the Year
J. Moss
Byron Cage
Fred Hammond
Marvin Sapp

Song of the Year
Best In Me, Marvin Sapp
Close to You, BeBe Winans
Encore, James Fortune, C. Fortune and T. Vaughn
They That Wait,  Fred Hammond, Calvin Rodgers, Phillip Feaster, Ericka Warren, Michael Bethany and Dynna Wells

Choir of the Year
James Hall & Voices of Citadel
Brooklyn Tabernacle Choir
Victory Cathedral Choir
Wilmington Chester Mass Choir

New Artist of the Year
Forever Jones
Kristina Halloway
Travis Greene
Victory Cathedral Choir

Traditional CD of the Year
Won’t It Be Wonderful, James Hall & Voices of Citadel
Here I Am, Marvin Sapp
A City Called Heaven, Marvin Sapp
The Experience,Vanessa Bell Armstrong

Contemporary CD of the Year
Still, BeBe and CeCe Winans
Love Unstoppable, Fred Hammond 
Just James, J.Moss  
Encore, James Fortune and FIYA 

Producer of the Year
James Fortune, Terrance Vaughn and Ayron Lewis, Encore
Aaron Lindsey, Here I Am
Donald Lawrence, The Experience
Fred Hammond, Love Unstoppable

Group/Duo of the Year
BeBe & CeCe Winans
Forever Jones
James Fortune & FIYA
The Anointed Pace Sisters

Contemporary Male Vocalist of the Year
Byron Cage
Fred Hammond
J. Moss
James Fortune

Traditional Male Vocalist of the Year
Alvin Darling
Darrell Hines
Marvin Sapp
Marvin Winans

Contemporary Female Vocalist of the Year
CeCe Winans
Karen Clark Sheard
Lisa Page Brooks
Tamela Mann

Traditional Female Vocalist of the Year
Fredericka Faison
Lucinda Moore
Shirley Caesar
Vanessa Bell Armstrong

Contemporary Choir of the Year
God’s Little Soldiers International
Myron Butler & Levi
Youth for Christ
Youthful Praise featuring J.J. Hairston

Traditional Choir of the Year
Brooklyn Tabernacle Choir
James Hall & Voices of Citadel
Victory Cathedral Choir
Wilmington Chester Mass Choir

Contemporary Group/Duo of the Year
BeBe & CeCe Winans
Forever Jones
James Fortune & FIYA
Trin-i-tee 5:7

Traditional Group/Duo of the Year
James Greer & Company
The Anointed Pace Sisters
The Christian Angels
The Mighty Clouds of Joy

Quartet of the Year
Reverend F.C. Barnes & Company
The Christian Angels
The Golden Wings Quartet
The Mighty Clouds of Joy

Rap, Hip Hop Gospel CD of the Year
Entermission, DJ Official 
Outtadisworld, Everyday Process
Lions and Liars, Sho Baraka
Between Two Worlds, Trip Lee

Music Video of the Year
Close to You, BeBe and CeCe Winans 
Make Me a Believer, Kirk Whalum 
Playground In Heaven, Shirley Caesar 
If I Be Lifted Up, The Anointed Pace Sisters

Urban Inspirational Performance of the Year
Still, BeBe & CeCe Winans
Get Ready,Forever Jones 
Encore, James Fortune & FIYA
Here I Am, Marvin Sapp

Recorded Music Packaging of the Year
Cameron Hilson and Mark Neubauer for Get Ready
Denise Trotman for Here I Am
Derek Blanks and Ken Barboza for Still
Jeff Gilligan for Love Unstoppable

Praise and Worship CD of the Year
Darwin Hobbs Live: Champion, Darwin Hobbs
Encore, James Fortune & FIYA  
Place of Worship, Phil Tarver
Access Granted, The Anointed Pace Sisters 

Special Event CD of the Year
Still, BeBe and CeCe Winans
Are You Listening, Kirk Franklin
CoCo Brother Live Presents Stand 2010, Various Artists 
WOW Gospel 2010, Various Artists 

Children’s Project of the Year
Soldier Story, God’s Little Soldiers International 
Kingdom Kids Worldwide Volume 1, Kingdom Kids Worldwide
While We Still Have Time, The Velasquez Family Singers
Thanks In Advance, Youth for Christ

“Chicago’s Hope for Haiti” benefit concert will take place on February 8, 2010  @ 7:00 PM at the 10,000 seat House of Hope, 752 E. 114th Street in Chicago.

Other confirmed artists also include Maurette Brown Clark, Mark Hubbard & the Voices, The Sweet Holy Spirit Choir , Percy & Gerald Gray featuring (New Direction, Chicago Mass Choir and Joshua’s Troop), DeAndre Patterson and Dr. Bobby Jones. The program will be emceed by WGRB 1390 AM on-air personalities Pastor John Hannah and Angela Martin.

The proceeds of the concert will go directly to Samaritan’s Purse (www.samaritanspurse.org) and Hospitals for Humanity (www.hospitalsforhumanity.org). Both organizations are currently on the ground in Haiti providing immediate relief (ranging from food and water to medical care) to the survivors of this horrific earthquake.