HISTORY AND OBJECTIVES OF THE GOSPEL MUSIC ASSOCIATION OF AUSTRALIA AND NEW ZEALAND (“GMA – ANZ”).

A steering committee comprising of Mark Zschech, Anton Bekker, Mark De Jong, Mark Freeman and Isaac Moody has been working on the formation of an Australasian Gospel Music Association, affiliated to GMA in the United States, since GMA Week 2005. In the process, we have made contact with as many potential participants as possible and received overwhelming support for the idea of an inclusive peak industry body that will represent the broad interests of Christian music in our region.

We identified the potential mission statement of GMA - ANZ as: “Growing Christian Music”, and finalised a logo with the GMA in the US.

After much discussion, the proposed objectives of GMA - ANZ have been identified as:

• Providing an environment for maximum growth and penetration of the marketplace for music related products and services which creatively and faithfully communicate the gospel of Jesus Christ throughout Australasia.
  
  
• To enhance and broaden a positive image of Christian music through heightened awareness and a business climate and culture typified by Godly wisdom and innovation.
  
  
• Increasing the value and quality of product by setting standards for sonics, style and substance, as well as recognising excellence and encouraging standards of integrity, accountability and stability.
  
  
• Increasing Christian music’s influence and broad acceptance within the church at large.
  
  To lobby and provide representation for the industry to industry groups such as the Australian Record Industry Association, Australian Mechanical Copyright Owners Society, Australian Performing Rights Association, Australian Music Publishers Association Ltd, Christian Copyright Licensing Asia-Pacific.

• To provide opportunities for the ongoing education of those involved in the industry.
  To do anything that is incidental or conducive to the attainment of the foregoing objects.

On Easter Monday 2006, 150 people gathered in Toowoomba Queensland to lend their enthusiastic support to the vision and idea of GMA ANZ. Seven Facilitators led their groups in discussions which affirmed the good things happening in each sector and also identified three things needing attention in their sector over the next year.

Since Easter Monday 2006, the Steering Committee met in Sydney and a full Board Meeting was held in Sydney in August 2006.

The first GMA ANZ Conference was held May, 2008 on the Gold Coast, QLD and was a great success.