Stellar Awards
{{Short description|Award for achievements in gospel music}}
{{Use American English|date=April 2019}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=December 2021}}
{{Infobox award
| name = Stellar Awards
| current_awards = 40th Annual Stellar Awards
| image = StellarAward.png
| caption =
| awarded_for = Outstanding achievements in the gospel music industry
| presenter = Stellar Awards Gospel Music Academy (SAGMA) / Central City Productions
| country = United States
| network = {{ubl|TV One (2015–2018)|BET (2019–present)}}
| year = {{start date and age|1984}}
| website = {{url|thestellarawards.com}}
}}
A Stellar Award is an award presented by SAGMA to recognize achievements in the gospel music industry.[http://thestellarawards.com/sagma.html Sagma]. The Stellar Awards. Retrieved on March 6, 2019 The annual presentation ceremony features performances by prominent gospel artists, and the presentation of those awards that have a more popular interest.[http://www.thestellarawards.com/about-us.html About Us]. The Stellar Awards. Retrieved on March 6, 2019 The Stellars were the first major gospel music awards held annually.
The first Stellar Awards ceremony was held on 1984, to honor and respect the musical accomplishments by gospel performers for the year 1983. Following the 2018 ceremony, SAGMA overhauled a few Stellar Award categories for 2019.
In 2020, the awards show was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The ceremony was aired virtually on August 23, 2020.{{Cite web|url=https://www.bet.com/article/av69rf/stellar-awards-2020-performers|title=Stellar Awards 2020 Performers|website=BET.com|access-date=January 10, 2021}}
History
{{Gospel music articles}}
The first award ceremony was held at Arie Crown Theater in Chicago in 1984.{{cite web|url=http://www.tvtango.com/series/stellar_awards|title=The Stellar Awards - Series - TV Tango|website=TVTango.com|access-date=January 25, 2019}} Over the years, The Stellars have been held in various locations including Atlanta,{{cite web|url=http://www.gospelflava.com/stellar/stellarceremony-2002.html|title=The 17th Annual Stellar Awards Ceremony - brought to you by GospelFlava.com|website=www.gospelflava.com|access-date=September 25, 2017}}{{cite web|url=http://www.ccptv.com/about.html|title=Central City Productions About Us|access-date=February 25, 2018}} Houston,{{cite web|url=http://gospelflava.com/stellar/stellarresults-2004.html|title=The 19th Annual Stellar Award Results - brought to you by GospelFlava.com|website=gospelflava.com|access-date=September 25, 2017}} Los Angeles, Las Vegas,{{cite web|url=http://www.axs.com/hallelujah-the-stellar-awards-to-move-to-las-vegas-for-30th-anniversar-15801|title=Hallelujah: The Stellar Awards to move to Las Vegas for 30th anniversary|access-date=September 25, 2017}} Nashville,{{cite web|url=http://gospelflava.com/stellar/stellarresults-2006.html|title=The Official 21st Annual Stellar Award WINNERS (2006) - brought to you by GOSPELflava.com|website=gospelflava.com|access-date=September 25, 2017}} and New York. Starting from the 30th Annual Stellar Awards in 2015, the show aired on American digital cable and satellite television network TV One.[https://tvone.tv/18718/the-30th-annual-stellar-gospel-music-awards-on-tv-one/ The 30th Annual Stellar Gospel Music Awards on TV One!]. TV One Network. Retrieved on March 7, 2019 Starting with the 34th annual ceremony in 2019, the Stellar Awards moved its annual broadcast to BET.{{Cite web|url=http://www.gospelmusic.org/34th-annual-stellar-awards-set-to-air-easter-sunday-on-bet/|title=34th Annual Stellar Awards Set To Air Easter Sunday On BET|last=GMA|date=March 28, 2019|website=The Gospel Music Association|language=en-US|access-date=April 20, 2019}} The number of awards given have changed over the years with categories being added and removed.
The Stellars were produced in 1970 by Don Jackson's Chicago-based Central City Productions. The production company is also a distributor of original programming to television and cable networks.
In the spring of 2000, Central City Productions changed the voting process by creating the Stellar Awards Gospel Music Academy (SAGMA). SAGMA is currently the official voting body for the Stellar Awards. The Academy is open to record company executives, artists, radio announcers, gospel industry professionals and supporters.
Entry process and selection of nominees
Media companies registered with the Stellar Awards Gospel Music Academy and individual members of SAGMA (artists and other professionals working in the industry who meet certain criteria) may enter recordings for consideration, along with an entry form.[http://www.thestellarawards.com/ballot.html Stellar Awards Important Dates]. The Stellar Awards. Retrieved on March 6, 2019 Record Companies and artists enter recordings and music videos online released during the eligibility period that charted in the top 25 on at least two Nielsen Charts for at least four weeks. Entries are made online and two physical copies of the work is sent to SAGMA. Once a work is entered, submission go through a screening process. A confidential Nominating committee made up of music industry experts in various fields meet to insure that all entries meet the eligibility criteria, all entries are in the appropriate categories, that the entries are charting in the top 25 on the Nielsen Charts during the eligibility period, and are appropriate for the Stellar Awards. Each category is limited based on the dictate and discretion of the Stellar Awards Nomination Committee therefore all entries cannot be included on the ballot. Technical quality, lyrics, voice quality, charting duration, project content and charting performance will be reviewed for inclusion on the ballot. All Stellar Awards Nomination Committee selections are then finalized.
Final voting
The voting process for narrowing down the final nominees consist of two separate ballots. The first round ballot includes eligible entries as determined by the Nominating Committee of SAGMA. Top entries for each category from the first ballot will move forward to the final ballot. During the final voting process, the general public (including fans) are the voting body for the second and final ballot to determine the Stellar Award winners. The nominees are announced during a press/radio tour.
=Categories=
{{div col}}
- Artist of the year
- Song of the Year
- Male Vocalist of the Year
- Albertina Walker Female Vocalist of the Year
- Duo/Chorus Group of the Year
- New Artist of the Year
- Musician of the Year
- Album of the Year
- Choir of the Year
- Producer of the Year
- Contemporary Duo/Chorus Group of the Year
- Traditional Duo/Chorus Group of the Year
- Contemporary male vocalist of the year
- Traditional male vocalist of the year
- Male Vocalist of the Year
- Contemporary Female Vocalist of the Year
- Urban/Inspirational single or performance of the year
- Music Video of the Year
- Traditional choir of the Year
- Contemporary choir of the Year
- Instrumental album of the Year
- Special event album of the Year
- Rap/Hip Hop gospel album of the year
- Youth Project vocalist of the year
- Quartet of the Year
- Praise and worship album of the Year
{{div col end}}
Radio & Internet Station Awards
{{div col}}
- Gospel Radio Major Market of the Year
- Gospel Radio Large Market of the Year
- Gospel Radio Medium Market of the Year
- Gospel Radio Small Market of the Year
- Gospel Internet Station of the Year
- Gospel announcer of the Year
{{div col end}}
Defunct award categories
{{div col}}
{{div col end}}
Winner Milestones
Kirk Franklin was the night's big winner with six statues. Donald Lawrence presents the Tri-City
Singers received four Stellar Awards. John P. Kee's I Made It Out delivered three Stellar
Awards. Tasha Cobbs Leonard garnered two trophies, while Le'Andria Johnson earned two for
her work on Donald Lawrence's project, Goshen. The Walls Group received two statues for their
album Friend in Me, along with newcomer Pastor Mike Jr. who took home a pair of Stellar
Awards for his work on Live Free. Kurt Carr received two Stellar awards. Rounding out the
night with one Stellar Award each were JJ Hairston, Ben Tankard, Gospel Kids, Keith
Ceremonies
See also
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- {{official website|http://www.thestellarawards.com}}
{{Musicawards}}
Category:1970 establishments in the United States
Category:American annual television specials
Category:American music awards
Category:Awards established in 1970