YMR Productions has announced plans to join with HIS Choice Productions in sponsoring a talent contest during the Branson Gospel Music Convention this summer.

Any artist exhibiting at Branson Gospel Music Convention who is not currently affiliated with a record label is eligible to participate in the contest, which will take place on Wednesday, July 15, 2009 at 8:30 a.m. in Branson, Missouri.  There is space for 30 contestants who will perform a 5-minute set on the convention stage during the talent contest.

Winners of the contest will receive complimentary and/or discounted recording services from HIS Choice Production as well as a spot on the Friday evening concert at Branson Gospel Music Convention. The prize packages are as follows:

- FIRST PLACE: Full 10 song recording package using pre-recorded tracks, two vocal days in studio, engineer, phrasing, editing, tuning, mixing, song licensing, and 100 CDs OR 50% discount off any HIS Choice Production recording package, plus a ten minute set on the Friday evening concert of the 2009 Branson Gospel Music Convention.

- SECOND PLACE - 25% discount off any HIS Choice Production recording package, plus a one-song performance on the Friday evening concert of the 2009 Branson Gospel Music Convention.

- THIRD PLACE - 20% discount of any HIS Choice Production recording package, plus a one-song performance on the Friday evening concert of the 2009 Branson Gospel Music Convention.

"We are very excited to be partnering with HIS Choice to offer this opportunity to our artists," says Kelly Burton, Program Director for the convention. "Many artists have asked for us to include this type of event, and we believe it fits with our focus of celebrating southern gospel and all those who work to promote its message."

Registration for the talent contest will be opening the first week of March and will be available only on the convention website at http://www.bransongmc.com . An entrance fee of $150.00 is required. Both this fee and paid convention registration is required to reserve one of the 30 spots in the contest, which will be filled on a first-come basis.

Additional nightly concert appearances have been announced as well. In addition to the already announced artists (in parentheses), concerts will now feature the following artists:

Tuesday, July 14:
Marcey Wall, Eric Hinson, Crossway, Shannon Bunch, Samaritan Revival (Blackwood Quartet, Chuck Wagon Gang, Young Harmony, Jay Stone Singers, Minister’s Quartet, The Parish Family, The Ladds).

Wednesday, July 15:
McMillian & Life, Kirk Talley, Curt "The Shoe" Shoemaker, Beyond the Ashes, The Homesteaders (Blackwood Quartet, Chuck Wagon Gang, Kenny Bishop, Rod Burton, Wendy Word + Forgiven, Original Gospel Sounds).

Thursday, July 16:
The Nelons (Blackwood Quartet, The Stamps, Florida Boys, The Shireys, and Hearts of Faith).

Friday, July 17:
Peggy Inks (Weston Hinson & By Faith, Blackwood Quartet, The Stamps, Florida Boys, The Paynes, 2nd Generation, Shine On Trio, The Shannons, Sunday Edition, and Gospel River Boys).

Tuesday, Wednesday, and Friday will each be opened with a praise and worship time led by a local church choir. Thursday night, as previously announced, will feature the SGN Scoops Diamond Awards.

According to Burton, the Branson GMC Music Committee has received dozens of demos from registered artists and is hard at work listening to all of them.

"I want to stress some things," she explains, "The announced concert line-ups are not finalized – we still have room, we are committed to listening to all the music we receive and placing as many artists as possible on the evening concerts, and finally, every artist who registers will sing. The daytime concerts are also an exciting part of the convention and a huge platform for evangelism in Branson!"

Final evening slots are expected to be filled within the next month, and exhibition floor space is filling as well, so artists still considering the Branson Gospel Music Convention are urged to register as soon as possible.

The inaugural Branson Gospel Music Convention will take place at the Branson Convention Center on July 14-17, 2009. Artists such as Blackwood Quartet, Chuck Wagon Gang, Florida Boys, The Stamps, The Paynes, Kirk Talley, Kenny Bishop, Crossway, Young Harmony, 2nd Generation, Rod Burton, Shannon Bunch, The Nelons, and Wendy Word + Forgiven, as well as many others, are scheduled to appear. Tickets are currently on sale.

More information on the Branson Gospel Music Convention can be found at http://www.bransongmc.com .

More information about HIS Choice Music can be found at http://www.hischoicemusic.com .