Known to some as "gospel Hollywood," Atlanta has become a home for gospel artists to expand their careers. This is a big reason why Lacrae, a Christian rapper originally hailing from Houston, moved to the city.
The 32-year-old artist first experienced Atlanta in 1999 while attending a youth conference. Atlanta's flourishing gospel culture is what drew him back to the city.
"Atlanta is just a musical hub," says Lacrae. "There are a slew of producers, engineers, artists and writers. There's a wealth of outlets here, and it's a community of artists who are here as well. That's a major reason why I came here."
Lacrae is not alone in making Atlanta his city of choice for advancing his career in Christian music. Other gospel artists such as Kirk Franklin and Mary Mary have done the same. Throughout the years, Atlanta has become a city big on creating a business out of gospel music.
Artists of all genres flock to Atlanta because of its numerous record labels, thriving music scene, large hip-hop and R&B culture, and its growing television market.
The 43rd Annual Dove Awards, celebrating gospel and Christian music, took place in Atlanta this past April. The biggest names in gospel were awarded for their contributions to the industry. Originally held in Tennessee, the Gospel Music Association (GMA), in charge of the event, decided to move it to Atlanta. The GMA saw potential for the event to grow in Atlanta's large gospel music scene. This year's event was the second time it was held in Atlanta.
GMA board chairman Mitchell Solarek said, "Even though Nashville is touted as the music capital of the world, the media is not as broad there as it is in Atlanta." He added, " We wanted to take this (awards show) to a market that was broader than it was in Nashville, while still achieving our goal of musical diversity and still reach the bulk of our members."
In the coming months, Atlanta's Gospel Choice Awards will also be taking place. The event awards Atlanta's best in gospel music.
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