Southern Gospel News SGNScoops Digital

Rod and Kelly Burton Named General Managers of Pat Boone Family Theater in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina

HOMEWOOD, Ill. – (April 26, 2011) – National recording artist Rod Burton and his wife Kelly announced today that they have accepted the position of managers for the newly renovated Pat Boone Family Theater in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina.

Rod will serve as the theater’s General Manager and will be responsible for the overall operations as well as booking a variety of family-friendly talent for the theater. Kelly will be the Director of Marketing, overseeing marketing, promotions, and advertising for the theater and related businesses.

Rod & Kelly will be relocating their family, ministry, and the offices of YMR Music Productions, LLC (parent company of the award-winning Branson Gospel Music Revival) to Myrtle Beach, South Carolina in the next few weeks.

“We have been waiting in the wings since December as this new opportunity has unfolded before us,” Rod says. “Everything about it, from the nature of the theater and our positions there to the heart of the man who brought us on board seems ordained for this time. We are so grateful for an exciting new avenue that will allow us to continue and expand our work in ministry.”

Kelly adds, “After living in Chicagoland my entire life, I’d been preparing for our family to move to Nashville when this opportunity kind of fell from heaven into our laps. We are beyond thankful for the support of our family and friends as we make this exciting transition and look forward to what God has in store.”

The Pat Boone Family Theatre is slated for opening later this summer at Broadway at the Beach in the space formerly occupied by Nascar Cafe. The theatre will feature family-friendly entertainment as well as gospel music concerts, conferences, and special events.  The theater’s marquee act is world-class illusionist and 2011 Merlin Award winner Morgan Strebler (www.morganstrebler.com).

The newly renovated Pat Boone Theater is owned by Liquid Metal Productions (www.liquidmetalproductionsllc.com)

Branson Gospel Music Revival Claims 2011 Pacesetter Award at Absolutely Gospel (SGN) Music Awards

BRANSON, Mo. – (April 14, 2011) – For the second consecutive year, the Branson Gospel Music Revival (formerly Convention) was honored as the 2011 Pacesetter Award at this year’s Absolutely Gospel Music Awards.

The Pacesetter Award honors individuals, companies, artists, events, and the like who raise the standard in the industry during the previous year. Past winners have included such names as the Crabb Family, Daywind Records, Booth Brothers, and artist manager Kathy Hannah. It is the most prestigious award handed out at the awards program, and after its second year as a major concert event in the Southern Gospel Community, the Branson Gospel Music Revival was honored again.

Branson Gospel Music Revival is owned, organized, and hosted by gospel singer Rod Burton and his wife Kelly, working as YMR Music Productions, LLC.

Rod said, “God gave us a vision for this event to make a difference in people’s lives. We’re so honored to have that recognized and supported.”

“The award is even more special to us this year,” mentioned Kelly. “I believe the gospel community is seeing what we’re about: elevating the gospel message above all. Celebrating gospel through song and changing people’s lives with its message is truly our sole purpose for the Branson Gospel Music Revival.”

During the couple’s acceptance speech, Kelly thanked the late Susan Unthank, who founded AbsolutelyGospel.com, for her legacy in the gospel music community. “Susan did not have the time or tolerance for competition,” Kelly said. “There are many fields to plow; we don’t need to fight over them. God has too much work for us to do.”

The Branson Gospel Music Revival was honored to be mentioned in the same category and stand alongside such names like SGN Scoops Digital (of which Kelly is the Editor-in-Chief), This Week in Gospel Music with Mickey Bell, Ernie Haaase and Signature Sound, and Gaither Vocal band.

The Absolutely Gospel (SGN) Music Award nominees were chosen by the staff of AbsolutelyGospel.com (formerly SoGospelNews.com) and select members of the Southern Gospel media and community. Voting was then open to fans to choose the winners.

The 2011 Absolutely Gospel (SGN) Music Awards Celebration took place on Tuesday, April 12, 2011 at River of Life Church in Smyrna, Tennessee to a standing room only crowd.

The Branson Gospel Music Revival is put on by YMR Music Productions, LLC.

The third annual Gospel Music Revival will take place Tuesday, June 28 – Friday, July 1 at the Tri-Lakes Center in Branson, MO.

Artists scheduled for the 2011 event include the HisSong, Dino, Freedom, Beyond the Ashes , The Greesons, Kenny Bishop, Ann Downing, Mike Allen, McMillan & Life, Sunday Edition, 2nd Generation, Rod Burton, Jay Stone Singers, Voices of Glory, Young Harmony, and many more! The Annual SGN Scoops Diamond Awards will also again take place during Branson GMR on the evening of Thursday, June 30.

More information about the Branson Gospel Music Revival can be found at http://www.bransongmr.com or by calling (615) 530-3726.

More information about YMR Music Productions, LLC. can be found at http://www.ymrmp.com or by calling (615) 530-3726.

About YMR Music Productions
YMR Music Productions, LLC. is a corporation formed initially for the exclusive purpose of organizing, promoting, and producing the Branson Gospel Music Revival.

SGN Scoops Diamond Awards Take the Show On the Road “Diamond Awards On Tour” To Hit Major Markets and Universities Across the Country

NASHVILLE, Tenn. – (January 26, 2011) – Coastal Media Group and SGN Scoops Digital, home of the Diamond Awards, are excited to announce details regarding a new initiative to take the Diamond Awards experience across the country this year. The “Diamond Awards On Tour” concert series will hit major markets and universities in an effort to bring awareness to the Diamond Awards program and attract new readers to the already popular digital magazine.

“We are always looking for new ways to expand the audience of our magazine and this form of Gospel music that we represent. We feel like these shows are going to be a good way to tell people around the country about the Diamond Awards while also giving them a little taste of what Southern Gospel music is all about,” mentioned Rob Patz of Coastal Media Group.

“Our vision of the Diamond Awards is to give all Gospel music fans a forum to have their voices heard – whether their favorite artist is on top of every chart or someone they discovered in a little country church,” mentioned Kelly Burton, editor-in-chief of SGN Scoops Digital. “Bringing live music to Gospel music fans through concerts such as this is a natural extension of our goal, and we’re excited to present artists who embody the combination of traditional and progressive ideals that we promote in SGN Scoops magazine.”

The first date on the “Diamond Awards On Tour” experience will be on Thursday, February 10, 2011 in Nashville, Tennessee at Trevecca Nazarene University.

Trevecca Nazarene University’s Dr. Dan Boone said, “We are thrilled to host the first ‘Diamond Awards on Tour’ concert at Trevecca Nazarene University. With Trevecca located in the heart of Music City and our many music and music business programs, this concert is a terrific match for our campus.”

Performers for the first concert at Trevecca Nazarene University as well as future dates, locations and performers will be announced at a later date.

This year’s Diamond Awards program will take place on Thursday, June 30, 2011 as a part of the 3rd Annual Branson Gospel Music Revival in Branson, Missouri.

The Diamond Awards are currently accepting nominations for the Top 10 Ballot in this year’s program. To find out how you can nominate your favorite artists, visit https://www.sgnscoops.com for more information.

Hosts, performers and sponsors for the 2011 Diamond Awards will be announced at a later date.

About the Diamond Awards
The Diamond Awards were transferred over to the SGN Scoops Digital several years ago after the original home for the awards, the Gospel Voice Magazine, folded.  The Diamond Awards are a fan-based award that allows the fans to choose the nominees as well as the winners in each year.  The awards show is based during the Branson Gospel Music Revival every July.

Branson Gospel Music Revival to Return in Summer 2011

(November 3, 2010) BRANSON, MO – The Branson Gospel Music Revival (formerly Convention) will be returning to Branson, Missouri for the third time, announced Rod and Kelly Burton, the owners of YMR Music Productions, LLC. The Burtons also announced that the four-day annual event will be changing venues, relocating in 2011 to the Tri-Lakes Center, 2527 State Highway 248 in Branson.

At a press gathering on Wednesday, kicked-off with a performance by Branson performing family Twice Adopted, the couple discussed the success of the 2010 event and developing plans for its return in 2011.

“We added a day to our event while our nation saw a drop in its economy and the concert business, yet our attendance grew by 10 percent over our first year,” Kelly Burton stated. “We are thankful to all those in the Branson media and marketplace who have welcomed us and our guests over the past two summers, and we’re very excited about our return.”

The Branson Gospel Music Revival will be held Tuesday, June 28 – Friday, July 1, 2011 at the Tri-Lakes Center. Over a hundred gospel artists from across the country will be there to perform, including returning favorites Beyond the Ashes, Freedom, Kenny Bishop, Dan Keeton Quartet, The Williamsons, Praise Incorporated, 2nd Generation, Jay Stone Singers, McMillan and Life, Rod Burton, Lynda Lynn, Sunday Edition, Mystery Men, and more.

Rod & Kelly Burton Travel to Columbia with Compassion International

Couple Meets Sponsor Child and Sees Ministry’s Work First Hand

HOMEWOOD, Ill. – Rod & Kelly Burton recently traveled to Bogota, Columbia to see the work of Compassion International first-hand. The couple, who together work in various aspects of Gospel music, partnered with Compassion International earlier this year.

The couple spent four days in the foreign country – visiting Compassion International projects and spending time with families who are directly affected by the child-advocacy organization. The Burtons saw the wholistic development it offers with spiritual, education, social, and nutritional opportunities. In addition, the couple was blessed to meet their own sponsor child – Jhordan (5 years old), as well as Kelly’s brother’s sponsor child – Anyi (7 years old).

Kelly Burton said, “We hugged, sang, and danced with the children. We were served by them and on one day, served them. We were overwhelmed by the hospitality of the country’s Compassion staff and the organized, efficient, and Christlike work they are doing for thousands of children in areas saturated with poverty and in some cases, crime.”

The Burtons share the work of Compassion International through their multiple areas of expertise in Gospel music – Rod’s music ministry, Kelly’s writing projects (SGN Scoops Digital), and Branson Gospel Music Revival, an annual event the couple organizes every year.

Kelly continued, “Being part of the work of Compassion and certainly traveling to Colombia has not just changed our life perspective – it has changed the focus of our ministry. I know we are blessed abundantly by living in America, but now we also believe with all our hearts that as Christians, it is our absolute responsibility to help rescue families from the curse of poverty – which often includes a hopelessness that we cannot begin to comprehend. It’s our job to show them the hope of Jesus!”

“After holding a Compassion child in my arms while singing ‘Jesus Loves Me,’ the words of that song are more real than ever,” mentioned Rod Burton. “Jesus loves us all, and those of us who already have that knowledge need to be His hands here on Earth. With Compassion, we are helping equip those in need to make the journey from hopelessness to blessed hope.”

Friends and family can read more about The Burtons’ experience in Columbia and with Compassion International by visiting Rod’s website at http://www.rodburtonmusic.com .

Fans are encouraged to visit Rod’s MySpace at http://www.myspace.com/rodburtonmusicinc.  Rod’s ShoutLife can be found at http://www.shoutlife.com/rodburtonmusic.

You can find out more about the other works of The Burtons by visiting http://www.bransongmr.com or https://www.sgnscoops.com .

About Rod Burton
Rod Burton is one of Southern Gospel’s favorite soloists. Described by family and friends as an interesting cross between big city businessman and down-home country boy, Rod is winning over fans all across the country. His current single is “Son of Man’s Man” from his critically acclaimed New Hope Productions release The Difference.

Rod Burton Signs Booking Agreement With EHA- Nashville

{Nashville, TN 8/3/10} Successful solo artist and YMR Productions owner, Rod Burton, has announced his booking agreement with EHA-Nashville. Burton co-owns the production company with his wife, Kelly Capriotti-Burton, that produces the Branson Gospel Music Convention. The convention has grown through its second year and rapidly filling up its 3rd Annual artist roster. Burton has continued to gain ground in his solo ministry with Singing News charting song, “Take a Stand,” and recently recorded a new project at Omni Studios on Music Row, with Jason Webb at the helm. Burton’s style appeals to a diverse crowd, bringing his many years of traditional Southern Gospel experience to the project and a fresh Christian Country flavor to his audience. Popular songwriter, Sue Duffield’s contribution, “Son of Man’s Man” and vocals contributed by Russ Taff and others add spice to Burton’s popular new project.

Burton says, “I’m excited to have Evie Hawkins, of EHA, working on new venues for my tour. We are looking forward to a great time in the Lord throughout the U.S.” Hawkins notes, “I have been a fan of Rod for quite awhile. It’s an honor to work with such a talented artist, and working for him in the past as his publicist for New Hope Music Productions was always a pleasure. I think Rod has put together a great team. He has excellent publicity through Southern Spin Entertainment and I’m so excited to be a part of his team. The wonderful reference I can personally give churches and promoters on Rod Burton is that he has not only been fair and honest in our business agreements, but has gone way over and above those agreements. I’m blessed to have been asked to help with Rod’s booking dates.”
For More info:
www.rodburtonmusic.com
Bookings:
EHA-Nashville
11 Music Circle South
Suite 106
Nashville, TN 37203
www.eviehawkinsagency.net
Rod Burton publicity:
http://www.southernspin.com/