Legendary songwriter Dianne Wilkinson re-signs with Daywind Music Publishing

HENDERSONVILLE, Tenn. – Dianne Wilkinson is the latest among an elite crop of established songwriters to re-sign an exclusive agreement with Daywind Music Publishing.
Wilkinson has won numerous awards and has penned 12 No. 1 songs. The most recent of those chart-toppers was the Old Paths’ hit – “Long Live the King” – which reached the No. 1 spot in July.
“I have been privileged to be a member of the Daywind family for almost 10 years, and they have been some of the most memorable and exciting of my long writing career,” says Wilkinson. “I appreciate Rick Shelton and all the others there who work so hard for me. I hope we’ve only just begun.”
She was the first female to be named the Southern Gospel Music Association Songwriter of the Year in 2000, one of the earliest of her numerous awards. Wilkinson – who was well-known for having 16 songs recorded by the legendary Cathedral Quartet, including “We Shall See Jesus,” “Boundless Love” and “High and Lifted Up” – has been nominated for two Dove Awards. She has won three awards from different organizations for Southern Gospel song of the year. Most recently, Wilkinson won the National Quartet Convention Music Award for songwriter of the year in both 2012 and 2013, and she won the Singing News Fan Award for the favorite non-performing songwriter in both 2013 and 2014.
“Dianne Wilkinson is a treasure to Southern Gospel Music,” emphasizes Shelton, Daywind’s Vice President of Music Publishing. “Her early songs are classics. Her current work is today’s hits. It has been a delight and joy to work with Miss Di for the last 12 years, and it is with great anticipation that we look forward to the songs that will come from her very prolific pen. She is dear to me and to our Daywind family.”

Daywind Music Publishing is the premier source of new songs for the Southern Gospel and church print/choral markets. The organization is home to an award-winning roster of songwriters. For more information, visit www.daywindpublishing.com or e-mail info@daywindpublishing.com.For additional information on Dianne Wilkinson, visit www.diannewilkinson.com

Rick Shelton Named VP Of Daywind Music Publishing As Company Expands

Hendersonville, TN  - With 40 #1 songs, 2 BMI Christian Publisher of the Year nods and 10 GMA Dove Awards, including 2011 Song of the Year winner, “Sometimes I Cry,” Daywind Music Publishing has established a strong foothold in Christian music publishing.  In recognition of his leadership towards this end, Rick Shelton has been named Vice President.

Since joining Daywind in 2004, Shelton has signed hit songwriters and forged a strategic partnership with Lifeway Worship enabling Daywind to start a choral print division.  The most recent offering, “Love Won,” by Kenna Turner-West is up for a GMA Dove Award this year for Best Musical.

“Rick Shelton is a great leader.  He is completely focused on finding ways to create opportunities for Daywind’s songwriters.  We are so pleased to have him at the helm of our publishing division,” stated Ed Leonard, president of Daywind Music Group.

Shelton is overseeing Daywind’s expansion into other markets, recently hiring Stephen Duncan as Creative Director.   Duncan is the first graduate of the Belmont University songwriting program and has great relationships across all genres of Christian music.  His strong music background as a concert pianist will prove a plus as Daywind moves into praise and worship, adult contemporary and Christian hit radio formats through new writer signings and collaborations with the talented staff of songwriters at Daywind.    “Stephen Duncan was highly recommended for this role by Steve Rice at Centricity and Mike Murray at Integrity, two men I highly respect in this industry, and I am so excited to see what we will accomplish together,“ said Shelton.

Daywind’s family of songwriters includes Caleb Collins, Marty Funderburk, Ronny Hinson, Scott Inman, Kyla Rowland, John Darin Rowsey, Jeff Steele, Ben Storie, Kenna West, Dianne Wilkinson, Daryl Williams and Gina Vera.

Music Industry for Dummies

Coming up on a multi-part series of Daniel Britt & Friends, the weeks of 06/13/11, 06/20/11, & 06/27/1: THE MUSIC INDUSTRY FOR DUMMIES


Winston-Salem, NC (06/10/2011) - If you're a fan of music - any kind of music - you are probably keenly aware that the music industry has changed, and continues to change at a rapid pace. For music lovers, this means having digital access to the latest hits, the oldest classics, & the ability to bypass traditional gatekeepers to discover up & coming artists and talents. You've heard terms like "YouTube sensation," "illegal music downloads," & unlimited access to music from "the cloud." So, what does all of this mean to you, the fan, versus your favorite artists & their ability to maintain quality, creativity, & their ultimate calling to spread the Gospel? To answer these questions & explore the process of making music in the 21st Century, Daniel sits down with President of Daywind, President & Chairman Gospel Music Association, & Vice Chairman of Christian Booksellers Association Ed Leonard, Director of Daywind Publishing, Rick Shelton, & Producer & Radio Promoter, Donna Beauvais. The Music Industry for Dummies, a multi-part series, coming up on Daniel Britt & Friends!

About Daniel Britt & Friends: Daniel Britt & Friends is a one-hour Gospel music radio show, available each week to nearly 30 million satellite subscribers* throughout the U.S. and Canada on SIRIUS XM SATELLITE RADIO's enLighten (XM34; Sirius67) - Mondays at 7PM ET, Thursdays at 10PM ET, and Saturdays at 12 Noon ET. You can also catch the show online at xmradio.com, sirius.com, or with Dish Network on channel 6067. After the broadcast, you can download the extended interview from www.danielbritt.com

About SIRIUS XM Radio: SIRIUS XM Radio is America's satellite radio company delivering The Best Radio on RadioT to more than 18 million subscribers, including commercial free music, and premier sports, news, talk, entertainment, traffic and weather. SIRIUS XM Radio has arrangements with every major automaker. SIRIUS XM Radio products are available at shop.sirius.com and shop.xmradio.com, and at retail locations nationwide, including Best Buy, Circuit City, RadioShack, Target, Sam's Club, and Wal-Mart. *Through its partnership with Dish Network, SIRIUS XM Radio programming is available to over 30 million satellite subscribers.

Daywind Songwriter Gerald Crabb Brings Home Multiple GMA Dove Awards

Hendersonville, TN (April 21, 2011) – The 42nd annual GMA Dove Awards celebrated another great year in Gospel music last night at the historic Fox Theatre in Atlanta, Georgia. Hosted by Sherri Shepherd, the sold out crowd enjoyed performances by some of the top artists in the industry, including Chris Tomlin, Kirk Franklin, Steven Curtis Chapman, Natalie Grant, Jason Crabb, Ernie Haase & Signature Sound and many more. The top winners of the night were Francesca Battistelli, Chris August, Point of Grace and Jason Crabb, with each receiving three Dove Awards. The final award of the evening, Song of the Year, was presented to Jason Crabb’s, “Sometimes I Cry,” written by his father, Daywind songwriter, Gerald Crabb and published through Christian Taylor Music. Gerald was also awarded overall Songwriter of the Year: a category in which fellow nominees included Chris August, Jason Ingram, Joel Lindsey and Wayne Haun.
The Pre-Show Ceremony, held on Wednesday afternoon in the Fox Theatre’s Egyptian Ballroom, was hosted by Jason Crabb and featured performances by Guy Penrod, Nicole C. Mullen, and others. Highlights of the afternoon included an impromptu moment when Jason Crabb invited his brother, Aaron, and Karen Peck Gooch to join him on stage for an incredible rendition of “Through the Fire” that brought the crowd to its feet. Brian Free sang his hit song, “Never Walk Alone,” during a special segment honoring industry professionals and artists who have passed away this year, including his own mother and father.
The 42nd Annual GMA Dove Awards will be televised on the Gospel Music Channel, Easter Sunday, April 24th, at 8:00 p.m ET.
Daywind Music Group is based in Hendersonville, TN and is distributed worldwide through New Day Christian Distribution. Daywind is home to such great artists as Legacy Five and the Perrys, and writers such as Kenna West and Marty Funderburk, among others. For more information on Daywind Records, visit daywindrecords.com.

Pictured: Director of Daywind Music Publishing Rick Shelton & Songwriter of the Year Gerald Crabb