The Retreat is designed to provide gospel artists with the knowledge and business acumen needed to be successful in the Gospel Music Industry.  Information sessions for participants and artist range from legal aspects to stage presence.  The retreat has become the place to be to network and learn from the best in the genre.

“The key to ensuring that our performers and musicians are on par with other sectors of the music industry is through education,” said Dr. Bobby Jones, founder of the International Gospel Industry Retreat.

“As an industry, we must educate our artists and help them reach their fullest potential.  Additionally, we have developed a training program for high school and college students introducing them to all facets of the Gospel Industry from performer to legal counsel.  It is vital that we begin to educate our youth and develop their skills at an early age.”

In addition to incorporating high school and college students into the Retreat, Dr. Jones is working with Florida Memorial College and Nova Southeastern University, to develop a program in which gospel artists may enroll and earn a degree specializing in gospel music.

This is the second time this prestigious conference is being held in Fort Lauderdale.  During the June 2005 Retreat, members of the Board voted to make Greater Fort Lauderdale the home of the Gospel Museum and Recording Complex giving Gospel Music a permanent home and location to house historical artifacts and recordings.

The Gospel Museum will be the first of its kind in the country and will provide interactive exhibits, a recording studio, a learning center as well as an auditorium and restaurant.

“We are extremely excited that Dr. Jones chose Fort Lauderdale to be the home of the Gospel Museum.  It is an honor for Fort Lauderdale and will have a huge economic impact in our community,” said Albert Tucker, Vice President of Multicultural Business Development at the Greater Fort Lauderdale Convention and Visitors Bureau.

The artist renderings of the museum will be unveiled at a special Reception during the December Retreat. 

An exciting schedule is planned for the December Retreat including the New Artist Showcase which will be aired on the Word Network; performances in the Broward Center for the Performing Arts Peck Courtyard; a Town Hall Meeting; and special performances by the Florida Memorial Gospel Choir and Florida A&M University Gospel Choir.

Gospel Music spans the globe and has experienced an 80% growth during the past five years.  Gospel Music sales exceeded $1 billion dollars in 2004.  Also during the same year, Gospel Music sales were higher than Latin, Soundtracks, Jazz and Classical music.  There are three gospel music albums sold for every 5 country music albums.

Dr. Bobby Jones has played a pivotal role in the growth of the Gospel Music Industry.  He is the host and executive producer of cable television's first and only national gospel program, Bobby Jones Gospel, which is seen weekly by more than five million viewers on the Black Entertainment Television network. 

Every Sunday, Jones along with the New Life Singing Aggregation performs contemporary gospel music and welcomes an array of gospel artists such as Kirk Franklin, John P. Kee, Yolanda Adams, The Canton Spirituals, Hezekiah Walker and more. This year marks the 25th anniversary of Bobby Jones Gospel making it the longest running gospel television show.

Jones has revolutionized the gospel music industry. Video Gospel which debuted in 1989 is the only national television outlet that gospel artists have to showcase their videos.

To learn more about the Gospel Industry Retreat and Dr. Bobby Jones, please visit his website at www.bobbyjonesgospel.com.  The recording sessions will be open to the public.  Tickets will be available through the Broward Center for the Performing Arts Ticket office.  Tickets are $20.00 per recording session.  For sponsorship opportunities, call LaBelle & Associates at (804) 775-6990.