Dove Balloting Process
HOW DO I SUBMIT?
How does the awards process work?
The process includes these four rounds: submission, screening, first ballot and second ballot.
(1) In March-May, an entry is submitted through our online form.
(2) In May, the Dove Screening Committee convenes to examine each submission and verify it meets eligibility.
(3) In June/July, GMA Professional Members vote to determine the official Dove nominees.
(4) In August, GMA Professional Members vote to determine the Dove winners.
What is the eligibility period?
Each year’s eligibility is based on release dates from May 1 to April 30 preceding the Dove Awards year. For example, the 2025 awards eligibility period is May 1, 2024 through April 30, 2025.
Who can enter projects into the awards?
The submission process is entered by either one of these two methods.
(1) A previously approved Dove Registered Entity (DRE) will be invited to submit in March. Click here to apply.
Or
(2) An eligible GMA Professional Member will be invited to submit in April/May. Click here to join.
GMA must receive each submission from one previously approved Dove Registered Entity, or three or more of its Professional Members, for that entry to advance to the screening round.
What is a Dove Registered Entity?
Organizations who represent two or more commercially supported artists/songwriters/films are invited to apply for status as a Dove Registered Entity (DRE). To be commercially supported, they must be currently in the marketplace with releases in the past two eligibility periods.
Click here to complete your application by February 28. An active GMA membership is required to apply. Submissions by a DRE will advance to the first ballot, provided they meet requirements under "Rules & Definitions" and also "Policies & Procedures."
This status only pertains to the GMA Dove Award submissions and has no effect on screening/ voting/ performing or anything else to do with GMA or the Dove Awards. The DRE submission round is to simplify the process for organizations that submit hundreds of entries, rather than the typical 3-5 entries that most members need to submit.
Watch our video explaining DRE.
Why are there two submission periods?
Each year GMA receives more than 5,000 submissions, and we want to serve you well. Separate time periods for organizations and individuals to submit helps our team better assist with your questions and issues.
What is the "Professional Member Rule of Three"?
"Professional Member Rule of Three"
In all categories, the GMA must receive each entry from three or more of its Professional Members for that entry to move forward to screening. Those three members can all be any active Professional Member, including those from the same Company or Professional Group.
Please make sure you and your other two members have discussed what entries you are submitting in which categories. You can use our Submission Checklist to prepare.
**To be eligible to submit entries, you must be an active Professional Member by the deadline titled "Membership Cut-Off for Submitting Entries" on Balloting schedule . Your membership must be active and cannot expire anytime during the round.
What details are needed to submit an entry?
What physical product is required for submissions?
We require all entries, that do not have a whitesheet or metadata, to send in 1 official distributed copy of the project to verify credits.
Only 1 of the 3 professional members needs to send product.
For albums that you have submitted in multiple categories, i.e. the album in division 3 and a few tracks in division 2, we only need 1 copy to satisfy all the categories.
Do not send homemade/ burned copies. These will be thrown away.
Mailing address is listed on the shipping/ thank you page after you have completed submissions. You can print off the shipping page and include it in your package but that is not required.
All physical product needs to be at the GMA office by the deadline titled "Product Deadline" on Balloting schedule.
Does my album qualify?
Albums must be comprised of no less than five new recordings and must have first week sales tracked by either Christian SoundScan or general market SoundScan during the current eligibility period.
Does my song qualify?
Recorded songs must be included on a qualified album (see above) or must be released to national radio as a single during the same eligibility period.
What happens during screening?
The Dove Screening Committee involves more than 50 industry leaders across all genres and professional experience, with intentional representation across multiple demographics. This group convenes in May to examine each submission and verify it meets eligibility. The committee follows requirements under "Rules & Definitions" and also "Policies & Procedures."
What is the difference between an entry and a nomination?
Entries are submitted for consideration. Entries that meet all eligibility requirements are included in the first ballot presented to GMA Professional Members. The results of this ballot determine nominations.
What is the difference between submitting and voting?
Submitting in March-May is to enter a project or artist for consideration. Voting in June-August is to determine nominees and winners.
Why are some categories based on metric?
To achieve a more well-rounded picture of the year in Christian music, some categories are based on submissions from the industry, and other categories (Artist, Song, Songwriter, Producer) are based on metrics for sales and streaming as reported by Nielsen Music Connect.
Why are categories handled by a Craft Committee?
Craft Committee members are specialists with extensive professional experience in the craft they review. Utilizing those who know the craft best helps ensure excellence and guards against egregious omissions.
How do I register my product with SoundScan?
How do I perform on the Dove Awards Show?
With only a very few performance slots available in the allotted show time, our production team makes those invitations to our nominees.
HOW DO I VOTE?
Am I eligible to vote?
Following the Schedule below, you must be an active GMA member by the corresponding membership deadline to be eligible to receive the email invitation to vote.
Where do I go to vote?
All eligible members will be invited by email to vote on the opening day of each voting round according to the Schedule. Your email invitation will include credentials and a link to log into the voting site. The voting website is separate from the GMA website.
Who votes on the first ballot?
After a submission is confirmed eligible by the Screening Committee, it goes onto the first ballot for voting by GMA Professional Members in June/July. Results from this first round of voting determine the official Dove nominees. Those nominees are announced in late July.
Who votes on the second ballot?
After the Nominees are announced, they will go on the second (and final) ballot for voting by GMA Professional Members in August. Winners will be announced live at the 56th Annual GMA Dove Awards scheduled for Tuesday, Oct. 7, 2025.
56th Annual GMA Dove Award Balloting Schedule 2025
Eligibility Period: May 1, 2024 – April 30, 2025
February 28, 2025 Dove Registered Entity Application Cut-Off Deadline for organizations to apply for Dove Registered Entity (DRE) status for 2025 Dove Awards. Applications after this date will not be processed. GMA will notify all applicants of their status by March 1.
March 20, 2025 Dove Registered Entity Submission Active Approved Dove Registered Entities can begin submitting releases and recordings for consideration for 2025 Dove Awards.
March 27, 2025 Dove Registered Entity Entries Due Deadline for approved Dove Registered Entities to submit releases and recordings for consideration for the 2025 Dove Awards. DRE Submissions are due by 8:00 pm CT on this date.
April 17, 2025 Membership Cut-Off for Submitting Entries *Not an approved Dove Registered Entity with the GMA? In order to be eligible to submit releases and recordings for consideration for the 2025 Dove Awards, you must be a Professional Member of the GMA by this date.
April 24, 2025 Professional Member Submission Process Active Opportunity for Professional Members of the GMA to submit entries for consideration for the 2025 Dove Awards.
May 1, 2025 Professional Member Entries Due Professional Member entries are due by this date. Submission opportunity will close at 8:00 pm CT.
May 8, 2025 Dove Registered Entity Verification Active Listings of all submissions received will be posted for review to make sure all eligible recordings and releases are included.
May 9, 2025 Product Deadline For projects without whitesheet or metadata files, physical product must be at the GMA office by this date.
May 15, 2025 Dove Registered Entity Verification Due Any changes or submissions by Dove Registered Entities are due by 8:00 pm CT on this date.
May 20, 2025 Product Screening GMA appointed committees meet to review products, approve category placement, and eligibility of all submissions made, plus add glaring omissions. All approved releases and recordings will appear in their appropriate categories on the first ballot. (Submissions can be moved among genre categories or removed from eligibility.)
June 19, 2025 Membership Cut-Off for Voting on First Ballot In order to be eligible to vote on the first Dove Awards ballot, you must be an active Professional Member in the GMA database by this date. The first ballot determines nominees.
June 26, 2025 First Ballot Open First Dove Awards ballot is delivered to current GMA Professional Members for voting via email. All voting takes place online.
July 3, 2025 First Ballot Closes All votes must be cast by 8:00 pm CT on this date in order to be counted.
July 30, 2025 Nominees Announced Press Release to announce the 2025 Dove Award nominees, as determined by the first ballot.
August 1, 2025 Membership Cut-Off for Voting on Second Ballot In order to be eligible to vote on the second Dove Awards ballot, you must be an active Professional Member in the GMA database by this date. The second ballot determines the recipients of the Dove Awards.
August 7, 2025 Second Ballot Open Second Dove Awards ballot is delivered to current GMA Professional Members for voting. All voting takes place online.
August 14, 2025 Second Ballot Closes All votes must be cast by 8:00 pm CT on this date in order to be counted.
October 7, 2025 56th Annual GMA Dove Awards Presentation of the 56th Annual Dove Awards from Bridgestone Arena in downtown Nashville, Tennessee.
ALL DATES AND TIMES ARE SUBJECT TO CHANGE WITHOUT NOTICE
56th Annual GMA Dove Awards Categories
Division I
1. Song of the Year
2. Songwriter of the Year (Artist)
3. Songwriter of the Year (Non-Artist)
4. Artist of the Year
5. New Artist of the Year
6. Producer of the Year
Division II
7. Rap/Hip Hop Recorded Song of the Year
8. Rock/Contemporary Recorded Song of the Year
9. Pop/Contemporary Recorded Song of the Year
10. Inspirational Recorded Song of the Year
11. Southern Gospel Recorded Song of the Year
12. Bluegrass/Country/Roots Recorded Song of the Year
13. Contemporary Gospel Recorded Song of the Year
14. Traditional Gospel Recorded Song of the Year
15. Gospel Worship Recorded Song of the Year
16. Spanish Language Recorded Song of the Year
17. Spanish Language Worship Recorded Song of the Year
18. Worship Recorded Song of the Year
19. Children’s Recorded Song of the Year
20. Christmas Recorded Song of the Year
Division III
21. Rap/Hip Hop Album of the Year
22. Rock/Contemporary Album of the Year
23. Pop/Contemporary Album of the Year
24. Inspirational Album of the Year
25. Southern Gospel Album of the Year
26. Bluegrass/Country/Roots Album of the Year
27. Contemporary Gospel Album of the Year
28. Traditional Gospel Album of the Year
29. Gospel Worship Album of the Year
30. Spanish Language Album of the Year
31. Worship Album of the Year
32. Christmas/Special Event Album of the Year
Division IV
33. Musical/Choral Collection of the Year
34. Recorded Music Packaging of the Year
35. Short Form Music Video of the Year (Concept)
36. Short Form Music Video of the Year (Performance)
37. Long Form Music Video of the Year
38. Feature Film of the Year
39. Television Series of the Year
RULES & DEFINITIONS
56th Annual GMA Dove Awards Rules and Definitions
POLICIES & PROCEDURES
56th Annual GMA Dove Awards Policies and Procedures
WHO GETS THE DOVE AWARD?
Who Gets The Dove Award?
SONG of the YEAR
DIVISION I / Category 1
Dove Awards are presented to the songwriter(s) and publisher(s).
ARTIST/NON-ARTIST
SONGWRITER of the YEAR
DIVISION I / Categories 2-3
Dove Awards are presented to the songwriter.
ARTIST of the YEAR
DIVISION I / Category 4
Dove Awards are presented to the artist and record label.
NEW ARTIST of the YEAR
DIVISION I / Category 5
Dove Awards are presented to the artist and record label.
PRODUCER of the YEAR
DIVISION I / Category 6
Dove Awards are presented to the producer or production team.
RECORDED SONG of the YEAR
DIVISION II / Categories 7–20
Dove Awards are presented to the artist, featured artist(s) and songwriter(s).
ALBUM of the YEAR
DIVISION III / Categories 21-32
Dove Awards are presented to the artist (if prominent on the album) and the producer(s).
MUSICAL/
CHORAL COLLECTION of the YEAR
DIVISION IV / Category 33
Dove Awards are presented to the creator(s), arranger(s), and orchestrator(s).
RECORDED MUSIC PACKAGING of the YEAR
DIVISION IV / Category 34
Dove Awards are presented to the art director(s), graphic artist(s), illustrator(s), and photographer(s).
SHORT FORM/LONG FORM
MUSIC VIDEO of the YEAR
DIVISION IV / Category 35-37
Dove Awards are presented to the artist, featured artist(s), director(s), and producer(s).
FEATURE FILM/ TELEVISION SERIES of the YEAR
DIVISION IV / Category 38-39
Dove Awards are presented to the director(s) and producer(s).