Dove Balloting Process
How It Works
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 April/May, an entry is submitted through our online form.
(2) In June, the Dove Screening Committee convenes to examine each submission and verify it meets eligibility.
(3) In July, GMA Professional Members vote to determine the official Dove nominees.
(4) In August, all GMA 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 2023 awards eligibility period is May 1, 2022 through April 30, 2023.
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 April. Click here to apply.
Or
(2) An eligible GMA Professional Member will be invited to submit in 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). Click here to complete your application by February 28. Submissions by a DRE will advance to the first ballot, provided they meet requirements under "Rules & Definitions" and also "Policies & Procedures."
Why are there two submission periods?
Each year GMA receives more than 4,000 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 details are needed to submit an entry?
Do you have submission tutorials?
Does my album qualify?
Albums must be comprised of no less than five songs 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 June 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 April/May is to enter a project or artist for consideration. Voting in July/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 and Songwriter) 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 July. Results from this first round of voting determine the official Dove nominees. Those nominees are announced in early August.
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 54th Annual GMA Dove Awards scheduled for Tuesday, Oct. 17, 2023.
Do you have voting tutorials?
54th Annual GMA Dove Award Balloting Schedule 2023
Eligibility Period: May 1, 2022 – April 30, 2023
February 28, 2023 Dove Registered Entity Application Cut-Off Deadline for organizations to apply for Dove Registered Entity (DRE) status for 2023 Dove Awards. Applications after this date will not be processed. GMA will notify all applicants of their status by March 31.
April 4, 2023 Dove Registered Entity Submission Active Approved Dove Registered Entities can begin submitting releases and recordings for consideration for 2023 Dove Awards.
April 18, 2023 Dove Registered Entity Entries Due Deadline for approved Dove Registered Entities to submit releases and recordings for consideration for the 2023 Dove Awards. DRE Submissions are due by 11:59 pm CST on this date.
April 28, 2023 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 2023 Dove Awards, you must be a professional member of the GMA by this date.
May 9, 2023 Professional Member Submission Process Active Opportunity for professional members of the GMA to submit entries for consideration for the 2023 Dove Awards.
May 16, 2023 Professional Member Entries Due Professional members entries are due by this date. Submission opportunity will close at 11:59 pm CST.
May 30, 2023 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.
June 2, 2023 Product Deadline For projects without whitesheet or metadata files, physical product must be at the GMA office by this date.
June 6, 2023 Dove Registered Entity Verification Due Any changes or submissions by Dove Registered Entities are due by 11:59pm CST on this date.
June 13, 2023 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.)
July 7, 2023 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.
July 11, 2023 First Ballot Open First Dove Awards ballot is delivered to current GMA professional members for voting via email. All voting takes place online.
July 18, 2023 First Ballot Closes All votes must be cast by 11:59 PM CST on this date in order to be counted.
August 9, 2023 Nominees Announced at Press Conference Press Conference to announce the 2023 Dove Award nominees, as determined by the first ballot. To be held at Lipscomb University.
August 11, 2023 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 member in the GMA database by this date. The second ballot determines the recipients of the Dove Awards.
August 17, 2023 Second Ballot Open Second Dove Awards ballot is delivered to current GMA members for voting. All voting takes place on-line.
August 24, 2023 Second Ballot Closes All votes must be cast by 11:59 PM CST on this date in order to be counted.
October 17, 2023 54th Annual GMA Dove Awards Presentation of the 54th Annual Dove Awards from Allen Arena at Lipscomb University.
ALL DATES AND TIMES ARE SUBJECT TO CHANGE WITHOUT NOTICE
54th 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. Worship Recorded Song Of The Year
18. Children’s Recorded Song Of The Year
Division III
19. Rap/Hip Hop Album of the Year
20. Rock/Contemporary Album of the Year
21. Pop/Contemporary Album of the Year
22. Inspirational Album of the Year
23. Southern Gospel Album of the Year
24. Bluegrass/Country/Roots Album of the Year
25. Contemporary Gospel Album of the Year
26. Traditional Gospel Album of the Year
27. Gospel Worship Album of the Year
28. Spanish Language Album of the Year
29. Worship Album of the Year
Division IV
30. Christmas/Special Event Album of the Year
31. Musical/Choral Collection of the Year
Division V
32. Recorded Music Packaging of the Year
33. Short Form Music Video of the Year (Concept)
34. Short Form Music Video of the Year (Performance)
35. Long Form Music Video of the Year
36. Feature Film of the Year
37. Television Series of the Year
RULES & DEFINITIONS
54th Annual GMA Dove Awards Rules and Definitions
POLICIES & PROCEDURES
54th 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 7–18
Dove Awards are presented to the artist, featured artist(s) and songwriter(s).
ALBUM of the YEAR
DIVISION III / Categories 19-29
Dove Awards are presented to the artist (if prominent on the album) and the producer(s).
ALBUM of the YEAR
DIVISION IV / Category 30
Dove Awards are presented to the artist (if prominent on the album) and producer(s).
MUSICAL/
CHORAL COLLECTION of the YEAR
DIVISION IV / Category 31
Dove Awards are presented to the creator(s), arranger(s), and orchestrator(s).
RECORDED MUSIC PACKAGING of the YEAR
DIVISION V / Category 32
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 V / Categories 33-35
Dove Awards are presented to the artist, featured artist(s), director(s), and producer(s).
INSPIRATIONAL FILM/SERIES of the YEAR
DIVISION V / Categories 36-37
Dove Awards are presented to the director(s) and producer(s).