USAGEM TODAY
39th Editon
August 2017
Serving the Lord through entertainment
 
      The United States Association Of  Gospel  Entertainers & Musicians
A 501 (c)(3) Faith-Based Ministry/Charity
Get Ready for the Birthday Bash! Info below
Six number ones from one cd!
Waymasters - story in Members News below


The Cedars of Lebanon 
Home of the 2017 USAGEM Birthday Bash





                       USAGEM PRESIDENT LYNN FOX
  FROM THE PRESIDENT'S DESK
From The President's Desk . . . . . . .

Hello Everyone,

This month, I want to share a post that I saw recently written by Charlie Ann Harper. God has blessed music types with a strong resilience. This is an ineffable quality that allows them to be knocked down and come back stronger than ever. I feel that much of this message applies to our organization and many of our USAGEM members. 

Charlie Ann Harper wrote: 

"Singers and musicians are some of the most driven, courageous people on the face of the earth. They deal with more day-to-day rejection in one year than most people do in a lifetime. Every day, they face the financial challenge of living a freelance lifestyle, the disrespect of people who think they should get real jobs, and their own fear that they will never work again. Every day, they have to ignore the possibility that the vision they have dedicated their lives to is a pipe dream. With every note, they stretch themselves, emotionally and physically, risking criticism and judgement. With every passing year, many of them watch as the other people their age achieve the predictable milestones of normal life - The car, the family, the house, the nest egg. Why? Because musicians and singers are willing to give their entire lives to a moment - That melody, that lyric, that chord, or that interpretation that will stir the soul of their audience. Singers and musicians are beings who have tasted life's nectar in that crystal moment when they poured out their creative spirit and touched another's heart. In that instant, they are as close to magic, God, and perfection as anyone could ever be. And in their own hearts, they know to dedicate oneself to that moment is worth a thousand lifetimes."

Everyday I thank God for our singers, songwriters, musicians, and industry people who are blessed with the unique ability to "bounce back", overcoming adversity, trauma, health issues, financial stress and other struggles. These people are willing and always ready to follow God's divine calling of spreading His message through the international language of music! Through Him, we are all one!

I'm looking forward to seeing all of you on Saturday August 12th at our upcoming USAGEM Birthday Bash!

In His Service,

Lynn Fox
USAGEM President



                            
SONGS FOUND IN THE WORD OF GOD
 
"It is of the LORD'S mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not. They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness."
                                
                                       -Lamentations 3:22-23




Pray for USAGEM
and its members

Pray for God's favor upon the United States Association of Gospel Entertainers and Musicians, and all of its members and friends. 
The board of directors is praying for you at each meeting. If you have a prayer request, please  let us know. You can reach us at: www.usagem.org


Mike's Tips of the Month

Your Recordings and Backtracks 
Volume vs. Perceived Loudness 


So, volume and perceived loudness shoud be the same, right? 
Here's an interesting demonstration in perceived loudness, listen to it before reading further.


OK, that should show you that volume does not equal what we hear as loudness.  Engineers all over the world are now rejoicing that what they've called "the Loudness Wars"
have been won and Perceived Loudness is the winner. For years, artists and record labels have been demanding that their songs be louder or at least as loud as everything they hear on the radio. The result was, no more dynamics in music. A soft beautiful cello is just as loud as a screaming electric guitar making "loud and soft" the same. 

But lately radio, television, major internet music, and movies all have begun looking more at the range of average loudness in sound as a standard. Spotify, YouTube, iTunes, all major TV and Radio are now setting music so he average volumes match up from recording to recording.Some will adjust songs down in volume to those standards.  Some will simply not accept recordings that do not meet such standards.

So what does this mean to music ministries? 
 
If your want your songs to be played on major radio or tv, or if you want them to be available on the major download sites, you'll need to have them mastered at or near the standards that these media use. 
Check with your studio or engineer about this, most should be familiar with it. 

For more information, (or to send to your interested studio or engineer) go to: 





God Bless You and Your Ministries,
                           Mike Dunbar 
                           USAGEM Vice President
                                   
 t
The Words of our Lord 
 " Yet a time is coming and has now come  when the true worshipers will worship the Father in the Spirit  and in truth, for they are the kind of worshipers the Father seeks." 
                                        -John 4:23
 

 

 

The United States Association of Gospel Entertainers and Musicians 
 - A Tool For Your Ministry -

 

All members have a page on our website. If you haven't already, go to yours and fill it out. It can be used as an electronic press kit (EPK) to send to churches, venues etc.  

 

Click On:

www.usagem.org

 

 

And don't forget our Facebook Page:

CLICK HERE: X

 

 

And our Facebook Event Page:

CLICK HERE: X

 


 

"LIKE" AND "SHARE" OFTEN.

 
                         
Annual USAGEM Birthday Bash 
 Saturday, August 12th 
Cedars Of Lebanon State Park

We're excited! This year's USAGEM Birthday Bash will be held on Saturday, August 12, 2017 in the Assembly Hall at the Cedars Of Lebanon State Park in Lebanon, Tennessee located just outside of Nashville. Festivities will start at 1:00 PM and will include informational seminars and a short USAGEM Membership Meeting followed by good food, fellowship, and lots of picking and singing!

USAGEM members are invited to perform  one
 song. You can bring a CD track, musical instrument, or whatever you need to complete your own performance. Comedians are invited to perform one skit or story (no more than five minutes). Sound will be provided. Our special events director, Sandi Kay Shupe is in charge of the music. 
Please contact Sandi at
to RSVP and to let her know the song that you plan to perform. 

The barbecue, buns, drinks, and birthday cake will be provided.  If possible, we are asking participating members to bring their favorite casserole or covered dish  (We do understand that this may not be a feasible option for some who are traveling long distances).

USAGEM Birthday Bash
Saturday., August 12, 2017
Assembly Hall
Cedars Of Lebanon State Park
328 Cedar Forest Road
Lebanon, TN 37090

-Schedule Of Events-
  • 1:00 - 1:40 PM - Internet/Web Seminar (Mike Dunbar & Michael Gardner)
  • 1:45 - 2:25 PM - Music Theory / Vocal Exercise Seminar (Mike Dunbar)
  • 2:30 - 3:10 PM - Music Performance / Appearance Seminar (Dottie Tubb & Sandi Shupe)
  • 3:15 - 3:55 PM - Songwriting Seminar (Larry Alderman)
  • 4:00 - 5:00 PM - USAGEM Quarterly Membership Meeting
  • 5:15 PM - ???   - Lots of Food, Music & Performances 

The Assembly Hall includes tables and chairs and features a large fireplace. The venue is air conditioned. There is a stage in one end of the facility and at the opposite end is a small kitchen equipped with sinks, a refrigerator and a stove. We believe this is a perfect setting for our upcoming birthday bash!

Anyone wanting more information including available cabins, camping spots, etc., can go to the Cedars Of Lebanon website at:

 
Mark your calendars and make your plans now to participate! Come sing and fellowship with your USAGEM family and celebrate a blessed year of praise and thanksgiving!


USAGEM Today is distributed to all of our members and to more than 150 churches and music industry personnel.  
If you have news items about your ministry please e-mail your press releases or digital flyers to
Mike Dunbar at:


We may edit press releases as we see fit. Keep in mind that USAGEM is a 501c3  Non-Profit organization. USAGEM does not endorse a poltical party or worldly agenda. We are here to serve the Lord and spread the Gospel through song and entertaiment. 

Due to HIPPA regulations, Prayer requests must include written persmission from the subject of the request. 

 
USAGEM
 MEMBERS NEWS 
 
the award-winning Waymasters

 Waymasters, USAGEM members, added another national honor to their impressive run of recent accolades.  The newest addition was the reception - on May 23 - of the "2017 Gospel Music Fan Award for Favorite Country Gospel Group," a fan driven award presented by Christian Voice Magazine. The Gospel Music Fan Awards are fan nominated and fan voted awards.
 
Waymasters made  history earlier this year when they were celebrated for achieving the  unprecedented accomplishment of producing the most successful charting album of all time when they  surpassed Michael Jackson, Rodney Crowell, Brad Paisley, and Katy Perry on the list of most #1 singles released from the same album (the above are tied at 5 singles). The group's now infamous outing, 
"Smoky Mountain Gospel Vol. 2" tops this list  with six #1 singles. 
 
  "We don't do this for awards but being named America's 'Favorite Country Gospel Group' by the fans is an honor like no other," says Darrell Frizsell, lead vocalist and rhythm guitarist for the Waymasters. "When the fans think that much of you it really is a humbling experience. We thank God everyday for what He's done for us 
because we know it's not us." 


The Davis Family (David and Becky)

The Davis Family has released a new CD 
called " He Knows the Way Home." 
It was produced in Nashville Tn. by 
well-known producer Mike Loudermilk.

USAGEM founder Daniel Johnson, John
Schweers and USAGEM member 
Larry Alderman 
(a major hit songwriter who happens to be giving a seminar at this month's 
USAGEM Birthday Bash.) 
and USAGEM member Russ Murphy 
wrote Jesus is enough
  
The Davis Family says, "...we sat and listened to every note...in each song. This project is kinda like our baby!"

Check out their fan page, "like" and "share"
www.facebook.com/davisfamilymusicministry/
We have several exciting events and opportunities coming up!
Keep an eye on USAGEM TODAY and keep USAGEM in your prayers.

U SA G E M  BIRTHDAY BASH!
Below are members from 2016's bash, are you in here?  Don't miss the upcoming bash!


If you want info on cabins etc. just   Click Here.  

Fellowship, Food, and Fun. It's going to be a wonderful time! Come sing and fellowship with your USAGEM family and celebrate what has been a blessed year of praise and worship. 



"The Greatest Assets of USAGEM Are Our Members"

USAGEM's members are a diverse group of people creating music and entertainment in various ways. Yet, we all share one goal. To reach the world with the Gospel of Jesus Christ. 

Whether it is one singer in a small church coffee house, a praise and worship team, a Christian comedian, a Grammy winning quartet, or a family band,  we all
PRAISE THE LORD JESUS.

We are a fellowship of servants using out talents to serve God.


                                                     

God bless our members!