Central South Distribution is stepping up its game in the gospel  music field with several big gospel music happenings during Gospel Music’s biggest week of the year on Friday, January 11, 2008 at the Gibson Showcase, 161 Opry Mills Drive, Nashville, TN 37214. Gibson phone number: 615-514-2200.

Central South will open the day with a jazz brunch featuring music by the Bernard Harris Trio and Kevin Turner at 10:30 a.m. It’s an exclusive meet and greet for radio announcers and retail personnel. Then, from 12:00 to 2:30 p.m., there will be an educational workshop featuring a who’s who in behind-the-scenes music industry power  players. The panel discussion will cover strategies for breaking into gospel announcing, the benefits of brokering a radio program, and how  pivotal radio is to the overall music industry and the public at large.

The biggest news of all is that Central South is hosting its first  annual Gospel Announcers’ Spotlight Awards where they will honor the industry’s best radio announcers with awards. The program will be  hosted by David Mann (Mr. Brown from the Tyler Perry plays) and comedian Akintunde. Either performing or presenting will be Vickie Winans, Martha Munizzi, Bryan Wilson, Micah Stampley, Mary Alessi, William Murphy and Tamela Mann. Program runs 3:00 to 4:30 p.m. All voting is now closed and the winners will be announced during the ceremony.

From 4:30 to 5:30, Central South will serve dinner for the invitation-only VIPS attending the Spotlight Awards.

At 5:30 p.m., Central South will fill the night with festive worship and praise music as their annual Praise Party showcases Myron Williams, Marvin Winans Jr., Norman Hutchens, William Murphy, Mary Alessi, Jason Nelson, David & Tamela Mann, Bryan Wilson, Bishop John Francis, Jerard Woods, Dave & Nicole Binion and Tarralyn Ramsey.

Finally, they close the evening with comedian/singer John Gray hosting Central South's Urban Soul Summit Concert featuring Canton Jones, Mr. Del, Vashawn Mitchell, Will Demps and Antwaun Stanley. The action starts at 10 p.m and is free and open to the public. For more information, email: [email protected].