According to a letter sent out this week to Gospel Music Association members by GMA President John W. Styll, the GMA Board of Directors made an important decision in the month of June.

The Gospel Music Hall of Fame and the Academy of Gospel Music Arts (the "benevolent" activities of the GMA) will remain under the GMA as it currently stands, but with a new name: the GMA Foundation. All other activities, including Gospel Music Week and the Dove Awards, will now fall under the province of the Gospel Music Association Trade Organization (GMATO).

"We realize this may seem complicated and confusing, but it is an initial and necessary step that the Board believes is required to establish the fundamental framework and organizational structure that will position each organization to be more effective in fulfilling its mission," says Styll in the letter. "Specifically it will allow the Foundation to promote its benevolent activities that foster education through the use of the Gospel in music and it will permit GMATO to promote all facets of commerce associated with the Christian music industry."

Current GMA members will retain their membership in the GMATO, allowing them the same membership benefits that they already have, such as voting in the Dove Awards.