Zomba Label Group's Verity and Gospocentric Records, receives a leading 22 Stellar Award Nominations; Fred Hammond, TONEX, Keith Wonderboy Johnson, Natalie Wilson, 7 Sons of Soul and Percy Bady among the nominees

NEW YORK (Zomba Label Group) - The Zomba Label Group, currently home to today's foremost Gospel labels Verity and Gospocentric Records received 22 Stellar Award nominations, it was announced today in a press conference. The Stellar Awards, the Gospel industry's most prestigious and important awards ceremony salutes excellence in Gospel field over the past year.

Zomba Label Group led the way with the most nominations and solidifies its position in the gospel marketplace as a true powerhouse with this year's 22 nods. Among the notables is top nomination-getter, Platinum recording artist Fred Hammond, who receives (6) nods for his Number 1 album "Somethin' 'Bout Love," in such categories as Artist of the Year; Song of the Year (for the smash hit "Celebrate (He Lives);" Producer of the Year and CD of the Year.

Label mate, TONEX tied Hammond with (6) of his own nominations for his Number 1 album "Out The Box." Among the nominations received by TONEX include; Song of the Year (for the stirring ballad "Make Me Over);" Contemporary CD of the Year; Contemporary Male Vocalist of the Year; and Urban/Inspirational Performance of the Year. Other Verity artists receiving nominations include The Canton Spirituals; Keith Wonderboy Johnson and 7 Sons of Soul (Johnson & 7 Sons of Soul both released their debut albums with Verity in 2004).
WOW Gospel, a perennial number 1 release for Verity, also continues to shine receiving its 6th nomination for Special Event CD of the Year.

Gospocentric received (6) nominations for their cutting-edge releases from outstanding talents Natalie Wilson with four nominations for her current release "The Good Life" including nods for Contemporary Female Vocalist of the Year and Contemporary CD of the Year and Percy Bady, who was recognized in the Urban Inspirational and Rap/Hip Hop categories for the "The Percy Bady Experience."

The 20th Annual Stellar Awards will be taped at the George R. Brown Convention Center in Houston, TX on Saturday, January 15, 2005 and will be hosted by Yolanda Adams, and Verity recording artists DONNIE McCLURKIN and TONEX.