RCA Inspiration (formerly Verity Gospel Music Group) is a gospel music group operating under Sony Music Entertainment.

RCA Inspiration
Parent companySony Music Entertainment (SME)
Founded2005 (2005)
Distributor(s)Sony Music Entertainment (mainstream)
Provident-Integrity (Christian)
GenreGospel
Country of originUnited States
LocationNew York, NY
Official websitewww.rcainspiration.com

History

Inception

In late 2002, BMG completed the purchase of the Zomba Group for US$2.74 billion and as a part of that deal, acquired the gospel label Verity Records. In 2004, BMG purchased GospoCentric Records and its sublabel B'Rite Music, which already had ties with Zomba since before the purchase.[1][2] When BMG restructured the Zomba labels into the Zomba Label Group, those labels were initially moved there, however, in 2005, Zomba amalgamated its gospel interests in the new Zomba Gospel and operated it under the Zomba Label Group. The new group consisted of Verity Records, GospoCentric Records and four artist owned imprints: Quiet Water Entertainment (Donald Lawrence), Fo Yo Soul Entertainment (Kirk Franklin), New Life Records (John P. Kee) and F. Hammond Music (Fred Hammond).[3] When BMG and Sony formed Sony BMG, Zomba Gospel (as a part of the Zomba Label Group) was shifted under the BMG Label Group as an amalgamation of BMG's interests in the merger.

Rebrandings

In August 2008, Sony purchased Bertelsmann's half of their Sony BMG merger.[4] Since Bertelsmann kept the BMG name, Sony renamed the BMG Label Group to RCA/Jive Label Group in early 2009[5] and began the process of rebranding Zomba as the Jive Label Group.[6][7] In another move to eschew the Zomba name, Zomba Gospel was rebranded as Verity Gospel Music Group, taking its name from their flagship label.[8] Over a year after Jive disbanded in mid 2011, RCA Inspiration became the name for Verity Gospel Music Group by early 2013.

Labels

Awards

In May 2009, Verity Gospel made gospel music history being the first gospel label to hold the top four song positions on the R&R Gospel charts.[9] The songs were:

  1. "Souled Out" - Hezekiah Walker & LFC
  2. "Back II Eden" - Donald Lawrence & Co
  3. "Praise Him In Advance" - Marvin Sapp
  4. "Peace & Favor Rest On Us" - Kurt Carr & The Kurt Carr Singers

Artists

Per source[10]

See also

References

  1. ^ Collins, Lisa (October 20, 2001). "Gospo, B'rite Pact with Zomba". Billboard. 113 (42): 33.
  2. ^ Price, Deborah Evans (October 12, 2004). "Zomba Buys GospoCentric". Billboard.
  3. ^ Price, Deborah Evans (July 2, 2005). "Zomba Ramps Up Gospel Biz". Billboard. 117 (27): 33–34.
  4. ^ Hefflinger, Mark (August 5, 2008). "Bertelsmann Sells Stake in Sony BMG for $1.2 Billion". DMWMedia.com. Digital Media Wire, Inc. Archived from the original on 2008-11-22. Retrieved 2009-12-02.
  5. ^ Gallo, Phil (January 14, 2009). "Keith Naftaly joins RCA/Jive". Variety.com. Reed Business Information. Retrieved 2009-12-12.
  6. ^ Billboard Staff (June 1, 2009). "UJA To Honor RCA/Jive Chief Barry Weiss". Billboard. Nielsen Business Media, Inc. Archived from the original on 2012-07-28. Retrieved 2009-12-02.
  7. ^ "Zomba Now Jive". Hits Daily Double. January 25, 2009.
  8. ^ "Verity Gospel Music Group Takes Home 13 Stellar Gospel Music Awards". GospelCity.com. GospelCity.com. January 2008. Archived from the original on 2010-01-15. Retrieved 2009-12-02.
  9. ^ Marovich, Bob (May 5, 2008). "Verity Gospel Music Group Makes Chart History". TheBlackGospelBlog.com. The Black Gospel Blog. Retrieved 2009-12-12.
  10. ^ "RCA inspiration". 5 October 2014. Archived from the original on 5 October 2014.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)