Here are today’s dispatches from the crossroads of faith, media and culture.

1. Nominees for 2012 Gospel Music Association Dove Awards  announced. The 43rd annual even will be held at the Fox Theatre  in Atlanta on April 19, 2012. Least year’s event, which was hosted by The View’s Sherri Shepherd and aired on the Gospel Music Channel garnered 1.5 million viewers.  This year’s nominees include:

Male Vocalist of the Year

Chris August

Chris Tomlin

Jason Crabb

Kirk Franklin

Steven Curtis Chapman

Female Vocalist of the Year:

Francesca Battistelli

Kari Jobe

Laura Story

Mandisa

Natalie Grant

Group of the Year:

Casting Crowns

David Crowder Band

Gaither Vocal Band

NEEDTOBREATHE

The Isaacs

2. John Tesh swings. The positive musician and host of the syndicated radio show Intelligence for Your Life is celebrating the feel-good sound of the Big Band Era with the release of his new album straightforwardly-enough called John Tesh: Big Band, a similarly-themed PBS special and a Big Band-themed live tour scheduled for this spring and summer.  He come a long way from Entertainment Tonight. For more info, go to Tesh.com.

No blog tomorrow. See you Monday.

Encourage one another and build each other up – 1 Thessalonians 5:11