The Gospel Music Channel has teamed with Ebony/Jet Entertainment Group to develop a series of television, magazine and online cross-promotional initiatives, said network officials.
GMC would not reveal specifics of its arrangement with the African-American-targeted publishing company, but did say it has already worked with Ebony/Jet to create several 90-minute vignettes on gospel music's history that will run on GMC as well as in Jet magazine.
The short-form series, This Week in Gospel Music History, began running on the network earlier this month as part of GMC's "National Gospel Music Heritage Month" initative. GMC has been working with Congress to officially designate September "National Gospel Music Heritage Month," which would honor gospel music for its valuable, long-standing contributions to American culture.
Additionally, video and photo galleries will be available on gospelmusicchannel.com and Ebonyjet.com. Also, a "Gospel Music Experience" sweepstakes is planned, which includes a grand prize trip for two to the 2010 Stellar Awards.
Ebony and Jet magazines will also run ads for several upcoming GMC specials, including shows featuring gospel performers The Winans and Mary Mary.
"GMC viewers and Ebony/Jet readers align perfectly, so it allows us to consistently promote major events in a targeted and powerful way within the pages of their magazines," said Wendy McCoy, vice president of marketing for GMC. "Gospel Music Heritage Month this month was the first thing we promoted to their readers and our ad appeared in the middle of the Ebony article on Whitney Houston's comeback; that is strong placement. We will be promoting BeBe & CeCe Winans: Revealed and Mary Mary Christmas later this year."
