In our special WE LOVE CHRISTIAN MUSIC AWARDS editorial series, members of the NRT staff have a back-and-forth discussion about this year's nominees. In Part 3 of our series, we kick things off with a dialogue between NRT Associate Editor Mary Nikkel and NRT Lead Contributor Kevin Davis.

Mary: In this year's awards, Group of the Year is a great category since it really is one of the most genre-diverse as far as nominees go. I feel like it also makes room to really recognize not only a group's musical contributions, but also what they've achieved in terms of ministry and personal impact on listeners. Each one of these groups is definitely strong in that area; I know for me, Switchfoot and Skillet in particular have been pretty consistent forces in impacting my life. I know NEEDTOBREATHE has been a pretty personally important group for you too, Kevin.
 
Kevin: Great thoughts to open our discussion on this category, and yes, NEEDTOBREATHE has been my favorite band (edging out Jars of Clay) since The Heat in 2007, and the ministry and musical excellence of that album with the songs "Signature of Divine (Yahweh)", "Washed by the Water" and "Streets of Gold" struck me in a way that I hadn't heard since Jars of Clay a decade prior. Interestingly, both bands (and Skillet and Switchfoot in this category) have had crossover success as well. Continuing in the discussion about ministry impact, which of these groups had the most impact on you last year, and who do you think "should win?"

Mary: Great point about the crossover impact so many of these groups have had; I also picked up on that as an intriguing trend with our nominees here. For me personally, choosing just one as the most impactful is a challenge since I've had at least one strong experience with every single nominee this past year. I think Switchfoot just barely takes it for me in terms of an album that impacted me most. Their music has a way of strengthening and encouraging faith without ever falling into clichés that has been really life-giving for me. NEEDTOBREATHE is just barely behind though, as their album HARD LOVE had so many songs that have been anthems for me. Between those two, it's incredibly hard to choose which one "should" take it; they're neck and neck. Which nominee stands out most for you?
 
Kevin: Well, not to be a homer for NEEDTOBREATHE, as the songs "Hard Love," "Testify," "Clear" and "Happiness" have all been such powerful anthems, I can't discount the spiritual impact that Bethel Music has had on my life the past few years, including last year. Carrying over with "No Longer Slaves" and "Jesus We Love You" (which we sing at my church regularly) to this year's release with the return of Leeland singing "The Lion and the Lamb," Brian Johnson leading "Have it All," and Amanda Cook's stellar songs "Pieces" and "Mercy"--those four songs alone make a great argument for Bethel Music as overall Group of the Year. I may have just convinced myself that they both "should" and "will" win this category, based on familiarity and fanbase. What do you think?
 
Mary: I think that's an incredibly valid point. Bethel has had a global impact this year that is impossible to overlook. It's tempting to say they're becoming the next Hillsong, except that their ministry is so uniquely their own it defies comparison. I was struck by their impact when I went to one of their Worship Nights here in Nashville this fall. In a city where it's hard to get people to uncross their arms and put down their cynicism to really engage, they had the sold-out place absolutely shaking with the voices of thousands singing along. It was incredibly powerful, and really demonstrated to me that they've been carefully stewarding what is really a movement of the Spirit. It's hard to beat that.

Kevin: Yes, since you opened this discussion about Group of the Year with a mention about spiritual impact, I've been thinking the same thing. I've also attended a Bethel Music Worship Night in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania in 2015, and I've thought about that night a lot since I attended and worshiped along with these anointed worship leaders and songs. Also, I've conducted over a dozen "behind the song" discussion interviews with Bethel Music artists. They are all completely head over heels in love with Jesus and it oozes out of our conversations and the songs that they lead. Since they are doing such amazing Kingdom-building with their music ministry, I think it makes the right kind of statement on our ministry-focused website to recognize them for Group of the Year. Any closing thoughts?
 
Mary: I think one nominee that's definitely worth a mention is Tenth Avenue North--who actually were the first winners of Group of the Year in the We Love Christian Music Awards back in its inaugural year, 2012. The band was facing a pretty unique situation with the release of Followers, as a band who has traditionally largely lived off radio play who didn't really see a huge single out of their last record, Cathedrals. That they pulled through with Followers and focused on creating an album that feels very genuine lyrically to who they are instead of simply getting fixated on creating new hits speaks volumes about their character. And their live show remains one of the most powerful experiences I've seen in CCM. I think they honestly have a shot at pulling out the win or at least a close second in this category, given that they have a huge and very loyal listener base who has had a similar experience.
 
Kevin: Thank you for those comments about Tenth Avenue North, and I agree with you. I thought Followers was their strongest work to date for the reasons you mentioned, and the ministry impact they have had is as strong as the other nominees. They are the only traditional CCM "radio" artist on this list. From songs like "You Are More" and "By Your Side" to "What You Want" and "I Have This Hope," I'm really excited to see them live again, and to conduct another "behind the song" interview with Mike Donehey later this month. He's one of my all-time favorite guys to speak with in our industry and they are deserving of recognition. It's too bad all five groups can't win!

OK, now it's up to you! Head over to www.weloveawards.com and VOTE NOW through Jan. 27, 2017, to make your pick for this and all 18 categories in the 5th Annual WE LOVE CHRISTIAN MUSIC AWARDS! 


PREVIOUS WINNERS OF GROUP OF THE YEAR:
4th Annual (2015) Hillsong UNITED
3rd Annual (2014) for KING & COUNTRY
2nd Annual (2013) Newsboys
1st Annual (2012) Tenth Avenue North