Mathew Knowles Appointed to the Board of Directors of the Gospel Music Association

HOUSTON, Texas, Feb. 16, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Mathew Knowles, the founder, President and CEO of Music World Entertainment (MWE), has been appointed to the Board of Directors for the Gospel Music Association (GMA).  Knowles brings to the board his creative, business and management expertise, as well as a profound commitment to music.

GMA is considered the face and voice of the gospel and Christian music.  The working board is comprised of 35 board members who are leaders in the industry.  "I am so pleased that Mathew has been elected to the GMA Board of Directors," Ed Leonard, President and Chairman of the Board of the Gospel Music Association.  "He will add his vast mainstream and Gospel expertise to a board stocked with talented professionals.  I know he will be integral in leading the GMA to greater heights as we work together to expose, promote and celebrate the Gospel through music."

Under Knowles' visionary leadership, Music World Entertainment (MWE) has had an unprecedented global impact on music and entertainment for nearly two decades.  In 2002, Knowles launched Spirit Rising Music, now named Music World Gospel (MWG), a division of MWE.  The company began with the successful launch of Michelle Williams as a gospel artist.  Several years later, Knowles continues his mission to produce high quality entertainment for the faith-based community.

"I look forward to working with the other board members in developing ideas and concepts to further expand both the platforms and audiences for Gospel and Christian artists," said Knowles.  "These are challenging times in the music industry, but it's extremely important for us to work together to meet those challenges and to achieve long-term stability and profitability for our business, for our Christian and Gospel artists, and the faithful listeners they serve."

In the Billboard's 2010 year-end issue, MWG ranked in the Top 5 and 10 on nine of the eleven gospel charts.  Music World Gospel was #4 on the Hot Gospel Songs Imprints chart, #6 on the Hot Gospel Songs Label and #9 as the Top Gospel Album Label.  In the past two years, MWG set and broke records and made Billboard chart history with the success of contemporary break-through artist and GMA Dove nominee Brian Courtney Wilson.  After 88 weeks, Wilson's CD remains on Billboard's Top Gospel Album chart in the Top 20—longer than any other CD title on Billboard's Top 50.  The CD also remained at #1 on Christian Music Trade Association's (CMTA) Inspirational Album chart for 52 weeks.

ABOUT MATHEW KNOWLES

Mathew Knowles is the founder, President and CEO of Music World Entertainment.  Under his leadership and management, Destiny's Child became a global phenomenon and the "most successful girl group" in the history of popular music.  Destiny's Child was named Billboard magazine's Female Group of the Decade (2000-2009).  Knowles also successfully launched and managed the solo careers of the members of Destiny's Child: Michelle Williams, Kelly Rowland and Beyonce, who was crowned Billboard's Top Female Artist of the Decade (2000-2009).  Knowles is a 1974 graduate of Fisk University, where he earned both a Bachelor of Arts degree in Economics and a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration.  He was bestowed with the honor of Doctor of Humane Letters by his alma mater at the University's 2008 Commencement Ceremony and is a member of the University's Board of Trustees.  He holds a professorship at Texas Southern University.

SOURCE Music World Entertainment