MercyMe wins big in gospel

A new wave of Christian artists dominated the 34th annual Gospel Music Assn. Awards, with MercyMe and Switchfoot among the big winners in Nashville Wednesday night.

MercyMe won a Dove Award -- gospel music’s version of the Grammy -- in the coveted artist of the year category, and also took home honors for top group and top pop/contemporary recorded song for “Word of God Speak.”

Switchfoot lead singer and songwriter Jonathan Foreman captured the most awards. The band won rock song of the year for “Ammunition,” rock/contemporary song for “Meant to Live” and rock/contemporary album for “The Beautiful Letdown.” Foreman also picked up three individual honors: two for songwriting and one for producing.