Gospel diva Vickie Winans is launching an online label, Destiny Joy Records, which will sell physical CDs and other merchandise.
Winans, who will remain signed to Zomba’s Verity label, plans to sign new gospel acts and aims to begin selling product by the second quarter of 2005. She says she is currently in negotiations to sign newcomer Aaron Fuller.
Winans will serve as CEO of the label, which will be based in her hometown of West Bloomfield, Mich. The new venture will be a full-service label, providing marketing and promotion, and will have a recording studio. Winans plans to hire staff and handle her own product fulfillment.
Winans tells Billboard.biz the new company will be artist-friendly, and she plans on giving her artists “unrecoupable advances.”
Meanwhile, Winans is in negotiations with Daimer-Chrysler to launch a talent competition next year. Prizes will likely include a Chrysler automobile and a contract with Destiny Joy.
Winans’ last album, “Bringing It All Together,” topped Billboard’s Top Gospel Albums chart for eight weeks.
