History

In 1997 when the Internet was still young, Scott A. Shuford brought one of the first Christian music web sites to market: Gofishnet.com. That site was purchased in 1998 by Crosswalk.com. In 1998, while continuing to serve for another year or so as Music Producer for Crosswalk.com, Shuford founded an Orange County, CA based ad agency. That agency served a diverse clientele, launching consistently successful, innovative campaigns for notable companies such as IHOP, World Vision, Initium Eyewear, Krikorian Premier Theaters, and American First Credit Union. The firm’s accolades include numerous features in highly respected business publications such as Direct Marketing News, Orange County Business Journal, Yahoo!, About.com, and Small Biz Technology. Additionally the firm received the coveted Standard of Excellence WebAward from the Web Marketing Association for our work with Del Taco where the firm served as the web Agency Of Record for six years.

Those experiences laid the foundation for the quiet beginnings of FrontGate Media. In 2001, as banner advertising and email newsletters began to grow in popularity, FrontGate Media was birthed to serve marketers in this “new” advertising medium. What became FrontGate Media was originally the online division of the Adolph Agency, a partnership between publisher Bruce Adolph and agency founder Scott A. Shuford.

FrontGate Media started with just three clients: iTickets.com, Christian Musician Magazine, and Women of Faith. There was this email database of 400,000 profiled subscribers that no one other than concert promoters knew existed. We launched Christian Musician online. We expanded the opportunities for interaction at the Women of Faith events. With the purchase of Women of Faith, Thomas Nelson chose to discontinue outside sponsorship, but now as I write this in 2009, I’m excited to say that iTickets and Christian Musician are still part of the FrontGate Media family.

With the addition of KLOVE/AIR1’s massive consumer publication Christian Music Planet, our dear friend DeDe Tarrant joined FrontGate Media, and the three of us (Bruce, DeDe and Scott) built CMP into the leading entertainment publication in the Christian market. In the course of 3 years, we made a music magazine into an entertainment magazine which was supported more by book publishers than by music labels. It was a great time. With the success of CMP, iTickets, and Christian Musician, more and more online sites, magazines and events came knocking on our door to be a part of the FrontGate Media family. We expanded the group with an eye on opportunities that would create unique value to marketers. They had to win us over before we wanted to win you over.

It seems funny to look back now at how the company grew steadily both in services and clients with the first addition being Youth Specialties, where for the first time ever, FrontGate Media pioneered a text based advertising option in a Youth Specialties email resource for youth leaders. It was the first time YS had let outside companies reach their online audience, and yet now that sounds like we invented the rotary phone… you know, the one you had to dial!

Whether it was in the early days of the internet launching the first ever banner ads on Christian sites, or the first HTML ads in email newsletters, developing online chats with our online audience, or in more recent years when we expanded into onsite marketing at our live events, or establishing our expertise in Social Media and Public Relations, FrontGate Media continues to stay on target with our mission. We are always looking for the best opportunities to connect companies to the Christian audiences they desire to reach.

Today our media group is the #1 pop-culture media group in the Christian market, and includes the biggest brands in the marketplace.

We are the leading companies in music and entertainment including Gospel Music Channel, HearItFirst.com, Hollywood Jesus and NewReleaseTuesday.com.

We are the leader in reaching youth leaders through Youth Specialties, iTickets, and at our various events.

We are home to the leading Christian events, event audiences, and tours including the Creation Festivals, iTickets.com, Spirit West Coast, Creation Festival: The Tour, and the Biola Media Conference.

We are one of the largest conservative political audiences available through Human Events, RedState, National Review, Conservative Book Club, Newt Gingrich, Ann Coulter, Pat Buchanan and more.

We are the top church musician and worship leader audiences including ChristianGuitar.org, WorshipMusic.com, Worship Musician, Creator, TheWorshipCommunity.com, Christian Musician and more.

And, we are excited about our newest and most innovative ventures including ShoutLife.com, ConversantLife.com, and VideoRocket.

FrontGate Media is the #1 pop-culture media group reaching the Christian audience:

• 15 million email newsletter subscribers.
• 25 million monthly online page views.
• 600,000+ at our live events.
• 45 million households through television.

This massive audience combined with our ability to create custom, targeted, comprehensive campaigns that fit any budget, has made FrontGate Media one of the most valued tools in every marketers toolbox.

As we continue to serve clients through Content Promotions, Advertising, and Event Marketing through our media group, and in Public Relations and Social Media services, we expect to continue our growth into new technologies and audiences, and to continue to expand our partnerships beyond media into new ventures including our affiliated services through sister organizations including Extra Mile Merch, My Broken Palace, Splatter, Creator Leadership Network and more…

Scott A. Shuford
Founder

About FrontGate Media Founder & CEO, Scott A. Schuford

In 2001, Scott A. Shuford developed FrontGate Media, a unique concept that has grown to become the #1 pop-culture media group reaching the faith and family audience. FrontGate connects organizations to every demographic of Christian via our media group audience of 15 million subscribers, 25 million monthly page views, 600,000 attendees at our events and in 45 million television households. Shuford and his media group team regularly work with leading companies who are targeting the faith-based market. The firm has mounted successful campaigns for Thomas Nelson, Tyndale, Zondervan, EMI CMG, Word Entertainment, Provident, Disney/Buena Vista, Walden Media, Focus on the Family, Opportunity International, and Gospel For Asia among others. Every major publisher, music label, film studio and many non-profits are currently using FrontGate Media to reach the faith-based market. The internationally recognized World Vision has repeatedly honored FrontGate Media by declaring the company its #1 Emedia Partner. In 2009, Mr. Shuford served as an Internet Advertising Competition Judge for the Web Marketing Association. In October 2008, he was featured in the ADWEEK Cover Story: Holy War examining the role of religion in modern consumer culture.

Shuford is also a founding partner at Extra Mile Merch, the successful apparel design and manufacturing service whose clients include the Groovaloos, B.Reith, iShine, and Youth Specialties among others; Splatter, an ecommerce and fulfillment service; and My Broken Palace, providing hope and healing to the 15-25 age group.

From 1998-2007, Shuford served as a principal in the Orange County based ad agency he co-founded originally under the name Big Man Creative. The agency served a diverse clientele, launching consistently successful, innovative campaigns for notable companies such as IHOP, World Vision, Initium Eyewear, Krikorian Premier Theaters, and American First Credit Union. The firm’s accolades include numerous features in highly respected business publications such as Direct Marketing News, Orange County Business Journal, Yahoo!, About.com, and Small Biz Technology. Additionally the firm has received the coveted Standard of Excellence WebAward from the Web Marketing Association for Mr. Shuford’s work with Del Taco where the firm served as the web agency of record for six years.

In 1997, Shuford brought one of the first Christian music web sites to market which was later purchased by Crosswalk.com. Previous experience includes sales, marketing and distribution with Frontline Music Group and Diamante Music Group, and as a Music Buyer for Berean Christian Stores.

With a heart for the intersection between philanthropy and the arts, Shuford currently serves on Advisory Boards for the Biola Media Conference, Christian Comic Arts Society, and Grove Center for the Arts and is active with The Barnabas Group, ECPA and Visual Story Network.

Mr. Shuford is a graduate of San Jose State University and holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration with a Marketing Concentration. Upon his graduation he was awarded SJSU’s Alpha Al Sirat Award, an honor presented by the School Of Business to one male and one female outstanding graduating senior.