Before wrapping up the fall leg of the "New Hallelujah World Tour," Michael W. Smith and HearItFirst.com bring the show live to your home on Sunday, November 15 at 10pm eastern.  For the first time ever, Smith's live set will be broadcast online live at HearItFirst.com (http://www.HearItFirst.com/live).  Fans can tune in before the show to watch exclusive video interviews with Michael W. Smith and the tour's special guests Matt Maher, Phil Stacey, and Meredith Andrews.  Smith's tourmates will all be joining him on stage during his performance Sunday.  
Previously, Smith has shared his enthusiasm about his tourmates, saying, "I’m excited about the artists traveling with me. Matt Maher, Phil Stacey and Meredith Andrews are all artists whose music I really enjoy personally, but they’re also artists I respect because they each have something special to share. I’m thrilled to be sharing the stage with them.”

The "New Hallelujah Tour" kicked off October 22 in Orlando, Fla. and will wrap up in Albany, NY on November 21.  Michael W. Smith has toured extensively this year both on the "United Tour" with Steven Curtis Chapman and the "New Hallelujah World Tour" which took Smith's live show to Europe this summer.

After multiple successful broadcasts, including a live interview with Michael W. Smith in support of his CD A New Hallelujah last fall, HearItFirst.com is thrilled to partner again with Smith to bring this unique opportunity to the fans.

Jimmy Needham and band gather at Ronnie's Place Studio in Nashville, Tenn. to begin work on his third Inpop Records studio release. Produced by Calvin Turner (Marc Broussard, Dave Barnes, Matt Wertz), the album is due out in April. Pictured (l-r) are Court Clement (guitar), Dan Needham (drums), Jamie Kenney (keys), Calvin Turner, Jimmy Needham and Gary Burnette (guitar).

Across the board people agree Beauty Will Rise is unlike any other Chapman release.  Calling it his most candid work yet, the project is filled with “raw lyrics and honest emotion” that while bringing “many to tears,” also “gives tremendous hope” to all who listen.  

“…the aching candor that suffuses the album, paired with Mr. Chapman’s unmistakable gift for melodic uplift, exerts a deep emotional pull. The production, leaner than usual, backs up the raw feeling behind the songs.”- New York Times

“He quietly, thoughtfully works through his grief but never surrenders to despair. If you can’t imagine how to find hope out of such devastation, Chapman can show you.”- USA Today

“Both intensely personal, yet universal as well, this is a brilliant, deeply moving album sure to resonate with listeners on many levels.”-Billboard Magazine

“After his daughter's death, the veteran artist battles despair but finds hope in his most candid record to date.”-ChristianityToday.com

“What might seem as a depressing premise for a recording has turned into an extremely hopeful, intensely raw and gut-wrenchingly honest recording that brings the listener through the wrestling and into the hope that awaits.”- Advance Magazine

“Beauty Will Rise is a CD that is sure to move you emotionally. Every song on the album will make you feel as if Chapman is singing to your own pain, and offering hope for your own situation. And in a very real way, he is.”-Gospelmusicupdate.com

“The bare-bones structure incorporates musical gestures of hope, using a colorful glockenspiel, bellowing chimes and triumphal timpanis to convince listeners Chapman's spiritual testing is not countering his steadfast faith. Even dissonant strings haunt the famous father's melancholic intimations, but without deterring the album's blunt beauty.”-CCM Magazine

The radio single “Heaven Is The Face,” is already at No. 22 on the AC monitored chart, and continues to climb with 10 new adds in the last two weeks, including The Fish Atlanta and K-Love.

Chapman is extremely thankful for all the support and encouragement that he and his family have received through blogs, letters and emails. Although this was a recording that Chapman wishes he never had to make, he says he has gleaned a measure of peace knowing that these songs may help heal others.  

Chapman states, “If there is comfort to be given to others then that is going to make some sense out of this; that is important and vital to us. Part of what makes this survivable is that we can see God using it for good in the lives of other people.”

Tune in tomorrow, Friday, Nov. 6, to hear Group of the Year Casting Crowns live during the first broadcast performance of its new song "Glorious Day," off the band's highly-anticipated fourth album Until The Whole World Hears releasing Nov. 17.

The 700 Club airs at 10 am, 11 pm & 3 am PST, on ABC Family, TBN, NRB, SkyAngel, CTN, FamilyNet and local network affiliates. Check local listings.

In an unprecedented six-year span, with 4.5 million career album sales, Casting Crowns readies for the Nov. 17 release of its fourth studio album, titled Until The Whole World Hears. The five-time Dove Award-winning “Group of the Year” remains focused on discipleship through music with its new 11-song collection, featuring boldly-honest lyrics from lead singer/songwriter Mark Hall, giving listeners a fresh, relevant perspective on loving God and loving people. With Hall’s 18 years in youth ministry, the band’s message remains rooted in the student services he has led on a weekly basis since 2001, at Eagles Landing Baptist church near Atlanta.

Hall says, “The songs start out as our messages to the 400 teens and families we see each week at Eagles Landing. Our goal is to live our lives telling others about Jesus – until the whole world hears – those simple words are a challenge to be intentional with the way we live our lives.”

This week, the title track and first single jumps to No. 1 on Billboard’s AC-Indicator radio chart marking a ninth career chart-topping song for Casting Crowns. The hit song also moves up to No. 2 on Billboard’s National Christian Audience chart gaining 8.1 million weekly impressions.  

Scott Smith, Assistant Program Director for the national KLove Network, states, “I am so glad we finally have a new Casting Crowns song to play! It’s smokin’ and the message challenges us as believers to fulfill the Great Commission until the whole world hears!”

Millions of fans can now hear full-song previews exclusively on the band’s newly created fan-centric web site, www.crownsfans.com. A new track releases each Tuesday, counting down to the full 11-song album stream launching exclusively Nov. 9 – 16, at Yahoo! Music, tallying over 9 million daily impressions. Yahoo! Music will be the first place to hear the entire record prior to street date.

Both Verizon and AT&T will feature new ring tones from Until The Whole World Hears in November.  Verizon hosts Casting Crowns for an exclusive artist feature as the only carrier with ring tones of “Glorious Day” and “To Know You,” while AT&T positions Casting Crowns with a full artist feature offering selected new ring tones. Both campaigns run Nov. 5 – 19.

Casting Crowns is currently headlining the 41-city “Until The Whole World Hears Tour” with special guest Matt Redman. For more, visit www.providentpress.com, or www.castingcrowns.com.

Watch a live broadcast with Steven Curtis Chapman on Tuesday, Nov 6 at 10pm EST.  Click here and bookmark the page to come back Tuesday night!

NASHVILLE, Tenn.— Christian music’s largest annual tour, the Winter Jam 2010 Tour Spectacular, will hit 44 cities beginning in January and is slated to feature some of the top artists in Christian music.  Hosted for the 15th consecutive year by GRAMMY-nominated NewSong, the Tour will also include multi-platinum Reunion recording artist Third Day; internationally-renowned Inpop recording artist Newsboys; Dove Award-winning Reunion recording artist Tenth Avenue North; acclaimed Flicker recording artist Fireflight; and guest speaker Tony Nolan.  

Winter Jam 2010 will kick-off January 8 in Chattanooga, Tennessee, stopping in Atlanta; Cincinnati; Oklahoma City; Grand Rapids, Michigan; Birmingham, Alabama; Wichita, Kansas; Nashville, Tennessee; Champaign, Illinois; and Des Moines, Iowa, among other cities, before concluding March 28 in Louisville, Kentucky.  Admission is $10 at the door, and in addition to the main show artists, the Tour will include a Pre-Jam Party with Sidewalk Prophets, Robert Pierre and Revive.  

“Our vision has always been to bring together great music, the Gospel message, and a low admission price in some of the biggest venues in the country,” said Eddie Carswell, NewSong founding member and Winter Jam creator.  “We want families and youth groups to enjoy a night of top-notch entertainment that serves a greater purpose.”

“This year’s Winter Jam line-up is a great mix of some of the most respected artists in Christian music along with some of the brightest new acts,” said Roy Morgan, owner, Premier Productions, producer of Winter Jam.  “We are honored to continue our partnership with NewSong for another year of excellent music and ministry.”  

The Winter Jam 2009 Tour Spectacular ranked among the largest tours in the world, according to Pollstar's First Quarter Attendance Chart.  Earlier this year Winter Jam received the GMA Impact Award, which is presented to "the non-artist individual or organization that has made the most significant impact on the gospel music industry over the last two or three years.”  In addition, Winter Jam 2009 was voted both "Concert of the Year" by Gospel Music Channel viewers and "Best Tour" in the CCMmagazine.com Readers' Choice Awards.

Presented by Holt International, the Winter Jam 2010 Tour Spectacular is also sponsored by the American Bible Society, HearItFirst.com, Camp Electric, Premier Christian Cruises, All Access Merchandising, Texas TransEastern, Xtreme Conferences, and Wayne E. Bailey Produce.  

Nashville, Tennessee (October 28, 2009)— Last week, Word Entertainment launched BarlowGirl’s first-ever iPhone application for the successful rock trio, which was featured on the Christian/Gospel page on Tuesday. The application offers exclusive news updates and photos directly from the band as well as the BarlowGirl story with more exciting features on the way including music feeds, photo uploads, and access to interact with the BarlowGirl online community.

Already leading the music industry with multi-faceted industry services, Word Entertainment continues to pave the way for artist to fan engagement. BarlowGirl fans can interact with the band and the online community by uploading videos, blogs, pictures, and posts to BarlowGirl.com. They can go further by connecting their BarlowGirl.com experience to their Facebook account using Facebook Connect.

The launch of the new application follows the release of BarlowGirl’s most anticipated album to date, Love & War. With the hit single “Beautiful Ending”, the album gained early momentum forcing Word Entertainment to move the release date from September 22nd to the 8th. In support of Love & War, the band is currently on the road co-headlining a fall tour with Superchick which also features special guest VOTA.

(Nashville, Tenn.) October 23rd, 2009 –   With her first-ever holiday offering Christmas Like This releasing November 10th, Ayiesha Woods is now slated to join Natalie Grant on the “Believe” Christmas tour during the month of December.

The "Believe" tour kicks off December 1st in Montgomery, AL and goes on to Georgia, South Carolina, Ohio, Texas, and Kansas, with the final show in Missouri on December 18th.  Additional shows will be added in the upcoming weeks.  Full tour details and ticket information can be found at http://nataliegrant.com/tour-dates/  .

"You know, Christmas time is my favorite time of the year,” exclaims Woods.  “To be able to spend some of it on the road with one of my favorite persons in Christian music is nothing less than a great honor and a Christmas present from God to me!"

Woods' Christmas Like This offers up nine holiday classics from the GRAMMY-nominated songstress.  The album will be available as a physical CD product exclusively through MusiChristian.com with the digital album being available at all other online retailers.   In support of the album, Woods will be making guest appearances on various national TV media outlets including Life Today With James Robison, TBN, and the Daystar network among others.

With her 2006 debut Introducing Ayiesha Woods and 2008 sophomore release Love Like This, Woods has garnered both critical and mass acclaim.  The debut earned Woods a GRAMMY nomination for “Best Pop/Contemporary Gospel Album”, as well as an additional nod in the Dove Awards “New Artist of the Year” category. CCM Magazine also followed Woods’ career as one of three emerging musical talents for 2006 in their “Band Wagon” column, and MTVU.com’s URGE service (www.urge.com) picked Introducing Ayiesha Woods in their 2006 TOP 10 year-end list for Inspirational music.  Woods, a favorite on the Women of Faith touring circuit, continues to perform throughout this year and 2010 at festivals and on dates nationwide.

Nashville, Tenn., October 23, 2009 – Award-winning band Sanctus Real gives fans an early preview of its upcoming, fifth studio album with its brand new song, “Forgiven,” which is already a Top 20 hit at radio.  While the full album is releasing on Sparrow Records March 9, 2010, “Forgiven” is available now as a digital download wherever you buy digital music, including Amazon MP3 and iTunes, where the song became a No. 6 best-seller yesterday on the Christian and Gospel chart.

“The working-out of forgiveness is so key to our growth and maturity as followers of Jesus,” says Sanctus Real’s Matt Hammitt. “The very idea that we have been forgiven for so much wrong moves, reforms, transforms and heals us.  As we were framing ‘Forgiven’ around this concept, we realized that this was such a fundamental aim for all of us – to forgive and be forgiven.”

“Sometimes, we need to be reminded of how awesome God’s forgiveness truly is and who we are in Him,” adds Joe Buchanan, New Life Media Network music director.  “Sanctus Real has done a phenomenal job doing just that with their great new song, ‘Forgiven.’  It’s already impacting our listeners in a huge way!”

That impact is also being felt on the band’s website, www.SanctusReal.com.  Sanctus Real is streaming the song on its site and asking listeners to share their own stories of forgiveness.  Numerous responses from all around the world have already poured in as people share stories of forgiveness, hope and redemption:

 “I mustered the courage to go talk to my wonderful husband of 14 years and have a very difficult conversation after which I was sure he would tell me he was leaving me,” responded a wife on Oct. 7. “I got in the car and the first word out of the radio was ‘Forgiven!’ from your song. It was the first time I had heard it and the thought flooded me that God had forgiven me as soon as I had asked. My husband ended up forgiving me as well and we’re going to make it. Thank you for this song, it’s been a blessing to me over the past several days.”

“After eight years, four married, I found out my husband was a meth addict,” writes another wife on the site Oct. 9. “It was extremely hard to forgive him and accept him back into my life. But God has helped me to forgive and now my marriage is better than ever. My husband, through his addiction and rehab, has found God and the forgiveness He has for him.”

“I have come to a point in my life where I have had to forgive and let go,” writes Sunshine, who dealt with a father that abused her.  “It wasn’t an easy life at all… I just couldn’t forgive him. God dealt with me, telling me that He had brought me from that difficult situation… I had to forgive him for everything and let him go…Hopefully one day my dad will see this and know that I forgive him!”

“I’ve been in Christian ministry (radio) for about 6 years now and can assure you I’ve talked about forgiveness or ‘preached’ it a lot,” says Ken, who shares about the healing power of forgiveness in his marriage.  “My wife of 17 years now [and I] are slowly getting back together as we about blew up our marriage because we have both failed to forgive each other properly. We said the words but we really never acted it out…don’t just say the words – live it.”

Much like Ken implores, Sanctus Real is all about living out their lives as “real” Christians, not only on the stage and as they interact with fans, but in the quieter moments of their lives as husbands, fathers and fellow believers.  The band creates compelling, authentic music that lives up to the meaning of their name: to be Holy (Latin meaning of “Sanctus”).

Taking that life attitude on the road, Sanctus Real recently played the song “Forgiven” and fan favorites spanning four acclaimed national recordings on the “Something Heavenly Tour.”  The 21-city tour launched Sept. 10 in Cambridge, Ontario, Canada and saw packed venues as it worked its way through five Ontario cities and 12 States in the U.S. before wrapping up last week.  Joining Sanctus Real on its tour in select cities were Addison Road, Jason Gray and Phil Wickham.  

Sponsored by World Vision, the “Something Heavenly Tour” became the vehicle through which fans offered 402 children life-giving hope.   “For every child that is sponsored, five others in the community are directly affected, so that’s essentially 2,010 people whose lives will be changed for the better!” said Taya Gray, World Vision representative.  “We are so grateful for Sanctus Real and their heart for those around the world that need our help.”

Popularly known for its captivating recordings and live performances, Toledo, Ohio-based Sanctus Real’s breakthrough album, The Face of Love, released in April 2006, landing at No 2 on the Billboard Top Heetseekers chart and amassing a string of radio hits including the No. 1 songs “I’m Not Alright” and “Don’t Give Up.” While The Face of Love was inspired by real-life heartache and rediscovered joy, the band’s fourth studio release, We Need Each Other, marks a completion of that healing process and is a call for unity. The album’s title track became the band’s sixth No. 1 radio single.

Best-selling newsboys recently inked a deal with American Athletics, a licensed Converse distributor, to launch its own line of Converse Chuck Taylor All Star shoes. The joint venture commemorates the first time the shoes have been branded with a Christian music artist’s logo.
 
Chuck Taylors have become a cultural icon, donning the names of legendary bands including Black Sabbath, The Doors, Grateful Dead, The Who, Ozzy Osbourne, and now newsboys. An exclusive partnership developed by Bernard Porter (PCG Nashville) and Robert Michaels with newsboys manager Wes Campbell and American Athletics owner Gary Church made this opportunity a first for the Christian music industry.
 
 

“American Athletics has placed shoes on the feet of Mel Gibson, Whitney Houston, and the likes of Bob Dylan,” says Church. “But I personally have never been involved with a group as excited to wear Chucks as newsboys. Great group...great shoe. Both are All Stars.”
 
“The opportunity to be associated with Converse Chuck Taylor All Stars is exciting,” says newsboys manager Wes Campbell. “I have personally worn them for years. newsboys is a great choice to break into this market. We launched the shoes on newsboys'  current The Way We Roll Tour, which kicked off October 1 in Greensboro and will run through mid-November.”
 

Third Day spent time with U2 prior to its “U2 360° Tour: 2009” tour stop last week in Atlanta. The bands are both active with the One Campaign (www.one.org) which encourages people to action supporting social justice on local and global levels.

Pictured: Third Day members- David Carr, Mark Lee, Tai Anderson and Mac Powell with U2 front man, Bono.

SEATTLE, WA...October 13, 2009...Jeremy Camp was nominated today for his second American Music Award in the Contemporary Inspirational category.  Nominations were announced this morning in Beverly Hills, CA for the 2009 36th Annual American Music Awards. The live broadcast will take place at the NOKIA Theatre L.A. LIVE on Sunday, November 22nd (8:00-11:00 p.m. ET/PT) on ABC. Camp was nominated along with Brandon Heath and Mary Mary in the Contemporary Inspirational category.

For the third year in a row, fans determine the winners of the AMAs.  Fans are able to go to http://abc.go.com/shows/american-music-awards/vote to vote for Jeremy Camp starting today.  Nominees were selected from data from The Nielsen Company's Broadcast Data Systems, monitoring radio airplay and Soundscan. A complete list of nominees can be found here: http://abc.go.com/shows/american-music-awards/nominations

Camp is currently on his headlining tour, "Speaking Louder Than Before," with Natalie Grant and Bebo Norman. The tour presently spans across the nation through November 21st.  To learn about local ministry opportunities to get involved during this tour, visit the ministry homepage (www.speakinglouderministries.com). This 30+ city tour is sponsored by Compassion International, as well as media partnered with the Gospel Music Channel.  GMC is promoting the tour and presenting exclusive updates both on-air and online at www.gospelmusicchannel.com/jeremycamp.

SEATTLE, WA...October 7, 2009...Reaching fans worldwide with his powerhouse voice and touching story, BEC Recordings' Jeremy Camp has made his mark in the music industry with five albums, three RIAA Gold Certifications, 17 No. 1 radio hits, and most recently the RIAA Multi-Platinum Certification of his long-form video and worship project "Live Unplugged."  This award ushers in a new project from Camp that is releasing on November 17th.  The "Live" album was recorded throughout the last year as Camp toured the nation. The November release features a collection of 14 live songs. (tentative track listing below).

This "Live" release features fan favorites "This Man," "Walk By Faith," "Lay Down My Pride" and the hit "There Will Be A Day." Fans can also see Camp live on his "Speaking Louder Than Before" tour with Natalie Grant and Bebo Norman.  The tour spans currently across the nation through November 21st.  

The Speaking Louder tour has a message from the heart: to start "Speaking Louder Than Before."  To get fans excited about getting involved locally, there is a local ministry outlet in many of the tour markets with Camp's Speaking Louder Ministries.  To learn about other opportunities to get involved during this tour, visit the ministry homepage (www.speakinglouderministries.com).

This 30+ city tour is sponsored by Compassion International, as well as media partnered with the Gospel Music Channel.  GMC is promoting the tour and presenting exclusive updates both on-air and online at www.gospelmusicchannel.com/jeremycamp.

"Live" Track listing: *order subject to change
1. Capture Me
2. Give You Glory
3. Tonight
4. This Man
5. Walk By Faith
6. Hallelujah/ You Never Let Go
7. Let it Fade
8. Talking/Ministry Time
9. Speaking Louder Than Before
10. There Will Be A Day
11. Take You Back
12. Take My Life
13. Lay Down My Pride
14. Right Here
15. Give Me Jesus
 

Nashville, TN - (October 7th, 2009) - In celebration of November as National Adoption Awareness Month, Show Hope and Steven Curtis Chapman, along with Focus on the Family and FamilyLife, are helping to lead the charge on Sunday, November 8th -"Orphan Sunday" -  for a live event in Nashville with one goal: raising awareness of the more than 140 million orphans worldwide. The free event, beginning at 4pm CST, will be simulcast through satellite, Moody Radio Network and Gospel Music Channel, and will also be available through a webcast at www.OrphanSunday.org. The event will feature a special acoustic performance from Chapman, with other musical guests Geoff Moore and the Children of the World Choir. Guest speakers include Focus on the Family President Jim Daly, a former orphan himself, Dr. Sharen Ford, Manager for Permanency Services for the Colorado Department of Human Services in the Division of Child Welfare Services, Jedd Medefind of the Christian Alliance for Orphans, and adoptive father Dennis Rainey, president of FamilyLife.   
 
"Our experience with the miracle of adoption and the chance to touch the lives of orphans has been infinitely rich and full," said Chapman, who adopted three daughters from China. "It's a privilege that God invites us to, and there are so many other children around the world who need homes and help. We're doing this event on November 8th to compel people to take action right now to be involved in caring for the world's orphans. We can each do something, whether it is donating, adopting, fostering, mentoring, visiting orphans or supporting families who have taken in orphans."