Written By: Robert L. Johnson
As the Chairman of RLJ Entertainment and Founder of Black Entertainment Television, I offer my recommendations as to how the Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Academy might increase the pool of diversity for Oscar nominations. The most important thing is that creativity or quality of performance should never be judged on color or ethnicity. I firmly believe that quality entertainment should be colorblind; however, here are some ideas that should be considered by the Academy to increase diversity of choices in Oscar nominations: Continue reading
Grammy award winning hip-hop artist Lecrae releases Church Clothes 3, the highly-anticipated third installment from his celebrated mixtape series. Starting today, Church Clothes 3 is available via Reach Records for digital purchase and streaming across all DSPs including 
Broadcast Music, Inc. (BMI), one of the most prestigious performing rights organizations in the world for songwriters, recognized singer/songwriter TIFF JOY’s composition “Amazing” (as recorded by Ricky Dillard & New G) as the Most Performed Gospel Song of 2015 at the 17th annual BMI Trailblazers of Gospel Music Honors program that took place January 16th at the Rialto Center for the Arts. 
Spiritual soul singer Bryan Andrew Wilson is kicking the New Year off with a robust follow-up to last year’s introspective Top 15 Billboard Gospel Airplay hit “Turning Away.” The inspiring new worship song “Overflow” (Bryan’s Songs/CE Music) is knocking on the door of the Billboard Top 30 Gospel Airplay chart. It’s been #31 for the last three weeks and is currently at the top of the Billboard Gospel New & Active radio listing with 255 total plays and airplay detections on twenty-two of the forty-seven chart reporting stations with one new station add from KHVN in Dallas, TX. 
After a seven-year absence from the U.S. gospel chart, the legendary 4x Grammy Award nominated recording artist Candi Staton is back with her first U.S. gospel radio single since 2008. The new song “Shout Out, Hallelujah” (Beracah Records) picks up on the singer’s dance roots that stretch from her recent multi-platinum European anthem “You Got The Love” to her million-seller “Young Hearts Run Free” that reached #1 on the Billboard R&B Singles and Club charts in 1976. 
This week on the Billboard Gospel charts the top 3 held serve, while newcomers burst into the top 10. Kirk Franklin continues to lead coming in at #1 with “Losing My Religion.” Anthony Brown & Group Therapy come in at #2, and Tasha Cobbs is #3 with her sophomore album “One Place LIVE.” 
Sherrod White announces release date and track list of new EP FRSH X STRT along with New Single “Made It” featuring Hillary Hand. Atlanta based hip-hop/alternative artist Sherrod White is set release his new EP, FRSH X STRT, on January 29th. 
