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Broadcast Music, Inc. (BMI) celebrated the songwriters and music publishers behind the past year’s most-performed songs in Christian music tonight during the organization’s annual Christian Music Awards, held at BMI’s Nashville offices on Music Row.
Consistent chart-topper tobyMac earned his third consecutive Christian Songwriter of the Year crystal and shares the 2012 honor with Casting Crowns frontman Mark Hall, singer/songwriter Matt Maher, Southern gospel staple Kyla Rowland and hit songwriter/producer Chris Stevens. The unusual five-way tie occurred because the hit-makers each wrote or co-wrote two of the songs on the year’s most-performed list.
Cross-format superstar Kirk Franklin earned Christian Song of the Year honors for his smash “I Smile,” published by Aunt Gertrude Music Publishing LLC and Bridge Building Music.
With the highest percentage of copyright ownership among the year’s most-performed songs, powerhouse EMI CMG Publishing clinched the Christian Publisher of the Year win.
During the ceremony, prolific family group the Isaacs, 2012 Dove Awards Artist of the Year Jason Crabb and dynamic contemporary Christian singer/songwriter Chris Tomlineach delivered inspirational performances.
Jody Williams, BMI Vice President, Writer/Publisher Relations, Nashville, and Associate Director Leslie Roberts served as the evening’s hosts alongside Phil Graham, BMI Senior Vice President, Writer/Publisher Relations.
A complete list of the 2012 BMI Christian Award winners is available at www.bmi.com.
This week saw a few shifting of positions among leaders in the Top 10, but the glaring addition to the top ten comes from the emerging artist Charles Jenkins.
Charles Jenkins & Fellowship Chicago debuted at #1 this week, bumping Gospel icons Mary Mary to the #2 spot in sales for the first time in 6 weeks.
Charles Jenkins is riding the wave created by his #1 hit single ‘Awesome’ that continues to impact radio worldwide.
New artist Maria Jenkins made a respectable Top 20 debut with her CD ‘The Journey of a Worshipper.’ Jenkins can be seen July 9th performing at the Gospel Music Workshop of America in Nashville.
Next week lookout for Gospel veteran Byron Cage’s latest CD ‘Memoirs of a Worshipper.’
The Complete Top 10:
1 | Charles Jenkins & Fellowship Chicago – The Best of Both Worlds 2 | Mary Mary – Go Get It 3 | Marvin Sapp – I Win 4 | Andrae Crouch – The Journey 5 | William McDowell – Arise 6 | WOW Gospel 2012 7 | Jason Nelson – Shifting the Atmosphere 8 | James Fortune & FIYA – Identity 9 | Zacardi Cortez – The Introduction 10 | Various Artists – Joyful Noise (Soundtrack)
Reach Records, home to award-winning artists such as Lecrae, Trip Lee and Tedashii, is proud to present KB as its newest hip hop artist to join their diverse roster. Together, they will unveil the debut album Weight & Glory, available in stores nationwide starting July 17, 2012.
Weight & Glory is the follow-up full-length album to Kevin Burgess’ (otherwise known as KB) 2011 mixed-tape, titled Who is KB? Since its debut, the project has quickly become a fan favorite garnering over 30,000 downloads to date. In addition, KB has been featured on many Reach Records projects including: Lecrae Rehab (“I Used to Do it Too”), Man Up, Pro (“Dying to Live”), and Trip Lee The Good Life (“One Sixteen”).
Weight & Glory is produced by a stellar cast including Dirty Rice, Cheesebeats, and Black Knight. The 14-track album features an extra bonus track and guest appearances by label mates Lecrae, Trip Lee, Tedashii, Swoope, J Paul, Chris Lee Cobbins, Suzy Rock and more (see full track listing below).
With electrifying beats and hypnotic riffs, the project serves as a call-to-action for people to respond to God’s greatness.
“The album is about responding to how amazing God is, but there will be no responding unless God miraculously gives us eyes to see Him and taste buds to savor His goodness,” says KB. “This is what it means to have faith in Christ. My prayer is that God would give us eyes to see what has been in our face our whole lives. The Weight & Glory of God!”
In conjunction with his release, KB is also gearing up to perform at various music festivals and venues across the county and will also embark on a 30-city label tour this fall showcasing selections from Weight & Glory.
Weight & Glory Track Listing: 1. Weight Music 2. Zone Out feat. Chris Lee Cobbins 3. Anomaly 4. Don’t Mean Much feat. Sho Baraka 5. Go Off feat. Andy Mineo and Tedashii 6. Mr. Pretender 7. Open Letter (Battlefield) feat. Swoope, Trip Lee and Jai 8. Heart Song feat. Jasmine Le’Shea 9. Better Man feat. J. Paul 10. Angels feat. Flame 11. Tear It Down 12. Church Clap feat. Lecrae 13. Hello feat. Suzy Rock 14. Here We Go feat. PK 15. Bonus Track: Zone Out (Amped Remix)
About Reach Records and ReachLife Ministries Reach Records and ReachLife Ministries strive to, “bridge the gap between biblical truth and urban context.” Founded in 2003, Reach Records is a Christian music record label dedicated to using music as a means of reaching the urban community in a biblically sound way. While Reach Records employs music to reveal biblical truth, ReachLife Ministries aims to empower ministry leaders with this music in order to grow the urban church.
For further information and a list of upcoming Reach Records and ReachLife Ministries events, please visit http://reachrecords.com. For more information about ReachLife please visit http://reachlife.org/.
Kevin Durant, the Oklahoma City Thunder’s Christian forward, may have cried after an emotional NBA Finals loss to the Miami Heat on Thursday night, but the league’s leading shooter has expressed nothing but gratitude for the opportunity to compete.
“Tough way to end a season but I am truly blessed to have the privilege to play for such a great city, congrats to the Miami Heat,” the 23-year-old Thunder forward wrote on his Twitter page.
While Durant has continually called the opportunity to play with his teammates a blessing, he has been vocal about his Christian faith even before advancing to his first NBA finals this season. Many became curious about Durant’s faith after the star walked into last year’s playoffs with a Bible in his backpack.
The Christian Post.com reports that the forward admitted that he was attempting to get closer to the God by reading Scripture every day.
“I just want to grow spiritually with the Lord. I’m keeping strong at it, just trying to make my walk with faith a little better,” Durant told the press last season. “That’s making me a better person, opening my eyes to things and I’m also maturing as a person. I’m just trying to grow.”
Although it seems Durant’s team has grown over the past year, which was made evident with their stint in the NBA Finals, he admitted that the Thunder’s recent loss was hurtful.
“It hurts. We’re all brothers on this team and it just hurts to go out like this,” Durant admitted in his post-game press conference. “We made it to the finals.”
The star shooter remained humble during his interview, giving credit to the skills of the Heat players.
“Their defense is really good. I didn’t want to admit it during the series but now that its over those guys are really good,” Durant said. “It’s unfortunate for us, man we wanted it so bad. But we all gotta keep our heads high, I’m a positive guy so I’m gonna keep my head high.”
After sewing her debut album GOD’S PROJECT(Book I) in 2010, the single “Holy Groove” garnered Coppe a buzz in the community. Coppe was invited to perform at various churches, Knott’s Berry Farm’s(Gospel Showcase in 2011), The Dream Center and other venues throughout California. She has shared the stage with Michelle Bonilla, Jessica Reedy, The Neville Sisters, P-Dub, Jameel Jones and Freed to name a few.
Coppe is back with her sophomore CD release GOD’S PROJECT (Book II), kicking it off with the hot single “True Riches” already getting radio play in various markets, It will surely give fans more of what they’ve bargained for, it features veteran rapper Shames Worthy. Other industry veterans that are featured include Macho on the up-tempo track “Get Up” and Eastwood on the song “Good Man”. Throughout this new CD you will hear the anointing that has transpired this sister in Christ.
The second single “My Daddy” which is an up-tempo track that will have the young and the old dancing and praising who their daddy is, (our God). Her Third single “Be With You” is a nice mellow mid-tempo groove; this is about spending time with the Lord not just on Sundays, but all the time
Coppe Cantrell is great addition to the Gospel family, get ready to hear a lot more from this talented singer/songwriter that was given her gifts from a sound sleep just less than three years ago, all praise be to God.
Mathew Knowles received an Honorary Doctorate Degree from Cornerstone Christian Bible College on Father’s Day and delivered a Commencement Address on “The Ten Point Protocol for Success.” The College’s 17th Commencement Ceremony was held at the Destiny Dome Embassy at Cathedral of Praise International in Fort Wayne, Indiana. A standing-room-only crowd of over 1,000 people attended the ceremony.
“Brilliance balanced with grace was personified by Dr. Mathew Knowles in his acceptance speech,” said Dr. Oscar J. Dowdell-Underwood, Apostle and President of Cornerstone Christian Bible College. “Dr. Knowles’ immeasurable contributions in the fields of culture, public service and the fine arts have impacted numerous lives in exponential ways. He has empowered so many through his extraordinary commitment to the development of human potential, gifts, and talents. Millions of people around the world have been positively impacted by his unselfish deposit in the lives of others.”
About 30 members of Knowles’ family stood at the altar, in support and love, as the honorary doctorate was conferred upon him. The smiles on their faces and glean in their eyes revealed their sense of pride in his achievements. During the commencement, Knowles was also awarded the 21st Century Legend Award alongside, Dr. A.C. Green, formerly of the Los Angeles Lakers. During his commencement remarks, Dr. A.C. Green, who was deeply moved by Knowles’ speech, referred to Dr. Knowles as one of his new heroes.
“June 17, 2012 was a very special day for me and one that I will never forget,” said Knowles. “Not only did I receive my second Honorary Doctorate Degree, but I had the rare opportunity to see several members of my family—many that I have not seen since my childhood in Alabama, and some I just met for the first time. I am profoundly grateful for the honor, the love and support of my family. And it was especially humbling to meet and spend time with this year’s graduates.”
ABOUT MATHEW KNOWLES
A visionary, a leader, an educator, and a philanthropist, Mathew Knowles, founder, President and CEO of Music World Entertainment, is an icon in the worlds of business and entertainment. Celebrating 20 years in entertainment, Knowles has built an entertainment conglomerate, with record sales exceeding 300 million worldwide. In 2002, Knowles founded Spirit Rising Music, which is now Music World Gospel, as a faith-based record and management company under Music World Music. Celebrating its 10th Anniversary, Music World Gospel is the largest owned and operated African American gospel label in the world. Knowles is a 1974 graduate of Fisk University, where he earned both a Bachelor of Arts degree in Economics and a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration. He was bestowed with the honor of Doctor of Humane Letters by his alma mater at the University’s 2008 Commencement Ceremony. He holds a professorship at Texas Southern University and is a popular keynote speaker and guest lecturer at colleges, universities and various organizations around the country. Knowles has garnered countless awards for his achievements in business and within the music industry, including an MTV Video Music Award. He is the recipient of the Century Award of Excellence (1911-2011) from the Omega Psi Phi Fraternity. He also received the 2011 Living Legends Foundation Award. He was named the “2007 International Executive of the Year” by the Greater Houston Partnership, and was honored by the City of Houston with the declaration of “Mathew Knowles Day.”
Messengers of the Southern Baptist Convention, the nation’s largest Protestant denomination, approved Wednesday the use of “Great Commission Baptists” as an alternative name by a vote of 53 percent to 46 percent.
The measure, effective immediately, allows churches affiliated with the SBC to call themselves by the new descriptor “Great Commission Baptists” to indicate their involvement with the denomination. Churches of the SBC have the option of using the informal, non-legal name as a stand-alone title, together with the SBC formal name, or not at all.
The official and legal name of the 167-year-old denomination will remain “Southern Baptist Convention.”
The proposal was based on the recommendation of the SBC Executive Committee after a task force was appointed to study a possible name change. In February, task force chairman Jimmy Draper presented the task force’s recommendation to the executive committee that the convention keeps its formal name but adopt an informal name.
Supporters of the new name said it would help the denomination expand its reach. The word “Southern” has been seen by church planters and missionaries as a hindrance to evangelistic efforts, especially by those doing missions in areas outside the American South and in ministry with people of different ethnic identities.
“Ninety percent of us here today are from the South. We don’t even need to consider this. We’re comfortable,” Draper said Tuesday as the motion to adopt the descriptor was introduced.
“But we are now a Southern Baptist ministering in all 50 states. We want to encourage those in non-Southern states, who feel it would be beneficial to them, in terms of their evangelistic outreach, to give them an alternative.”
About 10 percent of the SBC congregations are predominantly African American, according to Draper. Many of the African Americans he has spoken to say they have experienced criticism for identifying themselves as Southern Baptist.
Fred Luter, who made history Tuesday by becoming the SBC’s first African-American president, said he agreed with Draper on the new name.
“I love it. I think it’s a win-win situation,” said Luter at a press conference announcing his election Tuesday. “Particularly a lot of the younger guys, they are planting churches that are not in the South. Some are in New York, some are in California and other places. They just feel like another name would help them to do outreach.”
Nine-time GRAMMY ® Award Winner and Music Legend Andraé Crouch lands at #3 on the Billboard Current Gospel chart this week after re-entering the top 10 last week with The Journey. The NAACP Image Award, GRAMMY ® Award and GMA Dove Award nominated CD has been on the charts for 36 weeks. Crouch’s hit single “Let The Church Say Amen” featuring Marvin Winans holds strong at #2 on the Gospel Songs Chart.
“It’s exciting to know that the music God has given me still speaks to the hearts of the listeners,” said Crouch. “Thank you, Jesus!”
The Journey, produced by Riverphlo Entertainment President and CEO Luther “Mano” Hanes, debuted on the Billboard Current Gospel charts at #6. “Let The Church Say Amen” recently spent 4 weeks at #1 on the Gospel Radio Chart.
Whether in the pulpit or in a recording studio, Crouch’s desire is always to impact people with the Gospel. The Journey CD showcases an artist at the peak of his creative form. There are several commanding performances including longtime friend Tata Vega on “Somebody Told Me About Jesus” and “He Has a Plan for Me.” While Chaka Khan and Sheila E. lend their distinctive gifts to the upbeat anthem, “All Around the World.” The incomparable Kim Burrell along with Take 6 beautifully deliver the stirring ballad, “Faith” while Daniel Johnson takes the spotlight on the warm, soulful “My Life.” Pastor Marvin Winans appears on the #1 single, “Let The Church Say Amen.”
The Sunrise is proud to announce the release of their second album,We Have Not Heard, featuring guest appearances from legendary guitarist Phil Keaggy and Crosby Stills Nash & Young drummer Joe Vitale. Self-proclaimed “Jesus People,” James and Rebecca Mileti may singlehandedly be reviving the Jesus Music genre with their latest release from indie label The Winchester Records.
The Sunrise has a sound that has been compared to ‘a Christian Wilco’ and the White Stripes by Jesusfreakhideout.com, while Goldmine Magazine compared their songwriting to ’70’s acts like Paul McCartney, Seals & Crofts, Don McLean and Todd Rundgren. But what sets The Sunrise apart is the vertical lyrics that leave no room for confusion when it comes to the band’s focus, mission and purpose.
“I remember the way albums by Keith Green, Love Song and 2nd Chapter of Acts made me feel,” notes James. “I want to recreate that feeling of worship and conviction in a musical form that serious music fans will enjoy. We’ve put together top notch musicians, interesting arrangements and thought provoking lyrics, like Christian musicians used to regularly do, to spur the listener into action for Jesus!”
The Mileti’s enlisted virtuoso guitarist Phil Keaggy for three tracks on We Have Not Heard(“Judgement Day,” “Like The Sunrise” and the title track), while Crosby Stills Nash & Young drummer Joe Vitale pops up on the album’s title track as well.
And the band is quickly gaining fans in both Christian and mainstream circles, despite the overtly evangelical lyrics. The Sunrise has managed to attract the attention of iconic artists like Keaggy and Vitale, and members of acts like Ambrosia and Frank Zappa Band with its unique homage to the Christian music of yesterday. According to Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Inductee Chris Hillman of The Byrds: “The joy of music lives in our hearts and souls, one of many gifts bestowed by our Lord and so beautifully conveyed by The Sunrise band.”
It’s with great excitement that Centricity Music announces the upcoming release for Andrew Peterson, Light for the Lost Boy, in stores August 28, 2012. The project, produced by longtime friend and producer Ben Shive (Jeremy Camp, Sara Groves, Matt Wertz), along with Cason Cooley (Katie Herzig, Mat Kearney, Audrey Assad), features ten new songs written by Peterson. The album will be available in three formats; CD, special edition CD with a 32-page booklet written by Peterson and seven acoustic extra songs, and on a vintage vinyl record. The special edition and vinyl projects will only be available online and at Peterson’s concerts. The album’s title and several of the songs reflect the growing up years of the Peterson children, while at the same time bringing a message of hope for us as we make our way in a broken world.
“When I think of my youth I remember carrying around this secret loneliness,” says Peterson. “Coming to know Jesus, being rescued by him from that loneliness is at the heart of why I write songs. C.S. Lewis said, ‘We read to know we’re not alone.’ One of the reasons I write is to tell people the same thing. My hope is that some fifteen-year-old kid out there—or some fifty-year-old kid—will hear Light for the Lost Boy and find some comfort, some assurance that he or she is known and loved by the great love of the universe.”
Light for the Lost Boy brings a familiar sound, but in a new way with stronger, fuller production that doesn’t jeopardize the intimate feel of Peterson’s vocal delivery. The first single from the album, “Rest Easy,” is going for adds at radio. “Come Back Soon” launches the album with a haunting opening line about the historic Nashville flood as seen through his family’s eyes, and closes with the plea that Jesus would hurry back and fix what’s broken. “Day By Day”, based on 2 Corinthians 4:16, was written after Andrew’s visit to London’s Kensington Gardens (made famous by Peter Pan), where he likened his exile from childhood to mankind’s exile from Eden. The album ends with the emotionally charged “Don’t You Want To Thank Someone.”
“The last song is the thought I most want to leave people with,” Peterson explains. “The music is a throwback to old Peter Gabriel and Rich Mullins—but the lyric was partially inspired by an old poem of Gerard Manley Hopkins called ‘God’s Grandeur’ which closes with the line: ‘But the Holy Ghost over the bent world broods/with warm breath and—ah!—bright wings.’ God is present; his Kingdom is all around us just as sure as it’s coming in its fullness.”
About Andrew Peterson Andrew Peterson is a man of many talents with a successful recording and songwriting career, as well as being an award-winning author and the host of a highly popular online creative community known as the Rabbit Room (www.RabbitRoom.com). Peterson’s previous project Counting Stars debuted at #1 on iTunes, and #6 on Billboard. His single “Dancing in the Minefields” reached the Top 10 on the Christian AC chart, while the video for the song has received well over 700,000 views online. Peterson is currently working on his fourth and final book in the Wingfeather Saga series that releases in early 2013. Book two won the 2010 Christy Award for Young Adult Fiction. In September, Peterson will host Hutchmoot, the third annual Rabbit Room conference for lovers of art, songs, and stories—an event that sold out in seven minutes! Peterson appeared on the spring and fall legs of the Steven Curtis Chapman Songs & Stories Tour and in December will embark on his 13th annual Christmas tour, Behold the Lamb of God. For more information on Peterson please visit www.Andrew-Peterson.com.
About Centricity Music
Centricity Music is an independent recording and publishing company based in Bellevue, Washington and Nashville, Tennessee. The company’s mission is to enable our artists to create life-changing experiences for the world. Centricity Music’s artist roster includes; Aaron Shust, Andrew Peterson, Downhere, Jaime Jamgochian, Jason Gray, Remedy Drive, Seth Mosley, Sixteen Cities, and Unspoken.
