Budding Gospel star Micah Stampley (Interface Entertainment) and Mathew Knowles’ Music World have mutually agreed to dissolve their business relationship.  This partnership resulted in the release of the compilation CD “Release Me” and the October 2011, critically acclaimed album, “One Voice.”  The two companies came together in June 2010.  

Stampley had this to say, “On behalf of Heidi and I and the Interface Entertainment Group of Companies, we sincerely thank Mr. Mathew Knowles and the Music World family. We wish them continued success and look forward to all the things God has in store for us in the future to come.” -Micah Stampley 

A representative for the Micah Stampley camp added “I am honored to assist and represent such an incredible and talented client like Mr. Micah Stampley as he and his brilliant wife Mrs. Heidi Stampley continue to build the Interface label and related ministries and brands. We close out a great chapter with Music World and begin a new Season even bigger and better! -Atty. James Walker

Stampley’s career took off after winning the Stellar Awards Gospel Star Search, when he caught the attention of Bishop T.D. Jakes.  Jakes would eventually sign the singer and the two also dissolved their partnership within a few years.

For more information on Micah Stampley please visit:

www.micahstampley.org

info@micahstampley.org

Twitter: @micahstampley 

Photo (L-R): Jeff Roberts, Jeff Roberts & Associates, President; Jason McArthur, Provident Label Group, VP of A&R; Brian Scoggins, Casting Crowns, Drummer; Mike Jay, Proper Management, Artist Manager; Hector Cervantes, Casting Crowns, Lead Guitar/BGV; Melody DeVevo, Casting Crowns, Violin/Cello/BGV; Megan Garrett, Casting Crowns, Piano/BGV; Juan DeVevo, Casting Crowns, Guitar/BGV; Chris Huffman, Casting Crowns, Bass/BGV; Mark Hall, Casting Crowns, Lead Vocals; Chris Farnsworth, KSBJ Special Events Promoter; Joe Piver, Jeff Roberts & Associates, Senior Agent; Richard Silva, KSBJ Special Events Sr. Event Manager; Jeff Young, Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavillion, Vice President of Operations. Photo by: MFL Photography

Best-selling Christian music artist Casting Crowns wraps the spring leg of its 42-city “Come To The Well” tour. With one of its most successful tours to date, Casting Crowns’ final show alone saw a sold-out audience of more than 16,000 attendees.

Following a hugely successful fall run, including more than 15 sell-out performances, playing before 155,000+ people, the spring leg kicked off Feb. 9, in Florence, S.C. Among its scheduled 42 shows, the tour hit arenas in major markets like New York City, Grand Rapids, Mich., Orlando, Fla., Washington D.C., Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, Birmingham, Ala., St. Louis, Mo., Minneapolis and Houston, among others.

The closing date in Houston on Saturday, May 5, marked Casting Crowns’ highest-grossing and most well-attended show ever with 16,000+ concert-goers. Director of KSBJ Special Events, Chris Farnsworth, who promoted the event, comments, “KSBJ Radio was thrilled to host Casting Crowns’ ‘Come To The Well’ tour this weekend. The Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavillion was the perfect venue to see over 16,000 members of the Gulf Coast community come together to make this the biggest audience of Casting Crowns’ career.”

A final tally of tour numbers for both fall and spring legs indicate cumulative attendance exceeding 370,000 with 40 sold-out dates making Casting Crowns’ “Come To The Well” tour one of the most successful Christian artist tours of all time.

About Casting Crowns: All of Casting Crowns’ projects are RIAA certified, with a tally of three RIAA Platinum Albums, two RIAA Platinum DVDs, five RIAA Gold Albums, two Gold DVDs and three Gold digital singles (“Who Am I,” “Praise You In This Storm,” “East to West”). The band currently holds the position as Billboard’s top-selling act in Christian music, since 2007. The group has also been honored with two American Music Awards, with six total nominations, three GRAMMY Awards, 14 GMA Dove Awards and four 2012 Billboard Music Award nominations.

Casting Crowns’ seven band members all remain active in student ministry in the Atlanta area and tour according to their local church commitments. Serving his 18th year in youth ministry, lead singer/songwriter Mark Hall maintains his role as the student pastor at Eagle’s Landing First Baptist Church in Atlanta.

As a testament to the band’s impact, Casting Crowns performed for a second time in North Korea in April 2009, in partnership with Global Resource Services; the band continues to forge invaluable relationships with the people in the D.P.R.K. (Democratic People’s Republic of Korea).

Casting Crowns recently concluded its 42-city “Come to the Well” spring tour, which saw 40 arena sellouts, more than 370,000 in attendance (across the 40-city fall leg and spring dates combined) and has generated more than 13,000 child sponsorships through its partnership with Christian humanitarian organization, World Vision.

For more information on Casting Crowns visit: www.castingcrowns.com, www.facebook.com/castingcrowns,www.twitter.com/castingcrowns or follow Mark Hall’s Twitter at twitter.com/markhallCC.

Whitney Houston’s mother has released a new album of gospel tunes, her first new music since her daughter’s death and in more than a decade.

Cissy Houston’s “Walk on By Faith” was released by Harlem Records on iTunes this week and includes songs such as “Living Shall Not Be In Vain.”

Harlem Records rep Bill Coyle said Wednesday her last album was in 1997. He says she started working on the album last year and musically arranged all four tracks.

Cissy Houston has kept a low profile since her superstar daughter died in February, giving just one interview.

Whitney Houston was 48 when she drowned in a Beverly Hills, Calif., hotel bathtub on the eve of the Grammy Awards. An autopsy showed cocaine played a role in her death.

Click Here to preview the CD on I-Tunes.

The Queen of Soul is adding another jewel to her crown. Aretha Franklin is being inducted into the Gospel Music Hall of Fame.

She’s will be inducted on Aug. 14 in Hendersonville, Tenn., along with contemporary Christian singer Dallas Holm, Love Song, bluegrass legend Ricky Skaggs, family group The Hoppers and the late TV evangelist Rex Humbard.

Aretha Franklin’s father was a Baptist minister. Her 1972 album, “Amazing Grace,” has sold over 2 million copies and is one of the best-selling Gospel albums of all time.

This is only the latest in a long list of honors for the 70-year-old singer. In 1987, she was the first woman to be inducted into the Rock and roll hall of Fame. She also is among Rolling Stone magazine’s list of 100 best singers of all time.

The Gospel Music Hall of Fame was established in 1971. More than 150 members have been inducted, including Amy Grant, Pat Boone, Bill and Gloria Gaither, Dolly Parton and Elvis Presley.

Tyler Perry is relieved that the fire that hit his multi-million dollar studio was not worse then it was.  The 4-alarm fire was limited to one building, and Tyler Perry seems poised to re-build.

In a statement below Perry makes no mention of what started the blaze, and it appears that the investigation is on-going.

Atlanta firefighters responded immediately to a fire which damaged the backlot façade of one of the buildings at Tyler Perry Studios in Atlanta. We are grateful that there were no injuries, and that 99 percent of the damage is limited to the backlot facade. Mr. Perry wishes to express his heartfelt thanks to the Atlanta fire department for their professionalism in their quick response and limiting the damage. 

The flames were extinguished within an hour, many firefighters remained for several hours putting out hot spots. Several units were still there around midnight conducting a damage assessment, including salvage and overhaul.

Perry was at his Continental Colony Parkway complex Tuesday night and spoke with Fire Chief Kelvin Cochran, but did not talk to reporters gathered nearby, Bundrige said. Employees leaving the studio grounds after the fire told reporters they were instructed not to speak to the media.

One witness present at the fire described the scene.  “It was all in flames,” a near-by resident said. “The building started popping. Whatever the fire was hitting, was blowing up. There were plenty of sparks coming over here where we are.”  “The flames shot as high as the nearby trees, roughly six stories in height.”

The 200,000-square foot studio, which opened in 2008, is home to sets, sound stages and a 400-seat theater. In March, Perry hosted a fundraiser for President Barack Obama at the studio.

Perry has worked as director, writer, producer, actor and playwright. His film credits include “Diary of a Mad Black Woman,” “Meet the Browns” and “I Can Do Bad All By Myself.” His latest movie, “Madea’s Witness Protection,” is scheduled to open June 29.

Montell Jordan and Victory World Music appropriately named their latest album and first single, Shake Heaven, as it certainly is shaking things up around the world with God’s eternal message.  With no prompting or promotion whatsoever, numerous youtube videos are popping up with children and teenagers performing their versions of Shake Heaven.  Besides the United States, videos are coming in from around world that includes; India, Brazil, Puerto Rico, Netherlands, and American Samoa where a Flashmob performed the song at Tafuna Airport. Check out the American Samoa link here, http://www.godtube.com/watch/?v=FCCC9CNU. 

At the same time, Jordan’s recent sermon on the “Power In Music” at Victory World Church, where Jordan serves as Worship Pastor, was placed on youtube by the church and picked up by a mainstream R&B website.  Within a matter of days the video had over 47-thousand hits! Hear Jordan’s powerful message below.

“What’s happening with Shake Heaven is nothing short of astounding to everyone on the Victory World Music team,” says Jordan. “We are so honored that God would choose us for such a time as this to allow a new sound of Praise and Worship to go all over the earth for His glory.” 

Montell Jordan goes on to say, “The Power of Music message was spoken from a place of love, God’s word of truth, and personal experience. Sharing the story of my journey from industry success to spiritual influence allows this powerful topic of music to have a greater voice for a generation that is hungry for the truth of God’s word and how it relates to their lives.  It’s a privilege for me to share my testimony and the things God has allowed me to experience and see, so that His truth can prevail on the earth.”

Back in Atlanta where Jordan, Victory World Music and Victory World Church are based, the former R&B legend was recently tapped to co-host the Dove Awards Pre-Show, along with a performance of Shake Heaven, and then serving as a presenter at the 43^rd Annual Dove Awards at the historic Fox Theatre.  Jordan also taped a segment with CBN Interactive in Atlanta and then flew to Virginia Beach, VA for a live interview on CBN.com, which also aired on ABC Family Network.

Up next for the busy Jordan is a new baby!  His wife and manager, Kristin, is expecting their 4^th child mid-May that will join the other Jordan siblings; Christopher, 22; Sydney, 16; and Skyler, 8.

For more information on Montell Jordan, and Victory World Music please visit online at www.victoryworldmusic.com. Information on Victory World Church can be found at www.victoryatl.com.

Light Records in conjunction with Tehillah Music Group announce this signing of singer, songwriter JONATHAN MCREYNOLDS.  McReynolds, heralded as Gospel’s fresh new voice, will release his debut album, LIFE MUSIC this Fall.

McReynolds, an innovative musician and remarkable talent, made a name for himself with the 2010 release of an underground, very independent EP entitled The Very Unofficial EP of Jonathan McReynolds. He describes it as “a compilation of seven of my best dorm-room productions God had given me.” From the songs bourn out of McReynolds‘ dorm room was the single “No Gray” which touched a chord with folks across the country. Internet and gospel radio stations got hold of the song and from there it caught on fire. McReynolds & his inescapable talent caught the attention of Bishop Paul Morton and Pastor Jerry Parries at Tehillah Music Group.  

McReynolds is the perfect blend of contemporary styling with Gospel messages. His perspective is refreshingly direct and the songs are poised, smooth and honest. It is R&B and Gospel at its best — love songs to a loving God.

The amazing new single, “I Love You,” likeable, catchy and uncomplicated tune hit radio with a bang. Debuting on Billboard’s Gospel singles chart, the song shows off McReynolds‘ brilliant vocals, revealing heart, strength, and maturity to his words.   This song transcends any genre classification because of its universal appeal and engaging lyrics.

Through his music, McReynolds humbly speaks for his generation “I’m doing it the way God gave it to me … you’ll find what me and my generation go through on a daily basis: insecurities, battles against the world, self-discovery and the ebbs and flows of living in Christ,” he said.

McReynolds’ full album, LIFE MUSIC will be out later this year, and the single, “I Love You” is available now on iTunes.