To say that 2011 was an outstanding year for Centricity Music is only fitting after the record-breaking successes they have accomplished since January. Centricity Music is an independent record company that focuses on artist development through a creative A&R department, innovative marketing ideas, and a powerhouse radio promotion team. As a result, the artist’s unique talents are able to develop leading to such spectacular results this year.
Aaron Shust hit a home run with his debut project for Centricity Music, This Is What We Believe. The first single, “My Hope Is In You,” became the first #1 AC hit for the label, remaining at the top position for eight weeks on AC Monitor, seven weeks on AC Indicator and six weeks on the Soft AC chart. This year the Dove award-winning artist also became a six-month columnist for CCM Magazine, appeared on Moody’s national radio show Chris Fabry Live!, performed at Focus On The Family’s Thanksgiving Chapel, and will be featured in Lifeway’s ParentLife magazine in January 2012. Shust’s next single, “Risen Today,” goes for adds at radio January 20, 2012.
Downhere’s Marc Martel is now officially the lead singer of the Queen Extravaganza tribute band that will tour nationally and internationally in 2012. Martel flew to Los Angeles last week and auditioned before a panel of judges that included Roger Taylor of Queen. Martel became an overnight viral sensation with his audition video of “Somebody To Love,” for the Queen Extravaganza contest. Martel’s video exploded online and ended up receiving 5-million hits which led to an appearance on the Ellen Show (where he received a standing ovation from the audience), an interview on LA’s powerhouse rock station KLOS, and a feature in the Tennessean newspaper.
And for Downhere fans, Martel is still touring with his ten-year band mates in support of their new album, On The Altar Of Love. The CD received the strongest reviews of any album of the band’s career with NewReleaseTuesday.com declaring, Don’t miss out on this gem, one of the absolute best albums of the year. The group just released “Rest,” the second single from the project that is already #30 on the AC Indicator chart. Downhere just completed the Called To Love Tour with labelmates Jason Gray and Aaron Shust and will join them for the second leg of the tour in spring 2012. Downhere is currently on their How Many Kings Christmas Tour that concludes on December 18th. Also this year, Downhere was once again honored by the GMA Covenant Awards winning Song Of The Year and Pop/Contemporary Album of the Year.
Jason Gray started off 2011 winning ASCAP’s Performance Award that is based on radio airplay for “More Like Falling In Love,” that peaked at #4 in late 2010. His follow-up single “I Am New” peaked in the Top 10 on the AC Indicator Chart in April. In September, Gray released his third studio album for Centricity Music, A Way To See In The Dark and the first single, “Remind Me Who I Am,” became the number one downloaded song on the iTunes Christian Chart the week after Thanksgiving and is currently #11 on the AC Indicator chart and #13 on AC Monitor. Always a critic favorite, Worship Leader Magazine says, A Way to See in the Dark is a real listening pleasure. Musically easy on the ears and lyrically stimulating to the mind. Gray has toured with such major acts as Michael W. Smith, Third Day, tobyMac, Francesca Battistelli, Sanctus Real, and will join Andrew Peterson for the 2nd year on his Behold The Lamb Of God Christmas Tour 2011.
Andrew Peterson continues to build a larger and more dedicated fanbase as proven with his 2011 single, “Dancing In The Minefields,” that went Top Ten on the AC Indicator chart and the video had over 500,000 views online. This summer Peterson was the closing act on the highly popular Music City Roots in Nashville and received a standing ovation from the mainly Country/Americana audience. In May 2011, Peterson released the third book in his four-part Wingfeather Saga series, “The Monster In The Hollows,” and it’s already being hailed as a classic. This fall Peterson hosted his 2nd Annual Hutchmoot event in Nashville that sold out in six hours and immediately following the event Peterson joined Steven Curtis Chapman on his Songs & Stories Tour. The response was very strong with sold out shows and enthusiastic audiences so Chapman and Peterson, along with Josh Wilson, will be doing a second leg of the tour in the spring. In December, Peterson launched his 12th annual Behold The Lamb Of God Christmas Tour 2011 that is heralded as one of the best holiday shows and is a continual sell-out across the country. Peterson will be releasing his third studio project for Centricity Music in Fall 2012.
Other standouts for Centricity Music’s roster includes Jaime Jamgochian’s Top 30 AC Monitor hit, “The Stand,” as she continues a heavy touring schedule that includes her popular Modest Is Hottest events for teen girls. Me In Motion enjoyed a Top Ten hit on the CHR chart with “Eye Of The Hurricane,” and their new single, “Yes We Can,” is already #20 after only six weeks of airplay. The Yes We Can EP is now available on iTunes. The group has joined Peter Furler’s and Building 429’s Christmas tour in Canada this month. Sixteen Cities is gearing up their next single, “Love Is Making A Way,” that goes for radio adds on December 30.
For future updates on Centricity Music and their roster of artists please visit www.centricitymusic.com
