NASHVILLE, TENN. (JUNE 09, 2020) Provident Music Group, a division of Sony Music Entertainment, announced today that it has re-branded as Provident Entertainment to showcase the company’s wide spectrum of industry-leading faith based entertainment. Provident Entertainment, which operates under the umbrella of Sony Music Nashville, includes Provident Label Group, RCA Inspiration, Essential Worship, Essential Music Publishing, Provident Films, and Essential Artist Services. As a faith-based entertainment industry leader, Provident Entertainment and each of its entities strives to produce products that engage faith-minded audiences with positive messages.
Terry Hemmings, CEO and President, Provident Entertainment, says, “The name change to Provident Entertainment reflects the growth of the business over the past decade, which has broadened into film, music publishing, and merchandising, as well as the addition of RCA Inspiration, the industry leader in Gospel music. These expansions have created a fully functional and interwoven entertainment business. With the support of our parent company Sony Music Entertainment, Provident Entertainment has advanced beyond the bounds of a typical record label into a trusted faith and family content company that serves the traditional music listener, the church and worship music community, and the film-going consumer. Provident Entertainment is one company working together for the good of the whole, and its name change reflects that attitude and philosophy.”
Within its divisions, Provident Entertainment is home to many of the biggest names in the faith-based music industry including Casting Crowns, Zach Williams, Koryn Hawthorne, Kirk Franklin, Travis Greene, Matt Maher, Marvin Sapp, Matthew West and Tauren Wells. It is also the publisher of chart-topping and award-winning songs such as “You Say” recorded by Lauren Daigle, Cory Asbury’s “Reckless Love,” Zach Williams’ “Chain Breaker,” “Only Jesus” by Casting Crowns, and “Known” by Tauren Wells, among many others.
Over the last two years, Provident Label Group has certified twelve RIAA Gold-certified® singles, six RIAA Platinum-certified® singles, and one RIAA Gold-certified® album. Provident Label Group artists have had five No. 1 radio singles, 20 top-five singles, and has remained No. 1 in the radio market share over the past twelve months, including Casting Crowns’ top-charting single “Nobody (ft. Matthew West),” which held the top spot for 15 weeks. Since 2017, Provident Label Group has received 35 GMA Dove Award® nominations, eight GMA Dove Award wins – including two New Artist of the Year awards (Tauren Wells, Zach Williams) and Artist of the Year (Zach Williams) – as well as five GRAMMY® nominations.
RCA Inspiration is home to powerhouse names in Gospel and Inspirational music including Kirk Franklin, Travis Greene, Koryn Hawthorne, Marvin Sapp, Donnie McClurkin, and Le’Andria Johnson, to name a few. The label is Billboard’s Top Gospel Label with more than 30 RIAA Gold and Platinum releases. In 2019, RCA Inspiration had a 17 percent share of Gospel radio, making it No. 1 in the market. Their brand partnership team has also paired its artist roster with various national campaigns including Disney, McDonald’s, and AT&T.
In addition to Provident Label Group and RCA Inspiration, Provident Entertainment is launching hip-hop label Essential Sound with pioneer hip-hop artist KB as its first project to release. KB has placed his thumbprint on hip-hop while invoking the power of spiritual conviction. He is a GMA Dove Award winner and a Stellar Award nomination recipient, and has a Billboard No. 1 Christian Album and No. 4 Rap Album.
Essential Publishing is home to more than 60 No. 1 songs including the aforementioned “You Say” by Lauren Daigle, “Reckless Love” recorded by Cory Asbury, Zach Williams’ “Chain Breaker,” “Only Jesus” by Casting Crowns, Tauren Wells’ “Known,” and four No. 1 Country songs. In addition, Essential Music Publishing has received four GMA Dove Award Song of the Year awards, nine GRAMMY nominations, and two GRAMMY awards in the last two years. In 2019, Essential Publishing received the BMI Publisher of the Year Award and has been SESAC’s Publisher of the Year four times. Essential Publishing writers include Jason Ingram, Matt Maher, Jonathan Smith, Zach Williams, Tauren Wells, Ethan Hulse, Mia Fieldes, Ran Jackson, Bryan Fowler, and others. Essential Music Publishing also developed the Essential Worship imprint and church marketing platform representing hundreds of worship songs to the church, including “Great Are You Lord,” “Reckless Love, “O Come to the Altar,” “Tremble,” “Glorious Day,” as well as the worship/church platforms Elevation Worship, Vertical Worship, one sonic society, Red Rocks Worship, and more.
Since 2006, Provident Films has been a pioneer in developing, producing and distributing faith-based films. Working with faith leaders and award-winning filmmakers, the company creates entertainment that inspires viewers to believe in God’s purpose for their lives. Provident Films’ industry-leading partnerships have resulted in some of the genre’s biggest hits, such as the Kendrick Brothers’ Overcomer, War Room, Courageous, Fireproof, and Facing The Giants, the Erwin Brothers’ Woodlawn, Moms Night Out, and October Baby, and Kirk Cameron’s Unstoppable and Revive Us. In addition to War Room, 2015’s No.1 movie in America, Provident Films titles have generated over $300 million in total box office.
Essential Artist Services is Provident Entertainment’s artist merchandise division. They are a small team with a big heart and the support infrastructure assisting in doing big things for their artists and clients. Coupling a passion for quality design and print techniques with years of experience in the industry, Essential Artist Services has positioned itself to work with major names in the music, non-profit, academic, and business worlds. They have an entire division devoted to tour, festival, and event vending, while working with many artists inside and outside of the Provident Entertainment umbrella.
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