Nearly three decades deep in an illustrious Christian music career, Audio Adrenaline continues to pace faith-based rock/pop with a fresh lineup and chart-topping tunes – the band’s latest recording, Sound of Saints (Fair Trade Services), hit number one on Billboard’s Christian Albums charts after its release earlier this month and the record’s single, “Move,” was hand-selected as the opening theme for the MLB Network’s daily “MLB Now” programming.
Producer, drummer and Daywind songwriter, Ricky Free, broke his hip last week due to a tumor that had weakened his bone. Through an extensive surgery, the doctors successfully removed the tumor and reconstructed Ricky’s hip. He is facing several weeks of immobility and physical therapy during which time he will not be able to work.
Preaching had ended, the arena was full… Pastor walked onto the stage and the music team sat poised, ready like elite forces eager to take ground. The atmosphere was charged; pregnant with the presence of God. All eyes were on our fearless leader as the air was sucked out of the room and God sat down on our worship.
More than 200,000 people attended GRAMMY®-winner Chris Tomlin’s “Love Ran Red Tour” this spring, making history as the biggest tour of his career to date.
Hillsong UNITED was named Top Christian Artist at Sunday night’s Billboard Music Awards. The group was also nominated for “Oceans (Where Feet May Fail)” as Top Christian Song. The Billboard Music Awards were held live in Las Vegas from the MGM Grand Garden Arena and aired live on ABC.
Pizza Ranch® restaurants, home of the Pizza Lover’s Pizza® and the Country’s Best Chicken Pizza®, will now be offering its customers food for the soul as well. The popular Midwest chain has created an original compilation CD titled “Living Hope,” available June 2, featuring the most celebrated names in Christian music and will donate $120,000 on behalf of participating artists to non-profit Porter’s Call.
Newsboys’ iconic anthem, “God’s Not Dead (Like A Lion),” the title-cut from the group’s 2011 best-selling Inpop recording, has been certified Platinum® by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA), it was recently announced. Signifying single sales in excess of 1 million units, the award marks a career milestone for the GRAMMY®-nominated mega group and is one of the first Platinum® single certifications in Christian music this year.
Platinum-selling group Hillsong UNITED has a lot to celebrate this month as they release a new album, EMPIRES (Hillsong Music/Capitol CMG) May 26, and a highly-anticipated film, Hillsong — Let Hope Rise (Relativity Studios) just a few days later on May 29. Of the new record, lead worship leader Joel Houston explains, “EMPIRES is the story of two worlds. We wanted to create songs that first seek to listen, then speak the good news of Jesus and His grace into the dichotomy, tension and hopeful-collision of this broken and fragile world… Our desire has been to simply create the most honest project we could.”
After 14 years at Zondervan, Ryan Dunham joined David C. Cook in 2006 as Vice President of Sales and Marketing, where he oversaw the organization’s rebranding efforts. Today, in his current role as President of Integrity Music, Dunham presides over the company’s music divisions in Colorado Springs, Colo., and the U.K. Home to some of the most prolific artists and songwriters in the industry, including All Sons & Daughters, Paul Baloche, Planetshakers, Lincoln Brewster, Desperation Band, Israel Houghton and Jennie Lee Riddle, among others, Integrity currently controls more than 7,000 songs, such as Newsboys’ “We Believe,” “Revelation Song,” “Your Great Name” and more. In addition, parent company David C. Cook holds non-profit status with a goal to provide discipleship resources for churches around the globe. In the past 12 months alone, the organization has reached 15 million children in 142 countries through their curriculum, tailored to address specific needs in each area of the world. Moreover, 35 million resource materials have been distributed, culminating in 94 million lives touched.
Thousand Foot Krutch frontman Trevor McNevan recently revealed on social media the humble beginnings that led to the foundation of TFK. At age 16, he took money he earned at his part time job at McDonald’s and invested it in 27 songs he recorded for the now out-of-print album, Shutterbug, by his band Oddball. McDonald’s found McNevan’s post and tweeted, “@TFKTrevor …we’re Lovin’ this #TBT. Inspiration for us all.”
Multiple award-winning producer, world-class musician and prolific songwriter, Bernie Herms, left the production booth for the spotlight this week, playing keys for multiple GRAMMY winner Josh Groban on The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon, Good Morning America, Dancing with the Stars, Kelly and Michael and The Talk.
Casting Crowns, Chris Tomlin, Colton Dixon, For KING & COUNTRY, Francesca Battestelli, Hawk Nelson, Lauren Daigle, Third Day and TobyMac are among the first group of artists slated to bring an eclectic mix of performances to the 2015 K-LOVE Fan Awards, set to take place at the legendary Grand Ole Opry in Nashville, Tenn. on May 31, 2015. More performers and presenters will be announceed soon, while fan generated votes are already underway for this year’s awards at www.KLOVEFanAwards.com.
While numerous female Christian artists juggle motherhood and ministry, there are several who have recently added the title of “Mom” to their resumes for the first (or second) time, making the month of May extra special for them this year. Here’s a list of just a few of the new moms who are soaking up time with their little ones on and off the road this Mother’s Day.
Provident Label Group pop/rock band Building 429 has officially broken a radio record. Their brand new single, “Impossible,” received an astounding 95 radio adds on add date, making this an all time first for the band. This is also the highest number of adds its first week ever for a Provident Label Group artist. This radio feat hasn’t been achieved since “Free To Be Me” by Fancesca Battistelli in 2008.
“Move,” the high-energy album-opener from GRAMMY® Award-winning Audio Adrenaline’s May 4 FairTrade Services release, Sound of the Saints, has been selected as the opening theme for “MLB Now,” which airs daily on the MLB Network.
Premier Productions announces the launch of the all-new worship tour, OUTCRY Tour 2015, which champions, represents and promotes the local church: the Bride of Christ. The tour exists to highlight the creativity, heart and mission of the local church. Featuring a combination of artists and worship leaders in a lineup never-seen-before on one tour, OUTCRY Tour 2015 is a unique experience for the concert-goer who may never have the chance to see this group of artists together again on one stage. Tickets for OUTCRY Tour 2015 are on sale to the public beginning May 1, 2015.
