Worship songs, albums lead the pack

Tim Hughes’ “Here I Am to Worship” is estimated to have been sung by 45 million people in North America, according to new data released by Christian Copyright Licensing International charts. Hughes, who just released his sophomore album, “When Silence Falls,” is a songwriter for Brentwood, Tennessee-based EMI CMG.

That same list also features Chris Tomlin and Matt Redman, which combined for a notable 22 songs in the Top 500 and some of the top 10 on the Matt Redman’s worldwide-sung anthems on the chart include, “The Heart of Worship,” “Better Is One Day,” “Let Everything That Has Breath,” “Let My Words Be Few,” and “Blessed Be Your Name,” while Chris Tomlin’s include, “Forever,” “We Fall Down,” “The Wonderful Cross,” “Famous One,” and “Enough.” Together, Tomlin and Redman also wrote “Wonderful Maker,” at No. 277 on the chart.

UK-native Matt Redman just released this summer’s critically acclaimed sixtsteprecords recording of “Facedown,” a collection of 11 new songs plus two spontaneous moment tracks. Additional vocals are provided by Tomlin. The CD was taped during a live songwriters’ conference in Atlanta earlier this year.

The award-winning David Crowder Band kicks off its second headline tour Oct. 12 in Grand Rapids, MI. The fall leg of the band’s The Illuminate Tour traverses the country into 17 states, 20 cities nationally and features critically acclaimed Sparrow Records’ artists Something Like Silas and Shawn McDonald.

EMI CMG, in partnership with Word Entertainment and Provident Label Group, will release “WOW Hits 2005,” the next offering in Christian music’s best-selling series, Oct. 5.

The double-CD collection spotlights 31 songs from pop, adult contemporary, rock and worship genres, featuring 15 No. 1 singles and an additional 11 Top-10 charting cuts from such acclaimed artists as Steven Curtis Chapman, Audio Adrenaline, Newsboys, Third Day, Jars of Clay, tobyMac, Caedmon’s Call, Avalon, Casting Crowns, Matthew West and Todd Agnew, among others.

Following up the platinum sales success of its iWORSHIP product line, Integrity Music will release “iWORSHIP NEXT” Oct. 12, and introduce a new children’s worship CD, “iWORSHIP Kids” on the same release date.

“Fox News Live,” hosted by Rita Cosby, recently had representatives from two of the Christian industry’s biggest current group—Shelly Breen from platinum selling group Point Of Grace, and Jason Roy of the hot new band Building 429—on satellite from Nashville to voice their commitment to the “Redeem the Vote” campaign.

Passion ’05, a four-day indoor gathering for college students from around the nation and world, comes to “Music City USA” Jan. 2 to 5. Leading the Nashville gathering will be world-renowned speakers Louie Giglio, John Piper and Beth Moore, among others, as well as such artist worshippers as Charlie Hall, David Crowder Band, Chris Tomlin, Matt Redman and Shane and Shane.

Word Record’s urban music division has just signed two American Idols to recording contracts. The raspy-voiced New Orleans chef, George Huff, who won America’s heart on Fox television’s “American Idol” competition this past spring has inked a deal to record his first solo CD.

Word has also signed Karen Clark-Sheard of the Clark Sisters to a recording agreement as well. The singer returns to the label that made her group, the Clark Sisters, a household name in Urban America in the 1980s.

“Soul2Soul Honors: A Christian Music Celebration” was held at The People’s Church of Franklin, Tenn. The event highlighted some of Christian music’s most distinguished artists, including the achievements and special contributions of honorees including Avalon, Chris Rice, 4HIM, Margaret Becker, Out of the Grey, DeGarmo & Key, Point of Grace, Sandi Patty and Rich Mullins.

Ardent Records’ signature voice, Todd Agnew, is currently in the studio recording his yet-to-be named sophomore album scheduled for release early in 2005. His 2003 debut project “Grace Like Rain,” earned him four Dove nominations in addition to honors from Christian Music Planet as one of “12 Artists to Watch in 2004” and Worship Leader magazine as the “2003 Breakthrough Artist of the Year.”

Matthew West recently visited the Gospel Music Association’s offices in Nashville to lead the organization’s morning devotional. Performing a few songs from his acclaimed 2003 release, Happy, he further shared the account of his 2002 accident that nearly shattered his budding music career and how he fully recovered with an added peace from God.

Rachael Lampa heads out on the Shoutfest tour with a large lineup that includes labelmate Building 429.

Sparrow Rock band Sanctus Real embarked on its first headlining tour Sept. 24 in Medford, Oregon. The tour follows on the heels of its best-selling, critically acclaimed sophomore album, “Fight the Tide.” The 25-plus-city Fight the Tide Tour features special guests BEC Recordings’ Seven Places and Tooth and Nail Records’ Hawk Nelson, and introduces the band, Ever Stays Red. Scheduled stops included a Seattle date on Sept. 26, plus shows Oct. 3 in Solana Beach and Oct. 4 in Long Beach.

Newsboys, and Rebecca St. James, will extend their critically acclaimed “Adoration: The Tour” into the fall. Featuring special guest Todd Agnew, the tour supports newsboys’ RIAA certified Gold release and fastest-selling album to date, “Adoration: The Worship Album.” The tour begins Nov. 4 in Fairfax, VA and visits 16 key cities across the nation.

Planetshakers, embarking on a 15-city tour in September, is promoting its new album “(My King) Live Praise & Worship.”

The new CD/DVD follows the “Open up the Gates” album from earlier this year.

Billy Smiley (White Heart) performed a sneak peek of his “Hymns—The Old Made New,” the first in a new Worship Hymn series, in mid-August for Lifeway personnel in Nashville. The project, to be released this fall, features new artist Kristina showcasing new renditions of classic hymns for the church. It also involved Scott Wesley Brown.

“Everyday People,” the Sept. 14 release by Nicole C. Mullen, includes some heavyweight production talent including her husband, David Mullen, James “Big Jim” Wright, as well as production duo Drew & Shannon. The album also features a guest appearance by famed funk pioneer Bootsy Collins.

Other upcoming releases include Mute Math – “[RESET] EP” – Sept. 28; Point of Grace – “I Choose You” – Oct. 12; Ted & Sheri — “Celebrate” — Oct. 12; Sixpence — “The Best of Sixpence None the Richer” — Oct. 26 and Salvador — “So Natural” – Nov. 9.

Published by Keener Communications Group, October 2004

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