June, 2007 *Friday, June 29th, 2007* It's with great sadness that we share the news regarding a fire that consumed Relient K's bus yesterday morning. According to an article in The Times-Reporter, the band had left Creation East Festival in Pennsylvania where they had just headlined the opening night and were in transit to Cornerstone Festival in Illinois, when their bus caught fire and the band had to evacuate their vehicle (thankfully no one was hurt). Article author Dan Kane writes of the accident, "The blaze and attendant smoke and water damaged or destroyed the band’s instruments, sound equipment and tour merchandise, plus the members’ laptop computers, cell phones, cameras, iPods, clothing and other personal items... [Matt] Thiessen said his items alone, including a laptop containing about 100 unfinished songs, tallied up to about $7,000." Kane's article goes into greater detail about the accident, including quotes from the band and an account of the incident, and explains that the band had to cancel their Cornerstone appearance but hope to perform their scheduled date in Greeley, Colorado this Saturday. For the full article, click here! Please keep the band in your prayers during this incredibly trying time! (details from The Times-Reporter; tip from InReview.net friends; report by Jesusfreakhideout.com) In other touring horror news, Lovedrug suffered vandalism and theft recently as well. The band wrote in a recent email to fans, "As many of you may have heard, our van and trailer were stolen last weekend after our show in Detroit. We just wanted to provide details for many of you who've asked and especially to express our deep appreciation for all of your support. Obviously we do try to be careful when touring. On this night, we drove a ways out of the city before stopping for the night, locking and parking the van and trailer in a well-lit section of a hotel parking lot. The police did find the van and trailer several days later. ...the van was burned out and the trailer was stripped to its frame. Kind of scary that people do this to each other as a profession, but they do. We really do appreciate all of your messages of support. There has been a lot of kindness and it means a lot to each of us. Many of you have even made donations at shows and online to help us recover our loss. This is also a tremendous help and means more than you know. While we do have insurance on both the vehlces and equipment, it is never enough to cover all the deductibles, uncovered items like cds/shirts, changing gear lists, and of course all our personal possessions. If you'd care to donate, please do so - every little bit helps." Click here to make a donation, and please also keep these guys in your prayers! (from Lovedrug; Jesusfreakhideout.com) In follow up to his very successful fall 2006 tour, co-headlining WinterJam, sold out shows at House of Blues locations across the country this past spring, and headline spots at major summer festivals, Award-winning and 2 million-plus-unit-selling artist Jeremy Camp is pleased to announce his fall 2007 tour, “An Evening with Jeremy Camp and Band - Live Unplugged” with special guest Mainstay. Hitting nearly 30 cities in the U.S. and Canada, tickets will be available for pre-sale on July 7th to members of the Jeremy Camp fan club (fans can sign up at www.jeremycamp.com by 7/5). Tickets will go on sale to the general public on July 14th. In what will surely be a special time during each concert, Camp has decided to let the audience be a part of each evening as he fields questions from the audience during intimate Q&A sessions. “My fans are such a huge part of what I do – they make it possible,” comments Camp. “Therefore I just thought it would be great to get to know them better and also continue to make the evening very relaxed and personal.” (from The M Collective) Rocketown Records’ latest signing, New Orleans singer/songwriter Jake Smith has linked up with the National Breast Cancer Foundation to help raise awareness about early detection and treatment of the disease. Launching next month, Smith will sponsor an information campaign online as well as at his concerts. Having experienced breast cancer’s devastation in his family, Smith is eager to help fight the battle. “My mother has beaten breast cancer twice now,” says Smith. “Her success is due largely to regular check-ups and early treatment. The public needs to be informed so that they can look out for themselves, their sisters, daughters, wives, and friends.” Smith created nationalbreastcancer.org/mynbcf/members/jakesmithmusic to show his support for the organization and will be including a link to the National Breast Cancer Foundation’s web site on jakesmithmusic.com. Smith also plans to distribute NBCF literature while on tour and has invited representatives to his CD launch party later this summer to record several audio and video public service announcements for the group. “Jake is a remarkable person and an extraordinary musician,” says Janelle Hail, founder of the National Breast Cancer Foundation. “We are thrilled that he has partnered with the National Breast Cancer Foundation to get the message out about the importance of early detection.” Smith’s July 31 debut release, Real, offers soulful, groove-based pop that blends seamlessly together to create a sound reflective of New Orleans’ richness and eclecticism. Drawing from recent trauma in Smith’s life, this very personal record is infused with the genuine hope and optimism that surrounds Smith himself. For more information on Real, and a list of tour dates, visit jakesmithmusic.com or myspace.com/jakesmithmusic. (from Provident Label Group) *Thursday, June 28th, 2007* Finally! We can break our silence and freely confirm those rumors you've been hearing about! Both Switchfoot and then Relient K announced from the main stage at Creation East Festival last night that they will be touring together this Fall! Switchfoot and Relient K will be hitting venues all across America latest this year in support of their newest records, marking the second time the bands are on the road together! More to come... (from Switchfoot; Jesusfreakhideout.com) SONICFLOOd led a standing room-only crowd of over 6,500 in worship during the opening night of the NYPENN Franklin Graham Festival on June 8th. The event took place at the Binghamton University Event Center in Binghamton, NY, as part of a three-day festival. Binghamton’s Press and Sun-Bulletin commented, “The music turned edgier when the pounding bass began for Grammy-nominated Christian rockers SONICFLOOd as they took the stage. You'd think their sound would have turned off some of the older people in the crowd. Not so. [The crowd] stood up like rock concert veterans and pumped their "rock fists" at the beckon of the lead singer, the David Bowie-esque Rick Heil.” SONICFLOOd also had the privilege to take part in a morning devotional with popular preacher and Samaritan’s Purse CEO Franklin Graham and the Billy Graham Evangelical Association (BGEA) team. The NYPENN festival saw over 21,000 in attendance at the BU Event Center throughout the festival, and approximately 1,500 people responded to the altar calls during the weekend. (from SONICFLOOd) As previously announced, Jump5 will disband at the end of 2007 - but not before hitting the road one last time. Sponsored by The Kingdom Kidz Club and Shoutlife.com, The Hello & Goodbye Tour will take Jump5 to 30 major markets from September through the end of the year, including stops in Houston, Seattle, Evansville, Morristown, Oklahoma City, Dallas, Louisville, Little Rock, Atlanta, Orlando, Tampa, Denver, Las Vegas, Bakersfield, San Francisco and Nashville. Joining Jump5 on the tour will be Midas Records artist Jessie Daniels, who has scored numerous top 10's at Christian radio with her self-titled debut album, as well as the new teen pop group PureNRG, whose debut CD is currently on the top of the Christian sales chart. Also on the tour is Canadian trio Carried Away, whose sophomore project on Glide Records releases August 28th, and Sammy Ward, who will perform his own material as well as backing Jump5 on an acoustic set - a first for the group. "This tour is going to be the most original and most meaningful to us all," says Jump5's Chris Fedun. "We want to show how much we have grown in these past years spiritually, vocally and as performers." The tour will give the group the opportunity to say goodbye to fans with an all new live show packed with the group's biggest hits, including early material that hasn't been performed on recent tours. And as with similar family-friendly tours including High School Musical and Hannah Montana, this will be a tour that parents can be completely comfortable bringing their families to. "We are very excited about the upcoming tour this fall," said the group's manager Derek Bruner. "The lineup we have for the tour is one that should appeal to any fan of pop music. The excitement that we've been seeing from fans this far out from the tour has been very encouraging. This is going to be a show fans won't want to miss!" To coincide with the tour, Jump5's final studio album, Hello & Goodbye, will be released September 25th by Slanted Records, and includes all new studio recordings, including the title track, a cover version of the classic Beatles song, "Hello Goodbye." An aggressive marketing campaign includes a national publicity campaign, online promotion through KingdomKidzClub.com and Shoutlife.com, major radio and television appearances and promotions, an internet campaign featuring e-cards, retail tools and resources, and a pre-sale campaign through various Christian retail chains. Jump5 hit the music scene in 2001, billing themselves as a family-friendly alternative to the PG-13 pop music that was exploding into the marketplace. Siblings Brandon and Brittany Hargest, along with childhood friends Lesley Moore, Chris Fedun and Libby Hodges (who left the group in 2004) quickly became a teen phenomenon, touring worldwide and releasing nine albums on EMI-owned Sparrow Records which collectively have sold over 1.3 million copies. (from Nashville Publicity) *Wednesday, June 27th, 2007* As his Portable Sounds continues to be a top 5 best-seller after more than 4 months of release, GRAMMY – nominated artist TobyMac recently performed for over 10,000 fans at the virtual world for teen and pre-teen girls and boys....Whyville.com. Thousands caught TobyMac live in concert at Whyville's Greek Theatre, featuring songs from the new CD and a few of his old favorites too. In addition to the Citizens of Whyville promoting tobyMac on their own blogs, there were several hundred hits generated by the three major search engines, MSN, Google and Yahoo!, while over 3,000 chat questions were submitted during the concert, and over 4600 fans attended the Tailgate Party. Also, on July 3rd, exclusively on YAHOO!, fans will be able to check out the World Premiere of TobyMac’s new music video for the song “Boomin’’, filmed recently in LA. TobyMac’s latest single from “Portable Sounds” is continuing to connect this artist with multi-format listeners, as “I’m For You” is already Top 20 on Christian AC and Top 5 Christian CHR (No. 4) after only a few weeks. This week the song is up 10 slots on the AC Monitored chart (R&R) at No. 18 (from No. 28). (from The M Collective) Blindside's new The Black Rose EP is out now and available worldwide only in digital form. The price is only USD 4.99 for 8 songs. You can get it exclusivly online by going to the band's mp3 shop at http://mp3.blindsideonline.com. About the EP, the band writes, "Since all of this has Come Together very quickly with virtually no words from us we'd like to explain ourselves and our current situation a little bit. When we got the word that there was no longer a record company behind us we have been putting all our energy into what you will soon have in front of you. At this point we decided that we weren't going to let the circumstances stop us from doing what we love and keep going no matter how bad this timing was. Instead we spent our own money with a goal to release something with the heart on our sleeve, separated from record label drama and left alone in a room with nothing else than our love for music and our passion to move into new grounds, spiritually and musically: one vision, one mind, one EP... Once we had the first and most important thing down; the music, we had to find a solution for the rest of the things you need to release music. Finding the right record company and distribution company who would do this in the short amount of time we had, and that we trusted, was not going to happen so we decided to find another way of getting this EP to you. We are on the verge of a new generation of the music business. Things will be never become what they've been before. This is exciting. Our vision with 'The Black Rose EP' is to release our music with no middle man, simply from our hands to your hands. That is why we are selling this EP through our webpage, to anybody who's interested, anywhere in the world. This is an experiment. We know we will not be reaching as many people as we would if we had the big record company-machine pushing money into marketing and trying to get songs on the radio and with a distribution company working it into the stores. This is as indie as it gets. What we have; is you: our loyal fans and friends, our myspace, our webpage and our promotions crew. This will officially be a project built from scratch on word of mouth. We know this music will be on all the peer to peer, pirate-sites before we know it. However we also know that you have a choice here. There's no middle hands taking your money, it goes, more or less, straight to the band to finance our tours and possibilities to do the merchandise and artwork we always dreamt of doing without anyone trying to compromise or change it before it gets to you. We hope you will enjoy this musical effort and that you will come and see us when we come to your town soon. Thanks for your time, your prayers and your support." (from Blindside) Gospel Music Channel has tapped Backstreet Boy Brian Littrell, Out of Eden’s Lisa Kimmey and up-and-coming singer/songwriter Brandon Heath to host their exclusive national concert coverage of the two-day 94.9 KLTY/Interstate Batteries Celebrate Freedom 2007. The largest free concert event in the country has been held at Southfork Ranch in Parker, Texas (just outside Dallas) for 17 years. For the first time in 2006, the Gospel Music Channel was invited to broadcast the concert on the nation's only 24-hour, all Gospel/Christian music television network. The network returns in 2007 to capture the two-day concert event on June 29 and 30 to be broadcast in four, two-hour concert specials which will premiere on July 7 (4:00 pm Part 1, 8:00 pm Part 2) and July 14 (4:00 pm Part 3, 8:00 pm Part 4) and be seen throughout the month. The 2007 line-up for 94.9 KLTY/Interstate Batteries Celebrate Freedom 2007 boasts the biggest line-up ever – nearly 40 artists, including some of Christian and gospel music’s top artists such as Casting Crowns, Natalie Grant, Aaron Shust, TobyMac, Avalon, Nichole Nordeman, Krystel Meyers, Marcos Witt, Bebo Norman, Rebecca St. James, Salvador, Superchic[k], Michael English, Anthony Evans, and many more. Littrell, Kimmey and Heath will host the Gospel Music Channel’s special coverage with Kimmey and Heath hosting the first day of the event and Littrell and Kimmey covering the final evening concert. Littrell, already a multi-platinum artist as part of the Backstreet Boys, has become a Christian and gospel fan favorite since releasing his Reunion Records’ solo debut, Welcome Home in 2006. Kimmey is one-third of sister group Out of Eden, but has recently become a television personality in her own right as a regular host for Gospel Music Channel’s Hot List. And, Heath has been a respected writer in Nashville for years often collaborating with Bebo Norman, Matt Wertz and Dave Barnes. He released his debut CD, Don't Get Comfortable, last fall. (from Spinhouse PR) Our Heart's Hero, the newest band to ink a deal with Gotee Records, is poised to unveil their self-titled debut on September 18th. Led by front man and guitarist Nick Joyce, Our Heart?s Hero includes Jason Nattier (guitar), Jeremy McKnight (bass guitar) and Ricky Holbrook (drums). The self-titled debut effort hails 11 songs of heartfelt, soaring pop-rock, all penned by Joyce, with eight of the songs being produced by Brent Milligan (Audio Adrenaline, ZOEgirl, Rebecca St. James) and Ian Esklelin taking credit for three songs. Sonically, Our Heart?s Hero is being likened to Switchfoot, Sanctus Real, Jimmy Eat World, and Delirious. "Gotee is thrilled to have Our Heart's Hero as the newest artist with our team," said label co-founder, Toby McKeehan. "We love the music and the hearts of this band. Not only is their music top notch, but these are guys who pour their lives into the kids they play for and walk through whatever life brings to them with grace and wisdom. I can't wait for people to meet this band." Our Heart's Hero has spent the last couple years touring extensively with over 150 dates a year nationwide. Fans can anticipate additional performances as the band joins the Rock, Paper, Scissors Tour this summer, as well as late summer dates as part of the Revolution Calling Tour with Red, GRITS, and Falling Up. Our Heart?s Hero also performed in 20 cities earlier this spring with The Afters. With a major grassroots following and over 20,000 friends on myspace.com site, Our Heart's Hero has sold 20,000 copies of their independent album to date. The first radio single ?Because Of The Blood? is currently going for adds at CHR radio. For more information on Our Heart?s Hero, check out www.gotee.com or their official artist website at www.ourheartshero.com as well as www.myspace.com/ourheartshero (from LB PR) GRAMMY-nominated Red’s third single ever, “Break Me Down”, has climbed all the way to the top, coming in at No. 1 this week at R&R Christian Rock Radio. “Break Me Down” marks Red’s third straight No. 1 single at R&R Christian Rock Radio. “Breathe Into Me” was the band’s first No. 1, followed by “Already Over”. All three songs are from Red’s debut album, End of Silence. After learning this news while on the road, somewhere in the middle of California, Red guitarist Anthony Armstrong commented, “Seriously, thanks to every single one of you that have helped get our music on the airwaves all around the country. As we travel from town to town, it is a big part of what keeps us going. We can feel the support when we are performing, and it is an honor to see the crowd singing along with our songs. Radio is a huge part of all of this.” RadioU Program Director, Nikki Cantu, shares in the excitement, “Congratulations to Red on going No. 1 with “Break Me Down”!! Talk about a band that deserves it. They have made such a name for themselves in such a short time. I could not imagine RadioU, or our industry, without them.” “Break Me Down” has also entered the Top 5 at CRW Christian Rock Radio. Red will be a part of “The Revolution Calling” Tour, with Grits, Falling Up and Wavorly, among others, which runs Monday, July 16 through Wednesday, July 25, 2007. Red also has multiple upcoming dates with multi-platinum Breaking Benjamin. Visit www.myspace.com/dropofred for a complete list of upcoming tour dates. (from Provident Label Group) Midas Records and Evidential Productions have been recognized with a Silver Telly Award (the highest honor) in the Commercial Online Media Promotion category, by the 28th annual Telly Awards association. The award was presented in recognition for Midas Records' band Rush of Fools and its video electronic press kit (EPK), directed and produced by Billy Brown of Evidential Productions. For over a quarter century, the Telly statuette has been a symbol of creative excellence in film, video, commercial, broadcast and non-broadcast media. Other Telly Award winners this year include HBO, Discovery Channel, Christian Broadcasting Network, FX Network, Geico, Disney-Pixar, New Line Cinema, 20th Century Fox, PBS, Columbia Records, NBC and Warner Bros. The four-minute EPK features footage from the group’s high definition (HD) music video of it’s #1 record-breaking, hit radio single, "Undo," plus behind-the-scenes footage, which includes live performances and in-studio shots of the band recording their self-titled album. Band members, Wes Willis and Kevin Huguley intimately share throughout the EPK, details of how the group was started and in-depth conversation about their hearts, ministry and passion for their listeners to experience worship and like them, “rush in to the throne of God.” The Telly Award is one of the most sought-after awards by industry leaders, from major international firms to local production companies and ad agencies. This year, over 13,000 entries were received. For more information about the Telly Awards, click here. (from LAB Media) Award winning and Platinum-selling Word recording artist Point Of Grace is set to release its 11th studio project, How You Live, nationwide on August 28, 2007. The highly anticipated project is the first new studio release in almost three years from one of the most notable and successful female groups in Christian music history. After performing in front of hundreds of thousands of fans and selling over five million albums, Shelley Breen, Leigh Cappillino, Denise Jones and Heather Payne deliver a compelling collection of songs that invite the listener to examine their priorities and take stock of their lives on How You Live. “This record is a constant reminder for us to celebrate life---to celebrate it in the good and to celebrate it in the bad,” says Cappillino. “It urges us to walk along those paths with our friends and family, as well as with strangers and to recognize God’s goodness in all things. My hope is this record will motivate people to be captivated by God.” For 15 years, Point Of Grace has built an unprecedented career, delivering songs of substance. While the groups’ lovely voices and soaring harmonies have entertained, its songs have illuminated the complexities of the human spirit and spurred listeners toward closer relationships with each other and with God. In the process, the group has taken the church by storm, winning eight Dove Awards, two Grammy nods and garnering two platinum and five gold records as well as 29 No. 1 singles, 24 of which were consecutive. "We are honored to get to serve Point of Grace in the calling that they have had on their lives through music,” says Rod Riley, Sr. VP of Marketing, Word Label Group. “Their music has been an inspiration to so many people over the years and this record continues their calling in a vibrant way.” With producer Brown Bannister (Amy Grant, Building 429, Steven Curtis Chapman) at the helm, How You Live unites Americana musical influence with the classic vocal sound that has made Point Of Grace one of the world’s most identifiable groups in any genre. The first single, “All the World,” is a perfect example of the signature harmonies that have defined the group since its early days at Arkansas’ Ouachita Baptist University. The song’s upbeat message urges believers to look beyond their immediate circles to spread the gospel and “shine their light for everyone to see in all the world.” For years, the Point Of Grace members have never ceased to be a positive impact on this generation and culture, ever mindful of their position as role models to young women around the world (their Girls of Grace conferences alone draw tens of thousands each year and continue to grow). They have been obedient to God in using that platform to uplift and encourage other believers and share news of His mercy within a hurting world. Through it all, they also made personal choices, each marrying and having children, learning along the way to deftly juggle family and faith with ministry and music – making them even more relatable to their fans. In support of How You Live, Point Of Grace will perform on July 10th at The International Christian Retail Show in Atlanta, Georgia and will embark on a national promo tour later this summer. A national tour is also scheduled to kick off on the heels of the group’s upcoming album release in the Fall of 2007, followed by the annual “Winter Wonderland” Christmas tour. The group will also kick-off its new season of nationally recognized Girls of Grace conferences, with an unprecedented launch in February, 2008. For more information, visit www.pointofgrace.net, www.girlsofgrace.com, www.wordrecords.com and www.myspace.com/pointofgrace. (from LAB Media) Fervent Records’ award winning three-sister rock band, BarlowGirl, is launching their online “Speak Out” initiative this week to raise awareness and encourage fans to take a stand in what they believe and become more active in their faith. In support of their appropriately themed and titled July 24 CD release, How Can We Be Silent, the Internet campaign is a call to action for fans to “speak about hope, truth and love to a world in need” by sharing their own stories of brokenness and healing. The Speak Out website and mobile blog section is accessible through www.barlowgirl.com. In addition to inviting fans to “speak out,” the campaign will offer complementary elements in the future including behind-scene-videos, devotionals and more. Speak Out is the result of Rebecca, Alyssa and Lauren Barlow’s personal communication with fans since their music ministry began three years ago. “Night after night fans pour out their hearts and we realize more than ever the hurt, abandonment, guilt, pain and disillusionment this generation is experiencing,” says Lauren. “We’re standing up. We’re not afraid to fight for what we believe in, and we’re not going to back down. This is who we are. God has put so much in us; we can’t shut up about it. How can we be silent when we have so much truth to heal a wounded spirit?” In addition to the Speak Out campaign, Fervent Records is providing one of three free ringtones to fans that preorder How Can We Be Silent at www.barlowgirl.com. Each ringtone is featured on BarlowGirl’s new project, including the current chart-climbing radio single, “Here’s My Life.” Each pre-ordered CD will also be signed the band and accompanied by a CD sampler with enhanced BarlowGirl content and music from other Word Label Group artists. [Look for more on JFH about How Can We Be Silent soon!] (from Bozeman Media) “An Epiphany,” the first radio single from premiere Tooth & Nail Record’s band The Send, with frontman Joe Kisselburgh (recently with Falling Up), garnered the #1 position on R&R’s Christian Rock National Airplay Monitored chart this week. The chart-topping single is part of the band’s highly anticipated debut record, Cosmos that will release nationwide on July 31, 2007 through EMI Distribution. “An Epiphany,” has been rapidly climbing the charts and quickly gaining attention for its soaring melody and articulate lyrics. In conjunction with radio adds and chart success, the premiere video for the single also debuts this month to video formats such as VH1, MTV and the Gospel Music Channel. Garnering rave reviews and attention on YouTube and MySpace, the video is produced by world-renowned film veteran, Greg Pymm (Straylight Run, Juliana Theory, Starflyer 59) of fashion bleeds in New York. In support of its highly-anticipated debut album, The Send recently embarked on an unprecedented, 32 date Minor & Major League Baseball venue tour with punk-pop label mate, Hawk Nelson, on the TCAA Sports Presents The Faith Nights Hawk Nelson Summer Baseball Tour 2007. The tour has seen strong ticket sales numbers in all markets and runs throughout the summer months. The tour will make stops at four Major League Baseball parks, with concerts following games with some of the most respected teams in all of sports, including the LA Dodgers, Minnesota Twins, Milwaukee Brewers and Kansas City Royals. (from LAB Media) 18-year-old Krystal Meyers is gearing up for a busy fall, including performing at multiple Acquire the Fire conferences across the nation, with dates in Chicago, Detroit and Atlanta, among others. In addition, the songwriter recently shot a campaign for Journeys shoes that will premier in national teen magazines this fall. Next up for Krystal is a performance at Celebrate Freedom, the two day worship and celebration event held at Southfork Ranch outside Dallas, Texas on Friday, June 29. Last year the event drew over 200,000 attendees. (from Provident Label Group) *Friday, June 22nd, 2007* Having co-written nearly a dozen radio hits, winning 2 GRAMMY Awards and 10 years of touring under his belt, former Audio Adrenaline guitarist/songwriter Tyler Burkum has a solid base on which to build a successful solo career. Burkum is doing just that with the release of his debut solo EP, adequately titled Demo LP, which is available now on iTunes. In his first solo outing, Burkum offers a small taste of what is to come with a collection of intimate, heartfelt and homesick narratives written during the last year of touring with Audio Adrenaline. He recorded in hotels, parks, or any area that was immediately available. “The bulk of the EP was me and a guitar with a laptop and a borrowed microphone,” shares Burkum. “It’s only a demo but I wanted to get it out there and show a more personal side [of my music].” For something he downplays as ‘only a demo,’ the music ebbs and flows, carrying the listener along on a strikingly mature and self-actualized journey—a journey that provides poignant, quiet moments, and a fair share of insight into the ‘family photo album’. Having joined Audio Adrenaline at the tender age of 17, Burkum holds a ‘dream come true’ musical story. He joined Audio Adrenaline in 1997, which enabled Burkum to contribute to the recording of the GRAMMY nominated and Dove Award winning album Some Kind of Zombie. With Burkum’s new sound added to the band, they went on to release three more highly successful and award winning albums until the band’s retirement in 2007. In addition to his contributions to Audio Adrenaline, Burkum has also contributed his talents by playing guitar and touring with Mat Kearney (Columbia Records) who has opened for such noted acts as John Mayer and Sheryl Crow. For more information on Tyler Burkum, please visit www.tylerburkum.net or www.myspace.com/tylerburkum. (from BookEnd Media) Bebo Norman made an announcement yesterday about some upcoming touring plans... "I'm going to be touring this fall with some friends that you may know... Shane & Shane and Shawn McDonald. Fun times. We're still booking dates but you can see what we have planned already. The dates are posted on my myspace page and on my website. Tickets will be available for purchase through itickets.com in the next few days. So, keep checking back for more info." Sounds good, stay tuned... (from Bebo Norman; Jesusfreakhideout.com) We reported this news on Sunday, but here's the official press release... After twelve years with Essential records, Multi-Platinum and three time GRAMMY Award winning band Jars of Clay is now paving their own path with the creation of their own label imprint, “Gray Matters,” under the Nettwerk Music Group umbrella. Distribution will remain within Provident/Integrity Distribution system for both the CBA and general market. The first result of this new juncture will hit shelves in October, their debut Christmas CD, Christmas Songs, giving fans the Christmas record they’ve been wanting for years. "As we pursue the goal of making more music, and being creative in a spectrum of ways, Gray Matters will be able to facilitate any of the ideas we want to bring to life,” remarks lead singer Dan Haseltine. "This is such a great way for us to bring more art and music into being. We can collaborate with other artists and take ideas that always seemed to get caught up in the traditional label mire, and make sure those projects have a chance to be heard. This is the beginning of a very creative season. Gray Matters will be a fantastic way to share our artistic philosophy, by giving other artists and creative thinkers an outlet for their ideas." “With the creation of their “Gray Matters” imprint, the guys are charting new territory,” commented Nettwerk Management's Michael Corcoran. “By allowing the band to have a new type of ownership in their work, we’ve opened up their creative floodgates and are looking forward to watching “Gray Matters” grow and unfold. Christmas Songs is a first step in this unfolding, and the guys have really delivered, giving fans the Christmas record they’ve been wanting for years.” Jars of Clay launched their career with the universal hit, “Flood,” in 1995. Since then, they have amassed more than five million in career sales along with several RIAA certifications (5 Gold, 2 Platinum and 1 Double Platinum) an American Music Award nod, 17 No.1 radio hits, and numerous film credits and BMI honors for songwriting and performing. While celebrated for its music and writing, Jars of Clay is most concerned with the needs in Africa. Compelled to make a difference, members Dan Haseltine, Stephen Mason, Matt Odmark and Charlie Lowell founded the Blood:Water Mission in early 2002. The first effort of this non-profit was the “1000 Wells Project” with a goal of raising funds to build, rebuild and repair 1000 wells in urban and rural areas of sub-Saharan Africa. To date, 200 wells have been constructed bringing clean water to more than 100,000 people. (from The M Collective; Jesusfreakhideout.com) Aaron Gillespie has been best known for his bone-crunching vocals and talent behind the drums in the Florida-based band, Underoath. Now, his newer project, The Almost, lets Gillespie put a different, more melodic side of himself on display. Essentially a solo effort, the project has evolved into a full band with Jay Vilardi (guitar), Dusty Redmon (guitar), Alex Aponte (bass) and Kenny Bozich (drums) rounding out the lineup. The debut album, Southern Weather, was released April 3rd via Virgin/Tooth & Nail, and has sold over 72,000 copies since its debut at #29 on the Billboard 200. After wrapping up a successful spring tour with Paramore, a string of shows with Say Anything and a stint at the Bamboozle festival, The Almost will perform on the majority of the Vans Warped Tour this summer (except 6/21, 7/21 and 7/22), alongside Underoath. For this music-obsessed songwriter/singer, giving his fans a double-dose of his music at the highly-anticipated tour is nothing but a dream. Check out the latest e-card from The Almost here. Gillespie has a busy - and very “warped” - summer ahead of him. Not only will the singer/songwriter rock the drum set and vocals with Underoath, but he will also fill his position as frontman of his latest project, The Almost. With varying music in each of the two bands, Gillespie will truly be in two “places” at once. Both bands will play at this year’s Vans Warped Tour, with 47 tour dates, kicking off on June 29 in Pomona, CA. For more info, visit www.thealmost.com. (from Fanscape, Inc) DIRECTV, the nation’s leading satellite television provider, adds a burst of patriotism to the programming line up with Songs of Praise for America, a musical celebration in honor of our nation’s birthday. Hosted by NASCAR legend Darrell Waltrip and Dove Award-winner Natalie Grant, the special will debut June 30 and run throughout the 4th of July holiday on DIRECTV’s exclusive and inspirational Channel 103. A follow-up to the tremendously popular Songs of Praise series debut last year, Songs of Praise for America will take viewers on a musical celebration surrounding the 4th of July. During the 60-minute special, DIRECTV viewers will be treated to Michael W. Smith’s performance of "There She Stands," Nicole C. Mullen’s rendition of "Freedom," and Mark Schultz singing "Letters from War." The special will also include inspirational performances from the USMA Cadet Glee Club, Prestonwood Baptist Church Choir and the Brooklyn Tabernacle Choir. Throughout the program, viewers will watch everyday citizens share their memories of the holiday, and what it means to be Americans. “We’re celebrating the 4th from sea to shining sea with performances from the nation’s most inspirational artists and choirs,” said Eric Shanks, executive vice president, DIRECTV Entertainment. “We’ve got Darrell Waltrip, Natalie Grant and some of the nation’s finest servicemen to celebrate this great nation, and we’re letting our customers join in the spectacular with an unprecedented five-day broadcast.” Songs of Praise for America is part of an ongoing DIRECTV initiative to present more family-friendly and faith-based programming to DIRECTV subscribers. The special will air alongside Sunday Masses from Notre Dame on DIRECTV’s Channel 103. Songs of Praise for America is produced by DIRECTV Original Entertainment in conjunction with Propeller Consulting and Triple Horse Entertainment for broadcast exclusively on DIRECTV and is available at no additional cost to all DIRECTV subscribers. For more information on the artists and choirs performing in Songs of Praise for America, visit www.directv.com/songsofpraise (from The M Collective) Looking ahead to the September 25 release of its fourth studio album, The Remedy, David Crowder*Band is sending fans on a mysterious treasure hunt for sneak preview details about the new set at seven summer music festivals around the country. In an online post, the MSN 2006 Artist of the Year act writes, "summertime: sunshine, lemonade, music festivals, treasure hunts... we have left something for you, a gift. So, pay careful attention." Remaining festivals participating in the "search for The Remedy" include Cornerstone (June 27; Bushnell, IL), Creation Northeast (June 28; Mt. Union, PA), Sonshine (July 12; Willmar, MN), Creation Northwest (July 28; George, WA), and Spirit West Coast (August 2; Monterey, CA). Click here for more clues about how to find the gift at these select festivals, and don't forget to say, "I have been sent by David Crowder*Band for one of the seven remedies." Finally, be listening for the first radio single from The Remedy, "Everything Glorious," which hits airwaves starting June 22. (from Sparrow Records) *Wednesday, June 20th, 2007* Finally Blindside has broken silence (ha!) about the upcoming release of some new music. "We know it has been too long and we thank you for you patience and your passion in hanging in with us," the band announced this week. "We had planned on recording a brand new full length album this February when we found we had to pull up the anchor and leave our partnership with the record label. We didn't want to quit writing in the middle of the process, so we went into the studio to record a few songs we were working on to get you all some new music." The Black Rose EP was recorded partly in our Stockholm rehearsal studio and partly in Decibel Studios. "We had Stefan Glaumann (Rammstein) and Stefan Boman (Kent, The Hellacopters) mix the record and we are very pleased with the results." Five brand new songs lead the way, including: "The Way You Dance," "Slow Motion," "Pretty Nights," "The Color of My Eyes," and "The Black Rose." Followed by those are recordings from the Hultsfred Festival last summer, including: "My Alibi," "Fell in Love with the Game," and "When I Remember." The Black Rose EP will be available for download on Blindsideonline.com for a mere $4.99 starting next Tuesday, June 27th. You can also download the artwork with lyrics as a .pdf file from the webpage. Can't wait to hear the new music? No problem. The band has also uploaded the five new studio cuts to their myspace! Check them out now here! (from Blindside; Jesusfreakhideout.com) Leigh Nash recently cut a new song intended for a Lifetime television show but the station has decided not to use it. Interested in hearing the song? Nash has made it available for streaming on her myspace page despite the disappointing news. Leigh writes, "Just wanted to alert you to the new song on my page. I wrote it with Trent Dabbs (see top 8), he is great!~ Anyway the song was written for a Lifetime show called State of Mind. I don't think they're using it though. Sad, sad eyes because of this. Thanks a lot Lifetime, all the hours I put in with my sister watching movies with Judith Light or Meridith Baxter Burney, and this is what I get. Thank you. I'm still going to watch Golden Girls religiously, but still you get a scarcastic thank you. Anyway you can maybe enjoy the song...if you like it, you'll enjoy it. That's just the way things work. I'm writing lots of songs and doing good!" Visit www.myspace.com/leighnash now to hear her new song, "Bed Is Made." (from Leigh Nash; Jesusfreakhideout.com) Fans of Word Recording artist Building 429 turned up in droves for the band’s recent “You Carried Me” contest promotion. Select winners will appear in Building 429’s forthcoming music video for current radio single, “You Carried Me.” Kicking off on the band’s myspace page early April, fans were asked to submit personal stories describing how God had carried them through difficult times in their lives. Selected essays were featured on the site, with one grand prize winner receiving a flight to see Building 429 live in concert. Additionally, eight entries were chosen to be featured in an upcoming music video for “You Carried Me,” the stand-out track from Building 429’s May 1 release, Iris to Iris. The eight finalists traveled to Nashville on May 31, 2007, where they spent time with Building 429 before recording their stories live on camera. One participant, Stephanie Kulp from Winter Park, Fla. commented on the day’s events, “Thursday May 31st was one of the most amazing days of my life! I left that night feeling so blessed to have been a part of what B429 is doing, I can’t wait to see the final product!” “You Carried Me” is scheduled to air via national television video outlets next month. Additional details on the video’s premier are forthcoming. The video’s testimonies are available to view online at www.myspace.com/building429. Produced by Brown Bannister (MercyMe, The Afters, Steven Curtis Chapman, Third Day) and mixed by F. Reid Shippen (India.Arie, Johnny Lang,) Building 429’s latest project, Iris to Iris, has set a new standard for future Building 429 releases. The first single from Iris to Iris, “You Carried Me,” is currently in the Top 20 at Christian Adult Contemporary radio. Also, the band will be appearing at all major summer festivals including Collide Festival, Crossover Festival, Alive Festival, KLTY Celebrate Freedom, Lifest, SoulFest, Spirit West Coast, Youth Fest, Revelation Generation 2007 and LifeLight Festival. For a complete list of tour dates, visit www.building429.com. (from Savvy Media) Fan favorite Canadian foursome Hawk Nelson headed out last week for their first baseball park tour hitting the southern Minor League Baseball markets of Mobile, AL, Birmingham, AL, Jackson, TN, and Huntsville, AL selling more than 6,800 tickets in the debut week. On the Hawk Nelson Baseball Tour, the band performs a full concert either before or after the baseball game playing to fans who have purchased a concert ticket. The band will continue to play across the country hitting more than 30 baseball stadiums including the Major League Baseball franchises with the Kansas City Royals (7/28), L.A. Dodgers (8/19), and Minnesota Twins (9/15). In addition to hitting the baseball diamonds, Hawk Nelson will be partnering with Major League Baseball for a fun and creative promotion featuring the band on MLB.com, where the site receives nine million hits a day. The band will be visiting the New York headquarters for a studio performance and interview to be used throughout the baseball season. Hawk Nelson won the hearts of fans and media nationwide since their debut release in June 2004 with “Letters to the President.” Most recently, the band premiered the music video for the radio single “Zero,” which addresses teen suicide. The single is currently at No. 21 at Christian Rock and jumped nine slots to No. 17 at CHR. The video debuted on their MySpace receiving more than 150K plays in 72 hours. “Zero” can be viewed at this link. (from The M Collective) Amarillo-based duo Monk & Neagle will release its sophomore album, The Twenty-First Time—its first on Reunion Records— on Sept. 18. With this new project, the singer/songwriter pair delivers a storyteller’s delight, full of deep spiritual conviction, high-octane fun, passionate imagination, and sincere, heartfelt worship. Produced by Ed Cash, Gospel Music’s 2007 “Producer of the Year,” the duo’s phenomenal vocal work is powerfully evident, while the mark of distinction is found in the lyrical depth and meaning that permeates the record. “These stories, these songs were born in the everyday,” Michael Neagle says, “from the conviction that comes out of personal experience, faith in the middle of doubt, and our desire to unbox the Gospel. To show how relevant it is to where we all live.” Teaming up with Cash, The Twenty-First Time exceeds the John Mayer/Jack Johnson/Bebo Norman jazz/acoustic-pop fusion established on Monk & Neagle’s 2004 self-titled debut with even more irresistible hooks and melodies. “I’ve worked on a lot of great records,” says Cash, “and the special ones you can usually identify. From the beginning, the songs to me on this record are simply at another level… It’s been amazing, watching these guys bring them to life.” Monk & Neagle will be on the road this fall as part of the highly-anticipated MercyMe tour featuring Aaron Shust. For more information on Monk & Neagle, please visit www.monkandneagle.com or www.reunionrecords.com. The musical partnership of Monk & Neagle sprang to life organically in Texas out of a 12-year friendship between Trent Monk and Michael Neagle. Crafting lyrics that reveal stories about ordinary life and celebrating extraordinary love and relationships remain front and center for the guys. The Twenty-First Time is the follow-up to Monk & Neagle’s self-titled debut, which was released by Flicker Records in 2004. (from Provident Label Group) Until June, new pop/rock band on Flicker/Sony-BMG, will be featured on the upcoming third season edition of Grey's Anatomy box set collection, with their song “What I've Done,” which will be used on the promo spot of the hot television series' new spin-off, Private Practice. The DVD collection will be released on September 11. Until June, featuring brothers Josh Ballard and (vocals/keyboards) Dan Ballard (guitar); joined by Daniel Dempsey (drums) has crafted a CD that represents the virtue of pushing through one's fears, no matter what. Their sound, and their songwriting is uniquely their own -- creating tunes that will remain with the listener long after they've heard it for the first time. Says Garcia: "I immediately felt a sense of connection with the band when first hearing their music; especially their infectious melodies! I also recognized the potential Josh had with his unique vocal delivery and I hoped to play a part in assisting the band to realize that potential." Until June's CD is available nationwide and debuted in the Top 100 "New Artist" chart. The band plans to embark on a U.S. summer tour in August; specific dates to TBA. For more information regarding Until June please log on to: www.myspace.com/untiljune or www.untiljune.com (from The M Collective) The Elms are prepping for a new album. Frontman Owen Thomas writes, "We're up to a new song count of nearly 30 now. We'll be in the studio for the first two weeks of July beginning the process of making sense of it all. Just when we think we've written all there is to write for these recording sessions, 3 or 4 new tunes pop out of the sky, and we all convene to see how they live when we all get together to bang them out. Problem is, they all sound great... Sometimes the toughest part is letting go of some of the ones you love for the sake of the collective. We've all sort of vowed to keep very hushed about the material we're creating, and the parameters under which it will be released. But I'll say again that we (The Elms) are operating on a very special level right now, fueled by our belief in one another and in these songs. I'll get more transparent with you as days roll on. For now, I'll just say that I'm so proud of Chris, Thom, and Nathan, and the songs in the making now are the most collaborative and special that they've ever been for us." For the latest on the band, visit www.myspace.com/theelms (from The Elms; Jesusfreakhideout.com) Big Idea, Inc., home to VeggieTales, the world’s most popular faith-based kids brand, announces the upcoming release of God Made You Special, a landmark collection of four delightful VeggieTales stories all on one DVD. With 75 minutes of running time and an SRP of $14.99, this DVD collection releases nationwide August 11 and 14, 2007 in Christian and general market stores respectively. God Made You Special will be supported by a far-reaching marketing and promotions campaign that will target both the Christian and general markets. In addition to extensive grassroots promotions along with print, radio, Internet, retailer, and billboard advertising, Big Idea, Inc. will partner with Desert Glory Nature Sweet Vine Ripened Tomatoes for the first time. “We are delighted to present this landmark collection inspired by our well-known and much loved tagline ‘God made you special, and He loves you very much,’” says Big Idea Senior VP of Marketing Greg Fritz. “And as part of our extensive marketing and promotional campaign, we are pleased to announce the exciting new partnership with Nature Sweet.” “We are thrilled to partner with VeggieTales on the release of God Made You Special, “ says Desert Glory Marketing Director Kathryn Ault. “There is a natural connection between our two companies, as we each serve families with a product that promotes a healthy lifestyle, growth and overall well being.” Nature Sweet will run a special cross-promotion on five million Nature Sweet Tomato packages beginning this August. Each package will feature a $3 mail-in-rebate offer with the purchase of the God Made You Special DVD and one Nature Sweet Tomato package. Account-specific IRC offers are also planned, resulting in one free package of tomatoes with the purchase of the God Made You Special DVD. Featuring the all-new adventure “Bob’s Vacation,” three classic VeggieTales stories and two Silly Songs, this fun-filled collection will help kids understand that they are unique and special just the way God made them. In addition to the hilarious and heart-warming VeggieTales content, the DVD is jam-packed with bonus features, including several personal and inspirational stories from VeggieTales fans. Big Idea is also featuring many other fan stories on its website, www.bigidea.com. (from Hoganson Media) Featuring three stages of performances from some of the hottest bands impacting the music scene today, as well as an art gallery, skate park, paint ball and top speakers from across the country, Purple Door Festival announces the official line-up for its 2007 event, to be held at Ski Roundtop in Lewisberry, PA August 17-18. Hosting a healthy diet of favorites and a diverse array of critically acclaimed newcomers, the 12th annual edition of the Festival boasts nationally known artists such as Relient K, Anberlin, mewithoutYou, Haste the Day, Norma Jean, As Cities Burn, Colour Revolt, Sherwood, Denison Witmer, Red, The Devil Wears Prada, Derek Webb, Family Force 5, Leeland, and Cool Hand Luke as well as local favorites August Burns Red, Kheris and Farewell Flight. "We are very pleased to have such a varied group of heavy-hitters on our schedule this year," explains Chris Strayer, festival director. "Many of these bands are leaving a significant mark on today's music scene and will bring out a new audience to the event. This, of course, is in addition to our thousands of loyal supporters who have been attending over the past 12 years. Over a dozen of the bands performing have had albums hit Billboard's "Top 50" or "Heatseekers" sales charts this year, plus many bands on our bill are slated to perform on this summer's premier national stages including Vans Warped Tour, Lollapalooza and Ozzfest. We're very excited about the quality of this year's lineup." Timothy Eddings, program director, adds, "Our goal is to not only provide quality entertainment for those attending, but to showcase what Christians are doing in today's music and art world. We hope to let today's youth culture know that creativity has a place in the context of the church." Purple Door also presents top speakers from across the country, including Eric Simmons who will present a gospel message and Rev. Eric Timm who will talk about meeting the needs of the world's hungry. In addition to being one of the Northeast's larger new music festivals, a continuing tradition of the event is the Purple Door Art Gallery. The Gallery serves to encourage both young and emerging artists to use their talents as a careful, well-considered expression through various visual media, as the artist relates to the surrounding world at large. This year's plans also include a collaborative installation featuring work from professional artists from Lancaster, Philadelphia, Ohio and Tennessee. In the vein of cultivating talent, Purple Door also gives artists the opportunity to showcase their musical ability through the New Band Showcase stage, sponsored by Mono Vs Stereo. Interested bands can submit a three song demo cd, along with a band bio for consideration and a panel of judges will choose the three of the most promising acts to perform on the Gallery stage on the Friday night of the Festival. For more information about Purple Door, a complete list of artists performing and details on submitting demos or artwork for the New Band Showcase and the Art Gallery, please visit www.purpledoor.com. (from Springboard Entertainment) *Sunday, June 17th, 2007* In an article written by Deborah Evans Price and posted on Yahoo! Music from Reuters/Billboard, Price reported on an exciting new venture for Jars Of Clay... "After 12 years on Essential Records, Jars of Clay is exiting to launch a new imprint, Gray Matters, under the Nettwerk Music Group umbrella. "Having our own imprint will give us the opportunity to be more spontaneous and more prolific in how much music we kick out," Jars of Clay's Stephen Mason said. The first Gray Matters release will be a Christmas collection, due October 17, which Jars will support via a Christmas tour with Third Day. Mason said the band also plans to record a soundtrack for a documentary a friend is making about the African village of Lwala. Mason and bandmates Dan Haseltine, Matt Odmark and Charlie Lowell rose to prominence in the mid-'90s in the Christian market and gained mainstream success with the multiformat hit "Flood." They have continued to appeal to both markets. Last fall, they released Good Monsters, which has scanned 134,000 units, according to Nielsen SoundScan. Jars' former label, Essential, is part of Provident Music Group, Sony BMG's Christian music arm. Provident will distribute Gray Matters product to Christian retailers, and Sony BMG will take releases to the mainstream market. "We're excited there's so much more we can involve ourselves in," Mason said of the opportunity, under the new deal, to exert more control over the band's career. "Things that most people are happy to turn over to someone else, we love that minutiae." (from Deborah Evans Price; Yahoo! Music) Veteran recording artist, performer and worship leader Michael W. Smith was honored recently by the Recording Academy at the “GRAMMY Salute To Gospel Music” event at the Lincoln Theater in Washington, DC., Friday, June 8. Smith, along with The Clark Sisters and Dr. Bobby Jones, was presented with the Recording Academy President’s Merit Award which recognizes the contributions that key individuals have made in the music industry and the impact their efforts have had on music and the business of music. The GRAMMY Salute To Gospel Music event recognizes those who have made significant contributions to gospel music, while supporting the history and importance of the genre. Last weeks event featured performances by four-time GRAMMY winner Yolanda Adams, soulful gospel singer Vanessa Bell Armstrong, award-winning gospel singer Byron Cage, honorees The Clark Sisters, contemporary Christian music singer Crystal Lewis, two-time GRAMMY winner Donnie McClurkin, contemporary gospel singer Kierra “Kiki” Sheard, gospel composer/pianist/arranger Richard Smallwood, honoree Michael W. Smith and four-time GRAMMY winner BeBe Winans. Performances were under the leadership of award-winning musical director Donald Lawrence. During Smith’s portion of the evening, Crystal Lewis performed a moving version of “Breathe” before a very interactive crowd. Donnie McClurkin then took stage and sang, “Place in this World” followed by the Michael W. Smith classic, “Friends.” Smith humbly accepted the Recording Academy President’s Merit Award and then sang, “Above All” before an audience on its feet. (from Provident Label Group) If you've been waiting for Project 86 vocalist Andrew Schwab to take revenge on his band for trying to "kill" him in the outrageous video "The Spy Hunter" and found the surprisingly redemptive "My Will Be A Dead Man" to be a rather unsatisfactory follow-up, you just might get some guilty pleasure out of seeing the band's latest video for "Evil (A Chorus Of Resistance)." Of course, this one is clearly the band's silliest and most ridiculous video, which involves a pot of hot coffee, a milkshake, and a whole lot of condiments... To check out the spastic new video, visit their myspace here. The band's sixth studio album (and new DVD), titled Rival Factions, hits streets this Tuesday, June 19! (from Jesusfreakhideout.com) “You,” the first radio single from premiere Sparrow Records artist, Britt Nicole, landed at #8 on the CHR chart this week as reported by Radio & Records. The debut single is from Britt Nicole’s debut project, Say It, which released May 22, 2007 with an overwhelming support from fans, industry, consumers and critics alike. Up two spots from last week, “You” continues to climb the charts and is also ranked as “Most Added Overall” on AC Radio. “You” has also garnered success on the AC Monitored and AC Indicator charts, landing at #16 on both. The single currently holds the title of most added overall at AC with 4 total adds this week alone, including adds at highly respected stations including K-Love, Fish/LA, and The Joy FM/Tampa-Sarasota, among others. Following closely behind her current and increasing radio success, Britt will also appear on the cover of the upcoming July issue of Focus on the Family’s BRIO magazine, which is centered around teaching, entertaining and challenging teen girls toward a healthy self-concept and closer relationship with Jesus Christ – exactly in line with what Britt’s personal message is all about. Britt’s inherent and natural heart to minister to the teens of this generation is heard through her music, seen through her life and solidified through the strong, positive media support she has already been receiving. Britt will also headline a special concert event on July 4 in Miami, FL, held specifically for the Brio staff and a summer Brio missions team comprised of teen girls and guys from around the country. The special event will kick off BRIO magazine’s annual mission trip and will serve as a “send-off” for the 600 teenage girls and guys as they prepare to minister in Peru. She is also consistently currently touring the country in support of Say It, performing at youth camps, churches and at major festivals throughout the summer months. She can be seen this summer at CreationFest Northeast, CreationFest Northwest, Spirit West Coast, 94.9 FM KLTY’s Celebrate Freedom Festival and numerous other high profile concert events. For more information about Britt Nicole, please visit www.myspace.com/brittnicolemusic and www.brittnicole.com (from L.A.B. Media) Big Daddy Weave's "Every Time I Breathe," the title cut from their late 2006 release, climbed to the top of R&R's AC/Monitored chart this week. In addition to claiming the No. 1 spot at AC/Monitored, the single is currently No. 2 on the AC/Indicator, Top 10 on INSP and rising on CHR charts. "Every Time I Breathe" is Big Daddy Weave's third No. 1 career single. Big Daddy Weave instantly hit the spotlight in 2002 when One and Only debuted in SoundScan's Christian Top 5, the highest debut for a new artist that year. Garnering its first CHR No. 1 at radio with "Audience of One," other hit songs include "In Christ" (One and Only), the No. 1 "You're Worthy Of My Praise" (What I Was Made For), and "Fields Of Grace," the title track from Big Daddy Weave's 2003 release. Big Daddy Weave has additionally been featured on several special event albums such as: Dove Hits, WoW Hits, WoW Worship, WoW Christmas and the Absolute series. (from Word Records) On Tuesday, June 5, Word Entertainment announced the re-launch of legendary Southern Gospel label, Canaan Records, at a sales conference that took place at the "W" in Franklin, TN. Word also took this opportunity to showcase the first group to sign, Southern Gospel music favorite, The Hoppers. As a subsidiary of Word, Canaan Records began in 1965 as an outlet for Southern Gospel music. It included Southern Gospel greats such as The Happy Goodman Family, The Florida Boys, The Inspirations, The Nelons, and The Cathedrals. Dave Clark, a well-known figure in the Christian music industry as well as accomplished songwriter, has been selected by Word Entertainment CEO, Jim Van Hook, to take the reins of this new venture. Dave commented, "As a young songwriter back in the 70's, my first cuts were on the Canaan label and many of my songwriting heroes wrote for Canaanland music. Men like Marvin Norcross helped pave the way for many of us through the years. I realize with the legacy of the past there comes a responsibility for the future. That's why the Hoppers are the perfect group to begin this next chapter. They represent all of the things that attracted me to gospel music so many years ago. Their commitment to quality, integrity, consistency, and a passion for ministry are just a few of the reasons they are still making a difference in their 50th year." Part of Dave's responsibilities will also include overseeing the redevelopment of the Canaanland publishing imprint, which was one of the leading Southern Gospel publishers in the 70's and 80's. Rhonda Thompson of Rhonda Thompson Promotions will play an integral part in the establishment of Canaan's role in Southern Gospel's presence on the radio waves. For over thirteen years, Rhonda's career includes promoting over forty number one hits as well as being named "SGMA Radio Promoter Of The Year" for an unprecedented five years. (from Word Records) *Thursday, June 14th, 2007* Crunk-rockers Family Force 5 have won Yahoo! Music's "Who's Next" May contest promotion. The much-coveted voting program, fueled by the fan's favorite picks, found Family Force beating out competitors including The Almost, Kaiser Chiefs, and Electric Soft Parade for the month-long run of online voting. As the winning band, Family Force 5 will tape an exclusive performance and interview at the Yahoo! Music studios in Los Angeles, as well as being featured for a full month online. Family Force 5 was most recently showcased on Gospel Music Channel's one-hour "Front Row Live" performance on May 19th. Other highlights to date have included performances on CBS TV's The Late Late Show With Craig Ferguson, two performances on DIRECTV's CD USA, and music video play on MTVU.com. Christian radio has responded as well with two #1 rock radio hits "Replace Me" and "Love Addict." Fans can anticipate Family Force 5 on this summer's Vans Warped Tour, of which they'll play 27 dates on the Hurley Stage. They are also confirmed on all the major summer music festivals including Creation East, Cornerstone Festival, Creation West, Ichthus, and Spirit West Coast. The band's current release Business Up Front, Party In The Back: Diamond Edition (March 20th), includes three new songs and expanded packaging added to the original 2006 album. The Diamond Edition debuted on the Billboard Heatseekers Chart at #12. The album has now sold over 60,000 copies since release. (from LB PR) Brad Avery, of GRAMMY-winning and multi-Platinum-certified Christian rock band Third Day, has co-penned “Thank You,” a stirring anthem selected as the new theme song for A Million Thanks, www.amillionthanks.org. Written with friend, Scott Thomas, “Thank You” is a stirring anthem written from the perspective of someone back home, writing a letter of gratitude to a soldier fighting somewhere across the globe. The song shares a common focus with this unique, charitable campaign. The inspiration for “Thank You” began at an airport when Scott Thomas met a soldier who was departing for Fallujah after a two week visit with his family in the U.S. After a moving conversation, Scott felt led to reach out in some way, but didn't know what to do. With all of the negative news coverage of the war, none of which focused on our soldiers and their sacrifice, he decided to write a song to show his gratitude. With help from his good friend, Brad Avery, they put their thoughts and feelings to music. Avery and Thomas hope to encourage soldiers and their families by letting them know the gratitude felt for their sacrifice for our country and our freedom. “We also hope to incite others to express their thanks verbally and through random acts of kindness to soldiers and their families,” shares Avery. Another person moved to reach out in thanks to our soldiers is Shauna Fleming, a recent high school graduate from Orange, Calif. and founder of A Million Thanks. The year-round campaign was launched when Shauna was a freshman in order to show our U.S. Military Men and Women, past and present, appreciation for their sacrifices, dedication, and service to our country through our letters, emails, cards, prayers, and thoughts. When Shauna heard “Thank You,” she loved it and decided to make it the campaign’s theme song. “‘Thank You’ is exactly what the A Million Thanks organization is all about,” she says. “The song lyrics match what Americans say in the millions of thank you letters that we have received and distributed to the troops around the world. We pray for them, we miss them and we want to thank them.” A Million Thanks has collected and distributed over three million thank you letters and cards to U.S. military members since March, 2004. Along the way, Fleming has partnered with General Motors to further the efforts of her organization. GM featured Fleming in a series of national commercials aired during the month of May, National Military Appreciation Month. In the ads, Fleming asks viewers to thank our military men and women by writing a thank you letter and depositing them in special A Million Thanks mailboxes at all 3,500 Buick, Pontiac and GMC dealers across the country. Their goal collecting one million thank you letters during the month of May was achieved. In February, Fleming flew to Washington, D.C. to present the program’s 2.6 millionth letter to Army Command Sgt. Maj. Willam J. Gainey, senior enlisted advisor to the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. The total represented the number of men and women in the nation’s active and reserve-component forces. She also visited Walter Reed Army Medical Center’s Fisher and Mologne houses to visit with recovering service members, bringing with her about 600 letters, thank you cards and Valentine’s Day wishes she received through A Million Thanks. Fleming has also established the “Wounded Soldier’s Wish Foundation” to raise funds to help wounded soldiers returning from duty to obtain some things they need most. It is similar to the Make-A-Wish charity, but will focus specifically on the needs of those wounded during the War on Terror. “We’re thrilled to be a part of what Shauna is doing,” says Avery. “She’s a leader and has such a passion for our soldiers. I hope we can communicate our deepest gratitude to our troops for their sacrifice. We’re proud of them and are very aware of their battle on behalf of our country, each and every day.” For more info on A Million Thanks, visit www.amillionthanks.org. (from Provident Label Group) Jeremy Camp performed before a sold out crowd of 5500 people at the Gibson Amphitheater in LA during an Evan Almighty sponsored benefit concert for Habitat for Humanity this past Monday night. Switchfoot, and Relient K also performed. The show will air this Saturday, June 16th on the Gospel Music Channel and TBN. The day before the concert, Camp was invited to attend the LA premiere of the film. His attendance on the red carpet was captured on Ieading film industry site IESB.net and Themoviereporter.com here. In true Jeremy Camp fashion, his latest best selling record, Beyond Measure continues to turn out hit radio singles. With eleven back to back No. 1 singles under his belt, including his first two releases from Beyond Measure, “Tonight” (CHR) and “What It Means” (AC), Camp’s latest singles, “Give You Glory” and “Let It Fade” are continuing to solidify Camp as a cross format hit machine. “Give You Glory” is #1 on R&R AC Indicator, #3 AC Monitored, just debuted on the INSPO charts, and “Let It Fade” just hit top ten at CHR. This summer Camp is headlining numerous summer festivals and is planning an acoustic tour for the fall. (from The M Collective) Midas Records band Rush Of Fools continues to make history with its unprecedented radio chart success as “Undo” repositions itself once again at the #1 slot on the R&R Christian AC Monitored chart this week. The band’s debut single also remains at the #1 slot for the sixth consecutive week on the CRW Comprehensive chart and holds at #1 for the eighth consecutive week on Billboard’s Mediabase Christian AC chart. Garnering radio adds at a number of highly respected stations around the nation, “Undo” will be featured this weekend as a brand new add on Air 1 and Way-FM networks. With an astounding 100% of AC reporting stations in the country currently playing the single, Rush Of Fools has had rapid success with “Undo.” After going for adds at radio on January 12, 2007, the debut single quickly climbed radio charts and immediately garnered the highest score in history on “20 The Countdown Magazine’s” listener poll. My Space has been flooded with messages describing incredible life-changing stories of hope and inspiration from listeners that share personal stories about how lives have been impacted by the lyrics, heart and message of the song. (from LAB Media) Having impacted families worldwide in the past decade via broadcast, live appearances, and retail, popular children’s entertainer Miss PattyCake finds a new home at Indelible Creative Group. The Miss PattyCake catalogue, as well as all future products, will be available at retail via Word Distribution. Last month marked Miss PattyCake’s debut project with Indelible Creative Group and Word Distribution. “Miss PattyCake’s Sing-A-Long Fun Pack” includes 32 God-centered songs on three DVDs with easy to follow on-screen lyrics. The May 1 release is the first in a series of new Miss PattyCake products Indelible Creative Group will introduce throughout the next year. In addition, Word Distribution plans a re-release of the entire Miss PattyCake catalogue this fall. “Miss PattyCake has impacted so many families through video, music, and books,” says Chris Thomason, president of Indelible Creative Group. “We at Indelible are excited to represent a brand and entertainer that loves family ministry, planting seeds of faith in children. The catalog as well as the new releases being filmed this year will be great additions to the Indelible and Word families of products.” “The exuberant cheerfulness and kid-friendly spiritual nuggets Miss PattyCake delivers on each of her DVD’s have made her a household favorite and retail must have,” comments Jim Nehs, vice president of CBA sales for Word Distribution. “Word Distribution is honored to once again represent Miss PattyCake’s line of products in the CBA marketplace and looks forward to contributing to its growth.” “Miss PattyCake is all about the good things, and getting them into children,” says Miss PattyCake, Jean Thomason. “I am so very happy to be working with others who have the same mission. Partnered with Indelible Creative Group and Word Distribution, we are expecting God to help us put big things into many little lives.” Thomason has been performing as Miss PattyCake since 1994, when she created the character for Integrity Music. She has released numerous videos including three titles (Hullabaloo Zoo, Bubbling Joy and Eggstravaganza) that have been certified Gold by the Recording Industry Association of America. She also recorded two CDs - - Colors, Numbers, ABCs and a lullaby project titled Good Night World. She has performed before more than 500,000 women at Women of Faith conferences across the U.S. and for thousands of childrens’ pastors at Children’s Pastor Conferences. Thomason continues to travel the U.S. as Miss PattyCake, performing concerts and appearing at book and music stores. (from Savvy Media) *Wednesday, June 13th, 2007* The wait is almost over as the three-sister band, BarlowGirl, is scheduled to release their highly-anticipated third project on Fervent Records, How Can We Be Silent, on July 24. The new album features 10 original compositions by Barlow members, Rebecca, Alyssa, and Lauren, and showcases deeper, more mature lyrics that signify the strength of this new project. The songs are a bold approach in standing up for God and fighting for what is right, with the cover artwork featuring the group in a boxing ring. The album even sports a song entitled “One More Round,” which is one of Rebecca’s favorites. “It was inspired by a teaching on a Focus on the Family radio broadcast,” she recalls. “The guest was an ex-football player and he talked about boxing and how our spiritual life is like being in a boxing ring. It doesn’t matter how many times we are knocked down, we need to get right back up and keep following what God has for us.” To further support the album, BarlowGirl will launch their “Speak Out” campaign to encourage this generation to become more vocal in their faith. The campaign begins June 15th at www.barlowgirl.com/speakout and offers various songs from How Can We Be Silent as streaming audio, in addition to a video song-by-song, Speak Out devotionals, voice message access, text sign-up, ringtones, email sign-up, Speak Out themed t-shirts and more. Spreading the Good News to everyone’s communities, homes and schools, BarlowGirl hopes the information on the website will encourage everyone to be a leader, a world changer and be one to SPEAK OUT. The first single from How Can We Be Silent, “Here’s My Life,” was serviced to CHR radio on June 8 and will be serviced to AC radio on June 22. The song is autobiographical about how the Barlow sisters overcome the difficulties of life on the road by surrendering their lives to God’s call to ministry. And on July 6, Rock radio will receive “Million Voices,” a favorite for Lauren and an anthem for this generation. “We’re standing up, we’re not afraid to fight for what we believe in, and we’re not going to back down. This is who we are. God has put so much in us; we can’t shut up about it. How can we be silent when we see the brokenness in people’s lives and we personally know the Creator and Savior of the world? That title is to challenge our generation. You can’t be silent anymore.” (from Bozeman Media) Best-selling Inpop Records duo and one of the most sought after bands on college campuses and beyond, Shane & Shane, is poised to release their first studio album in nearly three years, Pages, August 28. Their sixth album features 13 impassioned songs, plus a bonus track, and was co-produced by Shane Everett and Shane Barnard alongside Will Hunt (Bethany Dillon, Shawn McDonald, Robbie Seay Band). Recorded at Shane & Shane’s very own Spaceway Studios in Dallas, TX, Pages was named for a reference to the journal pages on which Barnard wrote much of the album and features the radio single currently climbing the charts, “We Love You Jesus.” “I was looking out a coffee shop window, and I just got surprised with this song,” relays Barnard grasping for words to describe the experience. He had just finished writing all the songs for Pages when “We Love You Jesus” presented itself. “I’m sure that this song, if it’s playing in the heavens, is much better than I’ve relayed here, but the song came so fast, it felt like it happened without me.” Opening up his Bible after “hearing” the song, he turned to 1st Corinthians Chapter 15. “Death oh death, where is your sting, it has been swallowed up in victory,” read Barnard. He did not realize that the verse and the song would come to mean so much to him as shortly thereafter his father, a new believer, died. “I remember singing this a week after my dad died and I had this moment of praise. While I hope the song does well on radio, I feel like the reason this song happened is because God let me see that my dad is getting to see Him for the first time with unveiled eyes. I feel like the song has been a sweet gift from the Lord.” "What manner of love is this that you would say / Your sin is mine - I'll take it to the grave (then rising) / Death oh death, where is your sting today? / Death is swallowed up in victory / We love You, Jesus!" “‘We Love You Jesus’ - the title alone conjures up so much emotion,” says Steve Etheridge, KPEZ (Austin, TX) music director. “Shane & Shane have managed to capture that emotion and deliver a beautiful song both lyrically and musically.” One of the industry’s biggest concert draws, Shane & Shane will be playing “We Love You Jesus” and other fan favorites spanning its repertoire of hits while in concert this summer at numerous festivals, conferences, colleges and churches. Widely known for its engaging live performance, the duo also headlines the Pages 60-plus-city fall tour with acclaimed special guests Bebo Norman and Shawn McDonald. The tour begins mid-August and runs through mid-November. Shane Everett and Shane Barnard formed the duo Shane & Shane soon after a mutual friend asked Everett if Barnard could borrow a guitar for a concert in 1997. In December 2001, they signed with Inpop Records, home to such notable acts as newsboys, Superchick, Mat Kearney, Tree63 and others. Since then, the acoustic-guitar wielding pair has become a college-circuit favorite with five label releases to its credit, hundreds of thousands of albums sold, Dove Award nominations, plus countless hours logged on the road, including headlining tours with Mat Kearney, David Crowder Band, Bethany Dillon, Robbie Seay Band, among others. The duo can also be found leading worship for the college bible study at Grand Prairie Bible Church in Grand Prairie, TX. For more information on Shane & Shane, the latest tour itinerary, etc., visit www.shaneandshane.com, www.inpop.com or www.myspace.com/shaneandshane. (from The M Collective) The new Tooth & Nail Podcast is the only place you can hear a clip of a brand new song from Thousand Foot Krutch's new album The Flame In All Of Us! Check it out by downloading the podcast for free from the iTunes Store here. The Flame In All Of Us hits stores September 18th! (from Thousand Foot Krutch) TAG Artist Group is proud to present a special summer concert series at Puckett's Grocery and Restaurant (120 4th Ave. South, Franklin, Tenn.) displaying the talents of the extensive TAG artist roster, which includes mainstays of Christian music as well as up-and-coming artists. The concerts take place each Thursday night in June beginning at 6:00 p.m. CST and are open to the public. Admission is by donation. For more information on this event, please call Puckett's Grocery and Restaurant at 615-794-5527. GMA Dove Award winner Cheri Keaggy, along with special guest and acclaimed independent singer/songwriter JJ Heller, kicked off this special concert series on June 7, 2007, celebrating the launch of Keaggy's new album, Because He First Loved Us, which released June 12, 2007. Darrell Mansfield, one of the world's premiere blues harmonica players, will commemorate his 30+ year career and the upcoming release of his new album, Shades, by taking the stage on Thursday, June 14, 2007, with special guests GMA Dove Award nominee Rick Cua, acclaimed bassist Jackie Street and the Dan H Band. Dove Award-winning singer/songwriter Mitch McVicker will showcase songs from his upcoming CD, Love Will Rise, the following week on June 21, 2007. Then Rick Cua will wrap up the June series on June 28, 2007, by introducing the audience to songs from his upcoming CD, Won't Fade Away, and he will be joined by special guest JJ Heller. (from McCain PR) Traditional spirituals, turn-of-the-century New Orleans Gospel, and a slice of influence from Johnny Cash describes the musical portrait from INO Records’ artist Mike Farris, whose musical background stems from founding the Screamin' Cheetah Wheelies to touring with the likes of Blues Traveler, Sheryl Crow and the Allman Brothers Band. Farris’ INO debut, Salvation in Lights, is set to release June 26th. Mike Farris’s music and soulful voice is capturing the likes of iTunes, today it is the featured Discovery Download where you can download “Sit Down Servant” for free at this link. Farris will wow Music City with two local performances during street week. Farris shares the excitement and anticipation on the upcoming release, "These are the best days of my life!! A year ago at this time I was recording the basic tracks for what was to become the album Salvation In Lights. I have every reason to be anxious, worried, scared and full of fear, but today, as I write, yours truly is worry free. We have incredible things happening that I would have never dreamed would happen. All in all I have been blessed in so many ways and given so many things that I honestly thought was beyond reach! I have to remind myself that it wasn't that long ago that wondered if I would ever get to play music again, and now here I am, having the chance to play my favorite music in the world with the best musicians and singers in the world, enjoying what is truly, the best days of my life.” (from The M Collective) *Monday, June 11th, 2007* Kevin Max's wife Amanda has given birth to their second child, Wilder Liam Max, who came into the world at 7:01pm on Wednesday, June 6, 2007, at Baptist Hospital in Nashville, Tennessee. Wilder, who joins big sister London (age 2), weighed 8 pounds, 1 ounce. The Max family recently relocated to the Nashville area, where Kevin is working on his upcoming album, The Blood, due this fall from Infinity Music Distribution. With dcTalk, Max accrued album sales exceeding 8 million, as well as numerous Grammy and Dove Awards. In recent years, Max explored his art and his faith with several critically acclaimed solo projects, and live performances worldwide. For a photo of Kevin and Wilder, click here! (from Nashville Publicity) Underoath and Solid State/Tooth & Nail have confirmed the July 17, 2007 release of 777, which marks the band’s first-ever DVD offering. The DVD package includes never-before-seen footage from the band’s major 2006-2007 tours that encompass the Vans Warped Tour, Taste of Chaos International and Bamboozle Festivals as well as intimate shows spanning the last two years. Bonus features include behind-the-scenes clips from several world tours and backstage home videos as well as a “Making Of” documentary for the group’s current video “You’re Ever So Inviting” that was filmed in Sweden earlier this year. 777 includes select songs from the group’s “MySpace Secret Show” live performance shot on location in Tampa, FL on June 20, 2006, the launch date of Underoath’s ground-breaking third album Define The Great Line. 777 was produced by Michelle Caputo and directed by Shannon Hartman of Art and Industry (Bastards Of Young). For more information visit: www.artandindustryinc.com. Rarely does a monumental record find itself matched with the promise of commercial success, but the strength, intensity and explosive lure of Define The Great Line--released via Seattle indie Tooth & Nail/Solid State Records--is undeniable. With over 98,000 units scanned in its first week of release and charting at #2 on the Billboard Top 200 chart-- the highest chart debut for a Tooth & Nail artist--Underoath proved they are here to stay, earning the first gold-certified album of their career. In video news, Underoath’s video for their new single “You’re Ever So Inviting”-- lensed by the avant-garde Swedish production team Popcore--has officially been added into rotation on MTV2 and FUSE and is now airing on MTV2 “T Minus Rock” and Fuse “Steven’s Untitled Rock Show.” Underoath will also be the featured artist on MTV2’s "The Drop." On Saturday, June 16 “The Drop” will air three songs from Underoath’s breakthrough Define The Great Line album--“Writing On The Walls” “In Regards To Myself” and the new single “You’re Ever So Inviting”—alongside unique graphic visual effects. The songs will air a total of nine times (three times each) throughout “The Drop” within MTV2’s Saturday Rock block from 7:00 PM-11:00PM EST/PST. Check it out online at: http://www.mtv2.com/#the_drop. The explosive Underoath--known for their thrilling mix of mayhem and melody, catharsis and experimental metal--have built their fan base from incessant touring and their unrelentingly intense live shows. Look for them to perform on the main stage of the East Coast dates of the Vans Warped Tour this summer from July 23 through August 9. After their Warped run, the group will launch their own headlining U.S. tour in September. To date, Underoath has sold over one million albums worldwide. (from MSO PR) GRAMMY-nominated and Dove Award-winning, Red’s debut release, End of Silence, has entered the Top 10 on the Billboard Heatseekers Album Chart. End of Silence released June 6, 2006. Red bassist, Randy Armstrong, is excited to see the album’s continuing success, saying, “This is one more thing to add to an incredible year. We would wish this kind of year on any new band who’s trying to break into the industry, and I would like to thank everyone who’s worked so hard to help us achieve the honors we’ve received so far.” Red’s latest radio single, “Break Me Down,” is at No. 5 on the R&R Rock Chart, and is climbing the CRW Rock Chart and currently holds the No. 8 position. On mainstream radio, the single is No. 12 with a bullet on the Active Rock Indicator Chart. Red is currently on tour with Three Days Grace, Breaking Benjamin and Puddle of Mudd. The next stop on the tour is tonight in Little Rock, Arkansas, for the KDJE Edgefest at North Shore. Red will be playing over fifteen festivals throughout the summer, including concerts at Atlanta Fest, the Ichthus Festival, and the Alive Festival in June. Red will finish off the month with a highly anticipated performance at the House of Blues in Los Angeles, Calif. (June 29). Visit www.myspace.com/dropofred for all upcoming tour dates. (from Provident Label Group) On Friday, platinum selling, award-winning Word Records recording artist, Mark Schultz, took time out from his Across America benefit bike ride to be the special guest at the Klicks for Kids photo exhibit that features the artwork of 67 Kansas children currently waiting to be adopted. Hosted by the agency from where Mark was adopted as a child, The Kansas Children’s Service League, the event was held at the Meadowbrook Mall in Pittsburg, KS. “Meeting these children, especially at this halfway point in the trip, was an amazing and tangible source of motivation and continued encouragement for me,” says Schultz. “Just seeing the faces of these kids, their personalities and their amazing gifts, is inspiring. I encourage those that are thinking about becoming a foster family and those that are thinking about becoming a forever family for one of these children, and children like these, to take a leap of faith and make a lifetime of difference for these kids.” Continuing his bike ride to benefit orphans and widows, Schultz will make a stop in Kansas City, MO to complete a live via satellite interview on CNN Sunday Morning. Mark will discuss his Across America benefit ride, as well as his hopes and goals he aspires to accomplish through this cross-country journey. In addition to the nearly $80,000 raised thus far through Mark’s bicycle trip across America, Schultz and the Family Christian Stores James Fund are partnering together to raise more support for widows and orphans through an online auction. Items up for bid include a Nolan Ryan autographed baseball, four different guitars signed by Alan Jackson, Amy Grant and Vince Gill, Brooks and Dunn, and Kenny Chesney, as well as many more autographed items from athletes and celebrities. The proceeds from the auction will go directly to support hands on work with orphans in the US and abroad, adoption assistance for families bringing orphans home to a forever family, and for quality of life improvement for widows who are in distress. To make a bid on an item visit http://markacrossamerica.org/auction.php. On his way from California to New Hampshire, Schultz is posting daily video blogs documenting his Across America journey, as well as completing a daily 60-second update from the road that is being offered to radio stations across the country through Westar Media Group. To date, over 100 stations are using the updates to inform their listeners. Schultz is also stopping along the way to perform concerts featuring music from his acclaimed, best-selling album, Broken & Beautiful (Word Records). More information about the Across America ride, including tour dates, how to sponsor Mark, video blog updates, and Mark’s progress can be found at www.markacrossamerica.org. (from Hoganson Media) Brave New World is proud to announce the signing of The Goodnight Fight. From the forests of Arkansas comes a new sound in metal. Meet The Goodnight Fight. These young men are being tapped to change the scene as we know it. Be looking for them to hit Cornerstone hard with their new EP, titled Serpentine EP, then be on the road all fall. It will be available on iTunes in August. (from Brave New World) Brash Music has announced the July 10 national release of Take A Chance On Something Beautiful from South Carolina-based band Half Past Forever. The group’s permanent members Chris Sligh (vocals, guitars), Adam Fisher (guitars), and Cole Edmonson (bass) were joined by several other musicians for the project. Sligh produced the album and wrote or co-wrote each of the project’s seventeen songs. “Everyone at Brash Music is thrilled to be involved with Half Past Forever, as we partner for the national release of Take A Chance On Something Beautiful,” said Brash Music president Steve Jones. “One of the members of the band has enjoyed some national television visibility this year, making this one of our most highly-anticipated summer releases. This band has some great things in store for them in the very near future.” The first single from the project, “Hero,” released to radio and has already begun to impact playlists across the country. In partnership with Brash Music, Word Distribution has embarked on a national retail marketing campaign set to impact the project’s release date. Half Past Forever will begin aggressive touring in late September in support of Take A Chance On Something Beautiful. For more information on Half Past Forever and Take A Chance On Something Beautiful, visit www.halfpastforever.com. (from The WMG) *Thursday, June 8th, 2007* Mute Math is going to the movies! The band has recorded a brand new version of the Transformers cartoon series' theme song specifically for the upcoming major motion picture's soundtrack. The July 2nd film (the date was moved up for select showings) is a mix of live action with CGI robots and was directed by Michael Bay (The Island, The Rock). Visit www.myspace.com/mutemath now for a clip of Mute Math's take on the famous theme! The Transformers: The Movie Soundtrack hits shelves July 3rd! (from Mute Math) Wonder what a few members of Five Iron Frenzy and Roper have been up to? Nathan & Stephen isn't just the name of a new nine piece band, there really is a "Nathan" and a "Stephen" in its ranks. The band is somewhat of a family affair, consisting of three brothers, and a wife that have joining forces with a barrage of childhood friends, godparents, old roommates, ex-bandmates and a friendly neighbor. The strong ties run as deep as the band's mutual passion for Swedish-influenced pop, Canadian indie rock and good old fashion American rock’n’roll. Centered around a driving rhythm section that holds down the core of each song, the rest of the band is free to weave in and out with an array of unique instrumentation. Everything from flugelhorns, trumpets, saxophones, gang vocals, organs, strings and lead guitar lines swell in and out in waves over the gravel-throated vocals pushed out to produce catchy melody lines about life, love and dead goldfish. The members of Nathan & Stephen have been playing what can only be called a decade long game of musical chairs moving in and out of bands, coming together to work on side projects, and filling in when members grow up and move away until finally they’ve found a seat for everyone. The band’s past is as varied and eclectic as its members. Whether it was Lenore's long trek with Five Iron Frenzy, Jonathan and Stephen Till's excursions with Roper, or the funky dance rock of the ill-fated Barbazon (featuring nearly half of Nathan and Stephen's cast of characters), the music has changed, but the passion has remained the same. For more information and to hear Nathan & Stephen, visit www.myspace.com/nathanstephen or www.nathanandstephen.com (from Morning After Records; Jesusfreakhideout.com) A former Shop at Home Network and America Online executive has been named to lead brand development and marketing for the WoW® brand, announced by EMI Christian Music Group, Word Entertainment and Provident Music Group. Ryan McNeary assumed the position of WoW Brand Director this month, and is charged with bringing fresh focus to the brand that has sold more than 20 million albums and videos in the past 12 years. In addition to driving the A&R and marketing process for all WoW titles, McNeary will be responsible for creating an overall brand strategy that will allow for the continued growth of WoW music and print sales, the implementation of new digital and web approaches and the introduction of potential product line extensions. “WoW has been a proven best-seller and calling card for the Christian music category for more than a decade. In its early years, WoW successfully elevated awareness of Christian music and always delivered on its promise to spotlight the best Christian music had to offer. Even without a dedicated WoW advocate, sales have remained strong in today’s turbulent retail environment, but WoW’s value as a brand has yet to realize its full potential. With his brand experience and impressive resume, we believe Ryan can help us build WoW for the future,” said Bill Hearn, president and CEO of EMI CMG. Prior to joining the Christian music industry, McNeary held key positions with Scripps Networks’ Shop At Home, first as vice president of business development and most recently as vice president marketing/programming for the pioneering retail television channel. He had been recruited to Shop At Home from American Online for the leading Internet service provider (ISP) in the U.S., where he served as program manager for operations and product development and as senior marketing manager for e-commerce. “We are so fortunate that someone of Ryan’s caliber was not only available, but was seeking to take the next chapter of his career journey to Christian music,” said Mark Funderburg, president of Word Distribution. “While his significant experiences at two landmark media companies will be of immense and obvious benefit to his work in the Christian music industry, we look forward to empowering him as he creatively looks at new ways to expand the reach of the WoW brand.” Added Terry Hemmings, president and CEO of Provident Music Group: “The future benefit of the WoW brand as a both a music product and an industry category driver will be to strengthen WoW’s relationship with consumers, giving root to new branches of the WoW brand that will connect with Christian music fans in both traditional and non-traditional outlets and remaining