Hillsong Music has sold over 11 million albums to date and has earned 30 Gold and Platinum awards around the world. Based in Sydney, Australia, Hillsong is one of the world’s fastest-growing ministries, with a 25,000-plus strong congregation in Australia, as well as one of the largest evangelical churches in London, Cape Town and Kiev. Hillsong also has churches in Stockholm and Paris, and recently announced plans to establish a new church in New York City.

EMI CMG Label Group and its Sparrow Records label will be marketing and developing Hillsong Music annual releases, including the best-selling Hillsong LIVE, Hillsong UNITED and Hillsong Kids recordings, as well as other music and video products from the Hillsong Music team. In addition to new product, EMI CMG will be re-introducing all key Hillsong catalog titles into Christian, general market and digital retail outlets.

George Aghajanian, General Manager, Hillsong Church and Music, says, “Hillsong Music has always been an expression of our passion, as a church in Sydney Australia, to honor and worship the Lord. We are so blessed to be able to share that with believers around the world. Our association of over 14 years with Integrity Music as our music distributor finished at the end of last year. We appreciate the relationship we have had with them, which has been very fruitful over that time. As we enter this next season of ministry, we look forward to a new partnership with EMI Christian Music Group and are excited at the opportunities available to continue to serve the Body of Christ.”

Bill Hearn, EMI Christian Music Group CEO, says, “The entire team at EMI Christian Music Group are humbled and inspired by the confidence Pastor Brian Houston and Hillsong Church Leadership has shown in us through this new and innovative relationship. The responsibility to help grow the impact of the songs, resources and ministry of Hillsong Church in the US and Latin America is one we take seriously. We will work diligently to support Hillsong’s vision to introduce and connect people with the living God.”

As of October 1, 2010, EMI CMG Publishing will also represent Hillsong Publishing in the US and Canada to administrate and promote all new songs and the extensive catalog from such Hillsong writers as Joel Houston, Reuben Morgan, Darlene Zschech and Ben Fielding, among others. The marketing of these worship leaders/writers will include promotion through worshiptogether.com, print music and various licensing opportunities. Hillsong currently holds the top position in Christian Copyright Licensing International (CCLI) Top 500 songs with Reuben Morgan and Ben Fielding’s song “Mighty To Save.” The Hillsong catalog currently has 58 top 500 songs and 10 Top 100 songs on the US CCLI chart alone (71 Top 500 CCLI songs in Canada), and includes such popular worship anthems as “Shout To the Lord,” “From the Inside Out,” “Hosanna,” and many others sung by tens of millions of people each week in church services around the world.

These songs are also heard in live event venues and churches around the globe by tens of thousands of people each year that attend Hillsong United and Hillsong worship events. As part of this new relationship, EMI CMG will support Hillsong live events across the US and Canada starting with the Hillsong LIVE tour in the US July 21-August 4 in conjunction with the new Hillsong LIVE, A Beautiful Exchange album, set to release June 29. Hillsong UNITED is further preparing for a significant tour of the US beginning in fall 2010 with its new album scheduled for release early next year. This fall, EMI CMG will additionally support the DVD release, The I Heart Revolution: We're All In This Together, a social justice documentary presented by Hillsong UNITED.

EMI CMG will also support the launch and marketing of new Hillsong Leadership/Church Resources that are in development and will be based around the writings/teachings of Hillsong Church Sr. Pastors, Brian and Bobbie Houston.

About Hillsong:
Hillsong Church is a rapidly growing and vibrant community of believers. The church was established in 1983 by Pastors Brian and Bobbie Houston in Sydney Australia. It exists to bring the gospel message of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ to a hurting world, provide resources to equip the Body of Christ and care for the poor and needy. This is outworked through many of the church’s initiatives.

The live praise and worship albums produced by Hillsong Music have touched the lives of millions around the world. Individuals of all denominations from across the globe are also able to experience what God is doing at Hillsong Church through the annual Hillsong Conference, Colour Your World Women’s Conference and the Hillsong Men’s Conference.

Through the Hillsong International Leadership College, Hillsong is committed to training, equipping and building leaders in pastoral, music and other ministry skills. Students from 60 countries are represented in full time studies, including a significant number from the United States.

Hillsong Church is also actively involved in building its local community through Hillsong CityCare whose facilities and programs range from medical centers and emergency relief services, to drug and alcohol programs and personal development and recovery programs.

As Hillsong Church continues to increase and grow, the vision remains consistent: to build the Church of Jesus Christ and bless the body of Christ world-wide. For more information, visit the website www.hillsong.com.

About EMI CMG Label Group:
Brentwood, Tennessee-based EMI CMG Label Group is comprised of Sparrow Records, Forefront Records, and Credential Recordings, in addition to providing marketing and licensing in partnership with Hillsong Music, and A&R and marketing support for sixstepsrecords via a joint venture and licensing partnership. Balancing freedom, discipline, creativity, profitability and ministry, EMI CMG Label Group strives for excellence in artist development. The Label Group is a division of EMI Christian Music Group. For further information, please visit www.emicmg.com.

About EMI CMG Publishing:
As a full-service music publisher, EMI CMG Publishing represents more than 35,000 songs and over 300 writers, including Chris Tomlin, Jeremy Camp, Leeland, Myron Butler, Ben Glover and Thousand Foot Krutch. EMI CMG Publishing also administers catalogs for top-sellers such as TobyMac, Casting Crowns, Third Day and Lilly Mack Music. Its flagship website, WorshipTogether.com, is the leader in bringing fresh new songs to the church community worldwide. Repeatedly recognized by ASCAP, BMI and Billboard Magazine as Christian Music Publisher of the Year, EMI CMG Publishing is an industry leader that consistently accomplishes its mission: to impact modern culture with the timeless relevance of Christ through its diverse roster of writers and songs.