Jesusfreakhideout.com Music News, October 2012: CASTING CROWNS' 'COME TO THE WELL' CERTIFIES RIAA GOLD

CASTING CROWNS' 'COME TO THE WELL' CERTIFIES RIAA GOLD

BAND READIES FOR JAN. 22
RELEASE OF 'ACOUSTIC SESSIONS: VOLUME 1'

NEWS SOURCE: Provident Music Group
October 23, 2012

(Nashville, Tenn.) October 23, 2012 -- In August 2012, contemporary Christian music touring and sales leader Casting Crowns received a rare double Platinum certification by the RIAA for its 2005, self-titled debut. Earlier this month, the band received its sixth career Gold certification for its October 2011 project Come to the Well which has sold more than 500,000 units to date.

This certification highlights the band's audience-connection; a connection reflected in its 84-city "Come to the Well" Fall 2011 and Spring 2012 tour numbers which include 40 arena sellouts and total attendance numbers exceeding 370,000.

The band's impact was further underscored in May when it received four 2012 Billboard Music Award nominations, of which the band garnered two. Casting Crowns was recognized as Top Christian Artist while its Come to the Well project received the trophy for Top Christian Album.

Casting Crowns has impacted millions with powerful songs including, "East To West," "Who Am I" and "If We Are The Body." In times of difficulty and in moments of praise, these songs have provided the words so many hearts long to communicate. Thus the impetus for the latest offering from this industry leader: Casting Crowns - The Acoustic Sessions: Volume 1. Releasing January 22 and including two brand new songs, The Acoustic Sessions: Volume 1 is a must have for any Casting Crowns fan. The band will follow the project launch with an 18-city acoustic tour in the spring.

About Casting Crowns
Prolific CCM music group Casting Crowns boasts a tally of one RIAA 2x multi-Platinum record, three RIAA Platinum albums, two RIAA Platinum DVDs, six RIAA Gold albums, two Gold DVDs and three Gold digital singles. The band currently holds the position as Billboard's top-selling act in Christian music since 2007.

The group has also been honored with two American Music Awards, out of six total nominations, three GRAMMY Awards, 14 GMA Dove Awards, two 2012 Billboard Music Awards and four total Billboard Music Award nominations.

Casting Crowns' seven band members all remain active in student ministry in the Atlanta area and tour according to their local church commitments. Serving his 18th year in youth ministry, lead singer/songwriter Mark Hall maintains his role as the student pastor at Eagle's Landing First Baptist Church in Atlanta.

As a testament to the band's impact, Casting Crowns performed for a second time in North Korea in April 2009, in partnership with Global Resource Services; the band continues to forge invaluable relationships with the people in the D.P.R.K. (Democratic People's Republic of Korea).

Casting Crowns concluded its 84-city "Come to the Well" tour on May 5 in Houston to an audience of more than 17,000. Across the Fall 2011 and Spring 2012 legs, the tour saw 40 arena sellouts, exceeded 370,000 in total attendance and garnered 65,500 child sponsorships through the group's partnership with Christian humanitarian organization, World Vision.

For more information on Casting Crowns visit: www.castingcrowns.com, www.facebook.com/castingcrowns, www.twitter.com/castingcrowns or follow Mark Hall's Twitter at twitter.com/markhallCC.

For more info on Casting Crowns visit the JFH Artists Database.