Jesusfreakhideout.com Music News, June 2008: CHRIS TOMLIN RELEASES FIFTH STUDIO ALBUM HELLO LOVE SEPT. 2

CHRIS TOMLIN RELEASES FIFTH STUDIO ALBUM HELLO LOVE SEPT. 2

Debut Single “Jesus Messiah” Most Added Multi-Format Song in Christian Radio History

NEWS SOURCE: Savvy Media
June 18, 2008

(NASHVILLE, Tenn.) June 18, 2008 –Reigning three-time Gospel Music Association Male Vocalist of the Year, best-selling worship leader Chris Tomlin releases his fifth studio project, Hello Love, on Sept. 2. The album’s debut single “Jesus Messiah,” released June 13, was the most added song on Christian Adult Contemporary, Christian Hit Radio, and Christian Inspirational radio this week, receiving 97 total adds, according to Radio & Records.

Following his 2006 RIAA Gold-certified record, See the Morning, Tomlin’s latest project communicates what he describes as the “need to introduce ourselves to love again.” Produced by Ed Cash (Steven Curtis Chapman, Amy Grant, Bebo Norman), Hello Love endeavors to give voice to the Church to worship their Creator. This is evident throughout the album on songs like “Love,” “God of This City,” “Sing, Sing, Sing,” and “I Will Rise” to name a few.

Tomlin explains, “With each new record, I continue to strive to create songs that will help people voice their worship to God. Worship is a massive word with a very broad scope, but in the end, it is very simple. It is love! It’s our response in love to our great God who loved us first.”

Among those new songs already connecting with worshippers nationwide, and across the globe as Tomlin is currently performing them on Passion’s first world tour, is debut radio single “Jesus Messiah.” Released last Friday, “Jesus Messiah” garnered 97 adds across three formats this week, marking the biggest ever add date for a single in Christian Radio history. Early response from radio stations suggests the song will be long-lived:

“Chris Tomlin strikes gold again in his beautiful ballad ‘Jesus Messiah.’ Chris seems unable to pen a bad or even mediocre song. It is simply always spectacular.” –Jon Rivers, music director KLOVE Radio Network

“Chris never disappoints. ‘Jesus Messiah’ is another example of his deep songs that are easy to sing and still keep the focus on the One who deserves the glory.” –Jim Beeler, music director, KSBJ-FM

“I knew Chris Tomlin’s new song, ‘Jesus Messiah’ was going to be an ‘add,’ but I’ve run out of superlatives. It surpassed all our expectations; wow!” –Scott Valentine, program director, KCMS-FM

“Tomlin does it again! It’s honest. It’s sincere. It connects. It’s worship not just for Sundays, but for life lived every day. It’s here, and will be for years to come!” –Chris Lemke, GM/PD WCSG-FM

“I am not sure how Chris keeps doing it, but once again we have a song that is going to be huge! This one is easily on the short list for song of the year already.” –Jeff Cruz, assistant program director, WPOZ-FM

Grant Hubbard, vice president of national promotion for EMI CMG Label Group adds, “Chris Tomlin has once again delivered a song that hits the bull’s eye of radio’s target. 97 out-of-the-box adds shows the belief and trust that radio has for Chris.”

President and CEO of EMI CMG, Bill Hearn also comments, “Chris Tomlin’s songs continue to have a profound effect on culture through the church worldwide and radio’s overwhelming response to ‘Jesus Messiah’ is a powerful indication that this new song will also have tremendous impact. All of us at EMI CMG and sixstepsrecords are honored to play a role in this history making event and look forward to what we believe will be one of the biggest albums of the year in all of music.”

Tomlin too is equally excited about the song’s reception, commenting, “This is crazy! I can’t quite believe these guys at EMI radio and the phenomenal job they have done to get ‘Jesus Messiah’ to radio in such a strong and incredible way. I am grateful beyond words and pray this song resonates with folks as they celebrate Jesus the Messiah - the One who has come for us.”

The song is having an impact online as well, ranking No. 1 today on the Christian Top Chart at iTunes. More information on Chris Tomlin and Hello Love can be found at christomlin.com and the Passion Conferences home site, 268generation.com.

With six records, six No. 1 radio singles, two GRAMMY nominations, 14 Dove Awards, and two gold albums to his credit, Chris Tomlin is among the most well-known and influential artists in contemporary Christian music. Referred to by Time Magazine as “the most often sung artist anywhere,” Tomlin additionally has 10 Top 100 CCLI songs with 4 in the top 25. ASCAP’s 2007 Songwriter of the Year, Tomlin’s “How Great Is Our God” was his first No. 1 on the CCLI Top 25. The award-winning song moved to No. 1 after becoming one of the fasting rising modern day hymns in CCLI chart history. Tomlin continues to tour many dates every year and plays regularly at Passion Conferences in the States and worldwide.

About sixstepsrecords:
Founded in 2000 by Louie Giglio, sixstepsrecords (www.sixstepsrecords.com) is a worship label and a division of Passion Conferences. sixstepsrecords’ artists include Chris Tomlin (See the Morning), David Crowder* Band (Remedy), Charlie Hall (Flying Into Daybreak), Matt Redman (Beautiful News), and Passion (The Best of Passion, Passion: God of This City). The label partners with Sparrow Records/EMI CMG Label Group for A&R, marketing, sales and distribution operations.

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 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.

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