The agreement calls for EMI CMG to handle distribution rights worldwide to all retail channels for recorded music products, as well as for select DVDs starting with four products releasing today.

There will be three projects in a new line entitled “The North Point Series Featuring Andy Stanley,” with each product comprised of a DVD and CD. Additionally, EMI CMG will distribute the all new worship CD North Point Live: Awake.

“With Andy Stanley at the helm and several well-known and highly respected songwriters and worship leaders involved in their ministry, North Point is one of the most influential churches and ministries in the U.S. We are honored to partner with them in making their music and ministry available worldwide,” said Greg Bays, Senior Vice President of Sales and Marketing for EMI CMG Distribution.

“We are excited to have EMI CMG partner with us as we look to use the unique tools of music and video to share the Gospel throughout the world,” said Rick Holliday, North Point’s Executive Director of Ministry Services. “EMI CMG has a distinguished track record of professionalism, integrity and success in the marketing and distribution of Christian music products and we are looking forward to the promising opportunity that lies ahead to work with EMI CMG's experienced sales, marketing and distribution team.”

North Point currently averages nearly 25,000 people in attendance between its three campuses in the Atlanta area each week, making it the third-largest church in the U.S. Music is integral, not only to the church’s weekly worship, but as a resource for outreach.

The first music product to be released by EMI CMG and North Point Music is North Point Live: Awake, a collection of 14 songs recorded at North Point Community Church in Alpharetta (Atlanta), Georgia. Six talented recording artists lend their voices to Awake, all of whom lead worship at one or more of North Point’s three campuses in metro Atlanta: Steve Fee, Todd Fields, Eddie Kirkland, Seth Condrey, Ryan Stuart and Cori Moon. Dove Award-winning producer Nathan Nockels (Passion, Christy Nockels, Tim Hughes) served as producer for Awake. Songs from the project include a new version of the timeless and inspiring hymn “It Is Well” and soon-to-be standards such as “Glory To God Forever” and “Hands of the Healer.”

Known as one of the most effective communicators in the Church today, Stanley readily shares what he has learned in more than two decades of ministry, including as founder and senior pastor of North Point Community Church. He is the headliner for the annual East and West Coast Catalyst conferences, where he speaks to crowds of more than 20,000 young leaders throughout the country. Moreover, Stanley has authored and co-authored more than 20 titles, giving him robust credentials for hosting a new video teaching series.

“Why Worry” is a timeless question that Andy Stanley explores in the first DVD of “The North Point Series Featuring Andy Stanley.” Stanley investigates one of the Bible’s Old Testament stories in which the main character is challenged with a single question that brought a new and needed perspective to his worries. Then, by exploring what Jesus has to say about worry -- where worry comes from; why it’s so difficult to overcome, and how to conquer it, Stanley guides viewers to answers which may be the key to overcoming worry in our own lives.

“God & Country” is a provocative DVD that looks at the conflicts that have driven a deep divide in the U.S. While politicians frame the debate as rich vs. poor, big business vs. the middle class, or Republican vs. Democrat, another conflict reflects a much deeper divide in American culture, a conflict that, if resolved, could pave the way for our nation to come together and successfully address the issues that fill the airwaves.

“He’s Still Got the Whole World in His Hands” helps to answer some of life’s most difficult questions -- How do we remain hopeful in a world that seems to be hopelessly broken; how do we continue to trust a God that seems to be conspicuously absent and how do we maintain peace when the world around us is spinning out of control? The Bible is filled with stories of men and women who asked similar questions and Stanley uses these stories to be reminded of God’s faithfulness throughout history and in our own lives.

Each of the three DVDs in the “The North Point Series Featuring Andy Stanley” also includes a bonus audio CD featuring select songs from North Point worship leaders and a bonus digital copy of Stanley’s talks included for use on iPod, iPhone, or other personal media device.

ABOUT EMI CMG DISTRIBUTION (www.emicmgdistribution.com):
Billboard Magazine's annual Top Christian Music Distributor since 1995, EMI CMG Distribution was founded in 1994 to serve as the main distribution outlet for EMI CMG's owned and distributed labels to the US Christian and general retail marketplace, and the international Christian marketplace. In addition to distributing EMI Christian Music Group’s fully-owned labels, which include Sparrow, ForeFront, and Credential imprints, as well as EMI Gospel and Worship Together, EMI CMG Distribution has exclusive distribution agreements with Tooth & Nail/BEC, Creative Trust Media, EE-Taow Records, Gaither Music Group, Green Hill Productions, Hal Leonard, Inpop, Just Me Music, Kingsway Music, Madacy Entertainment, Spring Hill Music Group, Troubadour for the Lord, Universal Music Group, VSR Music Group, Anchor Bay Entertainment/Starz, Cloud 9 Games, First Look Studios, GT Media, Guardian Studios/Bananas, Kelly's Filmworks, Pure Flix Entertainment, Vivendi Visual Entertainment and Third Day Games. EMI CMG Distribution is a division of EMI Christian Music Group, a unit of EMI Music (www.emi.com), one of the world's leading music companies.