Jesusfreakhideout.com Music News, September 2012: TobyMac's EYE ON IT Debuts at No. 1 on Billboard Top 200

TobyMac's EYE ON IT
Debuts at No. 1 on Billboard Top 200

Project is first No. 1 entry for Christian artist in 15 years

NEWS SOURCE: The M Collective
September 5, 2012

Nashville, Tenn. (September 5, 2012) - Five-time Grammy® Award winner and multi-platinum selling artist TobyMac has made career history with his latest project, EYE ON IT, entering the Billboard top 200 at No. 1, selling nearly 70,000 units and marking the first time in 15 years an artist in the CCM genre has accomplished such. EYE ON IT released August 28 to an overwhelming response, with the album topping the Overall iTunes® Chart just hours after its release, and continuing to reign there throughout the week. This amazing debut comes as his single, "Me Without You," continues to hold onto No. 1 on the CHR and AC Indicator charts.

"We have been so honored to see Toby achieve number one songs at AC and CHR radio formats on his new album, and now for him to achieve number one status on Billboard's Top 200 chart is absolutely amazing and well deserved," remarked Peter York, President, EMI CMG Label Group. "This project is filled with great songs that are well produced and that clearly resonate with Toby's consumers. The launch plan at radio & retail was meticulously designed and executed by his marketing, sales and management teams. I'm very pleased to see this collaborative effort work so effectively for Toby."

"It's my honor to write songs and even a further privilege that people choose to listen and make them part of their lives," TobyMac reflected upon hearing the news of the debut. "My hope has always been that these songs would somehow remind people that though we are all flawed God offers us love, hope and refuge. If this week or these numbers is any indication of that, I am thankful."

The 12 tracks comprising EYE ON IT pull from TobyMac's personal influences ("Made For You" and "Family"), as well as a nod to his ascension into music ("Thankful For You"). EYE ON IT features musical guests including reigning GMA Dove Awards New Artist of the Year, Jamie Grace ("Favorite Song"), Group1Crew's Blanca Reyes ("UnStoppable") and Christian rap heavyweight Lecrae ("Forgiveness"). Along with TobyMac's first three solo projects, his 2009 release, TONIGHT, was recently certified Gold by the R.I.A.A. Written by TobyMac and David Garcia, "Me Without You" was the first track from EYE ON IT to be released to radio, where it claimed the No. 1 spot on the Billboard Christian Songs, CHR and Christian AC Indicator charts. It's currently at No. 2 on the National Audience Chart and No. 3 on the Christian AC-Monitored chart.

About TobyMac:
With over 11 million units in career sales, TobyMac's first four solo projects are RIAA certified gold. His live DVD, Alive & Transported, is certified platinum by the RIAA and also received a GRAMMY® award. In 2012 the much-celebrated and acclaimed artist celebrated his eighth consecutive GRAMMY® nomination, this time for his songwriting contribution to rising star (and recording artist on his label, Gotee Records) Jamie Grace's No. 1 hit "Hold Me." His album Tonight received GRAMMY nods for "Best Pop/Contemporary Gospel Album" and "Best Contemporary Christian Song" with "City On Our Knees" the RIAA Gold-certified track that topped the sales and radio charts faster than any of his previous singles, spending 8 weeks at No. 1 on the Christian Audience Chart. Tonight also garnered him the highest sales debut of his solo career with over 78,000 units and a No. 6 Billboard Top 200 debut. The album was also named as iTunes® Best Christian Album of 2010 and recently took home the Dove Award for "Best Rock Contemporary Album of the Year."

Along with sold out tour dates, back-to-back radio hits and being named the GMA Dove Award's 2008 "Artist of the Year," he was also nominated for "Favorite Contemporary Inspirational Artist" at the 2010 American Music Awards and was up for three Billboard Music Awards in 2011 including "Top Christian Artist." The hit song "Tonight" was also chosen as the theme song for MLB's 30 Clubs in 30 Days Spring Training Series and featured on the Golf Channel. Additionally, his music has been heard in major motion pictures such as "Hancock," "TRANSPORTER 2," while also being featured on Fox sports, The NFL network, being selected as the theme song for Fox College Football and WWE's Fatal 4-Way Pay-Per-View. "Showstopper," from the chart-topping album Tonight, was featured in ESPN's ESPY Award Show and used to launch the last season of CBS hit television show CSI: NY.

[Get Connected with TobyMac]
Website // http://www.tobymac.com
Twitter // https://twitter.com/therealtobymac
Facebook // http://www.facebook.com/tobymac
YouTube // http://www.youtube.com/tobymacmusic

For more info on TobyMac visit the JFH Artists Database.