Jesusfreakhideout.com Music News: December 2015

December, 2015

*Wednesday, December 23, 2015*

MercyMe Headlines 2015 FOX News Radio's Todd Starnes All-American Christmas Special

Filmed in front of a live audience in Memphis, Tenn., MercyMe's headlining performance on FOX News Radio's Todd Starnes All-American Christmas Special will broadcast this week on hundreds of FOX News Radio stations along with the entire American Family Radio network and the Bott Radio Network. Performing songs such as "Christmastime Again" and "Our Lullaby" from their newest holiday album MercyMe, It's Christmas!, the multi-platinum selling group was joined by GRAMMY® winner Laura Story, jazz great Kirk Whalum and the 300-voice Bellevue Baptist Church Singing Christmas Tree & Orchestra... << Full Report >>

*Monday, December 21, 2015*

PLUMB to Appear at Sam's Place at the Historic Ryman Auditorium

Curb Records artist PLUMB is honored to announce that she will be joining the "Sam's Place - Music for the Spirit" lineup on January 10. The event, hosted by Steven Curtis Chapman, will also feature Hunter Hayes, MercyMe, Mo Pitney and Rend Collective... << Full Report >>

Building 429 Makes Top Year-End Lists For 2015

"Impossible," the No. 1 single from GRAMMY®-nominated and multi-award winning band Building 429, has been selected as one of the Best Songs of 2015 in the Christian/Gospel genre according to the editorial team at iTunes. The band's album UNASHAMED, featuring "Impossible," was also named one of the top 10 albums of the year. You can purchase "Impossible" and more from Building 429 by clicking here... << Full Report >>

*Thursday, December 17, 2015*

Tenth Avenue North Announces Spring Tour with Hawk Nelson and I AM THEY

Tenth Avenue North announces their spring leg of the "All The Earth Is Holy Ground" with special guests Hawk Nelson and I Am They. The 30+ city tour, with more dates to be announced, is sponsored by Compassion International and will kick off on February 18 in Lake George, NY. This tour includes dates on the West Coast, the first time the band will head west since 2012. See the complete list of tour dates below... << Full Report >>

Writer/Producer Jason Ingram Receives Three GRAMMY Nominations

Essential Music Publishing writer and producer, Jason Ingram, was honored with three GRAMMY® nominations for the 58th Annual GRAMMY Awards. Ingram received a songwriter nomination on Matt Maher's song "Because He Lives (Amen)" for "Best Contemporary Christian Music Performance/Song." Similarly, he played a role in each of the nominated albums in the "Best Contemporary Christian Music Album" category as either a co-writer and/or a co-producer... << Full Report >>

V.Rose Wishes You A Very Merry Christmas With New Acoustic Cover

V.Rose took some time off from preparing for her spring album release to spread some Christmas cheer with a brand new beautiful holiday cover of "Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas" hosted on her YouTube Channel (V.Rose Music). Fans can also find out her favorite Christmas traditions, memories and more... << Full Report >>

Chris Tomlin's "Adore" Tops Billboard And Radio Charts Amidst Sold-Out Christmas Tour

Chris Tomlin's ADORE: Christmas Songs Of Worship has received overwhelming response since its October release, originally debuting atop Billboard's Holiday Albums Chart. ADORE continues to hold strong on the chart, just behind Pentatonix and Michael Buble, marking seven weeks straight in the top 3. Additionally, ADORE sits at No. 1 on Billboard's Top Christian Albums Chart, holding that spot for the third week in a row... << Full Report >>

*Tuesday, December 15, 2015*

Phil Wickham's "This Is Amazing Grace" Receives RIAA Gold Certification

Phil Wickham's acclaimed single "This Is Amazing Grace" was honored with RIAA Gold Certification for both sales and streams of the song off of his 2013 project, The Ascension. Reaching No. 1 on Billboard's National Christian Audience Chart, "This Is Amazing Grace" received top honors at the 2015 BMI Christian Awards for Song of the Year and earned Wickham three nominations at this year's 46th Annual GMA Dove Awards, including a nod for Song of the Year... << Full Report >>

*Monday, December 14, 2015*

Syntax Creative Partners With Vineyard Worship

Syntax Creative is excited to announce a new deal with Vineyard Worship, the musical arm of the Vineyard Church, which includes over 2,500 churches around the world, with more than 250,000 members. Vineyard Worship has written several classic songs, including "Come, Now is the Time to Worship," "Breathe," "Draw Me Close," "Take My Life," "Sweetly Broken" and... << Full Report >>

*Friday, December 11, 2015*

Thousand Foot Krutch Give Away Brand New Song "Born Again"

Rock band Thousand Foot Krutch has been teasing a brand new song for the past couple days and the guys have just released it to you for free download! "Born Again," a cut from their upcoming album Exhale, is available now for free, encouraging fans to share a Tweet or Facebook post in return. The band writes, "As a thanks for everything that you, the TFK ARMY, do for us, we wanted to give back. That's why we are offering you our new single... << Full Report >>

PLUMB Prepares to Join Big Daddy Weave's Beautiful Offerings Tour

Curb Records artist PLUMB is honored to announce that she will be joining Big Daddy Weave on their "Beautiful Offerings" tour, beginning in early 2016. Also appearing on the tour is Jordan Feliz. Just before the launch of the tour, Plumb will be taking the stage for the first time ever at the historic Ryman Auditorium during an upcoming Sam's Place event. Hosted by Steven Curtis Chapman, the January 10th Sam's Place event will also feature Hunter Hayes, MercyMe, Mo Pitney and Rend Collective... << Full Report >>

Hillsong Young & Free Surprises Listeners With Brand New Single “Where You Are"

Hillsong Young & Free has unveiled a brand new single titled "Where You Are." Originally announced through the band's social media conversation followed by millions around the world, the upbeat EDM sounding "Where You Are" is the first song from Hillsong Young & Free's anticipated full-length sophomore project Youth Revival due out in February 2016. Filling stadiums globally with their notable EDM and pop sounds, songs found on Youth Revival articulate the deep desire of the human heart for something more. Clearly, the project continues their own journey of experience through their faith. To purchase the single... << Full Report >>

Essential Music Publishing's Paul Mabury Celebrates 2 GRAMMY Nominations

Essential Music Publishing's Paul Mabury received two GRAMMY® nominations as co-producer for "Best Contemporary Christian Music Album" for Lauren Daigle's How Can It Be and Jason Crabb's Whatever The Road. The 58th Annual GRAMMY Awards will be held on February 15, 2016 at the Staples Center in Los Angeles and broadcast live on CBS from 8-11:30 p.m. (ET/PT)... << Full Report >>

Capitol CMG Receives 15 GRAMMY Nominations

Capitol Christian Music Group artists and songwriters celebrate 15 GRAMMY® nominations within its labels, publishing and distributed labels. Leading the nominations for Capitol Christian Music Group include Chris Tomlin and TobyMac each receiving two nominations. The 58th Annual GRAMMY Awards will be held on February 15, 2016 at the Staples Center in Los Angeles and broadcast live on CBS from 8-11:30 p.m. (ET/PT). Below is a complete list of the Capitol Christian Music Group nominees... << Full Report >>

*Wednesday, December 9, 2015*

TobyMac Honored With Two GRAMMY Nominations

With nods in both the Best Contemporary Christian Music Album and Best Contemporary Christian Music Performance/Song categories, six-time GRAMMY® winner TobyMac was honored with two nominations during Monday's announcements of the 58th Annual GRAMMY® nominations. Called a "masterful mix," " a consistent pleasure" and "worthy of repeat," his nominated album THIS IS NOT A TEST debuted in the No. 4 spot on the Billboard Top 200 while garnering No. 1 on the Christian Albums Chart and No. 3 on the Digital Albums Chart... << Full Report >>

Justin McRoberts and Scott Erickson Team To Create New Prayer Book

Singer/Songwriter/Author Justin McRoberts has teamed up with artist Scott Erickson to create a unique new book centered around prayer, and they have just one week left on their Kickstarter campaign to fund the release. "I have written 40 guided prayers and Scott Erickson has paired each prayer with beautiful, contemplative imagery," writes McRoberts in a recent campaign update. "Each of the book's seven sections is... << Full Report >>

Mr and Mrs Something Set Sail With Full-Length Debut

Setting Sail, the full-length debut from Seattle-based husband/wife duo Mr & Mrs Something, is now available at iTunes and other leading digital outlets. Produced by GRAMMY® winner Mitch Dane (Jars of Clay, JJ Heller), the project's 10 selections were penned by Mr & Mrs Something's Benjamin "Bino" and Chelsea Peck... << Full Report >>

Gotee's Hollyn Celebrates Debut Single Going No. 1

Gotee Records' newest artist HOLLYN celebrates her first No. 1 single as her debut single "Alone (feat. TRU)" shot up to the top of the Hot AC/CHR chart in just six weeks. Making Christian radio chart history with 95 percent of the Hot AC/CHR panel adding the single out of the box on October 31, this song will be going for adds at AC radio on January 15, 2016. The debut single was co-written by Hollyn, TobyMac, producer Bryan Fowler and TRU. Click below to watch the lyric video for this hit song... << Full Report >>

Urban Gospel Sister Trio Virtue To Release Fearless February 12

Multiple Grammy, Dove, and Stellar Award nominated Urban Gospel sister trio VIRTUE (Karima Kibble, Heather Martin, and Ebony Holland) is set to release their highly anticipated all-new 7th studio album FEARLESS (Mixed Bag/Entertainment One) available in stores and online everywhere Friday, February 12, 2016. The 14-track collection boast production by super producers Fred Jerkins (Michael Jackson, Whitney Houston), Mark Kibble (Take 6, BeBe & CeCe Winans), Asaph Ward (The Clark Sisters, Mary J Blige), Alvin... << Full Report >>

Grace Chapel Worship Releases New Chrstmas EP, "Songs of the Incarnation: Ever With Us"

Merry Christmas from Grace Chapel Worship! Hailing from beautiful Leiper's Fork, Tennessee, the worship team from Grace Chapel is thrilled to announce the release of their beautiful new 7-song Christmas EP, Songs of the Incarnation: Ever With Us on the Grace House Music label. The project is now available for purchase online through iTunes, Amazon Music and Google Play... << Full Report >>

*Tuesday, December 8, 2015*

Steve Taylor Launches New Kickstarter For New EP Release and Live Project

Artist/Producer/Director Steve Taylor made a triumphant return to music with his band Steve Taylor & The Perfect Foil and their debut Goliath in 2014. Now the band is teaming up with Danielson's Daniel Smith to form Steve Taylor & The Danielson Foil, with plans to release a brand new EP at the start of 2016. Titled Wow to the Deadness, the band is currently raising support on Kickstarter from now until Christmas Eve and they need... << Full Report >>

Provident's Third Day Nominated for GRAMMY For "Soul On Fire"

Provident Label Group is proud to announce that THIRD DAY received a GRAMMY® Awards nomination. The official nominee list was announced live yesterday on "CBS This Morning" for the upcoming 58th Annual GRAMMY® Awards. The group is nominated in the Best Contemporary Christian Music Performance/Song category for their chart topping single "Soul On Fire... << Full Report >>

Reunion's Jason Crabb Celebrates GRAMMY Nomination

It was announced yesterday that Reunion Records' artist Jason Crabb received a GRAMMY® nomination for the upcoming 58th Annual GRAMMY® Awards. Crabb's highly touted album, Whatever The Road, was nominated in the Best Contemporary Christian Music Album category. This is his fifth nomination in his career, including three nominations with The Crabb Family. Crabb won his first GRAMMY award... << Full Report >>

*Monday, December 7, 2015*

New Live Jesus Culture Album Releases January 15

Capitol Christian Music Group (CCMG) and Jesus Culture Music announce the new album and ninth live recording from Jesus Culture releasing on January 15, 2016. Jesus Culture revealed the album title and artwork earlier today to their fans via social media. The album title - Let It Echo - captures the heart of the community of the one-year-old church in Sacramento, CA seeking Jesus with a desire to know Him more and to see this passion spread from cities to nations... << Full Report >>

Matt Maher Nominated for Three GRAMMY Awards

Provident Label Group's Matt Maher received three GRAMMY® nominations this morning for the 58th Annual GRAMMY Awards. Maher was nominated twice in the "Best Contemporary Christian Music Performance/Song" category for his No. 1 single "Because He Lives (Amen)" - as the performer and co-writer - and as a co-writer for Third Day's "Soul On Fire." Maher's album Saints And Sinners was also nominated for "Best Contemporary Christian Music Album... << Full Report >>

Francesca Battistelli Earns GRAMMY Nomination For "Holy Spirit"

Francesca Battistelli has been nominated for a 2016 Grammy Award for "Holy Spirit," the third nomination she's garnered in two years from her breakthrough 2014 album "If We're Honest." The Recording Academy revealed nominees for the 58th Annual Grammy Awards Monday morning. Battistelli was nominated for Best Contemporary Christian Music Performance/Song for the track that spent 15 consecutive weeks at No. 1 and topped 5 radio charts simultaneously over the summer, becoming Battistelli's third consecutive No. 1 following "Write Your Story" and "He Knows My Name... << Full Report >>

Big Daddy Weave Lands First Number One Radio Single From New Album

Big Daddy Weave has landed their first radio number one from the band's new album, 2015's Beautiful Offerings, with "My Story" going number one at seven different charts today, including Nielsen BDS' NCA Monitored and AC Monitored, as well as Mediabase's Christian AC Published, among others. "My Story" was co-written by Big Daddy Weave's Mike Weaver and GRAMMY®-nominated songwriter Jason Ingram... << Full Report >>

Point of Grace Receives Third Career GRAMMY Nomination

One of the most successful and endearing artists in the history of Christian music, Point of Grace, has added to its long list of accolades with today's announcement of the trio's third career GRAMMY® nomination. The multi-platinum group's April 7, 2015 release, Directions Home (Songs We Love, Songs You Know), is nominated in the category of Best Roots Gospel Album (Category 40). Point of Grace has career sales of over 8 million albums, alongside 27 No. 1 songs at radio, 24 of which were consecutive... << Full Report >>

Chris Tomlin and Crowder Honored With Nominations

sixstepsrecords' Chris Tomlin and Crowder each garnered a GRAMMY® nomination today for the 58th Annual GRAMMY Awards. Tomlin's Love Ran Red is nominated for Best Contemporary Christian Music Album while Crowder's "Lift Your Head Weary Sinner (Chains)" is up for Best Contemporary Christian Music Performance/Song. The 58th Annual GRAMMY Awards will take place Monday, Feb. 15, 2016, live from STAPLES Center in Los Angeles and broadcast on the CBS Television... << Full Report >>

RCA Inspiration Celebrates Four GRAMMY Nominations

Today, RCA Inspiration celebrates four nominations for the 58th GRAMMY® Awards, with artists Kirk Franklin (Fo Yo Soul Recordings/ RCA Records), Travis Greene (RCA Inspiration) and Israel Houghton & Newbreed (RGM NewBreed/ RCA Inspiration) garnering nods in two different categories... << Full Report >>

OUTCRY Tour Announces Dates and Artists For 2016

Following a successful concert tour debut earlier this year, OUTCRY Tour announces the dates and line-up for OUTCRY Tour 2016, which champions, represents and promotes the local church: the Bride of Christ. The worship tour exists to highlight the creativity, heart and mission of the local church. Featuring a combination of artists and worship leaders, OUTCRY Tour 2016 continues the unique experience for the concert-goer who may never have the chance to see this group of artists together again on one stage... << Full Report >>

*Friday, December 4, 2015*

Steven Curtis Chapman Debuts First Worship Album In His 29-Year Career

Multi-platinum selling and five-time GRAMMY® award winning artist Steven Curtis Chapman is set to release his latest project on March 4, 2016 (Essential Worship). Titled Worship and Believe, this is not only Chapman's 23rd career studio album in a three decade-long career but is his first worship record. The album was co-produced by Chapman and Brent Milligan. Years before his latest album, 2013's Glorious Unfolding, he had been encouraged to make a worship record. Now with Worship and Believe, a new season is beginning for Chapman... << Full Report >>

*Thursday, December 3, 2015*

Jessa Anderson and Husband Jordan Release FREE Christmas Single

Former BEC Recordings artist Jessa Anderson has teamed up with her husband Jordan to release a free Christmas single, titled "O Son of God, We Wait for Thee." The two, known as Jordan & Jessa plan on releasing more music together in the near future... << Full Report >>

Matthew West Premieres New Music Video And Releases New Book All In One Week

The music video from multi-award winner Matthew West, "Grace Wins," officially debuted today with Aplus.com. This is a first-time partnership with APlus.com, a leading technology-based media company focused on delivering positive journalism and being a voice of good in the world. "Grace Wins" is the second single from West's No. 1 album, Live Forever, and the song is currently No. 8 at radio on the National Audience Chart and climbing... << Full Report >>

*Wednesday, December 2, 2015*

Brother and Sister Duo Priscilla Shirer and Anthony Evans Join Together for Nights of Worship and The Word on The Fervent Tour

On the heels of the #1 box office hit War Room, author and speaker Priscilla Shirer will join her brother, celebrated worship artist Anthony Evans, for the nationwide Fervent Tour in February 2016. Registration will be open starting December 1. The winter event is the follow up to the fall leg of the tour that was a sold out success. Produced by Anthony Evans Productions/Entertainment in conjunction with Jerry Shirer and Going Beyond Ministries... << Full Report >>

Erica Campbell To Sing National Anthem Tonight At Wizards-Lakers Game

Multiple Grammy Award winner, TV star Erica Campbell will sing the National Anthem tonight at the Washington Wizards game against the Los Angeles Lakers. The game starts at 7:00pm at the Verizon Center located at 601 F Street NW, Washington DC 20004... << Full Report >>

Youth Evangelist Nick Hall Partners with WaterBrook Multnomah for First Book

Nick Hall, the founder of the fastest growing evangelistic movement in America, has signed a book deal with WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group, a division of Crown at Penguin Random House. The book, titled Reset, will release in both print and digital formats on June 7, 2016, just in advance of Together 2016, a historic gathering of one million Christians at the National Mall in Washington, D.C. on July 16, 2016. Reset is the official book of the event... << Full Report >>

*Tuesday, December 1, 2015*

Meredith Andrews To Release New Album "Deeper" February 19

Word Worship recording artist and songwriter Meredith Andrews is set to release her fourth album, titled Deeper, on February 19. As the follow-up to her 2013 release Worth It All, this multi-Dove Award winning artist continues to utilize her musical artistry to share about God's never-ending love for each of us. "This album came from the last year and a half, which has been a nitty gritty season for me," Andrews shares. "In these past months... << Full Report >>

Cracker Barrel Old Country Store® Partners With Michael W. Smith to Sponsor Nationwide Christmas Tour

Michael W. Smith will once again partner with Cracker Barrel Old Country Store® for his nationwide Christmas tour and the exclusive "Michael W. Smith Hymns II - Shine On Us" album, which releases Jan. 29, 2016. The tour will hit more than a dozen markets this holiday season, including Dallas, Atlanta, Detroit and more. Smith's long-time friend and fellow Grammy Award winner Amy Grant... << Full Report >>

Chris Tomlin To Make Grand Ole Opry Debut Friday, December 4

Chris Tomlin's name will be added to the list of legends who have stepped into Nashville's world famous Grand Ole Opry circle when he makes his Opry debut Friday, December 4. The evening will also feature performances from multiple GRAMMY® Award winners Vince Gill, Ricky Skaggs and more. For a list of additional performers, or to purchase tickets, visit The Grand Ole Opry's official website, where Tomlin's new Christmas album ADORE: Christmas Songs Of Worship is currently featured... << Full Report >>