January 2003
Michael W. Smith will be making guest appearances on two FOX NEWS Channel shows today Thursday, January 30, 2003!
Here are the details:
Fox & Friends (morning, news/talk show) The show starts at 7:00 AM Central Time.
Michael will be interviewed at 7:50 AM. Also, check out
Hannity & Colmes (evening, news/talk-show)
This show starts at 8:00 PM Central Time and Michael will be interviewed throughout the evening.
Also, Smitty’s Worship Again (released Oct. 22, 2002) was recently certified gold
(sales in excess of 500,000 units) by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA).
This gold certification was made official in less than 90 days, driven by sales that surpassed
the original, platinum-certified Worship album which released on Sept. 11, 2001. Congratulations Michael!
Third Day is in the studio finishing up their follow-up to
the hugely successful, critically acclaimed and gold-certified Offerings: A Worship Album.
The new recording, Offerings II: All I Have To Give, is set to release on March 4.
Produced by Third Day and Monroe Jones (Chris Rice, Shaun Groves, Paul Colman Trio), the new Offerings II
project continues the live worship experience captured on Offerings and also presents new
ontemporary worship songs recorded in the studio that are destined to become classics.
“We are a band that loves to both rock and worship and we are so thrilled that we can do both,”
said band member Mac Powell. “After rocking on the Come Together album, it’s a natural for us
to re-focus on worship with Offerings II. We also know that God is not done with Third Day when
it comes to worship music.”
Offerings II: All I Have To Give will feature six songs recorded live during the “Come Together”
tour in 2002 and six studio cuts, including four written by members of the band.
For a tentative track listing & preorder info, click here.
Well, besides the fact that there is 4 different limited edition covers for Relient K's
new release Two Lefts Don't Make A Right, But Three Do, there are also 2 more reasons to
buy the new RK album on March 11.
Exclusive to the owners of the actual enhanced album will be private viewing
privileges to the 8 week reality tv mini-series "Where the Buffalo And
Cell-phones Roam?". This will allow you to view life through the eyes of
each Relient K band member each episode. Insert your CD once a week for the
first 8 weeks after the album is in stores and get access to the weekly
continuation of this not to be missed "webisode" mini-series. After the
first 8 weeks - continue to use the enhanced CD to access a weekly tour
journal of the K guys as they are on the See Spot Rock Tour and more.
Remember, this is exclusive to owners of the actual CD. Also,
Gotee Records is giving away Relient K's limo - painted hot pink just for you! No
purchase necessary. But you can increase your chances of winning up to 8 times!
Every time you insert your CD into your computer to access the new webisode
of "Where The Buffalo and Cell-phones Roam?" your name will be entered into
a random drawing for the limo (only one entry a week is
allowed). If you happen to get in from week #1 - you will have 8 chances to
enter your name in!
In every copy of Steven Curtis Chapman's lovable new album All About Love that releases
today, consumers will find a golden ticket. Sounds a little like Willy Wonka but this ticket works a little
differently. Grab your All About Love album today, and use the instructions on the golden ticket
inside. It's your invite that could register you for a very special, very exclusive event in select markets.
In each city, only the first 400 to 600 people to register for that event will be admitted... so get your
All About Love album as soon as you can! Each album only includes one opportunity to register.
The sooner you register, the better your opportunity to be a part of this unique and intimate evening
of surprises, conversation and a few songs with Steven!
It has proven to be many "1st's" for Skillet this past year:
1st tour bus, 1st baby (John and Korey's little Alex), and their 1st DVD! So what better way to kick off
2003 than by selling 100,000 units of Alien Youth, their first album to sell this many copies,
making it their best selling album to date! Give it up for Skillet! Speaking of albums, rumor has it
that the band has finally returned to the studio and has begun preliminary tracking for their 5th
studio album! No word on a release date yet.
Acoustic-pop band FFH looks ahead to the release of its fourth
full-length Essential Records project, Ready to Fly, April 15. The upcoming album maintains FFH's
signature sound, while incorporating several new stylistic elements, including inventive instrumentation
and songs of a more personal nature.
Co-produced in conjunction with Scott Williamson (Lincoln Brewster, Point of Grace), David Hamilton and
Jeromy Deibler, Ready to Fly ventures into uncharted territory for the foursome, boasting
piano-based melodies, emotive strings, '60s-influenced horns and lyrics that explore the vulnerable
side of life.
"FFH definitely stepped out of the box on this project," comments Bob Wohler, Essential Records' vice
president of A&R. "Jeromy wrote many of the record's songs on piano rather than on guitar. This was
a key component in creating the album's unique sound. Jeromy also played a huge role in the production
of Ready to Fly, while Michael contributed several self-penned songs and Brian recorded his
first solo. This was truly a group effort."
Everyone's favorite singing veggies are back with two new releases in the best-selling
VeggieTales Sing-Alongs! series of children's music from
award-winning Big Idea Productions. O Veggie, Where Art Thou? and On the Road with Bob & Larry
will be released to Christian bookstores on March 25, 2003 at the suggested retail price of $6.98 (CD)
and $4.98 (Cassette).
Comprised of 30 minutes of upbeat, themed music from the delightful VeggieTales characters, children
and families can sing-along with songs from O Veggie, Where Art Thou? and On the Road with Bob & Larry.
These two new children's albums follow the best-selling tradition of the previous VeggieTunes music
by featuring classic songs that everyone know and loves...and can sing along to, plus original songs
from Big Idea's gifted songwriters that are sure to become favorites!
The See Spot Rock tour gets underway on Feb. 8th in Iowa. Speaking of the tour, Dan Spencer and Ethan Luck
of the Supertones will be teaming up with Ben Pearson (photographer for Hi-Fi Revival and Live Vol.1)
and Steve Taylor to put together a See Spot Rock Tour DVD. The guys have met together and shared a ton of ideas
according to a report by Ethan on the band's official site. "So whatever show you go to," says Ethan, "be sure to look for Dan
and I filming because we have a lot of fan involvement planned!" And an update on a long form video or new material?
"Don't worry, the long form DVD will still come out at some point, we still have to edit it down more. We have talked
about recording another record very soon! There has not been a set date but we will let you know ASAP!
Even further in the future, we have brought up the subject of Live Vol. 2. I don't know when that
will happen but again, I will keep everyone posted!" And so will we!
Delirious? is offering a little shout out to their UK fans next week. Here's the report from a recent
newsletter: "We’ve just announced that Delirious are to play a once-in-a-lifetime, one-off, get-yourself-there-at-all-costs
gig next Tuesday [28th January] in London. This is stuff that rock biographies are made of: a tiny venue [the Camden Underworld:
capacity 500], an army of raging fans and a big-sound band sweating their hearts out for all to see. Oh yes,
tickets are £2 - the reason? A special 10th anniversary thank you to our fans: you pay the same price as
the old Cutting Edge gigs back in 1993 - but in 2003... And as if that wasn’t enough, the web site currently has the best ever sale on:
all Delirious cds [excluding access:d and libertad] are £10 until the end of the month with free p+p."
For more info visit the site at www.delirious.co.uk or to order tickets go to www.wayahead.com.
Swedish powerhouse Blindside has been swimming in the mainstream since the release of their album
Silence on Elektra Records. But the band is headed for their first big tour of the new year
with none other than potty-mouthed rock band Papa Roach. If the tour hits your area, you may want to
catch up with the Blindside guys and support the group. Our suggestion: Skip the Roaches and pack plenty
of Raid.
Justin McRoberts is gearing up to record yet another project! McRoberts
says in a newsletter this week, "I have done quite a bit of writing towards a new project. I expect to have
enough material to take into the studio mid-late May. I had originally planned on doing a musical trilogy
about hobbits, but have recently been informed another author has done similar work ha ha. Nonetheless,
I look I forward to sharing some new songs with you this Spring." For the latest from Justin, visit
www.justinmcroberts.com
Curb Recording artist Plumb and her husband spent the day
helping others during the rare Winter storm that hit Nashville, TN on January 16th. Nashville broke a
record with an accumulation of 7.5 inches of snow. Plumb and her husband traveled around the city in
their Land Rover towing nearly 20 vehicles out of ditches, helping change flat tires and assisting
some that were out of gas and stuck on the side of the road.
Plumb states, "It is a blessing to have a vehicle that is effective in this type of situation and more of
a blessing to help those in need and see others assisting people in need."
They are now home safe and Plumb prepares for the release of her new album, Beautiful Lumps of Coal on March 25th.
The first single from this album, "Sink n' Swim," is at radio now and is one of the singles for the new
upcoming Gwyneth Paltrow movie A View From The Top (releases nationwide in April 2003.) Also a part
of the Paltrow movie is "Boys Don't Cry" from Plumb's upcoming album.
Ardent Records’ top rock band, Skillet, received a Dove
nomination this week from the Gospel Music Association. The band’s third consecutive No. 1 hit single,
“Vapor,” from Skillet’s best selling 2001 release, Alien Youth, was honored with a nod in the
“Hard Music Recorded Song” category. Receiving two Dove nominations last year for
“Modern Rock/Alternative Album of the Year” and “Rock Recorded Song of the Year,” for its No. 1 song,
“Alien Youth,” this year’s nomination marks the third for Skillet’s fastest-selling album to date.
As Alien Youth continues to garner accolades, Skillet’s recently-releases radio single, “Will You Be There,” mades its debut on R&R’s Top 30 Rock Chart last week.
The 34th Annual Dove Award nominees are in! tobyMac scored a flattering six nominations while Third Day
grabbed five and Jars of Clay, Audio Adrenaline, top 2002 JfH staff pick The Rock N Roll Worship Circus,
and MercyMe all received four nods each. Many others were noticed, so surf on over to www.doveawards.com for a full list of nominations! The Dove Award ceremony will take place
on Thursday, April 10th at the Gaylord Entertainment Center in Nashville, TN.
Congratulations goes out to Michael, Jody, Janna and Melissa of Avalon for winning the
American Music Award in the category of Favorite Artist-Contemporary Inspirational Music
at Monday night’s awards show, held live in Los Angeles and aired on ABC TV. Speaking
of Avalon, get ready for Testify To Love: The Very Best of Avalon due March 25th on Sparrow Records.
This greatest hits package includes 13 #1 hits as well as three new songs.
Relient K recently shot a new video in LA for the song
“Chap stick, Chapped Lips, and Things Like Chemistry” from their new album. The video was directed by Elliot
Lester (Grits “Here We Go”). The video took place at a retirement home featured 35 senior citizens,
wheel chairs, walkers and moshing. By the end of the shoot, RK walked away with 35 more RK fans
(their oldest fans!) On March 11 2003, Relient K will release their 3rd album Two Lefts Don't Make a Right... But Three Do.
The release will mark the first CD in Gotee history to be released with multiple covers. The limited edition
illustrated covers each depict a vehicle that has made a "bad" right turn. A limited run of each cover will
be made (about 15,000 of each) before a final cover is decided. So hurry and collect all 4!
Delirious? is cooking up some new tunes in their home country of the UK as they explain in a recent
update: "We’ve already mentioned "Every Little Thing," but the Forum gig showcased another new track: the groove-led "Rain Down." Both of these tunes are the first in line to be recorded as part of the demo phase for the band’s next album. In fact, Martin & Stu G are already locked into their rehearsal room writing and polishing for the next week or two.
As well as the conception of the album, the band are going to be getting creative as they prepare for the forthcoming spring tour. There will be new tracks, fresh visuals as well as all the usual good stuff you expect from a Delirious show."
For more from this update, check out: http://www.delirious.co.uk/cst2.html
Jeff Deyo and his wife Martha are still celebrating the long anticipated birth of their first child.
The proud parents welcomed their son, Roman Jeffrey Deyo, on Dec 18. He weighed in at 4 1/2 pounds and
17 inches, and is now home, healthy and "growing strong."
Responded Jeff, "After 4 1/2 years of desiring a child and not seeing this dream come to pass,
its amazing to be on the other side where God, in His perfect timing, blessed us so incredibly with
this strong, healthy, child of promise! Roman is such a cool, wonderfully unexplainable part of our lives!
Our one desire is that he know Jesus deeply and become exactly who God desires." Congrats guys!
They're back! Well, actually... it's just that we've found them!
Earthsuit has finally put up a new website (webmastered by Hunz from the late Beanbag, coincidentally)
and has recently left Sparrow records with plans to release their next project independently early 2003.
Check their "sights and sounds" link for the latest sample downloads of new music, including a full-length mp3!
The site also provides the following update info on the members: former bass player, Roy Mitchell has moved back to texas and is back in school full time;
guitarist, Dave Rumsey got married (he wedding took place in Sydney, Australia);
and Darren King can now be found behind the drums for earthsuit.
The band is currently recording and writing restlessly; and for more than earthsuit.
Adam is organizing another band, Macrosick, which will begin to make appearances late
this year. Paul, Darren, and Dave have started a production team, "the Digitals", and are currently doing
some songs for the new tobyMac album.
Industry veteran artist, producer, and former record co. exec Steve Taylor recently penned a much needed
article for YouthSpecialties.com approaching the question "Are You a Minister or Entertainer?"
In the lengthy yet vital article, Taylor says, "...this one argument that has largely defined the history of Christians in entertainment for the last 30 years, particularly when it comes to music. "Are you a minister or an entertainer? Are you here to minister to our kids, or are you just here to entertain them?"
My answer is that I'm not going to answer, because I think it's a bogus question. And I've been hearing that bogus question for the last 17 years. People keep asking it like they're quoting scripture or something: 'Are you a minister or an entertainer? Thus asketh the Lord!'"
For the whole article, please visit http://www.youthspecialties.com/articles/topics/culture/entertainer.php
In preparation for her self-titled March 25 release, Stacie Orrico
has been hitting the road visiting radio stations to share some of her new music with the staff and their
listeners. Visiting both Christian and mainstream stations across the country, Stacie is receiving amazing
response! KSBJ Music Director, Jim Beeler shared an e-mail that was sent to him from a listener after
the station played Stacie's brand new ballad, "Strong Enough," which will be released to Christian radio on
January 20. "God used this song to help me understand that God is strong enough to change a person's
life. As soon as the song ended, I called my brother and told him that I loved him," the listener wrote.
"Not only did this song help to heal a strained relationship, but it also reminded me that God is strong
enough to fulfill his purpose for my life as well, in spite of the mistakes that I have made."
Here's some Audio A Worldwide trivia for you... The rockin' new
Audio Adrenaline release, Worldwide,
opens with the upbeat "Worldwide One," which is a song of encouragement to make a difference in the world
around you. At the beginning of the song is a voice that seems to be a British air control officer landing
a plane into London's famed Heathrow airport. That voice isn't British at all, as a matter of fact,
that voice comes from a Texan! Its ForeFront's intern-turned marketing assistant, Lisa Apple.
"I was actually on my way to the airport when I got a call from Audio Adrenaline in the studio,"
remembers Apple. "I thought it was a joke at first, but being the team player that I am, I happily
obliged to help out!" As a matter of fact, the guys were so impressed with her performance,
they asked if she would record it again so they could use it to open all of the shows on their upcoming
"The Go Show" Tour! Look for Worldwide to hit stores on February 25 and "The Go Show" to kick off on
February 20. Click here to see ForeFront's new talent posing with Audio Adrenaline lead singer,
Mark Stuart - http://www.forefrontrecords.com/images/news/appleandstewart.jpg.
More Grammys Coverage! During a recent press conference in New York City announcing
the nominees for the 45th Annual Grammy Awards, it was revealed that
ForeFront Records artists Audio Adrenaline and tobyMac received nominations
for Best Rock Gospel Album for their current releases.
Audio Adrenaline was nominated for their November 2001 release, LIFT, which
received much critical acclaim and spawned three #1 singles on Christian
radio, including their first cross-over hit with “Ocean Floor.” This marks
Audio Adrenaline’s fourth Grammy nomination in this category.
“We are honored and excited by our Grammy nomination,” said Audio Adrenaline
frontman, Mark Stuart. “Let's hope that the fourth time is a charm!”
Audio A's hot new record Worldwide hits shelves February 25th! We've heard
it guys and let me tell you -- it'll rock your face off!
tobyMac was nominated for the first time as a solo artist for his fall 2001
release, Momentum, which has already sold more than 300,000 copies and
garnered several Dove Awards in 2002, including Rap/Hip-Hop/Dance Album of
the Year. No stranger to the Grammys, tobyMac has received four Grammy
Awards in this category for his work with multi-platinum selling rock band,
dc talk.
“My first solo recording was truly a labor of love,” said tobyMac. “For it
to be nominated for a Grammy… just blows my mind"
tobyMac was also recognized for his production work with Gotee Records’
artists, Grits and Jennifer Knapp. Grits’ latest release, The Art of
Translation and Jennifer Knapp’s The Way I Am were also nominated in the
Best Rock Gospel Album category, both of which were executive produced by
tobyMac.
When this year's Annual Grammy Nominations were unveiled,
P.O.D. turned up with TWO award nods!
Rebecca St. James' two hour concert, taped last week at Allen Arena in
Nashville, will help launch the new JC-TV Network, as it officially
joins the broadcast family of the Trinity Broadcast Network.
On Thursday, January 9th, Rebecca's concert will be broadcast on JC-TV
as a first run concert special on the network, which is targeted to a
young audience demographic. The telecast will be carried over the Dish
Network affiliates with an estimated target audience of more than three
million North American subscribers.
Noted Mark McCallie of TBN's California production office: "We're very
excited with the quality of programming set for the launch of JC-TV
this week. Paul and Jan Crouch, founders of TBN, have been totally
dedicated to bringing this network to reality. They specifically asked
that the Rebecca St. James concert be a flagship of our initial broadcast
programming."
What a great new year it is for this year's Grammy Award Nominees for the Gospel category!
The following artists were nominated for the Best Rock Gospel Album:
Lift by Audio Adrenaline, The Art Of Translation by
Grits, The Way I Am by Jennifer Knapp,
Come Together, Third Day, and Momentum by Tobymac.
For the Best Pop/Contemporary Gospel Album: New Map Of The World by
Paul Colman Trio, The Eleventh Hour by Jars Of Clay,
The Christmas Shoes by Newsong, The Heart Of Me by Kathy Troccoli
and finally See The Light from True Vibe. We have some news reports for select
nominees which will be posted below. Congrats to all of this year's Grammy Award Nominees!
The 45th Annual Grammy Awards will be held at Madison Square Garden in New York City and will air on the
CBS Television Network from 8 – 11:30 p.m. (live in the East, tape delayed in the West), February 23, 2003.
Multi-Platinum selling, multi-Grammy Award winning band Jars of Clay
(Essential/Silvertone Records) adds another nod to its list of Grammy accolades this week. Receiving a nomination
from the Recording Academy for Best Pop/Contemporary Gospel Album for its critically acclaimed 2002 release,
The Eleventh Hour, this achievement marks the fourth consecutive Grammy nod for each of the band’s
studio projects. “We are particularly honored by this Grammy Nomination,” says Jars of Clay’s Dan Haseltine.
“This album was a labor of love as we struggled to put the full extent of our heart and soul into each line
and note. When you labor so hard to communicate that which moves your heart so completely, it is all the
more gratifying to know you have been heard.”
Jars of Clay won its first Grammy for Best Pop/Contemporary Gospel Album in 1997 with its Platinum-selling
recording, Much Afraid, followed by a second consecutive win in the category in 2001 with its
Gold-Selling, If I Left the Zoo. The band also received a Grammy nomination for Rock/Gospel Album
of the Year in 1995 for its RIAA certified Double Platinum and self-titled debut.
Essential Records’ rock band Third Day launched into 2003 with news of their fourth Grammy nomination
in the Best Rock Gospel Album category for their critically acclaimed and RIAA gold-certified album,
Come Together. Following a successful year in the areas of album sales, record-breaking tours, national media exposure and philanthropy through humanitarian outlets including World Vision and Habitat for Humanity, the two-time reigning Gospel Music Association “Group of the Year” was thrilled to hear the announcement.
Mac Powell, lead singer for Third Day, noted, “This nomination is an amazing honor for us.
It’s our fourth Grammy nomination, so that element adds to our excitement.
This nomination also caps off a great year for us in working with Habitat for Humanity on our Spring
and Fall ‘Come Together’ tours and the ‘Come Together and Worship Tour.’ What an unbelievable
way to round off the year.”
Essential Records' pop-rock band the Paul Colman Trio,
received its first Grammy® Award nomination this week. The nomination marks the culmination of a phenomenal
debut year for the group, who toured as part of Third Day's best-selling "Come Together" tour and was named
among the Top 10 breakthrough artists of 2002.
Nominated in the category of Best Pop/Contemporary Gospel Album for its debut label release New Map of the World,
pc3 was the only new artist among the group's nominees. "This nomination was definitely unforeseen,
which makes it all the more enjoyable," comments frontman Paul Colman. "The guys and I couldn't be more
pleased with our reception here in the U.S. and are moved that the Academy has recognized our efforts."
Essential Records' pop quartet True Vibe received word yesterday of
its nomination in the category of Best Pop/Contemporary Album for See The Light, released last August.
The honor adds to the group's growing list of accolades since its entrance onto the Contemporary Christian music
scene less than two years ago. "It is such a neat feeling to receive an honor of this magnitude," comments
Jonathan Lippmann, founder and member of True Vibe. "When I heard the news this morning, my wife and I were
completely caught off guard. We've been thanking God all day long and calling everyone we know!"
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