To Save A Life Movie In Stores on DVD and Blu-ray
(8/3/2010)The inspirational film, To Save A Life, debuts on Blu-ray and DVD today, August 3rd from Sony Pictures Home Entertainment and tells the story of the difference one person can make when they use their influence and time for others. Earlier this year, over 600,000 teens, parents, and youth workers filled seats in theaters to experience this compelling drama that asks the simple question: How far would you go to save a life?
Written by youth pastor Jim Britts and directed by Brian Baugh, To Save a Life stars Randy Wayne (The Haunting of Molly Hartley, The Dukes of Hazzard: The Beginning), Deja Kreutzberg (TV's "As the World Turns," "CSI Miami"), Joshua Weigel (The Butterfly Circus), Robert Bailey, Jr. (The Happening), Kim Hidalgo (Ball Don't Lie), Sean Michael Afable (Akeelah and the Bee), Bubba Lewis (TV's "Medium"), and Steven Crowder (TV's "Greek"). The film was produced by Nicole Franco, Steve Foster and Jim Britts, with Scott Evans serving as executive producer and Grammy award-winning Charlie Peacock as Music Supervisor. To Save A Life is loaded with bonus content including deleted scenes, music videos, filmmaker commentary track, a gag reel, and the featurette "To Save a Life: Behind the Scenes." To Save a Life is available on Blu-ray for $34.95 SRP and DVD for $24.96 SRP.
SYNOPSIS:
Jake Taylor has it all, friends, fame, a basketball scholarship and the hottest girl in school. What could be better? Enter Roger Dawson. Roger has nothing. No friends. No hope. Nothing but put-downs and getting pushed aside. Jake and Roger were best friends when they were kids. But the politics of high school quickly pulled them apart. Now Roger doesn't fit in Jake's or anyone's circle and he's had enough. He walks onto campus with a gun in his pocket and pain in his heart and makes a tragic move. Jake's last ditch effort can't stop Roger, and the sudden tragedy rocks Jake's world. Something breaks loose inside and sends him questioning everything. Most of all, he can't shake the question; could I have saved Roger? In a quest for answers, Jake finds himself looking for the next Roger and reaching out to the outcasts and lonely. But he quickly finds that crossing class castes threatens all his world is built on. And it could cost him his own friends, his girl, his dreams and even his reputation. Is it worth the price to find the answer to his ultimate question; what do I want my life to be about?
Blu-ray and DVD Special Features Include:
Filmmaker Commentary
Deleted Scenes
Gag Reel
Featurette: To Save a Life: Behind the Scenes
Music Videos: "Bounce" by J-Rus, "Sunset Cliffs" by Paul Wright
To Save a Life has a running time of approximately 120 minutes and is rated PG-13 for mature thematic elements involving teen suicide, teen drinking, some drug content, disturbing images and sexuality.
For more on To Save A Life, visit www.ToSaveALifeMovie.com
Artwork and digital clips are available for download at www.sphepublicity.com
Visit Sony Pictures Home Entertainment on the Web at www.SonyPictures.com
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Stryper Reveals Clips From Their Upcoming Album 'The Covering'
(7/23/2010)The new collection of cover songs pays tribute to the bands that inspired Stryper, including Black Sabbath, Judas Priest, Iron Maiden, Led Zeppelin, Kansas and many others.
Following the success of their 25th Anniversary World Tour earlier this year, legendary rock band Stryper headed into the studio to work on their upcoming album, The Covering, tentatively scheduled for release October 13th from Big3 Records/SONY. For a limited time, fans can preview the new album by following Stryper frontman Michael Sweet on Twitter at http://www.twitter.com/michaelhsweet, where he will be revealing a hidden website where fans can hear exclusive song clips not available anywhere else.
The Covering, produced by Michael Sweet, will be unlike any previous Stryper recording, in that it's a collection of cover songs from bands that inspired them and helped to shape their sound and musical identity, including past hits from Judas Priest, Iron Maiden, Led Zeppelin, Kansas and many others. A cover of Black Sabbath's hit "Heaven and Hell" will be the first single, with an expected iTunes release in advance of the album. The Covering will also include "God," a new original recording from Stryper.
"Stryper recorded The Yellow and Black Attack (Enigma Records) back in 1983, and it was released the following year," says Michael. "Twenty six years have passed and after seven studio releases and multiple compilation and live projects, we decided to show our fans where our roots lie musically. The Covering consists of particular songs and groups that molded and shaped us and made us who we are today."
One of the highlights for Stryper fans is that The Covering is the first studio album in nearly two decades on which all four original members, plus longtime keyboardist Charles Foley, have recorded together.
"This record includes the original lineup," explains Michael. "Tim, Robert, Oz and I haven't recorded a full-length project together since 1990's Against the Law (Enigma Records), so this is truly history in the making. We also had what was probably the best time we've ever had recording a record together and I believe that this comes through in the energy and the spirit of each track. We're all extremely excited about this record and more importantly, we're all extremely confident about the future of Stryper and the four of us making music together for years to come."
About Stryper
Stryper's latest album, Murder by Pride, was released in 2009. The band supported the album with a year-long 25th Anniversary World Tour which took them throughout North America, South America, Europe and Australia. In 1984, Stryper broke onto the scene with their debut EP The Yellow and Black Attack, and have since gone on to sell 8 million albums and tour the world spreading an inspirational message through their branded sound of rock songs, heavy guitars, and pristine harmony vocals. The group's unprecedented 1986 album To Hell with the Devil was the first Christian album to go platinum and was named one of the "100 Greatest Albums in Christian Music" by CCM Magazine. Stryper was also the first Christian band to get airplay on MTV, where they had several hit videos, including the #1 "Most Requested" videos "Free" and "Honestly."
For more information, visit http://www.stryper.com.
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HM Magazine Celebrates 25 Years Of Hard Music News
(7/17/2010)25th Anniversary Issue Links The Work of Dedicated Musicians Through a List of HM's "Top 100 Christian Rock Albums of All Time"
25 years ago, Doug Van Pelt transformed newsstands by providing news and insights to heavy metal fans through a new magazine, aptly titled Heaven's Metal. Van Pelt, founder and editor, was a junior attending the University of Texas when he created the magazine in 1985. During this time, Christian hard rock bands such as Stryper, DeGarmo and Key and Kings X were influencing both the Christian and the general music industry as whole, which quickly pushed Van Pelt to dedicate his efforts on the magazine full-time.
After Heaven's Metal 10th anniversary, Van Pelt decided to focus on the current trends in music thus calling the magazine, HM. The name change acted as a banner for the broader spectrum of music they began to cover. HM's prior focus on heavy metal shifted to a wide array of genres from hardcore to indie rock to punk. While HM included a large span of genres, hard rock bands such as P.O.D., MxPx, Impending Doom, and Flyleaf continued to grace the cover. As culture shifted, so did HM and with that, they have become the gateway for musicians to express themselves.
Van Pelt's most popular feature in HM, "What So & So Says," is a segment in which bands such as The Used, Thrice and Korn have shared their views on Christianity and related topics. HM also provides readers with spotlights on upcoming artists, album reviews, trending topics, and in depth music news.
For their 25th anniversary, HM created a list to showcase the "Top 100 Christian Rock Albums of All Time," with U2's seminal album The Joshua Tree holding the number 1 position.
The much-awaited list is compiled of albums from the likes of bands such as Dashboard Confessional, Underoath, Skillet, P.O.D., Stryper and MUTEMATH. Van Pelt introduced the list as a category of recognition. HM rocked out their latest issue with additional stories on Impending Doom and Haste the Day's latest albums. Throughout Van Pelt's career he has not only worked with HM, but has made a name for himself through many avenues in the industry. Van Pelt has been profiled in Alternative Press magazine, written a top 10 Christian metal albums list for Revolver and penned long-standing columns for Guitar World and CCM Magazine.
"It has been a dream come true to see HM grow throughout the years," states Van Pelt. "It's been such a blessing and privilege to have spent the last 25 years working to promote bands and people that I respect. To do something you love for this long is an honor, and we are looking forward to see what the next 25 years holds for HM, and music as a whole."
HM is sold in all fifty states and is distributed in Barnes & Noble, Hastings, and Family Christian Stores. Subscribers for HM come from all over the world and represent around 20 countries, including Iceland, Papua New Guinea, Czech Republic and Cypress. HM Magazine was recently awarded a Telly Award for its HM/Gwar Internet commercial campaign (developed and filmed by the makers of the Owl City "Fireflies" video Endeavor Media).
The magazine's official website is www.HMMagazine.com
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Tooth & Nail Records Adds A Fresh Face To The Artist Roster
(6/23/2010)Tooth & Nail Records has recently nabbed the fresh new talent of Swimming With Dolphins, which includes frontman Austin Tofte, formally of Owl City, hailing from Minneapolis, Minnesota. This summer, Swimming with Dolphins will begin recording their debut album with Tooth & Nail Records.
"I'm more than excited to announce Tooth & Nail as the home of Swimming With Dolphins," shares Austin Tofte about the recent signing. "I grew up inspired by so many T&N artists. It's a great honor now to be a part of this family."
Independently releasing "Ambient Blue EP," Swimming With Dophlins' ambient electronica pop sound has attracted a huge fanbase, which has increased as the band has been touring with the likes of Owl City, Lydia, We Are The In Crowd and Places and Numbers. In addition, AbsolutePunk raved about the band's EP and sound stating, "To say that Swimming With Dolphins have potential is an understatement."
To learn more about Swimming With Dolphins, check out their newly launched website: http://www.swimmingwithdolphinsmusic.com, their MySpace http://www.myspace.com/swimmingwithdolphins, Facebook http://www.facebook.com/Swimmingwithdolphins and follow them on Twitter @SWDmusic.
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Stryper To Host Holy Land Tour For Fan In 2011
(5/24/2010)Platinum-selling rock band Stryper announced today that they will be hosting a 10-day tour of the Holy Land February 12-21, 2011. The once-in-a-lifetime VIP tour will be limited to 150 people. Stryper fans will be able to spend time with the band during this unique travel opportunity, with portions of the trip being filmed for an upcoming DVD.
"Oz, Robert, Tim and I are excited to go to Israel and see first-hand the birthplace of Christianity," says lead vocalist/guitarist Michael Sweet. "And to be able to share this experience with some of our fans makes this even more incredible."
The tour will visit the following locations in Israel:
Caesarea: A city built by King Herod the Great
Mount Carmel: Where the prophet Elijah defeated the false prophets of Baal
Galilee Boat Ride: Where Jesus walked on the water
Caesarea Philippi: Where the disciple Peter first confessed Jesus as the Messiah
Nazareth Village: A recreation of a village at the time of Jesus
Jordan River Baptism: An opportunity for those who wish to be baptized in the Jordan River
Masada: Where the final Jewish revolt against the Romans took place
The Dead Sea: A chance to float in the most therapeutic waters in the world
Pools of Bethesda: Where Jesus healed the man who was lame for 37 years
Garden Tomb: The place of Jesus' crucifixion and Resurrection
Yad Vashem: Memorial to the Holocaust
Western Wall Tunnels: 60 feet below the modern city of Jerusalem
Jerusalem: The City of God
Mount of Olives: Where Jesus rode the donkey through the Eastern Gate
Garden of Gethsemane: Where Jesus prayed before He was betrayed by Judas
Western Wall: Holiest site in Judaism
The cost for this unique travel opportunity is $3,299.00 per person, which includes airfare out of Los Angeles, New York or Toronto; hotel accomodations; all buffet breakfasts and dinners; air-conditioned transportation; an English-speaking tour guide and entrance fees to all of the sites. Price is based on double-occupancy and does not include airport tax, tip fee or lunch meals.
Due to limited availability, this trip will sell out quickly. Reservations can be secured for only $300. To register, please contact ari@ihtours.com or 1-877-999-8868 ext 415.
For more information, please contact joe@amaral.tv or 1-877-628-2800.
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Skillet To Join Creed On 'The 20-10 Tour'
(5/5/2010)SKILLET has just been confirmed as a special guest for select dates on CREED's "20-10 Tour" dates (specific Skillet dates listed below in full tour schedule).
"The 20 -10 Tour" kicks off on July 28th in Washington D.C., and was named because the first 2,010 reserved seats are $20 all-in. This means fans pay a flat rate with no added service charges, and the remaining seats will be priced at $20 or $10, plus applicable ticketing fees. A full itinerary and lineup can be found below.
GRAMMY ฎ nominated recording group SKILLET is set to take their explosive live show on the road once again in support of their highly acclaimed album, AWAKE, which made a blockbuster debut on the Billboard 200, entering the chart at #2. The album continues to reign as a favorite, ascending the upper half of the Billboard 200. Even after 36 weeks since AWAKE's release, the album has returned to the No. 1 spot on Billboard's Current Contemporary Christian Soundscan Chart. AWAKE is highlighted by the Top 5 Active Rock smash, "Monster" and the electrifying, "Hero," which is now top 20 at mainstream Active Rock radio after only six weeks.
SKILLET just finished their hugely successful co-headlining AWAKE TONIGHT tour with tobyMac last month, and is currently touring under their headline run for the AWAKE & ALIVE tour through late May.
The band's latest Christian radio single "Awake & Alive" is currently No. 1 at Christian Rock and Top 5 at CHR.
"The 20 -10 Tour" will feature new songs from CREED such as "Rain," "Overcome" and "A Thousand Faces" from Full Circle, the bands 2009 release and first new album in eight years, as well as hits such as "Higher," "My Sacrifice," "With Arms Wide Open," "One" and "What's This Life For." Creed has sold close to 35 million albums and has performed live in front of millions since forming in 1995. Creed has received numerous accolades, including several American Music and Billboard Awards, and the band won the GRAMMY ฎ for Best Rock Song for "With Arms Wide Open."
Citi(R) cardmembers will have access to pre-sale tickets through Citi's Private Pass(R) Program beginning in select markets. For complete presale details visit www.citiprivatepass.com.
Tickets for "The 20-10 Tour" concerts will be available through all Ticketmaster outlets, through LiveNation.com, or charge-by-phone at 1-800-745-3000 (except the show on August 20th in Gilford, NH). Dates and times are subject to change without notice.
Tickets for the August 20th Meadowbrook U.S. Cellular Pavilion concert in Gilford, NH will be available through the venue's Box Office, by calling 603-293-4700 and at select ticket locations. Check http://www.meadowbrook.net/?page=ticket_info for additional information.
About Skillet:
Skillet's latest, "AWAKE," continues to propel the incredible momentum the rock outfit has going for them with a blockbuster debut at No. 2 on Billboard's Top 200, selling over 67,000 units and peaking at No. 1 on iTune's "Top Albums" chart and "Top Rock" chart. Already over 300k in scans in just 20 weeks (more than double that of the GOLD selling COMATOSE), "AWAKE" was Amazon.com's best selling Christian CD of 2009, and boasts the No. 4 mainstream Active Rock single in the country with "Monster," which was also AOL Music's No. 4 mainstream rock song of last year, and the No. 1 Christian CHR & Rock single, "Hero," which has been used all season long by the NFL in their, Sunday Night Football and NFL Weekend Kickoff promos.
Skillet has toured with the likes of mainstream megastars Breaking Benjamin, Three Days Grace, Seether and Flyleaf, and headlined a slew of major Christian festivals, all followed by solo tours that ranked within Pollstar's Concert Pulse Top 50 Tours. Along the way, the two-time Grammyฎ-nominated alternative rockers also scored seven consecutive number one Christian radio singles, a 2008 GMA Dove Award for "Rock Song of the Year," and a 2009 nomination for Artist of the Year. Along with a trio of singles on Billboard's Mainstream Rock charts, a pair of BMI Songwriting Awards, and being chosen as Reader's Poll favorites on several top ccm websites, they also released their first ever concert CD/DVD combo pack "Comatose Comes Alive."
For up-to-the-minute news and information, visit www.skillet.com or www.myspace.com/skilletmusic.
# # #
Tickets are on sale now for the following concerts:
-July 31st Darien Lake Performing Arts Center concert in Darien, NY
-August 2nd at the Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, CT
-August 9th Tyson Event Center/Gateway Arena concert in Sioux City, IA
-August 13th Riverbend Music Center concert in Cincinnati, OH
-August 15th at the First Midwest Bank Amphitheatre in Chicago, IL
-August 17th Susquehanna Bank Center concert in Camden, NJ
-August 20th at the Meadowbrook U.S. Cellular Pavilion in Gilford, NH *
-August 25th at SPAC in Saratoga, NY
-August 3rd at the Comcast Center in Mansfield, MA
-August 6th at the Blossom Music Center in Cleveland, OH
-August 14th at Verizon Wireless Music Center in Indianapolis, IN
-August 18th at Toyota Pavilion in Scranton, PA
-August 21st at the PNC Bank Arts Center in Holmdel, NJ
-August 24th at the Nikon at Jones Beach Theater in Wantagh, NY
-August 31st at the Cruzan Amphitheatre in West Palm Beach, FL
-September 1st at the Ford Amphitheatre at the Florida State Grounds in Tampa, FL
Tickets go on sale Friday, May 7th at 10:00 AM for the following concerts:
-July 28th at Jiffy Lube Live (formerly Nissan Pavilion) in Washington, D.C.
-August 27th Time Warner Cable Music Pavilion at Walnut Creek concert in Raleigh, NC
-August 28th at the Virginia Beach Amphitheater in Virginia Beach, VA
Tickets go on sale Friday, May 7th at 12:00 midnight for the concert on July 30th at
Soaring Eagle Casino in Mt. Pleasant, MI *
Tickets go on sale Saturday, May 15th at 10:00 AM for the concert on August 29th at
Aarons Amphitheatre at Lakewood in Atlanta, GA
Tickets go on sale Saturday, May 22nd at 10:00 AM for the following:
-September 3rd at the Superpages.com Center in Dallas, TX
-September 4th at Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion in Houston, TX
Tickets go on sale Friday, June 18th at 10:00 AM for the concert on Saturday, August 7th
at Constitution Park in Ft. Macoy, WI *
"THE 20-10 TOUR" Itinerary
* SKILLET dates bolded and listed in red.
WED 28-Jul Washington, D.C. Jiffy Lube Live # ^
FRI 30-Jul Mt. Pleasant, MI Soaring Eagle Casino * ^
SAT 31-Jul Darien, NY Darien Lake Performing Arts Center ^
MON 2-Aug Uncasville, CT Mohegan Sun Arena # ^
TUE 3-Aug Mansfield, MA Comcast Center + ^
THU 5-Aug Orillia, ON Casino Rama Entertainment Casino*
FRI 6-Aug Cleveland, OH Blossom Music Center + ^
SAT 7-Aug Ft. Macoy, WI Constitution Park * ^
MON 9-Aug Sioux City, IA Tyson Events Center / Gateway Arena # ^
TUES 10-Aug Sturgis, SD Rock N the Rally * # ^
FRI 13-Aug Cincinnati, OH Riverbend Music Center # ^
SAT 14-Aug Indianapolis, IN Verizon Wireless Music Center # ^
SUN 15-Aug Chicago, IL First Midwest Bank Amphitheatre # ^
TUE 17-Aug Camden, NJ Susquehanna Bank Center ^
WED 18-Aug Scranton, PA Toyota Pavilion # ^
FRI 20-Aug Gilford, NH Meadowbrook U.S. Cellular Pavilion * # ^
SAT 21-Aug Holmdel, NJ PNC Bank Arts Center ^
TUE 24-Aug Wantagh, NY Nikon at Jones Beach Theater # ^
WED 25-Aug Saratoga, NY Saratoga Performing Arts Center # ^
FRI 27-Aug Raleigh, NC Time Warner Cable Music Pavilion at Walnut Creek # ^
SAT 28-Aug Virginia Beach, VA Virginia Beach Amphitheater + ^
SUN 29-Aug Atlanta, GA Aaron s Amphitheatre at Lakewood # ^
TUE 31-Aug West Palm Beach, FL Cruzan Amphitheatre # ^
WED 1-Sep Tampa, FL Ford Amphitheatre # ^
FRI 3-Sep Dallas, TX Superpages.com Center # ^
SAT 4-Sep Houston, TX Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion + ^
*These select shows do not include specially priced tickets.
# with special guest Skillet
^ with special guest Theft
+ with special guest Red
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MYCHILDREN MYBRIDE To Join Haste The Day On Road This Summer
(5/3/2010)Madison, Alabama's own MYCHILDREN MYBRIDE are pleased to announce that they will be heading out on the road this summer with HASTE THE DAY. Also joining MYCHILDREN MY BRIDE is UPON A BURNING BODY. The month-long trek begins in Allentown, PA on June 4th, and comes to a close in Marietta, IL on July 2nd. The full listing of tour dates is below.
MYCHILDREN MYBRIDE are poised to release their new full length, entitled Lost Boy, June 8th, 2010. The new record is the eagerly-awaited follow up to 2008's critically acclaimed Unbreakable. Unbreakable has sold an impressive 30,000+ copies in the United States alone, and has generated two music videos. MYCHILDREN MYBRIDE's most recently released video for 'On Wings of Integrity,' shot at The Waterfront Tavern in Holyoke, MA, received over 60,000 views in less than 24 hours.
The recently completed Lost Boy was recorded at Glow In The Dark Studio in Atlanta, Georgia by producer Matt Goldman (UNDEROATH, COPELAND, and THE CHARIOT). The new record recalls both the vehemence and sincerity of 2008's Unbreakable while progressing in musical maturity. "Musically it's about writing what was in our heads at the moment," Guitarist Robert Bloomfield states. "We went in with the thought of 'if we are going to be playing these songs for the next 2 years on tour then we want them to be really fun for the live show.'"
"From day one," Bloomfield adds, "it was like Matt Goldman was already in our heads. He saw what we wanted and tried to help us create it. The man has the best sense of humor. The most fun I've ever had in a studio." This album is sure to enchant current fans as well as broaden MYCHILDREN MYBRIDE's fan base significantly!
With a hectic touring schedule both leading up to and following the release of Lost Boy, MYCHILDREN MYBRIDE are sure to be busy in 2010. In addition to dates with HASTE THE DAY, MYCHILDREN MYBRIDE will be performing at a festival near you! Check out their current tour dates below:
MYCHILDREN MYBRIDE FESTIVALS
6/5 Columbus, GA @ Gallery 13 Event Center (Summer Side Show 8)
6/18 Wilmore, KY @ Ichthus Farm (Ichthus Music Festival)
7/2 Bushnell, IL @ Cornerstone (Cornerstone Festival)
7/17 Wilamar, MN @ Willmar (Sonshine Festival)
8/6 Gilford, NH @ Gunstock Mountain Resort (Soulfest 2010)
8/14 Lewisberry, PA @ Ski (Purple Door Festival 2010)
ON TOUR WITH HASTE THE DAY, UPON A BURNING BODY:
6/4 Allentown, PA @ Crocodile Rock Caf้
6/6 Philadelphia @ First Unitarian Church
6/7 Farmingdale, NY @ Crazy Donkey
6/8 Worcester, MA @ Upstairs at Palladium
6/9 Hartford, CT @ Webster Theatre
6/10 Montreal, QC @ Underworld
6/11 Toronto, ON @ Annex Wreckroom
6/12 Syracuse, NY @ Lost Horizon
6/13 Buffalo, NY @ Xtreme Wheelz Skatepark
6/15 Cleveland, OH @ Peabody's
6/16 Columbus, OH @ Basement
6/17 Wilmore, KY @ Ichthus Festival
6/19 Cordova, TN @ The Arbor w/ The Devil Wears Prada, Gwen Stacy
6/20 Little Rock, AR @ Village
6/22 Houston, TX @ Warehouse Live Studio
6/23 San Antonio, TX @ White Rabbit
6/24 Corpus Christi, TX @ House of Rock
6/25 Austin, TX @ Emo's
6/26 Oklahoma City, OK @ Conservatory
6/29 Bloomington, IN @ Rhino's
6/30 Grand Rapids, MI @ The Mixtape Cafe
7/1 Iowa City, IA @ Blue Moose Tap House
7/2 Marietta, IL @ Cornerstone Festival
Be sure to keep checking the MYCHILDREN MYBRIDE MySpace, which currently features studio updates giving a sneak peak of Lost Boy, as well as all of the bands current and future tour dates.
For info on MYCHILDREN MY BRIDE be sure to visit:
http://www.myspace.com/mcmb
Check out 'On Wings of Integrity' here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xC1U6bRw3ZI
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Word Entertainment Flies High at the 41st Annual GMA Dove Awards
(4/24/2010)Word Entertainment flies high at the 41st Annual Dove Awards scoring 15 Awards at Wednesday night's event. Held at the historic Grand Ole Opry in Nashville, evening standouts included NEEDTOBREATHE with three wins and first-time award winners Francesca Battistelli and Sidewalk Prophets. The GMA Dove Awards is set to air on the Gospel Music Channel this coming Sunday, April 25 at 8:00 PM ET.
Atlantic recording artist NEEDTOBREATHE carried the Word Label Group with three nods; Rock/Contemporary Album of the Year for their latest release The Outsiders, Rock/Contemporary Recorded Song of the Year for the gospel-infused track "Lay 'Em Down," giving the group a back-to-back win in this category with their nod for "Washed By The Water" in 2009 and the coveted Group of the Year award.
"We are really proud of the record and glad people seem to like it," says Bear Rinehart from NEEDTOBREATHE. "Thanks to all of our fans for their support!"
Fervent Records' Francesca Battistelli brought home two wins; Female Vocalist of the Year and Short Form Music Video of the Year for her chart-topping, record-breaking smash hit "Free To Be Me." Battistelli also performed live her brand new single "Beautiful Beautiful."
"I'm so incredibly honored and humbled by the support of the GMA, Christian radio and my amazing fans," says Francesca. "I'm very blessed to do what I love to do every single day and can not even begin to express my gratitude. I thank God for these wonderful blessings."
And the firsts keep coming in as Sidewalk Prophets were named the New Artist of the Year. This award came on the heels of their No. 1 hit, "The Words I Would Say," from their top-selling debut album, These Simple Truths.
"This year has been an unbelievable journey for us and truly humbling," remarks Sidewalk Prophets frontman Dave Frey. "Our heart lies in inspiring people and letting them know that they matter. Being given the gift of spreading this message through our music drives us and this award is beyond what we ever expected."
The Breen Agency, another division of Word Entertainment handling artist touring and booking, garnered nominations for Inspirational Album ("Revelation Song"; Phillips, Craig & Dean) and Inspirational Recorded Song ("The Only Hope"; Bebo Norman and Jason Ingram).
Below is the complete list of awards for Word Entertainment:
FEMALE VOCALIST OF THE YEAR
Francesca Battistelli
GROUP OF THE YEAR
NEEDTOBREATHE
NEW ARTIST OF THE YEAR
Sidewalk Prophets
PRODUCER OF THE YEAR
Jason Ingram, Rusty Varenkamp
RAP/HIP HOP RECORDED SONG
"Movin"; Ordinary Dreamers; Group 1 Crew; Group 1 Crew, Jeremy James, Byron Chambers, Christopher Stevens; Fervent Records
ROCK/CONTEMPORARY RECORDED SONG
"Lay 'Em Down"; The Outsiders; NEEDTOBREATHE; Bear Rinehart, Bo Rinehart; Atlantic Records
INSPIRATIONAL RECORDED SONG
"The Only Hope"; Bebo Norman; Bebo Norman; Bebo Norman, Jason Ingram; BEC Recordings
ROCK/CONTEMPORARY ALBUM
The Outsiders; NEEDTOBREATHE; Rick Beato, NEEDTOBREATHE, Jim Scott, John Alagia; Atlantic Records
INSPIRATIONAL ALBUM
Fearless; Phillips, Craig & Dean; Bernie Herms; INO Records
COUNTRY ALBUM
The Reason; Diamond Rio; Michael D. Clute, Jimmy Olander; Word Records
CHILDREN'S MUSIC ALBUM
Veggie Tales: Here I Am To Worship; Featuring Natalie Grant & Aaron Shust; Steven V. Taylor; Big Idea
SPECIAL EVENT ALBUM
Glory Revealed II: The Word of God in Worship; Mac Powell, Shane Everett, Jonathan Shelton, Brian Littrell, Trevor Morgan, Mark Hall, Jason Crabb, Bear Rinehart, Matt Maher, Amy Grant, Ed Cash, Geoff Moore, Natalie Grant, Laura Story, Brandon Heath, Mike Donehey, Aaron Shust, Shawn Lewis, Sara Evans, Bethany Dicks Olds, Shane & Shane, Bethany Dillon, Kari Jobe; Mac Powell, David Nasser; Reunion
CHRISTMAS ALBUM
Christ Has Come; Big Daddy Weave; Jeremy Redmond; Fervent Records
SHORT FORM MUSIC VIDEO
"Free To Be Me"; Francesca Battistelli; Andy & John Erwin; Dan Atchison; Alabama Production Group; Fervent Records
MUSICAL
A Baby Changes Everything; Deborah Craig-Claar, David T. Clydesdale; Word Music
For more information on Word Entertainment log on to: http://www.wordlabelgroup.com
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41th Annual GMA Dove Awards Celebrated At Nashville's Famed Grand Ole Opry House
(4/22/2010)The 41st Annual GMA Dove Awards, Gospel/Christian music's biggest event, were held last evening at the legendary Grand Ole Opry House. It was an evening of celebration as an incredible 43 Dove Awards were handed out and 15 collaborative performances were showcased. The 41st Annual GMA Dove Awards will be televised nationwide on gmc (http://www.watchgmctv.com) Sunday, April 25th from 8 p.m. -10 p.m EST. Click here for a complete list of all winners.
The Dove Awards in the overall categories went to:
Artist of the Year: Casting Crowns
Female Vocalist of the Year: Francesca Battistelli
Male Vocalist of the Year: Brandon Heath
Group of the Year: NEEDTOBREATHE
New Artist of the Year: Sidewalk Prophets
Songwriter of the Year: Jennie Lee Riddle
Song of the Year: "By Your Side," Mike Donehey, Phillip LaRue, and Jason Ingram, as performed by Tenth Avenue North
Producer of the Year: Jason Ingram, Rusty Varenkamp
"On behalf of the membership of the Gospel Music Association, we are fortunate to have such immense creative talent sharing the Gospel through music," says Ed Leonard, Gospel Music Association's Chairman of the Board. "We are proud to present this year's Dove winners, and congratulate them and all the nominees on their achievements."
Tenth Avenue North's "By Your Side" was awarded Song of the Year. Written by Tenth Avenue North's Mike Donehey, along with Phillip LaRue and Jason Ingram, the band also performed the hit single, which ranked an impressive No. 3 on Billboard's overall decade ranking of Christian songs, this evening.
Ingram additionally collected trophies for publisher for Song of the Year and co-writer on the Inspirational Song of the Year, "The Only Hope." He was also named Producer of the Year along with Rusty Varenkamp.
Another of the night's multiple award winners is rock band NEEDTOBREATHE who walked away with statuettes for Group of the Year, Rock/Contemporary Album for The Outsiders, and Rock/Contemporary Recorded Song, "Lay 'Em Down." NEEDTOBREATHE'S Bear Rinehart also picked up an award for participating in the Special Event Album, Glory Revealed II: The Word of God In Worship.
Artist of the year was awarded for the first time to platinum-selling Casting Crowns. The Atlanta-based band of youth workers continues to be one of the nation's top-selling artists across all genres, with its recent album Until the Whole World Hears debuting at No. 4 on the Billboard 200 chart, surpassing the first-week sales of rapper 50 Cent. One of the best-selling new artists of 2009, Sidewalk Prophets, received the New Artist of the Year award. This is Sidewalk Prophets's first Dove Award.
For the second year in a row, the Artist and New Artist of the Year categories were voted on by both the Gospel/Christian music industry as well as its fans in a campaign coordinated by gmc. Almost 100,000 votes were cast on gmc's website (http://www.watchgmctv.com) and via text messaging to help determine the winners.
It was also a big night for Francesca Battistelli as she walked away with two Dove Awards, winning for Female Vocalist of the Year and for Short Form Music Video for "Free To Be Me." Battistelli also took to the center stage performing her song "Beautiful, Beautiful" from her debut project, My Paper Heart.
In other top overall categories, for the second year in a row Brandon Heath took home the Male Vocalist of the Year trophy. He also received a Dove Award for his participation in the Special Event Album category. Heath also performed last evening, partnering with winners Jars of Clay on its single "Two Hands." Jars of Clay was awarded two Dove Awards, one for the Pop/Contemporary Album win The Long Fall Back To Earth, as well as for the album's Recorded Music Packaging, designed in partnership with Tim Parker.
Another double winner was Jennie Lee Riddle. Riddle was recognized as the Songwriter of the Year, as well as for her No. 1 penned single, "Revelation Song," named Worship Song of the Year. Recorded by Phillips, Craig & Dean, as well as by Kari Jobe.
Even more performances and unique collaborations took place, as almost 100 artists joined throughout the night to showcase the plethora of Christian music genres. Natalie Grant, who co-hosted the evening along with MercyMe's Bart Millard, joined with Jordin Sparks to open the main show with "Human," while MercyMe and David Crowder combined as one to perform the medley "All of Creation"/"How He Loves."
Other stellar collaborations were shared with the packed Grand Ole Opry House audience, such as Rock Album of the Year winners Red taking the stage with Brian "Head" Welch, former lead guitarist of multi-platinum metal band Korn to perform the medley "Fight Inside"/"Death Of Me." Introduced by Tenley Molzhan, a runner-up from the 14th season of ABC's "The Bachelor," bluegrass icon Ricky Skaggs performed "Someday Soon" with Gordon Kennedy, while Stellar Award-winning artist and producer Donald Lawrence teamed up with Jason Crabb, showcasing their talents for the audience during their collaboration of "My Tribute."
The evening was also highlighted by a tribute honoring 100 years of Southern Gospel. The tribute featured the Blackwood Brothers, The Perrys, The Booth Brothers, Mosie Lister, and The Crabb Family.
Other unforgettable performances of the evening included Amy Grant performing "Better Than A Hallelujah," tobyMac & Diverse City with "Funky Jesus Music," and Bebe & Cece Winans shared the stage with a 23-piece choir to perform "Grace." Another highlight this evening was from Casting Crowns, last year's Group of the Year, who performed "Until the Whole World Hears" sharing the stage with a mass children's choir.
"Come Together Now," the Haiti relief tribute helmed by Michael W. Smith and written by Smith, David Mullen and Cindy Morgan, closed the celebratory evening. Introduced by evangelist Franklin Graham, nearly 30 artists united on stage for the poignant finale to illustrate Nashville's distinct and authentic community of musicianship, and most of all to help remind people of the need to help those in Haiti. A few of the artists who participated in the powerhouse collaboration were Wynonna, Lee Greenwood, Matt Maher, Melinda Doolittle, Jeremy Camp, Nicole C. Mullen, Mark Hall and many more.
The 41st Annual GMA Dove Awards Opening Ceremonies featured the presentation of 37 of the evening's 43 Dove Awards, as well as remarkable performances by Voices of Glory, Karen Peck & New River, Rhonda Vincent & The Rage, Collin Raye, and The Nelons with Karen Peck.
Bob Gordon was the producer of the 41st Annual GMA Dove Awards. Stephen Hubbard produced the evening's Opening Ceremonies.
About GMA:
Founded in 1964, the Gospel Music Association serves as the face and voice for the Gospel/Christian music community and is dedicated to exposing, promoting and celebrating the Gospel through music of all styles including Pop, Rock, Praise & Worship, Urban Gospel, R&B, Hip Hop, Southern Gospel, Bluegrass, Country and more. The GMA community consists of more than 2,200 members including agents, artists, church leaders, managers, promoters, radio personnel, record company executives, retailers, songwriters and other industry visionaries. The GMA produces the GMA Dove Awards, GMA Dove Week and IMMERSE. For more on supporting the GMA or becoming a member, please visit www.gospelmusic.org or contact the GMA directly at 615.277.1376.
About gmc:
gmc can be seen in 47 million homes. The channel's rapid growth has made it one of the fastest growing networks in television for the past three years. gmc is available on various cable systems around the country, on DIRECTV on channel 338 and on Verizon FiOS on channel 224. For more information visit http://www.watchgmctv.com.
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The Creation Festivals Announce Additional Details for the 2010 Events
(4/15/2010)Creation Festivals, voted "Favorite Festival" by CCM Magazine readers for the 3rd consecutive year, has proven to be the hallmark summer event music fans can't afford to miss. Hosted in two incredible settings, Creation Festivals host todays top Christian artists, compelling speakers, and stellar entertainment all for one low price. Both festivals are home to 5 stages, 60 artists, 20 speakers, an extreme zone, kid's entertainment, exhibit buildings, and much more.
Creation 2010 Northeast will celebrate the 32nd annual festival June 30th - July 3rd at the Agape Farm in the beautiful mountain ranges of Mount Union, PA. Creation 2010 Northwest will be held at its new home, the Enumclaw Expo Center, in Enumclaw, Washington (just 45 minutes outside Seattle) on July 21st - July 24th.
"Creation is a destination" says festival Producer, Bill Darpino. "The beautiful mountains of western Pennsylvania or the awe inspiring view of Mt. Rainier allows each attendee to experience Gods creation in a unique and personal way."
Each festival boasts world-class artist lineup that includes bands such as Skillet, TobyMac, Casting Crowns, Chris Tomlin, the David Crowder Band, Switchfoot, Newsboys, Red, Family Force 5, and many more. The Nations top speakers such as Bob Lenz, Louie Giglio, Reggie Dabbs, Ron Luce, Tony Nolan, and Matt Pitt will also take the stages at Creation. The "Fringe Stage" will feature the best alternative Christian artists, including Group 1 Crew, Seabird, The Classic Crime, R-Swift, and Brian "Head" Welch (founding member & former lead guitarist of Korn). In addition, Creation Northwest will feature Hillsong Live from Hillsong Church in Sydney, Australia - a Creation Festival exclusive.
The Creation Festivals are more than just entertainment for families and groups - it's an experience. Generations have come to the Creation Festivals over the years with an expectancy to see God move.
"Nothing can compare to worshiping with tens of thousands of people, being a part of the candle-lighting service, or even watching young and old be baptized," states Co-founder and Director of the Creation Festivals, Pastor Harry Thomas.
The message of hope and encouragement is one that is carried throughout the week at Creation. Each afternoon there are special seminars on a variety of topics from keynote speakers at various locations on the festival grounds. Creation has once again teamed up with Interlinc to provide youth leaders with the "Youth Leader VIP Experience." This special tent will house daily seminars by festival speakers, exclusive artist talkback sessions where youth leaders can meet and have candid discussions with some of the artists appearing at the festival, enjoy free snacks, and a place to connect with other church leaders from across the nation.
An event for the entire family, Creation Northeast and Creation Northwest features a "Kid's Stage," geared especially for children of all ages. The Donut Man, Phredd, Mark Thompson, and Stephen Courtney will all make Creation an exciting experience for children. Each afternoon, kids also gather in the "Kid's Grove" for a special craft time, puppets, and a petting zoo. For teens and adults alike, there is an "Extreme Zone" featuring a skate and BMX park, climbing walls, spider jumps, sumo wrestling, basketball courts and much more.
Creation strives to offer the best entertainment value for families as well as youth groups. Advanced tickets start at $49.00 per person for the entire four-day festival, providing the attendees with jam-packed entertainment, lodging, and more all for one low price. In addition to Creation's group rates, Creation offers free tickets to kids under 5 years of age and has once again offered its "Ticketing Payment Plans" and "Carpooling to Creation" contests to help fans spread their dollars even further.
Nick Kulb, Director of Marketing and Sales, states "We will continue to support our attendees by offering a tremendous amount of entertainment for the lowest possible ticket price.
Creation has become a staple on the summer calendars for tens of thousands of people and we will continue to provide them with great value." Tickets for both festivals are available now at www.creationfest.com.
For more information about Creation 2010 Northeast and Creation 2010 Northwest go to www.creationfest.com or Google keyword - "Creation." There you will be able to view the complete program, find information on purchasing tickets, volunteering, and much more. Media and press outlets looking to cover the festival on-site please go to www.creationfestpress.com. Become a fan of Creation Festival on Facebook and follow them on Twitter.
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