BGSSA Songwriter of the Year Releases Timely Radio Single Via Radioactive Airplay

(BRANSON, MO) - Yet To Come Ministries announces the release of “The End Is Near” by award winning BGSSA member Julie Renee to radio through Radioactive Airplay.Com. The song is a powerful message penned by the Songwriter of the Year for the Branson Gospel Singer Songwriter Association.

According to Radioactive Airplay president Charles Brady, “Julie Renee is a very gifted writer with a wonderful voice. Recently, Rosie and I had the honor of personally experiencing the ministry of this multi-gifted artist. Julie delivers the hope of the message of the Gospel in Song with anointing and exceptional talent and skill. This is a wonderful song with a very relevant and timely message.”

“A song for the times” is how Sherrie Brewster of Yet To Come Publishing described Julie Renee’s newest radio release, “The End Is Near”. This song is a powerful message about how quickly we are approaching the last chapter of God’s Holy Word! “We don’t have to be bible scholar’s,” Julie says, “to see that we are living in exciting times! As God gave me this song, He placed such a burden on my heart to shout out the urgency of our call. There is still so much work to do and time is running out!”

Radio DJ’s can download Julie Renee’s newest radio release for broadcast purposes by visiting www.radioactiveairplay.com

GMA DOVE AWARDS NOMINATIONS FOR 2009 ANNOUNCED

Chris Tomlin, Natalie Grant, Casting Crowns and Newcomer Francesca Battistelli Emerge as Leading Artist Nominees

Fans Will Vote For Artist and New Artist of the Year For First Time

NASHVILLE, Tenn. – February 20, 2009 – Casting Crowns, Steven Curtis Chapman, Fireflight, Marvin Sapp, Third Day, TobyMac and Chris Tomlin have been nominated by the Gospel Music Association (GMA) membership for Artist of the Year at the 40th Annual GMA Dove Awards on April 23, 2009 in Nashville.

Those artists were among the Dove Award nominees announced at a press conference today at the Nashville Convention & Visitors Bureau Visitor Information Center. The GMA Dove Awards, gospel music’s biggest night of the year, featuring artists from every style of gospel/Christian music coming together for a night of music and celebration, will be broadcast Read more

Sisters Sign With Daywind Records

Pictured left to right: Ed Leonard (President of Daywind Records), Kim Ruppe Lord, Valerie Ruppe, Norman Holland (Daywind Records’ Vice President and A&R Director), and Heather Ruppe Day

Hendersonville, TN (Feb. 19, 2009) - Daywind Records is pleased to announce the signing of the dynamic family trio, Sisters. Kim Ruppe Lord, Heather Ruppe Day, and Valerie Ruppe met in Hendersonville, TN, yesterday to make the long-term relationship with Daywind official. Plans for their first Daywind recording are underway.

Many will remember these three ladies from their years as a part of The Ruppes. Their soaring harmonies are unforgettable. From the song they made a classic, “Angels In The Room,” to their stunning hit song, “Under His Wings,” these Sisters know how to deliver great music and ministry.

Daywind Records’ president, Ed Leonard said, “What an unbelievable sound and anointing these ladies bring to our music. We are honored to work with them.”

Kim Ruppe Lord expressed her excitement about the future, “Sisters has been our dream for a long time. We’ve just had to wait for the ‘right’ time. We believe that Daywind is a door that God has opened for us. We are excited to work with this excellent team. We are standing on the verse from Ephesians 3:20, ‘Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us.’”

You may find Sisters on tour with their extended family group, Lordsong, or you may find all of them on a Mark Lowry tour event, but Daywind Records is proud that you can also find them here, as a part of the great family of Daywind artists.

To learn more about Sisters, visit sistersmusic.org. For more information on all the talented artists at Daywind, visit daywindrecords.com

Daywind Records is based in Hendersonville, TN, and is distributed worldwide through New Day Christian Distributors. In addition to Sisters, Daywind is home to such great artists as Triumphant Quartet and Karen Peck and New River, among others.

New Artist Kari Jobe Has #1 Album at iTunes and Christian Retail This Week

MOBILE, Ala. – February 19, 2009 – New Integrity Music/Gateway Create artist Kari Jobe enjoys the No. 1 CD at Christian retail and the top-selling spot for a week on iTunes Christian album sales chart.  Kari Jobe, which sold more than 11,552 units in its first week of sales, according to Nielsen SoundScan, also marks the highest Christian and gospel music debut by a new artist since Mandisa’s first CD release in 2007. 

In addition to the top spots on Christian SoundScan’s Christian retail chart and iTunes Christian chart, Jobe’s debut CD, which was produced by Ed Cash and includes songs written by Jobe, Cash, Chris Tomlin, Paul Baloche and Mia Fieldes, claims the No. 4 spot on the overall Billboard Top Christian & Gospel Albums for the week-ending February 15, selling only less than two WoW compilations and Innocence & Instinct, the new release from Red.

“This is literally a dream come true for me and I am at a loss for words right now. I am so grateful for the response to my album and humbled that so many people are engaging and connecting to the heart of God through these songs,” said Jobe in response to her successful first week.

The debut CD is earning its share of critical success alongside record sales.  Says CCMMagazine.com, “With the powerhouse nuances of Natalie Grant and the singer/songwriter vulnerability of Mindy Smith, new Integrity worship artist Kari Jobe is more than a fresh face and pretty voice…With producer Ed Cash’s (Chris Tomlin, Bethany Dillon) competent hands at the creative controls, Jobe’s self-titled debut seeks to establish her as more than just a worship leader, but also as a fully-equipped artist.”

Jobe has been traveling this week to promote her new CD.  She started with a standing room only release party and concert at her home church, Gateway Church in the Dallas area and also visited churches in Oklahoma, Louisiana, Alabama and Mississippi. 
“I’m Singing,” the first single from Kari Jobe, is also making its way across the country at Christian radio.  Written by Jobe, Cash and Tomlin, “I’m Singing” is now “new and active on the AC chart” with spins at WPOZ in Orlando, FL; WCSG in Grand Rapids, MN; KLTY in Dallas, TX and WMUZ in Detroit, MI.
 
The child of traveling ministers, Jobe began singing when she was only 3 and knew by age 10 that she wanted to lead worship.  She spent time studying at Oral Roberts University, Christ For The Nations Institute and Dallas Baptist University where she finished her Psychology/Pastoral Ministries degree before joining the Gateway Church staff.

Phil Cross Brings “Song of a Lifetime” to First Baptist Church of Atlanta, Ga

Phil Cross Music announces they will present Song of a Lifetime, a night of classic Gospel songs and stories, at First Baptist Church of Atlanta (FBA). Dr. Charles Stanley will welcome everyone as legends and rising artists in Gospel music will tell the stories behind the songs, as well as give performances of classic songs.

On February 15, Phil Cross’s Song of a Lifetime comes to First Baptist Atlanta. The free concert will feature The Hoppers, Phil Cross and Crossing, Squire Parsons, Mosie Lister, Mitchel Jon, and Mallory Ledford. FBA’s own Atlanta Worship Choir and Orchestra will also perform. The concert will begin at 6:00 p.m. in the church’s worship auditorium.

Producer Phil Cross envisioned Song of a Lifetime to celebrate both songs and performers, both songwriters and singers. Believing that the human heart was designed to be inspired and refreshed by music, Cross has produced a series of concert events, along with a DVD, that showcase and celebrate Gospel music and its message of good news.

Copies of the new DVD of the first “Song of a Lifetime” event at NQC is available now for purchase at www.philcrossmusic.com

Over 1000 Artists and Fans Join SoGoCity In First 18 Days!

Asheboro, NC – (SoGoCity.Com) SoGoCity, the newest website property of the Caraway Media Group family of sites which includes SoGospel.Com, the very first Southern Gospel Dot Com has seen unprecedented growth in the first 18 days. According to founder and (mayor) of the new online Social Networking site for Gospel Music artists and fans, Charles Brady, the site exceeded the community planners goal of 1000 members in 30 days in an astonishing 18 days.

SoGoCity represents a great opportunity for artists, pastors, event planners, fans and radio and industry personal a unique social networking community that includes numerous features including individual customizable home pages complete with video and audio capabilities. Event postings and personal Blogs along with an active discussion forum, picture uploading capabilities, live chat room and a special comment wall for each member along with the most recent activity. Members can also start and join a number of special groups that deal with different aspects from writing to those wanting the latest news from the SoGoCityNews Desk.  

According to founder Charles Brady, much of the growth is due to the members themselves who have sent out an average of 10,000 invitations a day to new friends to come and join the new Social Network. “It is amazing to me and the members of the SoGoCity Court, a small group of handpicked members that keep a watchful eye on the site, at the speed in which the community is growing. I have never seen anything quite like it.” Charles stated.

Members that are signing up are literally coming from around the globe.  Charles noted that the growth of this new social network is a testament to the growing popularity of Southern Gospel Music being fueled by popular artists like the Gaither Vocal Band, Ernie Hasse and Signature Sound, Gordon Mote and many of the popular Gaither Homecoming artists. Some of those artists like Woody Wright, Ann Downing, and the Whisnants & the Mike LeFevre Quartet joined those first 1000 members to the new social networking site. Along with great artists are great writers like Phil Cross, Sydney Coble, Twila LaBar, DK & Sherrie Brewster and a host of other well know prolific writers.

One of the most interesting aspects of the site involves a group from Honduras that are singing southern gospel in Spanish in English speaking churches. The response to the group Samaritan Revival has been nothing short of unbelievable as folks are scrambling to find out more about this group that has also attracted the attention of Daywind’s Ed Leonard.  According to Charles and others on the site it is like listening to a Spanish version of the Gaither Vocal Band! They are incredible! The group is on a tour in the US now and they are being overwhelmed with invitations from churches as they learn of this exciting new group with a very unique ministry.  

A free membership to the social networking community for Gospel Music enthusiast is available by visiting www.sogocity.com and completing the sign-up form. While signing up new members can upload a profile picture of themselves (180×180 pixels) and select how much email they’d like to receive from the network. “I’d recommend unchecking some of those notifications until things level off a bit,” Charles stated. Unless of course you like getting tons of email. With the tremendous activity level the site is seeing it can fill up an email box quickly, he noted.