MUSIC NOTES: Christian artists respond to tsunami

When the tsunami ravaged India, Indonesia and Sri Lanka in December, it was personal for members of Caedmon’s Call. The band had recently been in India, Ecuador and Brazil recording Share the Well, which was done with local musicians. The goal of the album, which was released in October, was to raise awareness of caste discrimination against India’s 250 million “Dalits,” or lowest class, and to shed light on the existing persecution and poverty in the three countries. The members of the Dove-award winning folk-pop group are asking fans to send support to India through two ministries the band is actively involved with: Compassion International and Dalit Freedom Network. For more information, visit dalitnetwork.org or compassion.com.

Entertainer John Tesh, his wife, actress Connie Sellecca, and their two children, Gib, 23 and Prima, 10, are currently traveling with Operation Blessing to Sri Lanka to aid tsunami survivors. Operation Blessing International is a non-profit humanitarian organization which has regional offices in India, Thailand and Indonesia. Tesh will be broadcasting from the area and providing online updates. You can follow the family’s journey by visiting ob.org, or listening to Tesh’s syndicated radio show updates. Visit tesh.com for a listing of radio stations across the U.S.

The Christian music and media industries are joining forces to provide a place where Christians can go to share their love with those in need. “A Wave of Love: Christians Respond to the South Asia Crisis” is a special relief campaign designed to bring together Christian charities, artists, radio stations and record companies to use their voices and mobilize Christians to act at this critical time. “A Wave of Love” will include radio announcements and specials, a Web site and Internet campaign, and a possible television program to send a call to Christians to respond to the southern Asia crisis and give to participating Christian charities.

The Gospel Music Association released its 2004 year-end report, and the overall top-selling records for the year—yearly sales for all titles in the Christian SoundScan system, regardless of genre or catalog status—were The Beautiful Letdown – Switchfoot; Merry Christmas with Love – Clay Aiken; Casting Crowns – Casting Crowns; Almost There – MercyMe; Passion of the Christ Soundtrack; Undone – MercyMe; WoW Hits 2005 compilation; O Brother, Where Art Thou?; Wire – Third Day and WoW Gospel 2004 compilation.

Christian artists continue to rock the mainstream charts. Switchfoot remains on Billboard’s Top Album charts after 87 weeks, and CCM artists MercyMe enjoyed heavy airplay on mainstream charts with their single, “I Can Only Imagine.”

The Chicago-based hip-hop praise and worship group Daniel’s Window is capitalizing on the reality TV show craze with the promotion of its latest album Strangely Looking Forward (Cross Driven Records). Billed as part Extreme Makeover and part Making the Band, The Christian Music Makeover will transform the group over a six-month period, emphasizing not just the band’s physical appearance, but their spiritual life as well.

Grammy Award-winning artist Kevin Max, best known for selling more than eight million records and receiving four Grammy Awards as a member of dcTalk, has signed an exclusive recording contract with Orange County, Calif.-based Northern Records. Recording is set to begin in the spring.

Rebecca St. James heads into the studio in February to begin recording her first studio album in four years. The new project is scheduled for release in late summer. Rebecca was recently honored with Christianity Today’s 2004 Readers’ Choice Christian Music Award for “Best Female Artist,” her second straight.

With the growth of online downloading both a blessing and a curse, artists are looking for better ways to share music with fans and still retain control over their art. Enter Weed, an online system that allows music fans to sample and then purchase music, and then get paid for sharing the music with friends. For more information, visit weedshare.com.

Indieheaven.com, which offers services and support for unsigned bands, has launched Broken Records. The label will promote, market and distribute releases from independent artists, allowing them to retain complete control over their content and ownership of their songs. Fans and consumers can download songs via the new Weed format or purchase physical product on the Broken Records Web site.

Christian hip-hop artist KJ-52 has signed on to promote Tyndale House’s Metal Bible and areuthirsty.com at nearly 25 Acquire-the-Fire events throughout the country through May. The debut single from KJ-52’s upcoming release Behind the Musik, “Are U Real” (featuring Jon Micah from Kutless), has been selected as the theme song for the 2004-05 Acquire the Fire events.

Bryan Duncan’s Red Road Records has signed an exclusive agreement with TAG Distribution, a division of TAG Artist Group, LLC to release his latest project, Music City Live CD and DVD. Duncan & The Nehosoul Band descended on a Nashville club earlier this year to perform a mix of new songs and popular favorites from his long career while cameras rolled.

On the road
Platinum selling and renowned pop sensation Point of Grace announces its spring 2005 “I Choose You Tour” with special guests Scott Krippayne and Charity Von. The tour, scheduled to launch Feb. 3 in Woodbridge, Va. and visiting 30 cities across the United States through April, will support the critically acclaimed fall release, I Choose You, the girls’ first full studio project in three years. Like the album, the concerts will showcase a re-energized sound as well as new member Leigh Cappillino, former Truth vocalist and worship leader for Women of Faith conferences who replaced original member, Terry Jones, last spring.

New releases
Various artists (CeCe Winans, Cindy Cruse-Ratcliff, Michael McDonald, Take 6, Twinkie Clark, Kim Rutherford, Tommy Sims and More) The Pinnacle Project: Last Say So (Pinnacle Entertainment Group) Jan. 25.

Various artists (CeCe Winans, Cindy Cruse-Ratcliff, Michael McDonald, Take 6, Twinkie Clark, Kim Rutherford, Tommy Sims and More) The Pinnacle Project: BIG (Pinnacle Entertainment Group) Jan. 25.

Scott Krippayne Gentle Revolution (Spring Hill Music) Jan. 25

Seventh Day Slumber Once Upon a Shattered Life (BEC Recordings) Feb. 1.

Various artists Bridges: Classical Hymns, Modern Worship (Waterfront Records) Feb. 1.

Stellar Kart All Ga,. No Brake (Word) Feb. 15.

Out of Eden Hymns (Gotee) March 2005.

Published, February 2005

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