Award season brings Grammy nods, Worship Leader Praise wins

The 48th Annual Grammy Awards will be presented Feb. 8 at the Staples Center in Los Angeles. Nominations went to a number of gospel and Christian artists, including Yolanda Adams, CeCe Winans, Kirk Franklin, Donnie McClurken, Audio Adrenaline, GRITS, Day of Fire, Cross Movement, Casting Crowns, Mary Mary, Steven Curtis Chapman, Jars of Clay, Out of Eden, Michael W. Smith, Third Day, The Crabb Family and Amy Grant. For a complete listing of nominees, visit grammy.com.

Kevin Max, acclaimed singer/songwriter, author and former member of the group dcTalk, recently made his debut as a contributing writer for the newly re-launched Web site of Ichthus Ministries Inc., the parent company of the popular Ichthus Festival. The online community provides a place for teen-agers, young adults and youth leaders to interact with one another. Max addresses questions from readers, and future contributions to the Web site will include poetry and other artistic offerings. Visit Ichthus online at ichthus.org. Kevin Max's latest solo project, The Imposter, is available on Northern Records.

Casting Crowns reached another career milestone when their sophomore album, Lifesong, was certified Gold by the Recording Industry Association of America. Gold certification denotes shipments of more than 500,000 copies of an album. Lifesong debuted at No. 9 on Billboard’s Top 200 Albums chart, and was one of only two Christian artists to break the Top 10 on the Billboard chart in 10 years. Casting Crowns now has career sales of more than 1.9 million albums.

Ten-time Grammy & Dove Award winner Take 6 is gearing up for their latest release, Feels Good, on their recently launched label Take 6 Records. The highly anticipated a cappella project will release to the Christian, mainstream, gospel, R&B and jazz markets in March.

Rocketown recording artists Watermark (Nathan & Christy Nockels) will release A Grateful People in March. The project features new concert recordings of a dozen of the best songs from the couple’s decade of writing and recording together as well as two new songs. A Grateful People was recorded live at the couple’s home church, Fellowship Bible in Franklin, TN and features special guests Chris Tomlin, Point of Grace, Charlie Hall, Shane & Shane and Ed Cash. Watermark hits the road for an 18-city tour in the spring.

Canadian pop rock band Hawk Nelson is currently in the studio working on their sophomore release Smile, It’s the End of the World (Tooth and Nail). Hawk Nelson’s career has skyrocketed since their debut album Letters to the President was released last year. They’ve appeared on NBC’s “American Dreams” and music from their debut album was used on WB’s “Smallville” and “Summerland” as well as in commercials for the 2004 Summer Olympics. The band recently appeared in the Disney film, “Yours, Mine and Ours,” performing the song “Bring Em Out,” which they wrote for the movie.

Dove Award-winning hard rock band Pillar has joined forces with Teen Mania in a campaign to reach out to teens called “BATTLE CRY Campaign.” Pillar has given Teen Mania exclusive use of its current single “Frontline” for promotional efforts. The band will also headline select BATTLE CRY events. For more information, visit teenmania.com or pillarmusic.com.

Chick rock group BarlowGirl was featured recently on NBC’s “Today Show” in a story on how Christian music is impacting pop culture. The band’s sophomore release, Another Journal Entry (Fervent Records), is in stores now.

Gotee’s StorySide:B finished shooting the first music video for their chart-climbing radio single “Miracle,” from their newest release Everything and More. The video was shot on location in Los Angeles and was directed and produced by Shane Stanley of Saxons River Entertainment.

Audio Adrenaline’s "Clap Your Hands," from their latest album, Until My Heart Caves In, was used in ESPN’s "Ultimate Highlight Reel" in October. “Clap Your Hands” is also featured on the new “Angel Wars” video soundtrack.

Jars of Clay, Casting Crowns and Mary Mary were all nominated for 2005 American Music Awards in the Contemporary Inspirational category. The win went to urban gospel duo Mary Mary. The awards were presented in November.

Aspiring artists, songwriters, musicians and worship leaders are encouraged to head to Nashville in February for the Gospel Music Association Academy Regional Talent Competition and Seminar, Feb. 10 and 11. The theme of the two-day event is “Your Place for Discovery.” Detailed information is available online at gospelmusic.org or by calling (615) 242-0303. Entry into the talent competition requires advance registration and has a firm deadline of Jan. 9. Registration for the seminar is available up until the first day of the event.

Worship Leader magazine has announced the nominees for its 5th Annual Praise Awards, which honor outstanding achievement in six categories: Best Praise and Worship Song; Best Worship Project; Best Scripture Song; Best Compilation; Best Urban or Gospel Project; and 2005 Breakthrough Artist. Winners will be selected by popular vote and announced in the magazine’s March/April issue. Cast your votes by visiting the Worship Leader (worshipleader.com) or Song DISCovery (songdiscovery.com).

Published by Keener Communications Group, January 2006

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