Chapman tour raises $2 million for adoption foundation

Steven Curtis Chapman’s recent “All Things New Tour” turned out to be his most successful tour to date—and not just in a musical sense. The 72-city nationwide tour, sponsored by Shaohannah’s Hope, the Chapman family’s adoption foundation, saw Chapman and musical guests Chris Tomlin and Casting Crowns perform in front of nearly 350,000 fans with 16 sellouts. In addition, the tour raised more than $2 million for Shaohannah’s Hope, surpassing its goal for the entire tour.

Word Records singer/songwriter and 2005 Grammy nominated Nicole C. Mullen has joined the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services to launch a new national public education campaign to increase awareness about the disparate rates of infant mortality, premature birth, low birth weight, and Sudden Infant Death Syndrome within the African American community. The campaign will also highlight many of the risk factors associated with these conditions and promote risk reduction.

Three-time Grammy Award winners and Gospel Hall of Fame legends, The Mighty Clouds of Joy, recently completed a whirlwind promotional tour in support of its newly released CD In The House of the Lord: Live in Houston. The album debuted at No. 11 on the Billboard Gospel chart and is the highest debut for a gospel quartet album since The Blind Boys of Alabama’s November 2003 release of Go Tell It on the Mountain.

Songs by Flicker hard rockers Pillar and subseven are included on a Major League Baseball CD sampler that will be distributed free to consumers who purchase any 2005 Major League Baseball video game title. In addition, “Free to Conquer,” the debut video from subseven’s first full-length label release Free to Conquer, has officially been added to MTV.com, MTV-U, MTV VOD (the MTV hits channel), Fuse on Demand, and Havoc TV. Songs “We Are,” by Kids in the Way, and “Five Minutes Strong,” by Staple, were included on a recent episode of MTV’s “The Real World.”

On April 18, Word recording artists Point of Grace were inducted into the “Arkansas Walk of Fame in Hot Springs.” The girls collectively will become the 43rd inductee into the walk, joining other individuals who were born or lived in Arkansas, acclaimed in their field and have achieved national recognition. Previous honorees include former President Bill Clinton, poet Maya Angelou, music legends Johnny Cash and Twila Parris and Focus on the Family founder and president Dr. James Dobson.

Soul2Soul Radio International recently announced the launch of “Soul2Soul En Español,” a new Spanish language version of the internationally syndicated Soul2Soul Radio program. Soul2Soul Español will be produced in partnership with Shock FM in Guatemala and syndicated to Spanish language music stations in South and Central America, and across the United States. Last November, Soul2Soul Radio inaugurated “Soul2Soul Australia” in cooperation with the Australian Christian radio network Vision FM. By tailoring the successful Soul2Soul program to work within various world cultures, the testimonial content of Christian artists becomes more suitable for world audiences and their message reaches a larger audience.

A team of industry professionals led by songwriter/producer and former Whiteheart member Billy Smiley is searching for new versions of old hymns to be recorded for the nationally released album Worship Hymn—Around the World. There are two categories of competition: Rewritten hymns and rearranged hymns. The hymn text or melody must be in a current hymnal, and all entries must be in the public domain. Entries will be evaluated by a panel of industry professionals including record producers, worship leaders, A&R directors and professional musicians, and judged on the basis of overall quality. From this evaluation, the top 12 songs (6 rewritten hymns and 6 rearranged hymns) will be chosen for the Worship Hymn—Around the World CD. For additional information on the Worship Hymn Song Search, visit worshiphymns.com.

The Praise Baby Collection: God of Wonders was included in the top picks for children’s DVDs in the March 2005 issue of Parent’s Magazine. The DVD incorporates popular praise and worship songs such as “God of Wonders,” “We Fall Down” and “Hallelujah (Your Love is Amazing)” with images of children enjoying God’s creation, colorful animation, and real world objects.

SHELTERecords recording artists Everlife have been chosen to record the theme song for the upcoming Disney movie “Go Figure,” which will air on Disney TV throughout the summer. The film stars newcomer Jordan Hinson, and Everlife will be featured in all advertising regarding the show.

Nashville-based Word Entertainment has acquired Spirit-Led Records, which includes Fervent Records, home to such artists as BarlowGirl, Big Daddy Weave, and By the Tree. An independent artist-driven label, with 2005 sales expected to exceed $7 million, Fervent Records is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Word Entertainment. The label will continue to operate with its current staff under the direction of its founder and president, Susan Riley. Riley is an eight-year veteran of the Christian music industry and one of the only women to own and operate an independent label in any genre of music.

New Releases
Amy Grant (Word) Rock of Ages…Hymns & Faith
Jaci Velasquez (Word) Beauty Has Grace
Joy Williams (Reunion Records) Genesis
Sheila Walsh (Integrity Music) You Raise Me Up
Michael Olson (Rocketown) Long Arm of Love
Donnie McClurkin (Verity Records) Donnie McClurkin Again
Andy Hunter (Sparrow ) Life
Newsong (Integrity Music) Rescue: Live Worship
Susie Luchsinger (New Haven Records) Count It All Joy

Coming Up
Various Artists (Fervent) - Every Young Woman’s Battle June 28
John Reuben (Gotee) The Boy-vs-The Cynic June 21
DJ Maj (Gotee) BoogiRoot July 19
Mars ILL (Gotee) ProPain July 19
Paul Wright (Gotee) Sunrise To Sunset July 19
Jeff Deyo (Gotee) Surrender Aug. 2
Bart Millard (INO records) Hymned Aug. 9
LA Symphony (Gotee) Disappear Here Aug. 16
Hip Hope 2005 (Gotee) Aug. 16

Published, June 2005

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