MercyMe Ushers in New Era with Eighth Studio Record Welcome To The New Available April 8

Lead single “Shake” picks up 75 adds at Christian Radio in first week, music video receives nearly 700,000 views

Nashville, Tenn. (January 15, 2014) – Ending 2013 on a high note with the release of their energetic single, “Shake,” GRAMMY®-nominated, American Music Award and Dove Award winning band MercyMe carries the enthusiasm into 2014 as they announce their eighth studio album Welcome To The New, available April 8, 2014 from Fair Trade. Collaborating with producers David Garcia and Ben Glover (TobyMac, Mandisa), Welcome To The New represents a shift in tone for the multi-platinum selling group. 

“At 41-years-old, I feel like I am just starting to grasp who I am in Christ,” says lead singer Bart Millard. “I grew up in a somewhat legalistic environment where the harder you try, the better God likes you. It was about two years ago a dear friend of mine reminded me I cannot do enough great things to make Christ love me more than He already does. Not to mention, I can't sabotage this relationship and be taken from His hand. In other words, all the work was truly done on the cross and I cannot mess it up! This is not a new season in my life, it is my life! Everything has changed from this point on, and I want to tell this to anyone who will listen and be the first to welcome them to the new!” 

Last fall, MercyMe released “Shake,” their first single from Welcome To The New. The song was an instant hit with radio audiences, gaining adds from 75 stations including K-LOVE, Air 1, Salem Music Network, KLTY/Dallas and more, while shooting up into the Top 20 on the Billboard National Christian Audience Chart.

The single's impressive momentum has translated well for the “Shake” music video. Filmed on the downtown streets of Huntsville, Ala. with dancers from the North Alabama Dance Center and over 100 local extras, the high-energy, choreographed music video has been viewed nearly 700,000 times over several video platforms. Fans of the band have been buzzing about the video, using the hashtag “#MMShake” to share their own videos and responses via Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. 

The album will be available for pre-order at Lifeway, Family Christian Stores and other participating retailers on January 28, as well as iTunes® on February 18. 

About MercyMe
Since their debut in 2001, GRAMMY®-nominated, American Music Award and multiple Dove Award winners MercyMe have sold over 6 million units in CD and DVD sales, garnered 25 No. 1 multi-format Christian radio singles and four consecutive mainstream radio hits with “I Can Only Imagine,” (No. 4 AC/Top 25 on Top 40/Hot AC), “Here With Me” (No. 4 AC), “Homesick” (Top 10 AC), and “So Long Self.” In 2009, Billboard named MercyMe's "Word Of God Speak" the No. 1 Song of The Decade and the group the No. 1 Christian Songs Artist of the Decade, with an additional No. 1 as the Christian AC Song Artist of The Decade as one of the industry's most notable talents. MercyMe made history as “I Can Only Imagine” surpassed 1 million digital downloads, making it the first song in Christian music to go platinum in the digital domain. MercyMe has sold out venues across the nation, including Radio City Music Hall, and has appeared on The Tonight Show, CNN, Fox New Channel's Fox & Friends, ABC News, CBS This Morning and in the pages of Entertainment Weekly, The New York Times, USA Today, Billboard and more. Their eighth studio album, Welcome To The New, will be available on April 8, 2014. 

[Get Connected with MercyMe] 
Website // www.mercyme.org 
Facebook // www.facebook.com/mercyme 
Twitter // www.twitter.com/mercyme 
"Shake" iTunes // http://smarturl.it/MMShake 
"Shake" Amazon MP3 // http://smarturl.it/MMShake2

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Media Contact
Velvet Kelm
the media collective
velvet@themcollective.com
(615) 591-7989
www.themcollective.com

NEEDTOBREATHE Announces New Album Rivers In The Wasteland Set For an April 15 Release

Paste Magazine premieres general market lead single “The Heart” and catches up with the band; “Difference Maker” most added track at Christian Hot AC/CHR this week

Nashville, Tenn. (January 14, 2014) – NEEDTOBREATHE is proud to announce the release of their upcoming album Rivers In The Wasteland. Set for an April 15 release on Atlantic Records/Word, Rivers In The Wasteland is the follow up to their acclaimed album The Reckoning, which saw the band spend over two years on the road in support of a collection of anthemic rock that caught the attention of The New York Times, NPR, Entertainment Weekly and USA Today. 

Paste Magazine caught up with the band to talk about the new album. Fans can also get a first listen to the record’s mainstream single “The Heart,” a stomping number imbued with an infectious sense of hopeful anticipation. Read and listen here: http://www.pastemagazine.com/blogs/av/2014/01/song-premiere-needtobreathe---the-heart.html 

“Difference Maker” from Rivers In The Wasteland, which the band performed to close out the 2013 Dove Awards, has impacted radio in a big way this week as the most added track at Christian Hot AC/CHR and the third most added at Christian AC. 

The band’s relentless touring saw them captivate music fans at festivals such as Bonnaroo and Austin City Limits, along with standout performances on Letterman, Fallon, Leno and Conan. However, this extensive touring is where the musicians began grappling with both significant inner turmoil and the external pressure created by notoriety. For all three musicians, they had to take a well-deserved break and meditate on what each wanted NEEDTOBREATHE to be. After some time, the guys all agreed that the answer was to return to the band’s roots and find the anchor of musical simplicity. 

Rivers In The Wasteland - the sound of a band excited to reconnect with the idea of a fresh start - was co-produced by the band with the help of various producers including Joe Chiccarelli, Kevin Augunas, Ed Cash and Jerrod Bettis, and was recorded at the band’s own Plantation Studios in Charleston, Fairfax Recordings (formally Sound City Studios) in Los Angeles and Blackbird Studios in Nashville. 

“We’ve come through some rough moments and some amazing moments,” says guitarist & vocalist Bo Rinehart. “We’re the most energized we’ve ever been. The band is young again. We’ve got a new sense of purpose and we believe in what we’re doing. We just fell back in love with the idea of what we get to do.”

Rivers In The Wasteland is now available for pre-order and comes with two instant grat tracks – “The Heart” and “Difference Maker.” Visit needtobreathe.com to purchase. 

Stay tuned for news on the band’s 2014 headlining tour! 

About NEEDTOBREATHE
NEEDTOBREATHE is an American Rock ‘n’ Roll Band from South Carolina, effortlessly woven from the musical traditions and faith of their upbringing in the Deep South of the United States. Made up of brothers Bear Rinehart (vocals, guitar) and Bo Rinehart (guitar, vocals), as well as Seth Bolt (bass, vocals), the band hit their big break in 2005 when they signed to Atlantic/Lava/Word Records. The career to follow would include four full studio albums, chart-topping cross-genre success, multiple headlining tours and media coverage on CONAN, The Tonight Show with Jay Leno, Late Night with Jimmy Fallon, Late Show with David Letterman, MTV, FOX and much more. The band’s fifth studio album, Rivers In The Wasteland, will be available April 15, 2014. 

[Get Connected with NEEDTOBREATHE] 
Website // needtobreathe.com 
Facebook // facebook.com/needtobreathe 
Twitter // twitter.com/needtobreathe 
YouTube // youtube.com/NEEDTOBREATHEVIDEOS

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Media Contact
Velvet Kelm & Ryan Anderson
the media collective
velvet@themcollective.com
ryan@themcollective.com
(615) 591-7989
www.themcollective.com

Skillet Returns to U.S. Soil with Another No. 1 Song After Multiple Sold Out Russian Dates and Winning Over Fans on European Tour with Nickelback

GRAMMY®-nominated and platinum selling rockers announce co-headline U.S. Spring Tour with Third Day and all-star line up including Mandisa, Brandon Heath, Jamie Grace and more

Nashville, Tenn. (December 19, 2013) - Platinum and GRAMMY®-nominated rockers Skillet are back on U.S. soil after firmly making their mark overseas following a massive European fall tour with Nickelback where crowds demanded encores, and six back-to-back sold out headline shows in Russia, including over 6,000 screaming fans in Moscow. 

Just as the band boarded flights from Kiev, Ukraine to the U.S. they heard the news that their current single from their best-seller RISE (Atlantic/Word), “Not Gonna Die” held onto the No. 1 spot on the Christian Rock charts for the third week, is Top 20 and climbing on mainstream Active Rock (their sixth consecutive Active Rock hit), and their Hot AC single, “Fire and Fury” is Top 10. 

After such an extended time of international touring, Skillet is looking forward to co-headlining The Roadshow, which kicks off January 9, 2014 in Sacramento, CA., and have also just announced they’ll continue to tour with co-headliners Third Day on 20 more domestic dates throughout the spring. Starting February 27 in Toledo, OH., Skillet and Third Day will hit the road with an all star line-up including Mandisa, Brandon Heath, Jamie Grace, Peter Furler and We As Human. 

Skillet/Third Day 2014 Tour Dates 
(More dates to be added, dates are subject to change.)
Feb. 27 - Toledo, OH
Feb. 28 - Indianapolis, IN
Mar. 1 - Jackson, MS
Mar. 2 - Cape Cirardeau, MO
Mar. 6 - Grand Rapids, MI
Mar. 7 - Columbus, OH
Mar. 9 - Moline, IL
Mar. 13 - Wichita Falls, KS
Mar. 14 - Tyler, TX
Mar. 15 - Tulsa, OK
Mar. 20 - Johnstown, PA
Mar. 21 - Hampton, VA
Mar. 22 - Reading, PA
Mar. 23 - Cleveland, OH
Mar. 27 - Greeneville, SC
Mar. 28 - Pensacola, FL
Mar. 29 - Baton Rouge, LA 

About Skillet
Over the course of the past few years, GRAMMY® nominated and platinum selling rock band Skillet has sold more than two million units in the U.S., racked up more than 150 million YouTube views and amassed a diehard following (dubbed Panheads) whose members number over four million on Facebook alone. Their 2013 release RISE debuted at No. 4 on the Billboard 200 and No. 1 on the Billboard Rock and Christian charts, which led to a No. 1 radio hit for "American Noise" and "Sick Of It." RISE also gave Skillet their late night television debut on CONAN. 

RISE follows the band's 2009 blockbuster, Awake, which was recently certified platinum for sales in excess of one million copies in the U.S and debuted at No. 2 on the Billboard 200. In addition, the record hit No. 1 on the iTunes® Top Albums Chart, garnered three Billboard Music Awards and spawned four hit singles including the No. 1 Active Rock smash and gold-certified “Awake & Alive,” the gold-certified "Hero," "It's Not Me It's You" and the platinum-certified "Monster." "Monster" lived up to its name, selling more than a million copies and hitting Top 5 at Active Rock radio (the first in a string of multiple Top 5 active rock hits), while its companion video has generated over 47 million YouTube views. Skillet was the only active rock band to achieve RIAA Platinum Certification in 2012, and was one of only three rock bands (the other two being Mumford & Sons and The Black Keys) to strike platinum in 2012. Skillet is made up of John Cooper, Korey Cooper, Jen Ledger and Seth Morrison.

[Get Connected with Skillet] 
Website // http://www.skillet.com 
Twitter // http://twitter.com/skilletmusic 
Facebook // http://www.facebook.com/skilletmusic 
YouTube // http://www.youtube.com/skilletband

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Media Contact
Velvet Kelm
the media collective
velvet@themcollective.com
(615) 591-7989
www.themcollective.com

Steven Curtis Chapman Celebrates Successful Media Run with Fox & Friends, 700 Club and The Sean Hannity Radio Show

"Love Take Me Over" gives Chapman 48th career No. 1 at Christian radio; Chapman to join other celebrities in Walt Disney World’s Candlelight Processional

Nashville, Tenn. (December 17, 2013) – Five-time GRAMMY® winner and highly acclaimed singer-songwriter Steven Curtis Chapman wrapped a successful media run over the weekend in support of his new album The Glorious Unfolding, his Christmas album JOY and his GRAMMY®-nominated single “Love Take Me Over.” 

Chapman first appeared on “The Sean Hannity Show,” the second most listened to radio talk show in America. Chapman later performed his hit single “Love Take Me Over,” on CBN’s 700 Club. The song was recently nominated for a GRAMMY® Award for Best Contemporary Christian Song and hit No. 1 on the Christian AC Indicator chart, giving Chapman his 48th No. 1 single. Wrapping the weekend with dual performances on the highly rated talk show Fox & Friends, Chapman performed “Love Take Me Over” live on air and his cherished Christmas hit, “Christmas Time Again,” on the After the Show Show. 

Continuing in the spirit of Christmas, Chapman will attend Walt Disney World’s Candlelight Processional, a cherished celebration of Christmas and the Christmas story as told by celebrity narrators, a 50-piece orchestra and a mass choir. Joining the ranks of Gary Sinise, Neil Patrick Harris, Trace Adkins, Whoopi Goldberg and Amy Grant, Chapman will share the Christmas story December 23-25, 2013 in the month-long celebration. 

Chapman will launch his 2014 edition of "The Glorious Unfolding Tour" in February featuring special guests The Afters and Josh Wilson. For more information, visit www.stevencurtischapman.com. 

About Steven Curtis Chapman
Steven Curtis Chapman has sold nearly eleven million records including two RIAA certified platinum albums and eight RIAA certified gold albums. Along with his five GRAMMY® awards and 17 nominations, Chapman has won an American Award, has recorded 48 No. 1 U.S. radio hits and been awarded 58 Dove Awards, more than any other artist to date. Since his recording career began in 1987, Chapman has recorded seventeen projects. He has performed at the White House and has appeared on multiple national programs via CBS, NBC, ABC, CNN, MSNBC, CMT, FOX News, the Hallmark Channel and E!, including Good Morning America, Larry King Live, Fox & Friends, Huckabee, CBS Sunday Morning, The Tonight Show with Jay Leno and more. Chapman and his wife Mary Beth created Show Hope after bringing their first adopted daughter, Shaohannah, home from China in 2001. The ministry’s goal is to raise awareness about orphan care as well as to help families reduce the financial barrier of adoption. Now celebrating its 10th year of service, Show Hope has provided adoption grants to more than 4,000 families wishing to adopt orphans from around the world. Visit www.ShowHope.org.

[Get Connected With Steven Curtis Chapman] 
Website // www.stevencurtischapman.com 
Facebook // www.facebook.com/stevencurtischapman 
Twitter // www.twitter.com/StevenCurtis

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Media Contact
Velvet Kelm
the media collective
velvet@themcollective.com
(615) 591-7989
www.themcollective.com

Owl City Has the Biggest Christmas Song at Christian Radio this Season

“Light of Christmas” (featuring TobyMac) is the most added song at Hot AC/CHR and leaps from No. 35 to No. 16 on NCA Chart

Nashville, Tenn. (December 11, 2013) - Just in time for Christmas, Owl City is getting an early gift as his first Christmas single, “Light of Christmas” (featuring TobyMac) is quickly becoming the biggest Christmas song at Christian radio this season. The song is featured on the brand new VeggieTales DVD, Merry Larry and the True Light of Christmas. 

Making a major impact on several Christian radio formats, "Light of Christmas" is the only new Christmas song, the most added song and the highest debut on the Hot AC/CHR chart, while also being the most added at Adult Contemporary (AC) Stations. Likewise, the track made the biggest leap of the week on the National Christian Audience (NCA) Chart, jumping from No. 35 to No. 16. 

“It's such a huge honor to be a part of the new VeggieTales DVD, and duet with TobyMac no less,” said Owl City’s Adam Young. “As a longtime fan of VeggieTales and TobyMac, this is truly a dream come true for me. I am overjoyed.” 

To catch a glimpse of the lyric video for “Light of Christmas” please visit: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=23rntfd6qC8 

About Owl City 
Owl City first achieved worldwide success with his platinum selling major label debut Ocean Eyes (July 2009, Universal Republic). The album spawned the quadruple-platinum first single "Fireflies” – a No. 1 smash hit in 26 countries including the U.S. where it hit the top spot twice, and sold more than 12 million downloads worldwide. For his third album, The Midsummer Station (Republic, August 2012), Owl City’s Adam Young took a bold step forward and chose to work with co-writers and outside producers for the first time. He’s joined by Canadian pop sensation Carly Rae Jepsen on the incredibly infectious and successful lead single “Good Time,” which has been certified double platinum in the US. It was followed in late November 2012 by the second single from the new album “Shooting Star,” co-written by Young, Stargate, and Matthew Thiessen. Young's original composition "When Can I See You Again?" was featured in Disney Animation's hit film, Wreck-It Ralph, and "Shine Your Way" (which he produced and performed) is featured in Dreamworks Animation's new film, The Croods. Owl City finished a world headlining tour in support of The Midsummer Station in 2012 and was supporting Maroon 5 in North America in early 2013. 

[Get Connected with Owl City] 
Website // owlcitymusic.com 
Facebook // facebook.com/owlcity 
Twitter // twitter.com/owlcity

Steve Taylor Renews "License to Rock," Will Release New Album as “Steve Taylor & The Perfect Foil” After Successful Kickstarter Campaign

New band includes music veterans Jimmy Abegg, John Mark Painter and Peter Furler

Nashville, Tenn. (December 11, 2013) – Acclaimed filmmaker, writer, producer and recording artist Steve Taylor, director of the Blue Like Jazz movie, is taking a sabbatical from filmmaking to release his first studio record in 20 years with his new band, Steve Taylor & The Perfect Foil. Teaming up with veteran musicians Jimmy Abegg, John Mark Painter (Fleming and John) and Peter Furler (Newsboys), Taylor raised over 150% of the funds needed to record the album via a wildly successful Kickstarter campaign that features a video of his comical attempts to renew his "license to rock" at the DMV (Department of Music Veterans). 

Setting a goal to raise $40,000 in 28 days, Steve Taylor & The Perfect Foil raised the appropriate funds needed to record and produce the new album in only 36 hours. Because of the unexpected success, the band has added a variety of stretch goals onto their Kickstarter campaign in order to raise funds for their first tour as a band. Fans can pre-buy a ticket by adding the $25 cost to a specific backer award that they’ve already chosen. Depending on additional funds raised, the band is aiming towards a full U.S. tour with sights set towards a potential international leg. For more information on how to support the album and tour, visit: http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/2128223578/steve-taylor-and-the-perfect-foil-new-album-really.

About Steve Taylor
Filmmaker Steve Taylor earned his “Renaissance Man” stripes (Prism Magazine) from a uniquely diverse body of work. As a recording artist he’s sold over one million albums worldwide, earned two Grammy nominations for Meltdown (1984) and Squint (1993), and made history as the only artist to twice win Billboard Music Video Awards for self-directed music videos. Steve was also lead singer/co-writer in the MCA-signed modern rock band Chagall Guevara. His producer resume includes the Platinum-certified Sixpence None The Richer (featuring the hits “Kiss Me” and “There She Goes”), three Gold-certified albums for Newsboys, and tracks for Relient K and Third Day. In 1997 Steve launched Squint Entertainment, whose worldwide success in the pop music arena was a first for a Nashville-based label. In addition to Sixpence, Squint’s roster included Chevelle, Burlap To Cashmere, and hip-hop collective L. A. Symphony. Steve’s parallel career as a filmmaker began in college and includes his video for Sixpence’s “Kiss Me,” the long-form Newsboys comedy Down Under The Big Top, and the award-winning Squint: Movies From The Soundtrack. 2006 marked the release of Steve’s debut as a feature film director/writer/producer with The Second Chance, an award-winning drama that was distributed theatrically by Sony Pictures Releasing. In 2012, Steve Taylor worked as the director/co-writer/producer on the film Blue Like Jazz, an adaptation of Donald Miller’s New York Times bestselling memoir. The film won the 2013 Wilbur Award for Best Feature Film, joining past winners The Help, Schindler’s List and Dead Man Walking. Steve lives in Nashville with his wife, the artist D.L. Taylor, and their daughter.

sixstepsrecords’ Chris Tomlin and Matt Redman Garner Three GRAMMY® Nominations

Chris Tomlin earns his tenth career GRAMMY® nomination

Nashville, Tenn. (December 9, 2013) – sixstepsrecords’ Matt Redman and Chris Tomlin garnered three total GRAMMY® nominations Friday evening for the 56th Annual GRAMMY® Awards. The internationally renowned artists, songwriters, worship leaders and friends were both nominated in the Best Contemporary Christian Music Album category. Tomlin is celebrating his ninth and tenth career GRAMMY® nominations. The 56th Annual GRAMMY® Awards will broadcast live from the STAPLES Center in Los Angeles on Sunday, January 26, 2014, on CBS at 8 p.m. ET/PT. 

Hailed as one of the most influential songwriters of this generation, Matt Redman celebrates his fourth career nomination in the Best Contemporary Christian Music Album category for his new album Your Grace Finds Me. The album gave Redman the best street week of his career and debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard Christian Albums chart and in the Top 30 on the Billboard 200. Earlier this year, Redman received his first two career GRAMMY® Awards for the song “10,000 Reasons (Bless The Lord).” The song continues to impact listeners around the globe and was Redman’s first No. 1 single with its impressive 16-week long run at No. 1. 

Internationally acclaimed recording artist and worship leader Chris Tomlin earned his ninth and tenth career GRAMMY® nominations. His album Burning Lights, which made history last January as only the fourth Christian music album to debut at No. 1 on the Billboard 200, received a nod in the Best Contemporary Christian Music Album category. The lead single off the album, “Whom Shall I Fear (God Of Angel Armies),” gave Tomlin and fellow songwriters Ed Cash and Scott Cash a nomination in the Best Contemporary Christian Music Song category. 

Redman and Tomlin, along with the entire sixstepsrecords team, are gearing up for the annual Passion Conferences to take place early next year. Passion 2014, the annual gathering of 18-25 year olds seeking the face of God in worship and prayer, will take place in Atlanta on January 17-18 and will return to Texas in Houston on February 14-15. sixstepsrecords has announced that the Atlanta conference has sold-out, but Houston is still accepting registrations. For more information, visit 268generation.com. 

About sixstepsrecords
Founded in 2000 by Louie Giglio, sixstepsrecords is a worship label and a division of Passion Conferences. sixstepsrecords’ artists include Chris Tomlin (Burning Lights), Crowder (Give Us Rest), Matt Redman (Your Grace Finds Me), Christy Nockels (Into the Glorious), Kristian Stanfill (Mountains Move) and Passion (Passion: Let The Future Begin). The label partners with Sparrow Records/Capitol Christian Music Group for A&R, marketing, sales and distribution operations. For more information on sixsteprecords, visit: www.sixstepsrecords.com.

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Media Contact
Velvet Kelm
the media collective
velvet@themcollective.com
(615) 591-7989
www.themcollective.com

TobyMac Garners Ninth Solo Career GRAMMY® Nomination

To continue popular “Hits Deep Tour” February 2014

Nashville, TN (December 9, 2013) – Six-time GRAMMY® winner TobyMac received his ninth solo career GRAMMY® nomination on Friday. The recently crowned “Artist of the Year” (Dove Awards) garnered a nod for Best Contemporary Christian Music Song for his hit single “Speak Life.” The three week No. 1 song (AC Indicator) was written by the singer with Jamie Moore and Ryan Stevenson and is off his GRAMMY®-award winning and Billboard 200 No. 1 record, EYE ON IT. The music video for the GRAMMY® nominated song will premiere January 2014. The 56th Annual GRAMMY® Awards will broadcast live from the STAPLES Center in Los Angeles on Sunday, Jan. 26, 2014, on CBS at 8 p.m. ET/PT. 

The past couple months TobyMac has been touring the country on his “Hits Deep Tour” with friends Chris August, Colton Dixon, Jamie Grace, Brandon Heath, Mandisa and Capital Kings. The national tour hosted several sold out venues and packed houses including Saturday's show at the Madison Square Garden theatre in New York City. Beginning February 2014, TobyMac will go out on the road once again for the second leg of the “Hits Deep Tour.” The 2014 line-up will include Brandon Heath, Matt Maher, Mandisa, Matthew West and Capital Kings. 

“Hits Deep Tour” 2014 
2/13 Sioux Falls, SD 
2/14 Minneapolis, MN 
2/15 Duluth, MN 
2/16 Fargo, ND 
2/18 Missoula, MT 
2/19 Kennewick, WA 
2/21 Abbotsford, BC 
2/22 Kent, WA 
2/23 Portland, OR 
2/24 Sacramento, CA 
2/25 San Jose, CA 
2/28 Phoenix, AZ 
3/1 Los Angeles, CA 
3/2 San Jose, CA 

For additional “Hits Deep Tour” dates and or more information on TobyMac, please visit: www.TobyMac.com.

About TobyMac 
With over 11 million units in career sales, TobyMac's career continues on the fast track. His most recent project, EYE ON IT, garnered him the highest chart debut of his solo career landing at No. 1 on the Billboard Top 200 and topping the iTunes® Overall and Christian sales charts. The project made TobyMac one of only four artists to ever debut atop the Billboard Top 200 with a Christian music album. Earlier this year, EYE ON IT received a GRAMMY®, marking the sixth career award for TobyMac. The music video for the album title's track, featuring pop-sensation Britt Nicole, received over 500,000 views in its first three weeks. His previous four solo projects have received RIAA Gold certification and his live DVD, Alive & Transported, is certified platinum by the RIAA and received a GRAMMY® award. His 2009 album Tonight received GRAMMY® nods for Best Pop/Contemporary Gospel Album and Best Contemporary Christian Song. TobyMac has won at every major award show this season. In addition to this year’s GRAMMY® win, he has also received two Billboard Music Awards for Top Christian Artist and Top Christian Album, his first American Music Award for Favorite Artist in the Contemporary/Inspirational category, KLOVE Music Awards for “Artist of the Year” and swept the 2013 Australian Music Awards. 

[Get Connected with TobyMac] 
Website // http://www.tobymac.com 
Twitter // https://twitter.com/therealtobymac 
Facebook // http://www.facebook.com/tobymac 
YouTube // http://www.youtube.com/tobymacmusic 
iTunes // http://toby.cta.gs/02r

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Media Contact
Velvet Kelm
the media collective
velvet@themcollective.com
(615) 591-7989
www.themcollective.com

Mandisa’s Electrifying Year Gets Even More Exciting with Double GRAMMY® Nominations

Five-time GRAMMY® nominee's best-selling Overcomer project nominated as No. 1 smash single “Overcomer” receives two nods

Nashville, Tenn. (December 9, 2013) - 2013 has arguably been the most electrifying year of Mandisa’s career, and it’s closing on a high note with two GRAMMY® nominations in the Best Contemporary Christian Music Album Category for her best-selling and critically acclaimed project Overcomer, as well as her No. 1 smash single “Overcomer” receiving the nomination for Best Gospel/Contemporary Christian Music Performance. Additionally, the songwriters behind the song (David Garcia, Ben Glover and Christopher Stevens) that reigned No.1 on the National Christian Audience chart for 12 weeks, as well as No. 1 for 14 weeks on SoundScan's Digital Core Genre Christian chart, garnered a nomination for Best Contemporary Christian Music Song. The 56th Annual GRAMMY® Awards will broadcast live from the STAPLES Center in Los Angeles on Sunday, Jan. 26, 2014, on CBS at 8 p.m. ET/PT. 

The GRAMMY® nominations complete a jam-packed year for the singer, which included Mandisa’s debut of the nominated single on Good Morning America (GMA), followed by the No. 1 rated morning show’s world premiere of the powerful music video for "Overcomer." GMA named and launched Robin Roberts’ Overcomer Series with the hit track, and Mandisa also welcomed Elisabeth Hasselbeck during her first day on cable’s No. 1 morning show Fox & Friends. With performances on NBC’s Sunday Night Football, KATIE, Extra, BetterTV, and her Grand Ole Opry debut, Mandisa also received coverage from USA Today, TIME, Christianity Today, E! News, FUSEtv, TBN with Kirk Cameron, Billboard, First for Women magazine, Entertainment Tonight, Ladies Home Journal, American Family Radio, ABC News Radio, WOR radio and much more. 

This fall, she launched her own clothing line, SimplyMandisa, and has been touring as a part of six-time GRAMMY® winner TobyMac’s acclaimed “Hits Deep Tour.” Joining Mandisa on the tour, which kicked off Nov. 7 and runs through December 13 are Brandon Heath, Jamie Grace, Colton Dixon, Chris August and Capital Kings. 

About Mandisa 
With over 800,000 records sold, five-time GRAMMY® nominee and Season 5 American Idol finalist Mandisa is a voice of encouragement and truth to people facing life’s challenges all around the world. In less than a year, Mandisa performed her three hit singles "Overcomer," "Good Morning,"and "Stronger" on the highest rated morning show, ABC’s Good Morning America (GMA). Her performance of “Stronger” welcomed the emotional return of beloved morning host Robin Roberts. The NFL also welcomed Mandisa to perform the national anthem during a Sunday night NFL Network game to kick off Breast Cancer Awareness month where she was joined by members of the 49ers family who are survivors. Her latest album, Overcomer, released August 27 and debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard Christian Albums Chart, with the album's title track holding on to the No. 1 spot for several weeks on the National Christian Audience chart as well as the No. 1 position on the Christian/Gospel Core Digital sales chart for 12 weeks and counting. GMA world premiered the music video, which includes special appearances from former U.S. Congresswoman Gabby Giffords, Captain Mark Kelly, Gold Medalist Scott Hamilton and other special guests. Mandisa boasts a widespread list of media coverage, which include: Good Morning America, KATIE, Fox & Friends, The Today Show, LIVE! With Regis and Kelly, The Doctors, E! News, Extra, Entertainment Tonight, US Magazine, People Magazine, TIME.com and CNN. 

[Get Connected with Mandisa] 
Website // http//www.mandisaofficial.com 
Twitter // http://www.twitter.com/mandisaofficial 
Facebook // http://www.facebook.com/mandisaofficial 
YouTube // http://www.youtube.com/user/MandisaOfficial 
"Overcomer" Music Video // http://vevo.ly/Iok6mK

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Media Contact
Velvet Kelm & Ryan Anderson
the media collective
velvet@themcollective.com
ryan@themcollective.com
(615) 591-7989
www.themcollective.com

Provident Label Group Welcomes Five GRAMMY® Nominations

Matt Maher, Steven Curtis Chapman, Building 429 and Matt Bronleewe among this year's nominees

Nashville, TN (December 9, 2013) – Provident Label Group celebrates the GRAMMY® nominations for their label group artists as announced on Friday. The company received a total of five nods in the categories of Best Gospel/Contemporary Christian Music Performance, Best Contemporary Christian Music Song and Best Contemporary Christian Music Album. The 56th Annual GRAMMY® Awards will broadcast live from the STAPLES Center in Los Angeles on Sunday, Jan. 26, 2014, on CBS at 8 p.m. ET/PT. 

“I’m pleased to congratulate our artists and writers for their well deserved GRAMMY® nominations,” said Terry Hemmings, Provident Music Group’s President & CEO. “We are blessed with a roster and staff whose hard work and dedication is reflected in these awards and the impact of their songs and recordings throughout the year. Our thanks to the GRAMMY® voters for this recognition.” 

Songwriter and recording artist Matt Maher leads the pack of nominations, receiving his third and fourth GRAMMY® nominations for Best Gospel/Contemporary Christian Music Performance (“Lord, I Need You”) and Best Contemporary Christian Music Album (All The People Said Amen [Live]), his first compilation record and seventh overall album. The critically acclaimed record was released on Essential Records and debuted in the Top 5 on the Billboard Christian Albums Chart. An unexpected highlight, Maher was invited to perform the powerful song, "Lord, I Need You" at a prayer vigil, led by Pope Francis, in front of 3 million people earlier this year at "World Youth Day 2013" in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. For more information on Matt Maher, please visit: www.mattmahermusic.com. 

Five-time GRAMMY® winner and highly acclaimed singer-songwriter Steven Curtis Chapman picked up this 17th nomination for Best Contemporary Christian Music Song for his lead single “Love Take Me Over.” The track, which was written solely by Chapman, continues to rise on the charts, already reaching No. 2 on the Christian AC Indicator chart. Broadcasting to an audience of nearly 8 million, the song garnered 43 radio adds in its first week, one of the biggest debuts in Christian radio this year. The single is off his latest record, The Glorious Unfolding his first studio album in over seven years. For more information on Steven Curtis Chapman, please visit www.stevencurtischapman.com. 

Garnering their first ever GRAMMY® nomination is the chart-topping band Building 429. The band receives a nod in Best Contemporary Christian Music Album for their record, We Won’t Be Shaken. The release, which includes their chart-topping title track, debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard Christian Albums Chart and Top 50 on the Billboard Top 200 Albums Chart. Building 429 is comprised of Jason Roy (vocals), Jesse Garcia (guitar), Michael Anderson (drums) and Aaron Branch (bass). We Won’t Be Shaken marks the band’s sixth studio project and follows the Dove Award winning band’s 2012 Billboard Christian Song of the Year, “Where I Belong,” which set precedent as the first song to maintain No. 1 chart status on the Billboard National Christian Audience chart for 15 consecutive weeks. For more information on Building 429, please visit www.Building429.com. 

Provident Label Group adds to their exciting artist nods with a nomination for Sony/ATV/Essential Music Publishing writer Matt Bronleewe. Bronleewe, who is a multi-GRAMMY® nominee, receives recognition this year for Natalie Grant’s “Hurricane” which he wrote along with Grant and Cindy Morgan. The song is up for an award in the category of Best Contemporary Christian Music Song. 

About Provident Label Group 
Provident Music Group, a division of Sony Music, whose labels include Essential Records, Reunion Records, Essential Worship and Beach Street Records, is home to an esteemed artist roster which includes Casting Crowns (new album Thrive releases January 28, 2014), Third Day (Miracle), Tenth Avenue North (The Struggle), Red (Release the Panic), Brandon Heath (Christmas Is Here), and Royal Tailor (Royal Tailor) among others. PMG also consists of Provident Films ("Courageous," "Fireproof," "October Baby"), Provident Distribution, Essential Music Publishing and Essential Artist Services. 

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For further information please contact: 
Nina Williams 
VP/GM, Provident Label Group 
(615) 261-6449 
Nina.Williams@pmgsonymusic.com

Six-Time GRAMMY Winner Amy Grant Appears on Katie This Wednesday, November 27

Amy Grant and Vince Gill to perform limited holiday engagements

Photo Credit: Disney-ABC

Nashville, Tenn. (November 25, 2013) – Six-time GRAMMY® winner and multi-platinum selling artist Amy Grant will appear on the highly rated talk show Katie this Wednesday, November 27. Hosted by veteran TV personality Katie Couric, Grant will discuss the holiday season, her family and her new album How Mercy Looks From Here which released earlier this year. Grant will also perform her cherished holiday classic, "Tennessee Christmas." To watch the show, check your local listings: http://katiecouric.com/station-finder. 

Following tradition this December, Amy Grant will perform at select engagements with her husband, Vince Gill, in celebration of the Christmas season. Playing shows in Atlanta, Cincinnati and Nashville, Amy Grant and Vince Gill will showcase their beloved Christmas set alongside the skilled symphonies of each respective city. For more information on concert dates, visit www.amygrant.com. 

About Amy Grant: 
Amy Grant’s career spans over 25 years and stretches from her roots in gospel into her experience as an iconic pop star, songwriter, television personality and philanthropist. Grant has sold more than 30 million albums boasting one five-time Platinum album, one triple Platinum and one double Platinum album, as well as six platinum and four Gold albums. Amy has won six GRAMMY® Awards in multiple categories, beginning with the platinum selling Age to Age in 1982 and 25 GMA Dove Awards. She also has six No. 1 hits – including “Baby, Baby” and “Every Heartbeat” – and is one of only two Christian artists to be awarded a star on the legendary Walk of Fame in Hollywood. In 2003, she was inducted into the Gospel Music Hall of Fame. In 2006, Amy announced her first ever label shift to Capitol Christian Music Group where her entire music catalog was re-mastered and released via a GREATEST HITS album and made available for the first time digitally. Amy released her first studio album in 10 years, How Mercy Looks from Here in May 2013. 

Get Connected with Amy Grant: 
Website // www.amygrant.com 
Facebook // www.facebook.com/amygrant 
Twitter // www.twitter.com/amygrant

PHOTO RELEASE: Amy Grant and Band Visit Willie Mays in The Giants Dugout During West Coast Tour Run

Nashville, Tenn. (August 7, 2013) – During Amy Grant’s recent West coast tour run in support of the release of her best-selling and first studio record in a decade, How Mercy Looks From Here, Amy and her band took some time to enjoy America's favorite past time and make a pit stop to see the San Francisco Giants play. Amy was also able to meet up with retired World Series champ and Major League Baseball player, Willie Mays.

Get Connected with Amy Grant: 
Website // www.amygrant.com 
Facebook // www.facebook.com/amygrant 
Twitter // @amygrant

Six-Time GRAMMY Winner Amy Grant Appears on ABC's "The Chew," "Travis Talks" and KTLA, Among Others This Week

Nashville, Tenn. (July 15, 2013) - This week, six-time GRAMMY® award winner Amy Grant will make her West coast media run in support of the release of her best-selling and first studio record in a decade, How Mercy Looks From Here. Her trip kicks-off with a visit to the highly-rated morning show KTLA on July 16 followed by an appearance on American talk show hosts' Tavis Smiley syndicated show "Tavis Talks" which airs July 17 . On July 19, Amy will appear on ABC's popular lifestyle show "The Chew" alongside hosts Mario Batali, Carla Hall, Clinton Kelly, Daphne Oz and Michael Symon. 

Grant's television appearances come on the heels of her extensive press and radio tour which included media spotlights on: ABC's "The View," CBS This Morning, Fox and Friends, FUSE NEWS, Morning Joe on MSNBC, NPR's Weekend Edition, People.com, WOR Radio with Rita Cosby and more. How Mercy Looks From Here debuted at No. 1 on the Christian Soundscan and No. 12 on the Billboard 200 chart. The album has been declared by critics as a "vibrant," "glowing production" and one of the "best albums of the year." 

About Amy Grant: 
Amy Grant’s career spans over 25 years and stretches from her roots in gospel into her experience as an iconic pop star, songwriter, television personality and philanthropist. Grant has sold more than 30 million albums boasting one five-time Platinum album, one triple Platinum and one double Platinum album, as well as six platinum and four Gold albums. Amy has won six GRAMMY® Awards in multiple categories, beginning with the platinum selling Age to Age in 1982 and 25 GMA Dove Awards. She also has six No. 1 hits – including “Baby, Baby” and “Every Heartbeat” – and is one of only two Christian artists to be awarded a star on the legendary Walk of Fame in Hollywood. In 2003, she was inducted into the Gospel Music Hall of Fame. In 2006, Amy announced her first ever label shift to EMI Music Group where her entire music catalog was re-mastered and released via a GREATEST HITS album and made available for the first time digitally. Amy released her first studio album in 10 years, How Mercy Looks from Here in May 2013. 

Get Connected with Amy Grant: 
Website // www.amygrant.com 
Facebook // www.facebook.com/amygrant 
Twitter // @amygrant

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