Derek Webb-mixed Project Precedes Lullaby Hymns Album Slated for Fall 2012

April 30, 2012: After recording four Hymns albums, one-of-a-kind trio Page CXVI is releasing a remix record, re:hymns, taking fan favorites and recreating their already unique spin on hymns into fun, new artistic expressions. Consisting of band members Reid and Latifah Phillips and Dann Stockton, Page CXVI presents a new way to understand the role of hymns for the modern listener. The record, remixed by singer-songwriter Derek Webb, is scheduled for release on June 12^th.  The band is also currently working on an album of lullaby hymns, set for release this coming autumn.

“I have admired Page CXVI for years and was thrilled to get a call from them about a collaboration,” states Webb. “I was even more thrilled at their desire for experimentation and disruption. And once I heard Latifah’s voice and the band’s soaring melodies over the non-organic and electronic elements we were playing with, I wondered if they might have missed their calling. It takes truly great songs to work so beautifully and believably over such diverse arrangements. And that’s what these are.”

The band’s three members—Latifah Phillips and husband Reid and Dann Stockton—came to love hymns independently, even before they came together as the band The Autumn Film. A few years into touring as The Autumn Film and leading worship and churches around the country, the band could not deny the strong beckoning of the hymns and decided to develop a parallel band, another side of the same coin: the same people but a new purpose, catalog, and name, Page CXVI. The somewhat cryptic name was drawn from the page number in a particular copy of The Magician’s Nephew by C.S. Lewis, in the passage where Aslan begins to sing Narnia into creation out of a black void.

The group’s overnight success began when they recorded their first Hymns collection. After deciding to give the album away online, sending emails to around 60 friends to spread the word, John Piper’s blog, “Desiring God,” posted a free download, turning in 12,000 downloads in only two days. The group has since recorded four Hymns albums and toured nationwide.

http://pagecxvi.com/
http://www.facebook.com/PageCXVI
https://twitter.com/#!/pagecxvi

About Page CXVI:

After forming the group, The Autumn Film, band members Reid and Latifah Phillips and Dann Stockton were leading worship at churches and could not deny the strong beckoning of the hymns. They decided to develop a parallel band; the same people but a new purpose of making hymns accessible again under the new name, Page CXVI. The somewhat cryptic name was intentional. It’s drawn from the page number in a particular copy of The Magician’s Nephew by C.S. Lewis, the brilliant passage where Aslan begins to sing Narnia into creation out of a black void. Since the formation of this new project, the band has recorded four Hymns albums and have toured “just about every state.” Page CXVI also has a lullaby album of hymns that will be released this coming fall.

About Derek Webb:

A former member of the Houston, Texas-based Caedmon’s Call, singer-songwriter Derek Webb has seen career sales approaching one million records, 10 Dove Award nominations, a Billboard Music Video Award nod and six No.1 radio hits. Webb’s innovative music marketing and distribution strategies have received national news coverage in USA Today and the Los Angeles Times.

Media Contact:

Velvet Kelm or Brian Issac
the media collective
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brian@theMcollective.com
615.591.7989
www.theMcollective.com

Sara Groves is a world traveler! She just announced a fall tour in the UK. If you live anywhere in the United Kingdom or know anyone who does, be sure to pass on the information about her UK tour!

Visit Sara’s website for more information on this exciting tour!

Critically Acclaimed Singer/Songwriter Continues To Garner Success

April 24, 2012: Talented Gotee Records’ singer/songwriter Jamie Grace continues to build on an incredible year with her highly successful album, One Song At a Time. With a best-selling record, two No. 1 singles, and a GRAMMY ® nomination under her belt, Jamie Grace can now add the GMA Dove Award for New Artist of the Year to her list of accolades. Jamie Grace also performed at the 43^rd Annual GMA Dove Awards, which will air on the Gospel Music Channel tonight at 8 and 10 PM EST.

“Going to the Dove’s was amazing, being nominated and performing… an honor I can’t explain – winning? I cried for a good 20 minutes in total,” Jamie Grace states. “Being in my hometown, spending that evening with my parents and being considered as an artist when I was in a room of people who truly inspire me was an overwhelming experience that I’ll never forget. So thankful that God has given me this opportunity and I pray I can continue to grow into who He wants me to be.”

“Jamie Grace is as exciting a new artist as I have ever witnessed,” states Jamie Grace’s long-time mentor TobyMac. “She is fresh, charming, and a serious songwriter. She is the gospel whether singing or not!!  As Jason Crabb put it on Twitter… ‘Jamie, Gotee Records blessed us when they found you!’ We’re all blessed to have a Jamie Grace.”

Many offered their congratulations to Jamie Grace via Twitter, including Reba McEntire, whom Jamie Grace has admired for years, and “The View” co-host Sherri Shepherd.

“Yay for Jamie Grace on winning her 1st Dove award!!!”- @reba

“Congratulations  @JamieGraceh on your Dove Award for Best New Artist… just downloaded “Hold Me” BRILLIANT!”- @SherriEShepherd

Additionally, Jamie Grace is also releasing her new CHR single, “Come To Me,” this week and is scheduled to shoot a music video for the song in Nashville soon. This new track follows her previous singles “Hold Me” and “You Lead.”  “Hold Me” raked in No. 1’s across the board with a No. 1 at Christian AC Monitored, Christian AC Mediabase, iTunes ® Christian & Gospel Songs, Billboard Christian Digital Tracks and Christian CHR. Jamie Grace is one of very few artists to have their debut single go No. 1 on both AC radio charts as well as score a No. 1 at CHR. Her second album single, “You Lead,” also hit No.1 on the CHR chart.

Jamie Grace is currently touring across the country throughout the summer. To view Jamie Grace’s tour schedule, click here.

http://www.jamiegrace.com/
http://twitter.com/#!/jamiegraceh
http://gotee.com/

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About Jamie Grace:

Hailing from outside of Atlanta in Lithonia, Georgia, GRAMMY ® nominee Jamie Grace is a 20-year-old-college student who aside from her career and touring as a singer-songwriter, is also studying children’s ministry. At age 11, Jamie Grace was diagnosed with Tourette Syndrome, and has since traveled the country sharing her story and faith through music and speaking. Upon signing Jamie Grace, multiple GRAMMY ® winner tobyMac remarked “I have not been this excited to work with an artist in a long, long time.” Though just releasing her first, full-length record, Jamie Grace has been a part of the well-known Revolve tour, scored a No. 1 radio hit and a highly successful EP.

Media Contact:

the media collective
Velvet Kelm, Jess Draper, or Fain Spray
615.591-7989

velvet@themcollective.com
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fain@themcollective.com

via twitter @themcollective

“Blessings” Wins Three Major Awards; Story Named Songwriter of the Year; Story Picks Up Three Billboard Music Awards Nominations, Including Top Christian Artist

April 23, 2012: Taking home four trophies—the most Dove Awards of any artist at last Thursday’s ceremony—GRAMMY®-winning songwriter and worship leader Laura Story embellished her acclaimed career as she nabbed the award for Song of the Year for her celebrated, multi-week No. 1, “Blessings.” The song and album of the same name also won awards for Pop/Contemporary Song of the Year and Pop/Contemporary Album of the Year. In addition, Story earned the Dove for Songwriter of the Year, a fan-voted award. The Gospel Music Association (GMA)’s 43rd Annual GMA Dove Awards were held on Thursday night, April 19, at the FOX Theatre in Atlanta.

“I am so grateful for the kindness of the GMA last night, as well as the listeners, fans, radio and retail who have so graciously supported us this past year,” says Story. “I’m even more thankful that God uses broken thing and broken people to shine His glory through. All praise and honor to Him.”

Fresh off her Dove wins, Story was also nominated for three Billboard Music Awards Thursday night: Top Christian Song for “Blessings,” Top Christian Album (Blessings), and Top Christian Artist. The Billboard Music Awards  will take place at Las Vegas’ MGM Grand and be broadcast live Sunday May 20, 8/7c on ABC.

Story’s 2008 national debut, Great God Who Saves, won a Dove Award for Inspirational Album and earned her two consecutive nominations for Female Vocalist of the Year. In February of this year, Story picked up her first GRAMMY®, winning the award for Best Contemporary Christian Song for “Blessings.” In addition to this GRAMMY® win, her four Dove wins and three Billboard Music Award nods crown an immensely successful period for the decorated worship leader.

“Blessings,” which was released last year, was in rotation at over 100 Billboard Christian format reporting stations going No. 1 at Christian AC, Inspo and the National Audience charts for multiple weeks. Additionally, the song also held the No. 1 spot on the iTunes® Christian/Gospel Top Songs chart for 28 consecutive weeks. The critically acclaimed album Blessings debuted at No. 4 on Soundscan’s Overall chart and has remained one of Christian music’s best sellers to date.

Currently on the road with Mandisa for the “Girls Night Live” tour, Story took time out from the 30-city trek to attend the Dove Awards at which she and husband, Martin, revealed that the baby they’re expecting later this year is a girl. Story wraps the “Girls Night Live” tour on May 4 in Savannah, Ga., and the remaining dates also feature special guests Anita Renfroe and Jamie Grace in select cities. For more information visit  www.girlsnightlive.com. Starting November 29, Story will join Steven Curtis Chapman and many others on the “12 Gifts of Christmas” tour.   www.12giftstour.com

Story’s first book, What If Your Blessings Come Through Raindrops?, released last month by Freeman-Smith, a division of Worthy Publishing (EMI CMG Distribution), and is already in its third printing.  Inspired by her Grammy and Dove Award-winning hit song, “Blessings,” the book is comprised of 30 daily devotions designed to draw readers into a deeper understanding of God’s sometimes mysterious gifts.  For further information on the book, visit www.worthypublishing.com or  www.turningpointpr.com.

The GMA Dove Awards ceremony will be nationally televised on GMC TV on April 24 at 8PM and 10PM EDT.

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About Laura Story:
Laura Story, a talented worship leader and songwriter known for penning hit worship songs such as “Indescribable” made famous by Chris Tomlin, made her music debut in 2008 with her first release Great God Who Saves (INO Records). Great God Who Saves garnered her four Dove nominations in 2009, at which she took home her first award for “Inspirational Album of the Year.” In 2011, she also nabbed another nomination for “Female Vocalist of the Year.” Her hit single “Mighty To Save” earned a No. 1 Soft AC/Inspo and Top 10 AC hit at Christian radio. Also in 2011, Story revealed twelve new inspirational tracks on her sophomore release titledBlessings. Story teamed up with producer Nathan Nockels (Passion, Philips, Craig & Dean, Point of Grace) and delivered a worship project that exudes constant threads of pop energy and singer-songwriter warmth. The title-track immediately became a fan favorite as it topped the iTunes ® Christian/Gospel Top Songs chart and held the No. 1 spot for 28 consecutive weeks.

For more information on Story, please visit  www.laurastorymusic.com.

Media Contact:
Velvet Kelm and Jess Draper
the media collective
615.591.7989
velvet@theMcollective.com
jess@theMcollective.com

*Photo by Rick Diamond/Getty Images for Gospel Music Association

Album Debuts at No. 2 on Soundscan and iTunes® Christian & Gospel Charts

April 20, 2012: Critically-acclaimed songstress Christy Nockels recently celebrated her best street week to date with her new album Into the Glorious, which debuted at No. 2 on the Christian Soundscan and iTunes® Christian & Gospel charts last week. The album scanned nearly 7000 copies, a 75% increase over her last album, Life Light Up’s debut. The album’s lead single, “Ever Lifting,” is continuing to impact radio, currently No. 29 on the AC Monitored Chart.

In support of the new album’s release, Nockels performed to a crowd of over 2000 fans at KSBJ’s “Enter His Gates Brown Bag at Chick-Fil-A” in Houston on April 5, and the next day, Good Friday, joined her pastor, Louie Giglio and fellow sixstepsrecords artists and worship leaders Chris Tomlin, Kristian Stanfill and David Crowder at Passion City Church’s “Good Friday: A Contemplation and Celebration of the Cross.” The sold out event, presented by sixstepsrecords and Passion City Church, was held at the Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre at Encore Park. Christy also recently hosted a special night at Passion City Church, where she shared songs and stories from Into the Glorious. The event was broadcast live via stream to stations around the country, including Las Vegas, Indianapolis and others.

Critics praised Into the Glorious upon its release and continue to do so:

“It will be hard for the unobtrusive passerby to not be captivated by Christy Nockels’ voice. Once you hear her sing, you are a fan for life. Into the Glorious beautifully captures the purity of her gift.”- Crosswalk

“This is a great collection of 12 heartfelt stories and as Christy continues to amaze me with her songwriting, creating moments in songs full of awe and wonder, I cannot wait to hear her third album.”- Indie Vision Music

“…if you’re looking for from-the-heart worship, no matter if you’re male or female, young or old, then this new album from Christy is one of the most beautiful twelve track albums that you will find this year.”- Louder Than the Music

http://www.christynockels.com/
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Christy-Nockels/204708512892537
https://twitter.com/#!/christynockels

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About Christy Nockels:

Christy Nockels is a worship leader/singer-songwriter who lives in Atlanta, GA with her husband, Nathan, and their three children. Christy and Nathan, formerly known as the duo “Watermark,” have toured nationwide for the past 10 years and have led worship for Passion Conferences. Christy’s heart through leading and writing is to help people communicate intimately with the living God and to leave a legacy of proclaiming Jesus’ word to this generation.

About sixstepsrecords:

Founded in 2000 by Louie Giglio, sixstepsrecords is a worship label and a division of Passion Conferences. sixsteprecords’ artists include Chris Tomlin (How Great Is Our God: The Essential Collection) David Crowder*Band (Give Us Rest), Charlie Hall (The Rising), Matt Redman (10,000 Reasons), Christy Nockels (Into the Glorious), Kristian Stanfill (Mountains Move), and Passion (Passion: White Flag). The label partners with Sparrow Records/EMI CMG Label Group for A&R, marketing, sales and distribution operations.

Media Contact:

Velvet Kelm, Jess Draper or Fain Spray
the media collective
615.591.7989

velvet@theMcollective.com
jess@theMcollective.com
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April 18, 2012… This Friday five-time Grammy® Award winning and multi platinum selling artist TobyMac will perform on ABC’s hit daytime talk show The View.   At the personal request of co-host Sherri Shepherd, TobyMac and his band Diverse City will perform “Get Back Up” during the episode celebrating Shepherd’s birthday. The View airs weekdays on ABC at 11a/10a pt/c, and more information on the show can be found here.

Critics and fans alike bravoed TobyMac upon the recent release of Dubbed & Freq’d: A Remix Project, his first remix album in seven years. Fusing his signature rock-pop, hip-hop and urban styles with a treatment of today’s electronic music uprising, the album offers an outstanding new interpretation of 12 of Toby’s classics to an incredibly wide audience. Immediately upon release, the album made its debut at No. 2 on the iTunes® Christian & Gospel Albums chart.

In addition to the release of Dubbed & Freq’d, TobyMac is closing in on the finale of his unplugged “A Night of Stories and Songs” tour, which will wrap this Saturday, April 21in Ft. Wayne, IN. He has also confirmed appearances at high-profile festivals this summer including Spirit West Coast, Creation East and AtlantaFest, in additional to many more. See the cities and dates here.

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About TobyMac:

With over 10 million in career sales, TobyMac’s first three solo projects received RIAA Gold status and GRAMMY® nominations, his live CD/DVD took home a GRAMMY® award in 2009, and this year the much-celebrated and acclaimed artist celebrated his eighth consecutive GRAMMY® nomination, this time for his songwriting contribution to rising star (and recording artist on his label, Gotee Records) Jamie Grace’s No. 1 hit “Hold Me.” His latest album TONIGHT that received a nod for “Best Pop/Contemporary Gospel Album.” The GRAMMY ® nominated single from the hit record “City On Our Knees” track topped the sales and radio charts faster than any of his previous singles, spending 8 weeks at #1 on the Christian Audience Chart. TONIGHT also garnered him the highest sales debut of his solo career with over 78,000 units and a No. 6 Billboard Top 200 debut. The album was also named as iTunes® Best Christian Album of 2010 and recently took home the Dove Award for “Best Rock Contemporary Album of the Year.”

Along with sold out tour dates, back-to-back radio hits and being named the GMA Dove Award’s 2008 “Artist of the Year,” he was also nominated for “Favorite Contemporary Inspirational Artist” at the 2010 American Music Awards and was up for three Billboard Music Awards this year including “Top Christian Artist.” The hit song “Tonight” was also chosen as the theme song for MLB’s 30 Clubs in 30 Days Spring Training Series and featured on the Golf Channel. Additionally, his music has been heard in major motion pictures such as “Hancock,” “TRANSPORTER 2,” while also being featured on Fox sports, The NFL network, being selected as the theme song for Fox College Football and WWE’s Fatal 4-Way Pay-Per-View. “Showstopper,” from the chart-topping album TONIGHT, was featured in ESPN’s ESPY Award Show and used to launch the last season of CBS hit television show CSI: NY. His latest album, Dubbed & Freq’d: A Remix Project, released on March 26, 2012. For more information on TobyMac, go to: www.tobymac.com

Artist and storyteller Jonny Diaz continues to impact the music listener with his powerful lyrics and heartfelt songs. With his brand new radio single “Scars,” the song follows Diaz’s other well-known radio hits such as “Break My Heart” and “Beauty of the Cross,” as well as his 2010 top hit “More Beautiful You.”

The important message of “Scars” is poignant during this Easter season, yet it’s also a song that Diaz will surely be playing for years to come. Be sure to click here to listen to the song, and to watch Diaz share the message behind the writing of “Scars” here.

The single, which is being added to stations across the country, is obtaining new adds weekly and already receiving an overwhelming response from fans and radio stations of how it has deeply impacted them.

Greg Cassidy, Music Director/Morning Show Host from JOY-FM in St. Louis, shares, “From the first time I heard ‘Scars,’ I really felt it was a song that would connect with our community. We all have scars – though they are different scars for different people. We’ve all been in that place. Whatever you’re are suffering through, ‘Scars’ is a reminder that Jesus’ scars cover ours! So powerful. While it may be top of mind this Easter season, it is a theme that is timeless. Great writing from Jonny D!”

After fans have recently seen Diaz in concert performing the song, numerous comments have been rolling in. From “breathtaking” to “loving it,” a fan also posted, “Thank you so much for playing ‘Scars.’ I really believe it’s why I was there (at the show) tonight.” Another fan wrote, “Scars is your best song yet! Oh my goodness it is amazing!!”

JonnyDiaz.com

With the most-added Billboard Christian AC single this week as well as the No. 2 Christian song on iTunes, the buzz for MercyMe’s May 22nd release, The Hurt and The Healer, is rapidly escalating.

With an uninterrupted string of 23 #1 career singles, the award-winning and multi-platinum selling band sure seems to have another hit on their hands with the title track garnering a whopping 61 adds from AC, CHR and Inspo formats combined. In addition, the single even debuted at No. 28 on the AC-Monitored and No. 29 on the AC-Indicator charts its first week out.

“The Hurt & The Healer is a celebration of that moment when these two worlds collide…. the deep need for healing and the God who provides it, ” remarks lead vocalist Bart Millard.

Produced by Brown Bannister and Dan Muckala, The Hurt & The Healer features signature MercyMe anthems, engaging pop songs and worshipful and intimate moments.

On April 19, just after closing out another successful Rock and Worship Roadshow tour, MercyMe will embark on a headline tour also featuring Chris August and Moriah Peters. More dates are currently being added, and current shows can be seen below or by visiting MercyMe’s website.