Hillsong LIVE will release their 22nd live-recorded album, Glorious Ruins, on July 2. Recorded for the first time live in two locations – London, England and Sydney, Australia – Glorious Ruins is consistent with Hillsong’s passion to resource the church around the globe. The live album offers the church a new era of worship anthems that will cross multiple denominational and cultural boundaries.

“Ruins can speak of crushing defeat or perhaps of something abandoned, but the good news today is that the ruins come to life,” explains Senior Pastor of Hillsong Church Brian Houston. “Through Jesus Christ what we look at is ruins that become glorious.”

Let the ruins come to life, in the beauty of your name, rising up from the ashes, God forever you reign. And my heart will find refuge, in the shadow of your wings, I will love you forever, and forever I’ll sing” – lyrics from “Glorious Ruins”

“This declaration of the saving power of Christ reminds us that we can look to the cross throughout life, in times of success or failure He is there with us,” shares worship leader Reuben Morgan. “We’ve never been diverted from viewing worship as both personal and corporate, intimate and celebratory. We don’t seek to make each project ‘better’ as such, because how can one form of worship be better than another? Instead each project is a continuation of the journey, and we are thankful to God that so many people take the journey with us.”

Glorious Ruins is an acknowledgment of humanity and a bridge to redemption. It includes 12 fresh new songs (14 songs on the Deluxe Edition) written by Hillsong team members including Joel Houston, Reuben Morgan, Ben Fielding and Matt Crocker. The album features the title track, “Man of Sorrows,” which is already being sung in churches internationally, and “Glorify Your Name,” a collaboration between Reuben Morgan and Chris Tomlin.

Glorious Ruins follows the highly successful LIVE 2012 release Cornerstone, which debuted at No. 1 on Billboard’s Christian and Praise and Worship charts. The single “Cornerstone” recently had the highest debut on the CCLI chart and was sung in over 11,000 churches on Easter Sunday.

Glorious Ruins Track List:
1. Always Will
2. You Never Fail
3. Christ Is Enough
4. Where The Spirit of the Lord Is
5. Glorious Ruins
6. Closer
7. God Who Saves
8. To Be Like You
9. Man of Sorrows
10. We Glorify Your Name
11. You Crown The Year (Psalm 65:11)
12. Anchor

About Hillsong LIVE:
Hillsong LIVE is the congregational expression of worship from Hillsong Church – a global church with local expressions. Their music captures the heart and sound of Hillsong Church globally and represents the coming together of the Hillsong worship team from around the world; including Reuben Morgan, Joel Houston, Ben Fielding, Dave Ware, Annie Garratt and many more. Since 1992, Hillsong LIVE has resourced the local church and received gold and platinum album status multiple times, writing such well known worship songs as “Shout To The Lord”, “Inside Out”, “Hosanna”, “The Stand” and “Mighty to Save,” which was awarded the 2009 Dove for Worship Song of the Year. The Hillsong brands have sold more than 12 million albums.

About Hillsong Church:
In August 1983, Brian and Bobbie Houston founded the Hills Christian Life Centre in the Hills District of Sydney, Australia. It has grown from a congregation of 45 to what is said to be the largest local church in Australian history. It has now expanded to be a global church with local expressions in significant cities; with churches in Australia, London, New York, Paris, Cape Town, Stockholm, Germany, Kiev, Amsterdam and Copenhagen. Each week, tens of thousands of people across the globe call Hillsong Church ‘home’ and the reach, impact and influence of this local congregation is seen across many nations.

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Sidewalk Prophets have launched a new devotional series entitled “Live Like That.” The band is going to release a devotional every week for the next ten weeks of the summer. Each devotional will highlight a verse that lines up with one of the 10 songs on their record “Live Like That.”

Today we present to you the first devotional in this series, “Live Like That.” The verse that inspired this song is Hebrews 12:1 which says, “Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us“.

Watch the video below for today’s devotion and stay tuned for more devotional videos from Sidewalk Prophets!

Watch the official lyric video for Phillips, Craig & Dean’s song Great Great God.

Jesus Your name is alive.
Now Your redemption draws into our lives
Strong in battle, you overcame, the victories ours.
Now we sing Great, Great, there is no one like our God.

And be sure to pick up your copy of Phillips, Craig & Dean’s Breathe In album available in stores everywhere!

The foundation behind Amy Grant’s first full-length studio album in 10 years came from some advice given to her by her late mother – “sing something that matters.” The six-time GRAMMY® Award winner, who releases her 18th studio album today, May 14 is dedicating How Mercy Looks From Here to her mother and drawing from some of her favorite singers and songwriters in what critics are calling her most impactful release to date. The impressive array of talent includes Sheryl Crow, Vince Gill, Will Hoge, Carole King, Eric Paslay and James Taylor.

To launch her first album in over a decade, Grant dives in to street week with appearances on CBS This Morning (5/17 and 5/18) and the nationally syndicated lifestyle program, The Better Show (5/17) as well as Morning Joe on MSNBC (5/14), NPR’s “Weekend Edition” (5/12), WOR Radio with Rita Cosby (5/14), ABC Radio, Keep the Faith radio and more. Grant also recently conducted an in depth interview for Lifetime TV’s “The Balancing Act,” (5/28) as well as their “Hollywood Watch” program (5/31). Additionally, Grant is also scheduled to appear on the highly acclaimed shows The View and The Chew early this summer.

Other media highlights for How Mercy Looks From Here include a special two-part Artist to Artist interview with FUSE NEWS between Grant and Sheryl Crow, an exclusive online video interview for Entertainment Tonight online as well as their featured artist for New Music Tuesday today, exclusive song premieres with Billboard.com and GoodHousekeeping.com, and cover stories with CCM Magazine, Called Magazine, Guideposts, FIRST for Women Magazine, SOCIAL and WHOA magazines. Additional feature coverage includes Billboard, Country Weekly, People.com, SiriusXM, and more.

The album’s lead track, “Don’t Try So Hard,” features legendary songwriter James Taylor and continues its rise up the AC monitored chart, jumping 4 spots to #25 this week, and up 6 spots on the National Audience chart to #27.

Along with special mother’s day promotions with several stations across the country, additional radio promos for the record are happening with key market stations throughout the country. Grant is making personal appearances at record listening parties with WAWZ, WGTS, WCIE, and WHPZ, as well as participating in a special promotion with KSBJ, while KXOJ and K-LOVE are both promoting a flyaway to The Greek Theater in Los Angeles to meet Amy and see her live.

Welcoming back the iconic singer-songwriter with open arms, here are just a few of the multitudes of praises on How Mercy Looks From Here:

“[Amy’s] time away from music seems to have given [her] a renewed fervor for the job – a feeling that she doesn’t plan to extinguish any time soon.”
- Entertainment Tonight

“…her singing has an easy grace that’s well served by these songs of love, loss, faith and resilience, which benefit from Marshall Altman’s spare, glowing production.”
- USA Today

“Grant’s most emotionally compelling release since 1988’s “Lead Me On”… proves that sincerity is not overrated and that open-hearted storytelling will outlast any musical fad.”

- Atlanta Journal Constitution

“The revered veteran is at another creative peak punctuated by authentic vocal delivery, understated but sophisticated production and a slew of all-star guests.”
- CCM Magazine

“…the songs glow with the gentle redemptive wisdom that is her strong point as a songwriter and singer.”
- iTunes

“…a start-to-finish true album experience… Every song on this album is heart and soul music, and Grant hits a home run in her quest to “sing something that matters.”
- Nashville Parent

“A collection of songs that mine the depths of both heart and soul as only Amy can. This is easily one of the best albums of the year.”
- NewReleaseTuesday.com

“Ultimately a profoundly encouraging record, How Mercy Looks From Here is a vibrant collection of thoughtful, reflective ruminations on life and the passage of time, from the lens of one who realizes the purpose for which she was created.”
- Christian Musician

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

HAPPY ALBUM RELEASE DAY SHANE & SHANE! Their new record Bring Your Nothing is out today and let me tell you, its a good one. You’ll want to pick this one up for yourself!

Bring Your Nothing is filled with ardent confessions, convicting questions and, oftentimes, even confrontational declarations. The Shanes wouldn’t have it any other way.” Everett contests.

“What sets us apart as believers, what sets our message apart, is that you don’t bring your ‘fill-in-the-blank’ to make God happy,” Barnard says. “You bring what you have, and what you have is nothing. That’s all He requires of us.”

This week our free download is the title track off The Shanes’ album “Bring Your Nothing”. We hope you enjoy a little taste of their wonderful new album with this song. And don’t forget to pick up your copy available everywhere now!

Click here to preview and purchase the album!

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From L to R: Paul Williams (ASCAP President and Chairman), LeAnn Phelan (ASCAP), Matthew West, Michael Martin (ASCAP) and John LoFrumento (ASCAP CEO)

“Hello, My Name Is” continues to impact and inspire radio at No. 2 on the charts; Announces headlining tour “The Into The Light Tour” for this fall

Matthew West, a four-time GRAMMY® nominee heralded by the New York Times as a “vivid and compelling songwriter,” celebrates the distinguished honor of being named ASCAP Christian Music Songwriter/Artist of the Year at this past Monday night’s ASCAP Christian Music Awards. As a veteran recipient of ASCAP’s Christian Music Song of the Year, West’s career highlights boast four No. 1 hits along with songwriter credits including cuts by Rascal Flatts, Billy Ray Cyrus, Diamond Rio and more.

The award comes off the heels of West’s nomination in the first ever K-LOVE Fan Awards. West is up for “Male Artist of the Year” and is scheduled to perform at the event on June 1.

Adding to his recent award successes, West’s second single “Hello, My Name Is,” off his powerful project Into the Light, continues to gain momentum on charts claiming the No. 2 spot on the National Audience Chart, No. 5 at Christian AC Monitored and No. 3 at AC Indicator this week. The singled garnered over 8.5 million audience impressions this week. After a successful run pre-headlining Winter Jam, the No. 1 tour in the country, the acclaimed artist will hit the road this fall on a headlining tour with guests Sidewalk Prophets and Jason Castro as part of “The Into The Light Tour.” Cities and dates will be announced soon at www.MatthewWest.com.

About Matthew West:
Lauded by The New York Times as “a vivid and compelling songwriter with impressive approaches to the familiar,” four-time GRAMMY® nominee Matthew West’s discography includes acclaimed releases: Happy (2003), History (2005) and Something to Say (2008). His 2010 studio album, The Story of Your Life, was inspired by 10,000 stories written in from all around the world and garnered attention from CNN Online, Fox News, Billboard, Country Weekly, American Songwriter and more. In conjunction with Harvest House Publishers, West teamed up with bestselling author Angela Thomas for “The Story of Your Life” book. The Heart of Christmas marked West’s first full-length Christmas project, which also boasts the Top 10 mainstream AC radio hit of the album’s title track. A multiple ASCAP “Song of the Year” winner, West has had four No. 1 radio hits including his latest GRAMMY®-nominated tune, “Strong Enough.” His songwriting credits include cuts by Rascal Flatts, Billy Ray Cyrus, Diamond Rio and more. Last year, he was nominated for a Primetime Emmy® Award for Original Music & Lyrics for “The Heart of Christmas” from the film of the same name. West’s fifth studio album, Into The Light, was nominated for this year’s Best Contemporary Christian Album at the 55th Annual GRAMMY® Awards. The new album features his most recent hit singles “Forgiveness” and “Hello My Name Is,” along with 10 other tracks inspired by 10,000 new letters submitted after West invited people to, once again, send him their stories. West spent much of early 2013 on a pre-headlining stint of the No. 1 Tour in the World (first quarter), the Winter Jam Tour Spectacular.

[Get Connected with Matthew West]
Website // www.matthewwest.com
Facebook // www.facebook.com/matthewwest
Twitter // www.twitter.com/matthew_west

I think the record could be summed up in the song “Life Is Beautiful.” It’s all of these different aspects of life, good and bad, that give live its depth and richness. – Matt Fuqua

When people listen to this record, I hope they’re reminded of all the good God is doing in our lives. God is with us in the great times. He’s with us through the good, but he’s also there when we walk through the valleys. – Josh Havens

Skillet shares the official lyric video for their song “American Noise” off their new album Rise which is set to release on June 25th. Check out the video below!

Times will be bad times will be good
Things I wish I hadn’t done and some I wish I would
Cutting through the American noise
you’ve got a voice and a song to sing (and a song to sing)
Drink deep in the morning
Drink deep in the morning
See what the day will bring

La da da da lift up your voice
Let love cut through the American noise
La da da da lift up your voice
Let love cut through the American noise

Todd viewed Christianity as a life to be lived for God, with himself as the main character.  God, however, held a different view.  Being the author of the story, God began to write a new understanding for Todd as well.

In chronicling this new understanding, Todd Agnew’s powerful new album, How To Be Loved, is a revelation of sorts. It reveals what happens when an artist who always writes solo decides to co-write with a handful of gifted, imaginative colleagues. It reveals what happens when he’s vulnerable enough to share his song ideas early in the process instead of holding them close until recording day. But most of all, it reveals what happens when a man gets his fundamental understanding of the way we relate to God rocked to the core.

We are excited to offer “There Is Coming A Day” off his album How To Be Loved as this week’s free song. Like what you hear? Then be sure to pick up your copy of the album!

As an added bonus, check out the video below for the story behind this song.

Click here to preview and purchase the album!

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