Winter Jam Rocks 22 Soldout Shows

More than halfway through its unprecedented 17th consecutive season, the Winter Jam 2012 Tour Spectacular—Christian music’s largest annual tour—has played to nearly 347,000 people to date this year, with capacity audiences in 22 of the tour’s first 29 cities. In addition, more than 105,000 people have made decisions for Christ.

Kicking-off the largest three-day opening attendance in Winter Jam history, the 47-city tour—this year headlined by Grammy®-nominated alternative rockers Skillet—launched in Charleston, West Virginia, on January 6. To date, Winter Jam has drawn sellout crowds at the Greensboro Coliseum in Greensboro, North Carolina (20,696); Columbus, Ohio’s Schottenstein Center (18,740); the Chesapeake Energy Arena in Oklahoma City (16,075); and Atlanta’s Philips Arena (14,476), among other major venues.

Founded and hosted by Grammy®-nominated Christian music mainstay NewSong, this year's tour, in addition to headliners Skillet, also features Sanctus Real, former Newsboys frontman Peter Furler, Kari Jobe, Building 429, Group 1 Crew, illusionist Brock Gill, and national speaker Nick Hall. In addition, the OneVerse Pre-Jam Party includes performances from Dara Maclean, For King & Country, and We As Human.

“This year’s tour is one of the most musically diverse line-ups we’ve ever offered,” said Winter Jam creator and NewSong co-founder Eddie Carswell. “There is something for everyone on Winter Jam. From Skillet’s amazing shut-up-and-rock headlining set, to the powerful message Nick Hall delivers, we see God at work night after night. With 18 more shows to go, we can’t wait to see what else He’s going to do.”

The Winter Jam 2012 Tour Spectacular will also stop at Dallas’ American Airlines Center; the FedEx Forum in Memphis, Tennessee; and the AT&T Center in San Antonio, Texas, among other leading venues, before concluding April 1 at Van Andel Arena in Grand Rapids, Michigan. Admission is $10 at the door, with no ticket required.

Promoted by Premier Productions and presented by Holt International, Winter Jam 2012 Tour Spectacular partners include BeMyVote.com, the University of Mobile, Teen Mania's Global Expeditions, OneVerse, The Life Book Movement, Logo's Bible Study Magazine, Teen Missions, Premier Christian Cruises, Xtreme Conferences, Camp Electric, The Creation Museum, Wayne E. Bailey Produce, and Texas TransEastern.

Since its formation by NewSong in 1995, Winter Jam has featured many of the top names in Christian music, including TobyMac, Third Day, Newsboys, Steven Curtis Chapman, and Jeremy Camp, among others. The Winter Jam 2011 Tour Spectacular outpaced attendance for all other tours in the first quarter, including Bon Jovi, U2, Lady Gaga and Justin Bieber, according to Pollstar’s 2011 Worldwide First Quarter Ticket Sales “Top 100 Tours” chart.

A complete list of Winter Jam 2012 Tour Spectacular dates can be found at www.jamtour.com.

Todd Dulaney Releases New Single “Simply Amazing” Featuring Michelle Williams

On the heels of the success of his debut project “Pullin' Me Through” which produced “No Other Name”, the title track “Pullin' Me Through” and the worship anthem “My Everything”, the anticipated wait is over; Gospel recording artist Todd Dulaney releases the new single “Simply Amazing” featuring Grammy Award Winner Michelle Williams.

Simply Amazing is a labor of love for Dulaney. What God has done for him through his musical journey and in his relationship with him is simply amazing. Charting in the top forties on all three gospel music charts, nominated for ‘New Artist of the Year’ for the 2012-27th Annual Stellar Awards can only be described in two words “Just God.”

Dulaney is currently in the studio working on his second project. “This project clearly defines the sound of worship. This time around, I have embraced who God has called me to be, I AM a Worshipper. The last project, I was finding me and sharing my love for what God was doing in my life. This time He has shown Himself to me and he has taken over my life, so my heart is singing His praises. He IS AMAZING, says Dulaney”. Look for the full project in the fall of 2012.

Michelle Williams made her mark with the legendary R&B group Destiny's Child and is no stranger to the gospel music industry. Rooted and grounded in Christ, she represents the kingdom of God. Michelle’s first two gospel releases "Heart To Yours" (2002) and “Do You Know” (2004) topped the Billboard Gospel charts and touched the hearts of many.

Former C.L. Ryderz Rapper Nine-Up Releases New Video

Check out this brand new video entitled "I'm Goin' In" featuring Young Chozen & Du2ce. Nine Up, is formerly a member of C.L. Ryders, the first Gospel Rap group to ever appear on Soul Train.

Demon Hunter's "True Defiance" Video Blog #1 Online Now!

Join Demon Hunter in the studio as they begin tracking drums for their new, upcoming album "True Defiance" due in stores April 10th:

KJ-52 Set To Release 8th Studio Album

After 11 years in the music industry and more than 575,000 albums sold, hip-hop veteran KJ-52 will be releasing his eighth studio album Dangerous on BEC Recordings on March 26. After thriving through the seamless transition between a cutting edge newcomer at the tip of the 2000s to one of today’s most respected and ambitious rap/hip-hop heroes, KJ-52 continues pushing the musical and lyrical envelope. In addition to KJ overseeing the album, it includes tag teams with legendary producers Tedd T. (Mute Math, Delirious, Van Halen) and Aaron Sprinkle (Deftones, Hawk Nelson, Jeremy Camp).

“The theme that runs throughout the record is two fold,” states charismatic KJ-52. “The story’s set up with someone calling into a radio show and interviewing me about both the things out there that are dangerous to us and our faith, but also on the flip-side, of God calling us to live dangerously for Him. We have to be careful that we don’t give into the world, which is like drinking poison out of a gold cup. But as Christians, we can’t go along with the status quo or play it safe. There’s no room for laziness or complacency.”

While it would be easy for the six-time Dove Award winner and sought after collaborator (TobyMac, Newsboys, Thousand Foot Krutch) to rest on his laurels after more than a decade in the game, he aggressively walks that talk across Dangerous, while offering both listeners of faith and the mainstream scene plenty of reasons to relate. Dangerous also chronicles a series of compelling issues like drugs, divorce and racism, even the prejudice that sometimes pops up within the church’s walls. The latter is particularly evident across “They Like Me,” a collaboration with the Grammy nominated Lecrae.

Looking back on his career, KJ-52 reflects on what it means to have career endurance, especially as tastes and trends change practically overnight and many of his previous peers have since tapered out of the spotlight.

“Eleven years is really a lifetime in rap years,’” he suggests. “I think it’s a result of a lot of things, in part staying in tune with the fans, listening to them, listening to what’s going on musically, always staying on the road and looking to the future. Throughout it all, God’s provided and expanded my platform and He’ll continue to do that until it’s time to move on to whatever’s next.”

KJ-52 will take this new album on the road as he’ll be performing at the upcoming 2012 REVOLVE teen girl conference as well as the 4thirty1 Experience.

Rhema Soul Set To Release New Album

The hip-hop group Rhema Soul is set to release their fourth recording on March 27 via Universal Christian Music Group/220 Entertainment Group/Good City Music. Entitled RED, the project was produced by Andy Anderson (TobyMac, Group One Crew) along with newcomers Rey King and A.D. All thirteen songs on the album were written or co-written by the members of Rhema Soul: Butta, K-Nuff and juanlove. The first radio single from RED for CHR/Rock stations will be “No Walking Away,” written by Rhema Soul & Anderson. The song “Need An Answer” will be serviced to Rhythmic Radio and the first music video will be the song “Break Out.”

“Rhema Soul is a new breed of hip hop,” says producer Andy Anderson. “They are innovative chance-takers who are really going to carve out their own niche in hip hop. I'm excited for their career.”

Together now for over six years, Rhema Soul is based out of South Florida. The trio of two men and one woman recorded their first project in 2007 entitled Worn Soles, featuring the successful radio single “All You Are” with Hillsong United. Their follow-up project the next year, Dope Beats, Good News, included the innovative song “Steez” which was nominated as a favorite video by the Gospel Music Channel. And 2010’s, Fingerprints , offered up more personal songs from the group, including the provocative song “Fly Away.” The group opened up painful moments in their individual lives in an emotional music video of the tune, where K-Nuff describes his parent’s difficult marriage; juanlove makes a statement about teenage sex; and Butta reveals the sexual abuse she suffered as a child.

The trio all came from youth and worship leader backgrounds, as well as strong ties to missionary work. They traveled with the organization One Hope (OneHope.net) for nearly two years, ministering to needy children in South Africa, Russia, Eastern Europe, and the United Kingdom. Rhema Soul has also been involved with Hope in Motion, founded by KJ52’s drummer Pedro LaTorre. The Hope In Motion team visits public and private schools with a dynamic presentation of music and dance, opening doors to help counsel students who are suicidal, depressed, or have been bullied.

RED will be available in CBA stores as well as iTunes and other online music services. For more information, visit RhemaSoul.com.

MYCHILDREN MYBRIDE Posts New Video Blog

MYCHILDREN MYBRIDE's third full-length album, a self-titled effort, will be available online and in stores everywhere March 13.

The eagerly awaited album is the band's third release in six years, and the first since 2010's lauded Lost Boy, which debuted at #183 on the Billboard Top 200.

Watch a new video blog from MYCHILDREN MYBRIDE below! Vocalist Matthew Hasting gives more insight into the recording of their new self-titled album.




Pre-order the title on Amazon now!

      Physical CD:         Digital MP3: 

Critically-Acclaimed Book To Be Released In Paperback and Kindle Versions

Source: Adams PR Group

Lederer Books/Messianic Jewish Publishers has announced that the critically-acclaimed book, The Conversation: An Intimate Journal of the Emmaus Encounter, will be released in paperback this month for the reduced retail price of $9.99. The book will also be available to Kindle customers this summer. The book garnered praise from both critics and scholars as one of the most “realistic” historical fiction treatments of the Emmaus Road encounter. Author, speaker and apologist, Judy Salisbury, wrote the book as a first-person account of the unnamed disciple in the Luke 24 account. She readily admits that attributing words to Jesus apart from Scripture was a daunting task, but to solidify its Scriptural integrity, Salisbury included over 80 footnotes in the book, representing over 200 scriptural passages.

“I tried not to put any more words into the Stranger’s (Jesus’) mouth than were necessary to move the story along,” says Salisbury. “And ultimately, I felt a great weight of responsibility on my shoulders for writing a fictional book with the Risen Lord as the main character.”

With a cover design made to resemble a personal journal, The Conversation: An Intimate Journal of the Emmaus Encounter, is available to order via www.messianicjewish.net, as well as through various major national distributors such as Ingram, STL, Anchor, CBD, and Baker & Taylor, among others. Both Salisbury and Rabbi Barry Rubin, President of Messianic Jewish Publishers, believe this book is an important tool for evangelical Christians, Messianic Jews, and curious non-believers who seek answers.

“This book is for anyone who seeks answers to Jesus’ identity,” says Salisbury. “It is for Christians, Messianic Jews, and anyone interested in knowing more about the life of Jesus. It is truly an impacting Easter account that can be given as a gift for evangelism or to simply answer questions for themselves and others. This book is also the perfect gift for our Jewish friends because it answers actual objections many of them have.”

Salisbury is the founder of Logos Presentations and has previously authored Reasons for Faith and was a contributing author for Is Your Church Ready?, co-edited by Dr. Norman Geisler and Ravi Zacharias. Salisbury is a certified lay counselor through the American Association of Christian Counselors, and for four years, co-hosted two radio programs. She is on the board of directors for the International Society of Women in Apologetics (ISWA) as a trainer and adviser. Salisbury has been interviewed on a variety of radio and television programs. She also debated an atheist and a Muslim on Lee Strobel’s national television program Faith Under Fire. Plans are in the works for Salisbury to do interviews and book signings in select markets in the next few weeks.

Based in Maryland, the mission of Messianic Jewish Communications is two-pronged: Reaching out to Jewish people with the message of Messiah and teaching non-Jewish people about their Jewish roots. The company includes various divisions to accomplish these goals including Lederer Books/Messianic Jewish Publishers, the only full-fledged Messianic Jewish publishing house. Messianic Jewish Resources International distributes a wide variety of books, videos, cassettes, CDs, educational computer software, Judaica, gifts from Israel and more.

New Demon Hunter Pics!

Demon Hunter has posted new pictures on Flickr. Give 'em a look and stay tuned for more music and other goodies before the album comes out on April 10th.

Manafest Releases New Single

The new single from Manifest entitled "Never Let You Go" is now available for download on iTunes and Amazon MP3.

The full-length album is slated for April 10th, 2012.

Check out the video for "Never Let You Go" below:

7vnseal & DJ Sean Blu Release Minister II Society

Former Wu-Tang collaborator7vnseal and mixtape sage DJ Sean Blu present Minister II Society, a collection of killer, street-worthy rap tracks created with one purpose in mind – to spread the good news of Jesus Christ.

Download the free mixtape HERE!

AMG Music Announces the Brothers In Arms Tour

Jon Bauer Receives 2012 Juno Award Nomination

Jon Bauer's Forevermore Album

Breaking News:

Canadian Worship Artist Jon Bauer's album FOREVERMORE has been nominated for a 2012 Juno Award in the category "Contemporary Christian/Gospel Album of the Year." The Juno Awards are the Canadian equivalent of a Grammy.

While many American's don't pay attention to award shows occurring outside the country, Canada’s best and brightest artists have certainly made a major impact on the American Christian music scene. While it is no secret that Canada has produced a bumper crop of uniquely talented artists in many genres over the years, the country’s batting average in Christian music has been especially noteworthy. And now, Jon Bauer is stepping up to the plate. Jon’s fourth worship-focused recording, FOREVERMORE, is also his US debut, with songwriting that has been likened to familiars in the industry like Chris Tomlin or Casting Crowns’ Mark Hall. Produced by one of the industry’s most sought-after producers, 2010 Dove Award-winning producer Rusty Varenkamp (Tenth Avenue North, Meredith Andrews), FOREVERMORE features 10 selections with 8 written or co-penned by Jon. “My heart is to encourage people that worship is more than music. It’s a lifestyle, and it’s a choice. We need to look for ways to serve God and serve others, representing Him to this hurting world."

To preview/purchase the album, check your favorite retailer or visit iTunes. For more info on the Juno Awards, click HERE!