Shock-rocker Alice Cooper has a surprise for those who see him only as the man in haunting black eye make-up whose stage show features mock hangings, real snakes and plenty of fake blood. The self-styled “Prince of Darkness” is throwing his energy into building a Christian centre in Phoenix, Arizona for at-risk youths from the area. [ …read more]

It was a big night for worship leaders. The Gospel Music Association gave its top honors to singer/songwriters and those who make praise a way of life. […read more]

The newest album release from Dove award-winning Stacie Orrico has been postponed until further notice, according to a recent letter sent to Stacie Orrico Online - a fan site dedicated to the artist.

The newest album from Stacie Orrico, ‘Beautiful Awakening,’ has been postponed for release due to a merger between Virgin Records and Capital Records. The artist has decided to leave her label over the incident.The CD, Beautiful Awakening, was planned to have already been out in stores by now, but because of a merger by her label, Virgin Records, with Capitol Records, Orrico would not be able to release her album properly.

“It’s so common in the record business right now, but albums and artists often get lost in the shuffle, and they don’t get the attention needed to have a good release and successful run,” explained the cross-over female vocalist in the letter. […read more]

One of the nation’s largest and most extensive sources of Christian music has launched a revamped version of its website in an effort to better serve its audience and rise up to new levels. BREATHEcast.com, one of the nation’s largest and most extensive Christian music sources, has launched an innovative and revamped version of their website.After the re-launching of BREATHEcast.com Monday, the already vast online music and media library found in the music portal now includes new sections to enhance availability of music news and keep Christians informed about recent trends. […read more]

SESAC held its annual Christian Music Awards ceremony Monday in Nashville, Tenn. Jason Ingram was named Christian Songwriter of the Year for 2006 and Wordspring Music (a division of Word Music Publishing) was named Christian Publisher of the Year. Other SESAC award winners included Tiffany Arbuckle Lee (aka Plumb), Adam Agee of Stellar Kart, Christopher Clonts of Decyfer Down, Krystal Meyers, and NewSong’s Michael O’Brien. Ingram was recognized as the Songwriter of the Year for writing “Shine,” which was recorded by Salvador. The single spent an impressive 11 weeks in the top 5 on the Christian singles charts and more than 32 weeks and still counting on the charts overall, according to a press release. Ingram also wrote “I Will Lift My Eyes,” which was recorded by Bebo Norman. […read more]

Several Christians made the big cut to make it as the final 12 competitors in this year’s American Idol, one of America’s most watched television programs. Jordin Sparks, Melinda Doolittle, and Chris Sligh have all sang their way into America’s homes and each of them share a link to the Gospel Music Association (GMA) to some degree. The trio stands as an achievement for Christians as they help break stereotypes in mainstream media, which has often looked down upon the Christian genre as lower in quality. And, in addition to proving that people of faith can sing, these contestants are also becoming witnesses for Christ. […read more]

One year after crowning the Father of Gospel Music Andrae Crouch with its prestigious Cherub Award, this summer LaMar Boschman, dean of the International Worship Institute (IWI) will name award-winning singer-songwriter Michael W. Smith, the 2007 award recipient. In recent years, Smith has dramatically contributed to the worship movement with his best-selling albums “Worship” and “Worship Again.” Thousands celebrating freedom to worship and other liberties are expected to attend IWI’s week-long worship classes and free nightly concerts by some of the industry’s most popular artists. […read more]

New York-based Koch Records has launched Kosmos Records, a Nashville-based Christian music division. The new label is headed by Barry Landis, president and CEO of Landis Entertainment & Media Partners. He has been influential in the Christian, gospel and country music genres. Landis was president of Word Records prior to forming his own company. […read more]

At the end of January, in Port Huron, Michigan, the Millings family* were minding their own business, homeschooling their children. Suddenly a social worker knocked at the door demanding entry. When the mother refused to let her in, and handed her a piece of paper describing her rights, the social worker crumpled up the paper and said, “I’m not dealing with it.” Then she stated that if she couldn’t come in to examine the children she would get the police. She yelled over the mom’s objections that she wanted to “come in now” and do a strip search of one of the children.

The allegations by the anonymous tipster were absurd. The family was accused of “only allowing their two boys to listen to Christian music.” The tipster said that the children “ate their cheerios dry” and received nearly all their “socialization through their church.” The tipster asserted the children were not in school. Furthermore, the anonymous tipster said the “fourteen- and ten-year-old were seen outside playing without adult supervision” and the mother “pinched and hit her kids in church to keep them quiet.” The last allegation was the reason why the social worker wanted to strip search one of the children. [ …read more]

Music Industry veteran, Barry Blair, announces the launch of Tonecrash Records, a ministry focused label with the goal of developing and building young independent artists. With 16 years of history in the Christian music industry, Blair has won Dove Awards, received Grammy nominations and been a part of several number 1 radio singles as an artist, producer, and songwriter. As a founding member of the band Audio Adrenaline, Blair performed on and co-wrote many of the band’s early radio singles, including the #1 song of the 1990’s, “Big House”, and the Grammy nominated album “Bloom”.  Blair also played an integral part in the early success of the band Bleach by introducing the band to Forefront Records in 1996, and producing the band’s number 1 radio single “Super Good Feeling” and “Modern Rock Song of the Year” Dove winner “Epidermis Girl.” […read more] 

Nominations were recently announced for the 38th Annual GMA Dove Awards with newcomers leading the field alongside established artists while several producers and songwriters also earned multiple nominations. The Dove Awards is Christian/Gospel music’s biggest night of the year, where top artists from every style of gospel music come together for a night of music and celebration as the GMA bestows the industry’s highest honor — the Dove Award. This year’s nominations were announced at the Renaissance Nashville Hotel by Flow Records’ Juanita Bynum, Reunion Records’ Brian Littrell and comedian Thor Ramsey. Dove statuettes will be handed out on April 25, 2007 at the Grand Ole Opry House in Nashville. The awards show will be televised in national syndication in May.

2006’s Dove Award Artist of the Year Chris Tomlin once again leads the field of artists with nine nominations; Jars of Clay makes a return to the top contenders list with six nods and The Crabb Family earns five nominations. Newcomer Aaron Shust also garnered five nominations, while Casting Crowns, Stellar Kart, Israel Houghton and Leeland each received four nominations. […read more]

Longtime bassist for Aussie supergoup newsboys, Phil Joel recently announced that he has decided to part ways with the band after 12 and a half years. Joel will now pursue his passion for ministry with deliberatePeople as well as prepare for the spring release of a new children’s project.

“As big of a decision as it may seem, it is very clear to Heather and I that the Lord has called us into this new season,” says Joel. “We are very excited about the future and the things the Lord has set before us to do in 2007. We wish the guys all the best and pray the Lord’s blessing on each of them and their families.” […read more]

After seeing the excitement from the fans during the fall leg of the Coming Up to Breathe Tour, MercyMe asked Audio Adrenaline to continue touring with them into the spring. “When MercyMe asked us to extend our farewell tour into 2007, we weren’t sure what we were going to do,” said Audio Adrenaline member Will McGinniss. “We had been planning to end in 2006, and all four of us were busy trying to figure out what we would do after AudioA ended. Tyler and Ben had already found other gigs, but with their blessing, we decided to carry on in the spring of 2007 to be able to see a few more fans one more time. […read more]

Mandisa, a standout top ten finalist on the fifth season of American Idol, will release her debut album via EMI/Sparrow Records in May 2007. Produced by Shaun Shankel (Destiny’s Child), Doubledutch (tobyMac), and others, the set will reflect Mandisa’s personal struggles, joys, and her passionate faith. A powerhouse vocalist, Mandisa quickly impressed American Idol superstar guest coach Barry Manilow in an early 2006 episode. “I’m such a fan already,” Manilow said. “Mandisa is one of those girls that has range; she can sing from bottom to top without any trouble. She’s one of a kind.” […read more] 

There will be no ’idol worship’ on the first season of a new Christian reality TV show. But there will be 16,000 contestants, 8 finalists, 3 judges, and 1 winner. That’s the recipe for a new Christian reality TV show called ’Gifted’ to air this week on Trinity Broadcasting Network. The show will be hosted and feature performances by Brian Littrell, member of the multi-platinum selling pop group Backstreet Boys, and now also recognized in his own right as a successful solo artist in the Christian music genre. […read more]

John W. Styll, president of the Gospel Music Association (GMA), recently announced the hiring of Steve Brallier as the new Executive Director of the GMA Foundation. As executive director, Brallier will be in charge of raising funds for the future GMA Hall of Fame to be built in Nashville as well as overseeing the building after its construction. “[Brallier] comes to this position with the perfect blend of music industry experience, sales and development skills and Music City relationships,” noted Styll. […read more]

Prosecutors are asking for an 18-24-month federal prison sentence for Grammy-Awarding winning Christian performer Phil Driscoll at his sentencing on Thursday for income tax evasion. Paula Junghans, his Washington, D.C., attorney, is asking for a lighter term. She said in a 30-page sentencing memorandum, “A sentence ’sufficient but not greater than necessary’ to satisfy the purposes of sentencing in the case would permit Mr. Driscoll the opportunity to rebuild his ministry, satisfy his tax obligations, support his family, and continue the good he has done for so long.” […read more]

Christian leaders were dismayed last week to hear the lyrics of Conan O’Brien’s “homophobic country western singer,” but said they were not shocked. “It is not shocking when non-believers don’t understand Christian or religious themes,” said Michael Cromartie, vice president at the Ethics and Public Policy Center, to The Christian Post on Saturday. “They are mostly baffled by anybody religious so they make fun of what they don’t understand.” […read more]

The Third Annual Harmony Honors were presented last week, giving awards to many of Southern Gospel Music’s greatest singers. Among all the nominees, the Booth Brothers cleaned up the most, pulling in three top honors including Artist of the Year, Song of the Year (”He Saw It All”) and Male Vocalist of the Year (Ronnie Booth). The Harmony Honors, which are presented by the Southern Gospel Music Guild (SGMG), were created “to honor those in the industry, by the industry, for their accomplishments over the past year.” […read more]