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11/15/2011 - Newsong Set To Ring In The Season With Kutless, Chris August and Jamie Grace

Grammy®-nominated Christian music mainstay NewSong is slated to bring their annual “Very Merry Christmas Tour” to 14 cities next month. A holiday highlight for fans and artists alike, this year’s tour will also feature top rock/worship band Kutless, reigning GMA Male Vocalist of the Year Chris August, and breakout singer/songwriter Jamie Grace.

Kicking-off December 1 in Marietta, Georgia, “NewSong’s Very Merry Christmas Tour” will stop in Cincinnati; Charlotte, North Carolina; Beckley, West Virginia; Marion, Illinois; and Pascagoula, Mississippi, among other cities, before concluding December 19 in Manitowoc, Wisconsin.

NewSong will perform selections from their best-selling recordings The Christmas Shoes and The Christmas Hope, including the group’s emotion-packed #1 mainstream radio hit, “The Christmas Shoes,” which has become the biggest song of their career and one of America’s most beloved Christmas standards. “The Christmas Shoes” also spawned a series of New York Times best-selling novels by Donna VanLiere and two top-rated CBS television movies based on the books and featuring music from NewSong (CBS’ “The Christmas Blessing” was television’s most-watched movie in 2005).

Celebrating 30 years in Christian music, NewSong has recorded 17 albums, garnering 20 #1 Christian radio singles and a Grammy® Award nomination, in addition to being inducted into the Georgia Music Hall of Fame, among numerous other achievements. Founders of The Winter Jam Tour Spectacular, Christian music's largest annual tour and Pollstar’s #1 tour in attendance for the first quarter of this year, NewSong has hosted many of the genre’s top artists on the tour since its inception in 1995. One True God, the latest recording from NewSong, debuted at #1 on Billboard’s Top Christian/Gospel Albums chart earlier this year and features the new single, “The Same God.”

Portland, Oregon-based Kutless has emerged as one of the premiere rock, worship bands. The band has been awarded RIAA Gold Certification for their worship-based album Strong Tower in addition to Gold Certification for Long-Form video Live From Portland. Since the 2009 release of their hit worship album, It Is Well, BEC Recordings’ Kutless has catapulted to the top of the charts with their mega-hit song “What Faith Can Do.” Already a hit single in 2009, the success carried into 2010 as this single topped the 2010 Mediabase Christian AC Song of the Year. In addition to Mediabase, “What Faith Can Do” was the No. 2 Billboard Hot Christian Song of the Year. Kutless was also named the No. 7 Billboard Christian Artist of the Year, and It Is Well was the No. 10 Billboard Christian Album of the Year. Kutless has just finished recording their new studio album that will be releasing in early 2012.

Fervent Records’ Chris August is quickly becoming a favorite in the CCM genre making a mark with his debut single, “Starry Night” which claimed the No. 1 spot for five consecutive weeks on the chart and landed at No. 15 on the Billboard year end chart for “Hot Christian Songs” of 2010. With an impressive sweep at this year’s 42nd Annual Dove Awards, August earned awards for “New Artist of the Year” and “Male Vocalist of the Year.” He also claimed the nod for "Pop/Contemporary Album of the Year” for his debut album No Far Away that he co-produced with acclaimed producer Ed Cash. No Far Away was the best-selling New Artist project released in 2010. August is a self-taught pianist, guitarist, and producer who previously worked with artists such as Ashlee Simpson, Ryan Cabrera, Brian McKnight and Jessica Simpson before shifting his focus to a solo career.

Hailing from Lithonia, Georgia, Jamie Grace is a 19-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 Tourettes Syndrome, and has since traveled the country sharing her story and faith through music and speaking. Though just releasing her first, full length record, One Song At A Time, Jamie Grace has been a part of the well-known Revolve tour, had a No. 1 radio hit and a highly successful EP. Her holiday EP, Christmas Together, will debut digitally November 29.

8/1/2011 - Kutless and Newsong Join Forces for the One True God Fall Tour

BEC Recordings’ premiere rock/worship band Kutless and Grammy-nominated Christian music mainstay NewSong are set to join forces this fall for the “One True God Tour.” Presented by Holt International, the tour will also feature special guests Anthem Lights and Dara Maclean.

Kicking off September 30 in Adrian, Michigan, the “One True God Tour” is slated to stop in Wabash, Indiana; Port Huron, Michigan; McMurray, Pennsylvania; and Tabor City, North Carolina, among other cities.

One True God, the 17th recording from NewSong, debuted at #1 on Billboard’s Top Christian/Gospel Albums chart following its release in May. Produced by reigning GMA Producer of the Year Ian Eskelin and Grammy-nominated Christopher Stevens, as well as David Garcia, the album features songwriting credits from David Crowder, Jennie Lee Riddle, Don Poythress, Bernie Herms and members of NewSong, among other top names.

Portland, Oregon-based Kutless has emerged as one of the premiere rock, worship bands. The band has been awarded RIAA Gold Certification for their worship-based album Strong Tower in addition to Gold Certification for Long-Form video Live From Portland. Since the 2009 release of their hit worship album, It Is Well, BEC Recordings’ Kutless has catapulted to the top of the charts with their mega-hit song “What Faith Can Do.” Already a hit single in 2009, the success carried into 2010 as this single topped the 2010 Mediabase Christian AC Song of the Year. In addition to Mediabase, “What Faith Can Do” was the No. 2 Billboard Hot Christian Song of the Year. Kutless was also named the No. 7 Billboard Christian Artist of the Year, and It Is Well was the No. 10 Billboard Christian Album of the Year.

Celebrating 30 years in Christian music, NewSong has amassed 20 #1 singles, a Grammy nomination, and a #1 mainstream radio hit, among numerous other achievements. The band’s Winter Jam 2011 Tour Spectacular was the #1 tour in the world for the first quarter of the year, according to Pollstar. The multi-artist event featuring many of Christian music’s biggest names outpaced attendance for all other tours in the first quarter, including Bon Jovi, U2, X Factor Live, Lady Gaga, Brad Paisley and Justin Bieber. For the first time in its 16-year history, Winter Jam will return to the road later this fall, hitting 11 cities in the western United States.

For more information, visit www.kutless.com or www.newsongonline.com. Dates are subject to change.

7/14/2011 - Newsong's Eddie Carswell and Billy Goodwin Honored as "Champions of the Faith"

5/26/2011 - Newsong's One True God Debuts at #1

5/13/2011 - Newsong Releases One True God May 17

One True God, the highly-anticipated 17th recording from Grammy-nominated NewSong, is slated to bow May 17, on the heels of the band’s record-breaking Winter Jam 2011 Tour Spectacular. Helmed by reigning GMA Producer of the Year Ian Eskelin (Francesca Battistelli, Hawk Nelson) and Grammy-nominated Christopher Stevens (TobyMac, Sanctus Real), as well as David Garcia, One True God features 10 new pop selections with songwriting credits from some of Christian music’s top names, including members of NewSong.

Highlights of the project include the title cut, written by Don Poythress, Jennie Lee Riddle and Tony Wood; “Strong City,” co-penned by David Crowder with NewSong’s Eddie Carswell and Russ Lee, along with Stephen Carswell; “This World Is Ours To Love,” by Bernie Herms and Riddle; and “Love Is The Medicine,” written by Eskelin and Lee. In addition, 2011 GMA Artist of the Year Francesca Battistelli—daughter-in-law of NewSong’s Billy Goodwin—lends her voice to “The Way You Smile,” a love song written for Carswell’s son’s recent wedding.

“We are honored to have worked with some of the best and brightest artists, writers and producers, and we’re very proud of the resulting collection,” said NewSong founding member Eddie Carswell. “Being in front of audiences night after night continues to reaffirm to us that this world is in need of Jesus Christ, the One True God. We believe this project was meant for such a time as this, and it’s our prayer that God will use the music to touch many lives.”

“One True God is our mission,” adds NewSong’s Matt Butler. “With political tensions and the tough economy, we can rest in the fact that He is the One True God. Whether you believe it or not, one day every knee will bow and every tongue will confess He is Lord. That’s the heartbeat of this record.”

Every One True God CD includes an additional free copy of the recording. A concept launched with 2009’s Give Yourself Away, NewSong continues this evangelism initiative by encouraging fans to give the extra CD away.

NewSong founded the multi-artist Winter Jam Tour Spectacular in 1995 and hosts the tour each year. According to Pollstar, this year’s event was the #1 tour in the world for the first quarter. Produced by Premier Productions and presented by Holt International, Winter Jam outpaced attendance for all other tours in the first quarter, including Bon Jovi, U2, Lady Gaga, and Justin Bieber, per Pollstar’s 2011 Worldwide First Quarter Ticket Sales “Top 100 Tours” chart.

Celebrating 30 years in Christian music, NewSong has amassed 20 #1 singles and a Grammy nomination, among numerous other achievements. The band’s now-classic 2001 ballad, “The Christmas Shoes,” was a #1 hit at mainstream AC radio and inspired the top-rated CBS television movie of the same name.

One True God (HHM Records), will be distributed by EMI CMG Distribution.

For further information, visit www.newsongonline.com or www.turningpointpr.com.

11/3/2010 - Newsong's Very Merry Christmas Tour Kicks Off Nov 27 with Newsboys and Kerrie Roberts

12/8/2009 - Music from NewSong to be Featured in Lifetime Movie

NASHVILLE, Tenn.—Music from NewSong, one of Christian music's most popular bands, will be featured in the upcoming television movie, The Christmas Hope, based on Donna VanLiere’s New York Times best-selling book of the same name. A Lifetime Movie Network Original Movie Premiere, the film will debut on Sunday, December 13 at 8 pm ET (9 pm PT) and will include NewSong’s recording of the title-cut. The song, from NewSong’s 2006 album The Christmas Hope, was penned by group member Eddie Carswell and Matthew West.

Starring Madeleine Stowe (The Last of the Mohicans), James Remar (Ratatouille) and Ian Ziering ("Beverly Hills 90210"), The Christmas Hope follows Patricia (Stowe) and Mark Addison (Remar), a couple in a troubled marriage. When Patricia, a social worker, brings home a foster child who has no place to go on Christmas, they set aside their differences to give the young girl a special holiday.

Lifetime Movie Network will devote an entire block of programming on December 13 to three holiday films based on VanLiere’s best-selling books. The Christmas Shoes, which features NewSong’s #1 mainstream radio hit of the same name, will air at 4 pm ET, followed by The Christmas Blessing, which includes an onscreen performance by NewSong, at 6 pm ET, with the world premiere of The Christmas Hope afterwards.

NewSong can currently be seen on their “A Very Merry Christmas Tour,” along with Fervent recording artist Big Daddy Weave and special guest Fervent/Reprise singer/songwriter Francesca Battistelli. The Tour concludes December 18 in Albany, Georgia.

With a 28-year career that has yielded 17 albums; 20 #1 singles; and a GRAMMY Award nomination, among numerous other achievements, NewSong’s most definitive recording to date, Give Yourself Away, released last month on their new label, His Honor Music (EMI CMG Distribution). Marking the official return of acclaimed vocalist Russ Lee to the group, the project is also NewSong’s first collaboration with one of Christian music’s most renowned producers, Charlie Peacock.

In January NewSong will host Christian music’s largest annual tour, the Winter Jam 2010 Tour Spectacular, which will hit 44 cities and will feature some of the top artists in the genre.

10/30/2009 - Winter Jam 2010 Tour Spectacular Features Third Day, Newsboys, Newsong, Tenth Avenue North, Fireflight and Speaker Tony Nolan

NASHVILLE, Tenn.— Christian music’s largest annual tour, the Winter Jam 2010 Tour Spectacular, will hit 44 cities beginning in January and is slated to feature some of the top artists in Christian music. Hosted for the 15th consecutive year by GRAMMY-nominated NewSong, the Tour will also include multi-platinum Reunion recording artist Third Day; internationally-renowned Inpop recording artist Newsboys; Dove Award-winning Reunion recording artist Tenth Avenue North; acclaimed Flicker recording artist Fireflight; and guest speaker Tony Nolan.

Winter Jam 2010 will kick-off January 8 in Chattanooga, Tennessee, stopping in Atlanta; Cincinnati; Oklahoma City; Grand Rapids, Michigan; Birmingham, Alabama; Wichita, Kansas; Nashville, Tennessee; Champaign, Illinois; and Des Moines, Iowa, among other cities, before concluding March 28 in Louisville, Kentucky. Admission is $10 at the door, and in addition to the main show artists, the Tour will include a Pre-Jam Party with Sidewalk Prophets, Robert Pierre and Revive.

“Our vision has always been to bring together great music, the Gospel message, and a low admission price in some of the biggest venues in the country,” said Eddie Carswell, NewSong founding member and Winter Jam creator. “We want families and youth groups to enjoy a night of top-notch entertainment that serves a greater purpose.”

“This year’s Winter Jam line-up is a great mix of some of the most respected artists in Christian music along with some of the brightest new acts,” said Roy Morgan, owner, Premier Productions, producer of Winter Jam. “We are honored to continue our partnership with NewSong for another year of excellent music and ministry.”

The Winter Jam 2009 Tour Spectacular ranked among the largest tours in the world, according to Pollstar's First Quarter Attendance Chart. Earlier this year Winter Jam received the GMA Impact Award, which is presented to "the non-artist individual or organization that has made the most significant impact on the gospel music industry over the last two or three years.” In addition, Winter Jam 2009 was voted both "Concert of the Year" by Gospel Music Channel viewers and "Best Tour" in the CCMmagazine.com Readers' Choice Awards.

Presented by Holt International, the Winter Jam 2010 Tour Spectacular is also sponsored by the American Bible Society, HearItFirst.com, Camp Electric, Premier Christian Cruises, All Access Merchandising, Texas TransEastern, Xtreme Conferences, and Wayne E. Bailey Produce.

10/22/2009 - Newsong Launches Give Yourself Away

NASHVILLE, Tenn.—Give Yourself Away, the 18th recording from GRAMMY-nominated NewSong, is slated to bow November 24 on the group’s new imprint, His Honor Music, which is distributed by EMI CMG. Marking the official return of acclaimed vocalist Russ Lee to the group, the project is also NewSong’s first collaboration with one of Christian music’s most renowned producers, Charlie Peacock.

“EMI CMG is very honored by our new partnership with NewSong,” said Bill Hearn, President and CEO, EMI CMG. “NewSong has made a tremendous impact in people's lives over the years with great songs and their vision for ministry. We share their heart for seeing lives changed through powerful music and the wonderful experience of their live events.”

In another first for the band, every Give Yourself Away CD includes a free copy of the recording to be given away. NewSong hopes the initiative will enable twice as many people to be impacted by the music, as fans put into action the project’s main theme.

Featuring 10 selections, Give Yourself Away is hallmarked by NewSong’s message-driven songs and signature tight harmonies, set against a modern pop backdrop. Highlights of the album include the debut single, “That’s What Mercy Is,” penned by Eddie Carswell and Matthew West; “Too Wonderful,” written by Carswell and Sanctus Real’s Matt Hammitt; and the Carswell and Peacock-penned “Thousand Steps”; among others. The project also features an 11th track, the bonus “Every Child (Deserves A Home),” inspired by NewSong’s partnership with adoption and child welfare agency Holt International.

“Give Yourself Away is one of the most exciting records we have ever made,” said NewSong’s founding member Eddie Carswell. “We’re thrilled to have Russ back, and working with Charlie was an honor. Plus, it’s not everyday a label decides they’re just going to give away copies of a CD, so I’m extremely humbled by our relationship with EMI CMG and their desire to help us spread the gospel.”

NewSong is currently headlining the “Give Yourself Away Tour” with special guests Bluetree and Chynna & Vaughan. Before concluding November 15 in Corinth, Mississippi, the Tour will hit a total of 20 cities, including Jacksonville, Florida; Decatur, Illinois; Forsyth, Missouri; and Chattanooga, Tennessee.

One of Christian music’s most highly regarded and successful bands, NewSong’s 28 years in ministry have yielded 17 albums; 20 #1 singles; and a GRAMMY Award nomination, among numerous other achievements. The annual “Winter Jam Tour Spectacular,” which was created by the band, has grown to become one of the largest tours in all the music industry. Hosted each year by NewSong, Winter Jam saw more than 335,000 attendees with 69,700 decisions made for Christ in 2009. NewSong’s now-classic 2001 ballad, “The Christmas Shoes,” was a #1 hit at mainstream AC radio and inspired the top-rated CBS television movie of the same name.