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In the news this week, Gospel music sales are down for 2003; PASSION releases ancient and modern hymns project; JEREMY CAMP and ADRIENNE LIESCHING wed; JOY WILLIAMS gets engaged; artist birthdays; upcoming concerts in the Southwest; new album releases; Top 10 Signs You're Flying On An “Economy” Airline; and much more!

IN THE NEWS:

Gospel music sales were down overall for 2003, but the good news is that sales rebounded in the second half of last year.  According to Nielsen’s SoundScan charts, 47.1 million Gospel CDs and cassettes were sold in 2003 (that’s compared to 49.6 million in the previous year.)  Contemporary Christian sold the most albums, accumulating over 19% of sales; followed by Urban/Black; Rock; and Praise & Worship (with over 11%.) 

John Styll, president of the Gospel Music Association, attributes the decline in sales to music fans downloading songs from the Internet:  “Illegal downloading no doubt affected our sales in the past few years and will continue to have an impact, but the RIAA and others have successfully raised awareness that downloading music for free is illegal and that there are a growing number of alternatives.”  Nielsen SoundScan reports that over 19 million digital tracks (of all musical genres) have been sold since June 29, 2003, the day the Recording Industry Association of America announced it would file lawsuits in an effort to deter illegal downloading.

The top ten best-selling gospel albums of 2003 were:

1. Worship Together: I Could Sing of Your Love Forever--Various Artists (Sparrow/WorshipTogether)

2. Almost There--MercyMe (INO)

3. Wonder What’s Next--Chevelle (Integrity/Sony)

4. Stacie Orrico--Stacie Orrico (ForeFront/Virgin)

5. Offerings II: All I Have To Give--Third Day (Essential)

6. WoW Worship Yellow--Various Artists (Provident)

7. Beautiful Letdown--Switchfoot (Sparrow/Columbia)

8. Payable on Death--P.O.D. (Atlantic)

9. WoW Gospel 2003--Various Artists (Verity)

10. Rise and Shine--Randy Travis (Word/Curb/Warner Bros.) <><

The latest CD in the PASSION Praise & Worship series will be released on February 24^th.  "Passion: Ancient And Modern Hymns--Live Songs Of Our Faith" is the seventh album in their series and was recorded live at Passion's “Thirsty Conference” in April 2003 at Northpoint Community Church in Atlanta, Georgia.  Over 1,300 campus pastors and college ministry leaders gathered to “refuel and refocus” at the conference and to worship God along with lead worshippers CHRIS TOMLIN, DAVID CROWDER BAND, CHARLIE HALL, MATT REDMAN, and CHRISTY NOCKELS (of WATERMARK.)  The album will feature hymns that are all over 100 years old, including new renditions of “How Great Thou Art;" "The Solid Rock (On Christ The Solid Rock I Stand);" and "Joyful, Joyful, We Adore Thee," which the song’s original music comes from Beethoven's 9^th. Symphony, composed in 1824. <><

Larry Boy and his produce friends return to video stores on February 7^th. with “VeggieTales: An Easter Carol,” a new holiday adventure featuring a lot of fun-filled music.  The DVD is being billed as “a basket full of Easter fun” and includes interactive storybooks, DVD-ROM links, and a behind-the-scenes video starring REBECCA ST. JAMES.  The plot is based in 1880s London, which was also the setting for the recent VeggieTales’ “The Star of Christmas” video. <><

ForeFront Records is releasing on January 27^th. an innovative project aimed at the “tween” (age 6 to 12-years-old) market.  “Mammoth City Messengers Volume I” is the first project in a series of comic books and CDs for younger listeners and readers.  This series spotlights the adventures of five tween students who “thwart the attempts of a ruthless billionaire to control the minds of the city's youth.”  The Bible-based classic tales of good versus evil include albums with pop-oriented songs, traditional comic books and graphic novels, and a 15-episode radio series.  Also on their interactive website fans can hear snippets of past and future radio episodes, check out previews of the upcoming comics, and listen to the streaming audio from the CDs. <><

SOUNDBYTES:  JEREMY CAMP and ADRIENNE LIESCHING were wed December 15^th. in Lafayette, Indiana.  Liesching is the former lead singer for THE BENJAMIN GATE and will be featured on her new husband’s forthcoming album, “Carried Me: The Worship Project” set for release next month. <>< JOY WILLIAMS was recently engaged to Nate Yetton, the director of promotions at Inpop Records.  Yetton popped the question on Christmas Eve and the couple plans to get married in California on June 12^th., the same date as both Williams’ mother’s and grandmother’s wedding anniversaries. <>< LifeWay Christian Stores will launch the first online resource offering gospel music downloads this spring.  Check it out at www.lifewaystores.com. <>< STACIE ORRICO will be featured on a new compilation album benefiting the “Oh! Get The Money” program, a grant set up by Ophrah Winfrey’s “Oxygen” TV Network to help young entrepreneurial women start their own businesses.  “Stuck” is included on the “Oh! From The Girls” CD along with tunes by Sarah McLachlan and SIXPENCE NONE THE RICHER.  The project is set to be released in January. <>< JUMP5’s Libby Hodges has quit the teen CCM group.  The 15-year-old singer will jump ship to “go back to school and be more of a normal teen.”  Auditions are being held in Nashville for “singing, jumping teens” to replace Hodges, so call (615) 584-8282 for more info. <>< The Reverend AL GREEN, SANDI PATTY, and the late VESTAL GOODMAN will be inducted into the Gospel Music Association’s Hall of Fame on February 11^th. in Nashville. <><

CHRISTIAN MUSIC ARTIST BIRTHDAYS:

Mon., Jan. 12^th.--Dan Haseltine (Jars of Clay)

Tues., Jan 13^th. --Geoff Barkley (Geoff Moore & The Distance)

Sat., Jan. 17^th.--Eddie Carswell (NewSong), Teron David (Grits)

Sun., Jan. 18^th.--Heather Payne (Point of Grace)

Mon., Jan. 19^th.--Carman

UPCOMING SOUTHWEST USA CONCERTS:

1/15 - Everyday Sunday--Bowmar Baptist, Vicksburg, MS

1/16 – Skillet--The Door, Dallas, TX

1/17 - Jeremy Camp--Denton Bible Church, Denton, TX

1/26 - Louisiana Baptist Conference w/Charles Billingsley--First Baptist Church, Lafayette, LA

1/26 - Fernando Ortega--Prestonwood Baptist Church, Dallas, TX

1/30 - David Crowder Band--First United Methodist Church, Arlington, TX

2/8 - Sacred Right To Life benefit w/ Testify & Not By Sight--House of Prayer International Church, Monroe, LA (6:00 PM)

2/12 – MercyMe, Amy Grant, & Bebo Norman--CenturyTel Center, Shreveport, LA

2/21 – ApologetiX--Eastwood Baptist Church, Haughton, LA

2/27 & 2/28 - Women of Faith Conference w/Natalie Grant--CenturyTel Center, Shreveport, LA

2/27 - P.O.D.--Alltel Arena, North Little Rock, AR  

2/28 - Gaither Homecoming Tour--Mississippi Coliseum, Jackson, MS

3/04 - Shane Barnard & Shane Everett w/Ginny Owens--Pine Lake Baptist Church, Brandon, MS  (7:00 PM)

3/09 - Shane Barnard & Shane Everett w/Ginny Owens--UCA Ida Waldren Auditorium, Conway, AR

3/14 – “Adoration Tour” w/Newsboys & Rebecca St. James--The Oil Palace, Tyler, TX

3/20 – Selah--McClendon Baptist Church, West Monroe, LA

3/31 - FFH w/Big Daddy Weave--LA College, Pineville, LA (6:30 PM)

4/2 - Chris Tomlin--Mississippi Coliseum, Jackson, MS

4/8 - Third Day, TobyMac, & Warren Barfield--Civic Center, Monroe, LA

4/8 – Salvador--Pentecostal Campground Tabernacle, Tioga, LA

4/9 – Newsboys & Jeremy Camp--Six Flags - New Orleans, New Orleans, LA (6:00 PM)

4/10 – Kutless, Thousand Foot Krutch, & Ryan Dobson--Six Flags - New Orleans, New Orleans, LA

4/10 - Jars of Clay & Chris Tomlin--Six Flags over Texas, Arlington, TX

4/24 - Big Daddy Weave--Hinds Community College, Raymond, MS

4/30 & 05/01- Women's Conference w/ Tammy Trent--First Baptist Church, Bossier City, LA

5/15 – Bleach--Downtown Festival Plaza, Shreveport, LA  

6/19 - Rebecca St. James & Casting Crowns--Timberwood Amphitheater (Magic Springs), Hot Springs, AR

7/17 – Selah--Southside Baptist Church, Stuttgart, AR

7/17 - O.C. Supertones & Paul Colman Trio--Union County Fairgrounds, New Albany, MS

8/28 - Audio Adrenaline--First Bossier Church, Bossier City, LA (7:00 PM)

UPCOMING CHRISTIAN MUSIC & GOSPEL RELEASES:

1/13 – Tonéx--Out The Box (Verity Records)

1/27 - Bill & Gloria Gaither, T.D. Jakes, and Friends--Build A Bridge (CD & DVD) (Gaither Music Group)

1/27 - Bill & Gloria Gaither, T.D. Jakes, and Friends--We Will Stand (CD & DVD) (Gaither Music Group)

1/27 - Hugs Series--Hugs for Daughters (Here to Him Music)

1/27 - .Rod Laver--Rudolph Wayne vs. The Man (Uprok Records)

1/27 - Matt McGee--Worship Through the Valley (Crowne Music Group)

1/27 - The Praise Baby Collection--Praises and Smiles (Big House Kids)

1/27 - Starflyer 59--I Am The Portuguese Blues (Tooth & Nail Records)

1/27 - Thank You Series--Thank You Friend (Here to Him Music)

1/27 - Thank You Series--Thank You Mom (Here to Him Music)

1/27 – Various--Here I Am To Worship - Volume 1 (Worship Together)

1/27 – Various--In the Name of Love: Artists United for Africa (Sparrow Records)

1/27 – Various--iWORSHIP @Home DVD, Vol. 3 (Integrity Music)

1/27 – Various--Mammoth City Messengers (ForeFront Records)

2/2 - Kathy Shooster--Garment of Praise (Galilee of the Nations)

2/3 – Various--Homecoming Series, Vol. 1-3 - Come Just As You Are; I Love You, Lord; & The Power Of Your Love (Maranatha! Music)

CHUCK’S CHUCKLES:

Top 10 Signs You're Flying On An “Economy” Airline--

10. You can't board the plane unless you have the exact change.

9. Before you take off, the stewardess tells you to fasten your Velcro.

8. When you ask the stewardess why she’s wearing a parachute, you’re told it’s in case she has to leave and go get help!

7. When they pull the steps away, the plane starts rocking.

6. The Captain yells at the ground crew to get the cows off the runway.

5. You ask the Captain how often their planes crash and he replies, "Just once."

4. There is no in flight movie because you don’t need one--your life just keeps flashing before your eyes.

3. You see a man with a gun, but he's only demanding to be let OFF the plane.

2. All the aircraft have both a bathroom and a chapel.

1. The Captain asks all the passengers “to chip in a little for gas.”

© January 12, 2004; Glory2Glory Productions; Chuck Halley, publisher; Monroe, Louisiana.  All rights reserved.  No part of this e-zine may be reproduced without prior written consent.  Our subscriber list is NOT made available to any other companies or individuals because we value each subscriber and respect their privacy. 

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