The Scoop
Gospel Music Award hosts announced; Derek Webb's giveaway a success; Winter tours for tobyMac and NewSong; and more.
by Andree Farias | posted 10/16/2006
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The 38th Annual GMA Dove Awards doesn't happen until April 25, 2007 at the Grand Ole Opry in Nashville, but last week a trio of artists were announced as hosts for the event—Backstreet Boy Brian Littrell, award-winning pop vocalist Natalie Grant, and acclaimed gospel veteran Donnie McClurkin. Nominations for the awards will be announced in February.
Acclaimed singer/songwriter Derek Webb has logged over 50,000 downloads of his latest album, Mockingbird, since he started giving it away for free on FreeDerekWebb.com on September 1st. "It's exciting to watch Mockingbird find its way out there, out into all the cracks and corners. And it's amazing to see just how far out it's going," says Webb. The promotion has helped grow his concert audience in recent weeks, and according to an article with Billboard, merchandise sales have doubled—ironically, the top product being sold is Mockingbird.
On November 21, Interscope Records will release U218 Singles, a new compilation of 18 of U2's best-loved songs. The track listing is still a mystery, but two new tracks have been confirmed, including a cover of The Skids' "The Saints Are Coming" recorded with Green Day. A limited edition version of the album will also be available, which includes a bonus disc featuring a 10-song live performance the band shot in Milan. A DVD version of U218 Singles containing the corresponding music videos is expected at a later date.
In a busy week for new releases, gospel mainstay Fred Hammond beat out the WoW Hits 2006 compilation, gospel favorite Smokie Norful, and hard rockers Skillet and Pillar to become the highest debut on Billboard's Top Christian & Gospel Albums chart. His latest, Free to Worship, scanned over 31,000 copies and currently sits comfortably atop the countdown. The album also occupies the No. 29 slot of the Billboard 200.
Classic rockin' buzz band DecembeRadio has been tapped to perform the national anthem and a full concert at NASCAR's Bass Pro Shops 500 race on October 29 in Hampton, Georgia. Around 180,000 attendees are expected at the televised event.
Rap/rock heavyweight tobyMac will headline the Winter Wonder Slam Tour, which will kick off November 24 in Wichita, Ks. The former dc Talk member will be joined by Hawk Nelson, The Afters, Family Force 5, and Ayiesha Woods, and together they will join the U.S. Marine Corps' Toys for Tots initiative. For dates, visit the tour's website.
Vocal group NewSong will be heading out on a Christmas tour this fall in support of its second seasonal album, The Christmas Hope, which released on September 26. They will be accompanied by singer/songwriter Todd Agnew, pop singer Rachael Lampa, and author Donna VanLiere. For dates, visit http://www.newsongonline.com
Integrity Music will release Let the Praises Ring—The Best of Lincoln Brewster on November 7. The 17-track retrospective will include all of the worship leader's biggest songs, including the title song, "Majestic," and "Love the Lord," as well as the new song "Everlasting God" and a live, instrumental version of Tim Hughes' "Here I Am to Worship."
Hard rock outfit Evanescence topped the Billboard 200 album chart with The Open Door, the band's second album for Wind-up Records. With over 447,000 units sold, the set marks the third time a Wind-up act rules the tally—Creed did so in 1999 and 2001 with Human Clay and Weathered, respectively.
© Andree Farias, subject to licensing agreement with Christianity Today International. All rights reserved. Click for reprint information. 1 of 1
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