Musically speaking — January 2004

AIDS activist Bono has solicited assistance from several Christian artists to create a benefit album to be released Jan. 27. “In the Name of Love: Artists United for Africa,” produced by Sparrow Records, will include offerings from Jars of Clay, tobyMac, Tait, Audio Adrenaline, Sixpence None the Richer, Nichole Nordeman, Delirious, Sanctus Real and Pillar.

“Enter the Worship Circle: Third Circle,” the third installment from Enter the Worship Circle and Grassroots Music Distribution has received wide acclaim since its Nov. 4 release. It has also become the best-selling album for Grassroots Music.

Word recording artist Kristy Starling spent her Christmas holiday on 30-city journey with the Jim Brickman and Friends Christmas tour. Starling was featured singing “Sending You A Little Christmas,” a single on Brickman’s new Christmas album release entitled Peace.

Worship Leader Magazine recently nominated “Illuminate,” the sophomore release from the David Crowder Band, as “Best Worship Project” for its third annual 2003 Praise Awards. It also nominated the album’s fan favorite and current hit radio single, “O Praise Him” (All This For A King) as “Best New Song.”

Building 429, an independent band, which served as the opening act on SonicFlood’s fall 2003 “Cry Holy” Tour, has signed with Word Label Group’s Squint Entertainment roster. Now in the studio working on five songs for an upcoming album, the band is slated to rejoin the tour for its Spring 2004 leg.

Audio Adrenaline, Relient K, NewSong, Todd Agnew and Jaydn Maria, which will head out on their 20-plus city Winter Jam Tour 2004 in January, apparently have illusions of grand-er. The musicians have added 28-year-old illusionist/escape artist/humorist Brock Gill to their lineup.

The Passion Experience Tour 2003, which ended it 35-city run Nov. 23, doubled its attendance over the previous 2001-02 Passion tour. More than 80,000 people attended the concerts, which included 15 sold-out dates. The tour featured author and Passion founder/director Louie Giglio, and sixstepsrecords’ artist-worshippers Chris Tomlin, David Crowder Band and Charlie Hall.

DOWNHERE recently partnered with The Salvation Army Dec. 5 for a benefit for the Army’s “Forgotten Angel Fund,” which was used to purchase Christmas presents for the Angel Tree commitments that were not fulfilled by Christmas Eve.

Newsboys, buoyed by unprecedented radio and retail success in 2003, is launching a spring tour with co-headliner Rebecca St. James and Jeremy Camp. “Adoration: The Tour” is the largest planned Newsboys tour in three years, playing mostly arenas and theaters, with an average expected crowd size of 4,000 to 5,000 each night.

Releases on the horizon: Worship Together, “Here I Am To Worship For Kids,” Jan. 27; Worship Together, “Here I Am To Worship,” Jan. 27; Hugs Series, “Hugs for Daughters,” Jan. 27; Delirious, “World Service,” Feb. 10.

Published by Keener Communications Group, January 2004

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