MercyMe's "The Hurt & The Healer" Lands at No. 7

Underscoring their long-standing appeal, the seventh studio album from multi-platinum and award-winning band MercyMe, "The Hurt & The Healer," has hit the Billboard 200 top albums chart at No. 7. The album charted at just below Lionel Richie’s newest release and above Sara Bareilles and Norah Jones’ latest.

The new release sold nearly 33,000 copies. Surprisingly, it's the band's only second top 10 album and follows 2010's "The Generous Mr. Lovewell," which debuted and peaked at No. 3 with an 88,000 launch.

Are You Smarter than a Third Grade Bible Student?

Maybe it will be like Bible study, only with a little more production value and a lot more Jeff Foxworthy. The Game Show Network is officially launching a Bible-themed show called "American Bible Challenge," and yes, Foxworthy has signed on to host.

GSN says the show will "acknowledge and celebrate the Bible's continuing importance in contemporary life and culture."

GSN programming chief Amy Introcaso-Davis told HLN that the contestants will get on the show by way of their personal journeys of faith, stories that will apparently be shared with the audience. Contestants will be representing "worthy faith-based organizations," although Introcaso-Davis also says any charity could be represented. "(The contestants) will be playing ... for groups or charity organizations. It can be any charity, but anyone who knows the Bible can come out and audition for the show."

Auditions to be the next game-show Bible expert have already started across the country, and Introcaso-Davis says she's surprised at the groups that are coming to try out. "I think what's astonishing to us is how young people are who are really responding to this idea and coming out in droves," she says. "And they really know their Bible."

Foxworthy, a self-proclaimed redneck and current host of "Are You Smarter Than a 5th Grader," says he's excited to see people put their Bible knowledge to the test. "It will be really interesting to find out what people really know, and an opportunity to present the Bible in a fun and entertaining way," he says.

Introcaso-Davis says the show is slated to premiere this summer, and along with Foxworthy and charity-minded contestants, she promises other entertaining tidbits, like a live choir.

Drummer Leaves Kutless

Jeff Gilbert, the drummer for Kutless, has left the band. He is now working with a ministry organisation that he started called The Whosoevers.

Tonight Is Gold

TobyMac's latest CD, Tonight, was recently certified Gold by the RIAA.  With over 11 million units in career sales, each of TobyMac’s four solo projects have received RIAA Gold certification.

"Me Without You" is the first track to be released from the five-time Grammy winner's upcoming album, "Eye On It," set to release on August 28.

Third Day's Mac Powell Announces Solo Country Project

Third Day frontman Mac Powell announced this week that he has plans to release his first solo album---a country project! Rest assured that Powell has no intentions to leave Third Day, who are currently recording a new studio album as a band. For all the details, check out Mac's blog post below, and visit his blog page for the latest news.

Some Exciting News For Me To Share!
I can’t tell you how excited I am to tell y’all the news that I have made a Country record! I grew up listening to Country music, and I’ve been hearing for many years from friends, family, and fans that they would love to hear me do a Country album. After so much confirmation, I started feeling like I couldn’t NOT make a country record (does that make sense?). So, I went to work. 

There have been so many times in the past that I had song ideas that didn’t really fit lyrically or musically with Third Day. I filed those songs away to the “maybe sometime” category. Well, that time is now. I started working on these songs, and a whole bunch of new ones, off and on about a year ago. Then, I had the chance to record the songs with some really talented musicians. I am very happy with the results, and I cannot wait to share it with you! 

Before anybody freaks out, the answer is “NO!” Third Day is NOT breaking up! We are actually nearly finished with a brand spankin’ new album that we’ll be releasing this fall, with a tour to follow in the spring of next year. We’re really excited about the material, and appreciate what we have in Third Day more than ever.
There are still many questions to be answered with how and when my Country record will be released, but my hope is that it will be sometime in the next few months. Also, I’m planning on firing up the old van and trailer and getting out there on the road to play the music wherever I can for whomever is willing to listen. 

You guys have supported and encouraged me for many years now, and I don’t take it for granted. I would deeply appreciate all of your thoughts, prayers, and help in this coming season! I look forward to you guys hearing the music and seeing what you think very soon. 

Blessings! Mac

Thousand Foot Krutch Featured on TV and Enjoys Career Best Sales

Going independent has energized THOUSAND FOOT KRUTCH as its momentum continues to build following the release of the band's 5-star acclaimed, seventh studio album, The End Is Where We Begin. After entering at No. 1 on the Hard Rock, No. 3 on Alternative and Independent and No. 14 on the Top 200 Billboard charts, the recording continues to sell 41% ahead of its previous best selling album while Canada's favorite modern rockers get ready to launch their stadium shaking rumbles on main stages across North America during this festival season.

Billed as a top headliner for the first time at Christian music's largest festival, Creation Festival, for its 34th annual event (6/29, www.creationfest.com/ne), as well as headlining for the first time Creation 2012 Northwest (7/19, www.creationfest.com/nw), TFK is also featured on the main stages at 8 other festivals. The band will also be featured on the Uproar Festival along with Shinedown, Godsmack, Staind, Papa Roach, POD and others.

"TFK's The End Is Where We Begin is ahead of the last album's sales by 41%, which is unheard of today!" exclaims Shawn Fowler. "Digital singles' sales numbers are even stronger; up 64%. And the festival season is sure to drive that upward momentum as the recording continues to be featured at all the major retail outlets."

In addition to the festivals, TFK is gathering significant radio airplay across multiple formats. Its adrenaline-infused Active Rock single, "Let The Sparks Fly," hit No. 2 this week on SiriusXM Satellite Radio's Octane Big-Uns Countdown (www.siriusxm.com/octane) as its CHR No. 15 and climbing single, "Be Somebody," became the second-highest radio spin-gainer last week in the format.

The band also continues its string of sports entertainment song placements, including new songs from The End Is Where We Begin on ESPN (NASCAR, NCAA basketball), EA Sports NHL 2013 releasing this fall and, most recently, "War of Change" was named as the official theme song for WWE's "Over The Limit" pay per view event happening May 20 (www.wwe.com/music). WWE programming reaches nearly 16 million people per week in the US alone and 14 million more monthly online. "Light Up The Sky" further became the soundtrack for the L.A. Kings' (NHL) playoff reel (http://ht.ly/aFciK).

The Choir's Steve Hindalong: The Sweet Notes of Sobriety

Steve Hindalong, one of the founding members of The Choir and, at 52, one of Christian music's real veterans, says that in the last year, he has grown closer to God than ever and that he's seeing things more clearly than before.

That's what sobriety can do for you.

In a revealing interview with Christianity Today, Hindalong spoke for the first time about his 20-plus years of struggles with alcohol. But he was also elated to report more than a year of sobriety since attending his first Alcoholics Anonymous meeting in early 2011.

Read full article.

Mary Mary Go Get It at #3 on R&B Charts

Multi Grammy-award winning duo Mary Mary makes a splash on top Billboard charts. "Go Get It" hit # 3 on the Billboard R&B Chart, and makes the top 20 on Billboard's Top 200 Albums charting at #16. The album, composed of two brand new songs and classic remixed and remastered versions of some of the duo's greatest hits, has taken off as a fan favorite with the infectious lead single and title track, 'Go Get It'. The album, heralded as a soundtrack to their current self-titled WE tv reality series, has been widely received by fans and critics alike.

Mary Mary kicked off their album promo week with an interview on ABC's Good Morning America with host Robin Roberts and an exhilarating in-studio performance, backed by their live band of 'Go Get It.' The ladies rounded out their promo week with appearances on nationally syndicated morning show, The Better Show, Trinity Broadcasting Network's Praise the Lord, and NYC's PIX 11 Morning News.

The Choir Unleashes The Loudest Sound Ever Heard

After three decades together, iconic alternative rock band The Choir is set to release their 14th studio album, The Loudest Sound Ever Heard, on May 15th.

As one of the few bands left standing from the 1980’s SoCal music movement wave that swept nationwide more than 30 years ago, The Choir continues to make their renowned atmospheric music married to lyrics stirred by life’s inspirational lessons in the context of real relationships - love, despair, light, dark, hope, and recovery.

With their past releases described as, according to the Los Angeles Times, “magical songs that combine strains of murky psychedelia with pure pop,” and Billboard touting The Choir for their “dark poetic leanings, effects-laden guitars and strong melodic hooks,” this newest album certainly remains true to The Choir's core classic sound. Yet in the creation of The Loudest Sound Ever Heard, the song crafting and production is enhanced more than ever through their years of experience and collaboration.

The project’s title of The Loudest Sound Ever Heard is taken from the infamous volcanic explosion on the Indonesian island of Krakatoa in the late 19th century." A quick search revealed that to this day the event is considered to be "the loudest sound ever heard," Drummer Hindalong explains. “I referred to that tragic occurrence in the first verse of the song ‘I'm Learning to Fly,’ which is thematically central to the album. It’s about living each day like it truly matters. ‘Living to love in a dying world.’ Such catastrophic events remind us of our vulnerability, and how we ought to celebrate every breath."

Hindalong continues, "There is also a figurative reference to the title – ‘A true friend's heart is the loudest sound ever heard' - in the song ‘Melodious,’ which is a tribute to our long time friend and bandmate, Tim Chandler. Incidentally, Tim introduced Derri and I back in 1979 and we’ve been making music together ever since!”

The final song on the album, ‘After All,’ features a stunning duet with Leigh Nash of Sixpence None the Richer. “We’ve known Leigh since way back,” says Daugherty, “She’s a friend and one of my favorite singers ever. We’re thrilled that she was able to sing on this project. Matt Slocum [Sixpence guitarist] also played cello on a couple of songs. Those guys are great.”

The Choir recently celebrated the 25th anniversary of the release date of their groundbreaking and critically acclaimed album, Chase the Kangaroo (1988) by performing the record in its entirety on their spring tour.

John Elefante To Join Stryper on stage at BamaJam 2012

BamaJam 2012 announced today that Michael Sweet and John Elefante will be joining rock band Stryper on stage at BamaJam Farms Friday, June 15.  They join the previously-announced star studded lineup of Kid Rock, Tim McGraw, Zac Brown Band, Alan Jackson, Willie Nelson, Sheryl Crow, NEEDTOBREATHE, Ronnie Milsap, Third Day and others, with more to be announced in the upcoming weeks. BamaJam 2012 will be held Thursday, June 14 through Saturday, June 16 in Enterprise, Alabama.

“When we said we were putting on a multi-genre event, we weren’t kidding,” said Rendy Lovelady, executive producer of BamaJam 2012. “We have more than 40 acts left to announce which will make this event one of the greatest collection of talent ever in this region.”

Scott Stapp, Lead Singer of CREED, to Release Memoir

Scott Stapp, the GRAMMY Award-winning lead vocalist for the rock band CREED, announced today that he will write his memoir with David Ritz. Releasing on October 2, 2012, Stapp will share for the first time the uncensored story of his rapid rise and then dramatic fall from fame.

During CREED's decade of dominance and in the years following the band's breakup, Stapp struggled with drugs and alcohol, which led to a much-publicized suicide attempt in 2006. Now clean, sober, and in the midst of a highly successful solo career, Stapp has finally come full circle and is ready to open up and tell his story.

"We couldn't be more excited to be working with Scott. He has such a phenomenal story-rock n' roll, religion, fame, scandal, love, betrayal, addiction-it's all there-and masterfully written," said Tyndale Publisher's Carol Traver. "The manuscript is raw, very candid, and extremely compelling."

Stapp candidly shares his story-from his fundamentalist upbringing, the rise and fall of CREED, and his ongoing battle with addiction, to the rediscovery of his faith and the recent launch of his solo career. He also talks about, with great candor and humility, how his faith was formed, tested, matured, and solidified-complete with all of the slips and struggles he encountered along the way. This gripping memoir is proof positive that God is always present in our lives, despite the mess we may make of them.

"God has performed miracles in my life. I have seen them with my own eyes. It is because of those miracles that I am alive and able to write this book," says Stapp.

Stapp hopes to lay to rest many of the rumors and misconceptions about him that have made headlines over the last decade. And, most importantly, it is his desire to reach those that the church does not reach with his story of redemption and the hope and faith he has found in Christ.

About the Author . . . Scott Stapp is the Grammy Award-winning lead vocalist for the rock band CREED. He has sold 35 million records, and his first solo album was certified double platinum. In 2000, he founded the With Arms Wide Open Foundation, which is dedicated to promoting healthy relationships between children and their families. Scott lives in Florida with his wife, Jaclyn, and their three children.

David Ritz has written books with Ray Charles, Marvin Gaye, and Aretha Franklin, and is the only four-time winner of the Rolling Stone Music Book of the Year Award. He lives in Los Angeles with his wife, Roberta.