Monday, April 29, 2013
Superchick Lead Singer to Release New Solo Effort
Tricia Brock, lead vocalist for Superchick, will release a new album
August 13 with her lead single “Enough” releasing
to iTunes in the next few months. Her debut solo album The Road released in 2011.
Duck Dynasty's Phil Robertson to Release Book
Phil Robertson, the patriarch of the Robertson family whose Duck Commander business is the backdrop for A&E's hit program "Duck Dynasty" will release a new book on May 7 titled, Happy, Happy, Happy, in which he shares his faith in Jesus Christ, his knowledge about the founding fathers, and how he's grown Duck Commander into a multimillion dollar business.
The hour-long season finale of Duck Dynasty was the most-watched program on television Wednesday night, beating out American Idol with 9.6 million viewers, which is a record for A&E.
Robertson credits all of his family's success to their faith in Jesus Christ and their devotion to living a Christian lifestyle. He told Christian Post that his family has managed to stay humble, amid all of the fame, because they know that all blessings come from God; and in the end, everyone's going to the same place: a six-foot hole.
"Fame is rather fleeting, as you know, or should know," Robertson said. "Money can come and go, and fame comes and goes. Peace of mind and a relationship with God is far more important, so this is the precedent that we've set in our lives. The bottom line is, we all die, so Jesus is the answer. Many have told me through the years: 'I think I'll take my chances without Jesus.' And I always come back and say, 'so what chance is that?'"
Robertson told Christian Post that his book, Happy, Happy, Happy, is an extended version of the speeches he's been giving across the country for the past 25 years.
"Basically, the book is about my life story," he said. "I've been speaking all over the United States about duck calling, the founders of the country, and the Gospel. Once I started doing that, people started asking me: 'How can I get a copy of what I just heard, why don't you write a book?' The book is just about that: ducks, founding fathers, and my faith in God. And the rest of the story is about how it all turned out – went from rags to riches, as they say."
Robertson also attributes his wife, Miss Kay, for the success of Duck Commander, and for being a Christian example to their four sons who are married and raising families of their own.
"I told Miss Kay we need to make sure our children don't turn out like I turned out," he said. "So they were raised up around biblical instruction. That mixed with discipline – the discipline code, I call it. They just had a lifestyle of seeing their parents do good things. I think maybe me loving their mother and me loving my neighbors around me had a profound impact on them. And what came out of that was four sons who are all married to their original wives. And they're acting godly and I think Miss Kay and I had a hand in that."
"So basically, I would recommend that to all parents. You have to discipline your children, or they won't respect you, law enforcement or God, or anyone else. But I would say, overarching, I made sure they knew that we loved them, their mother and myself. … They were loved, they were given biblical instruction, they were seeing their dad and mom reach out to their neighbors around them, helping them, whether it be financial or marriage problems."
Part of the Christian lifestyle is the Christian work ethic, and Robertson achieved his dream of getting his duck call on the market by setting goals, maintaining his focus, and holding fast to his unwavering faith in God.
"I worked hard," Robertson said about his job as a commercial fisherman, catching catfish and buffalo while he worked to get his small business off the ground. "The first year, my gross sales totaled $8,000 in the duck call business. The second year was like $13,000, and the third year was $22,000. Simply put, I set a goal, stayed the course, and trusted in the Almighty. I did what was right, and the result is for everyone to see now."
Si Robertson and Miss Kay will also release new books this fall, along with a Duck Commander Devotional.
read full article
The hour-long season finale of Duck Dynasty was the most-watched program on television Wednesday night, beating out American Idol with 9.6 million viewers, which is a record for A&E.
Robertson credits all of his family's success to their faith in Jesus Christ and their devotion to living a Christian lifestyle. He told Christian Post that his family has managed to stay humble, amid all of the fame, because they know that all blessings come from God; and in the end, everyone's going to the same place: a six-foot hole.
"Fame is rather fleeting, as you know, or should know," Robertson said. "Money can come and go, and fame comes and goes. Peace of mind and a relationship with God is far more important, so this is the precedent that we've set in our lives. The bottom line is, we all die, so Jesus is the answer. Many have told me through the years: 'I think I'll take my chances without Jesus.' And I always come back and say, 'so what chance is that?'"
Robertson told Christian Post that his book, Happy, Happy, Happy, is an extended version of the speeches he's been giving across the country for the past 25 years.
"Basically, the book is about my life story," he said. "I've been speaking all over the United States about duck calling, the founders of the country, and the Gospel. Once I started doing that, people started asking me: 'How can I get a copy of what I just heard, why don't you write a book?' The book is just about that: ducks, founding fathers, and my faith in God. And the rest of the story is about how it all turned out – went from rags to riches, as they say."
Robertson also attributes his wife, Miss Kay, for the success of Duck Commander, and for being a Christian example to their four sons who are married and raising families of their own.
"I told Miss Kay we need to make sure our children don't turn out like I turned out," he said. "So they were raised up around biblical instruction. That mixed with discipline – the discipline code, I call it. They just had a lifestyle of seeing their parents do good things. I think maybe me loving their mother and me loving my neighbors around me had a profound impact on them. And what came out of that was four sons who are all married to their original wives. And they're acting godly and I think Miss Kay and I had a hand in that."
"So basically, I would recommend that to all parents. You have to discipline your children, or they won't respect you, law enforcement or God, or anyone else. But I would say, overarching, I made sure they knew that we loved them, their mother and myself. … They were loved, they were given biblical instruction, they were seeing their dad and mom reach out to their neighbors around them, helping them, whether it be financial or marriage problems."
Part of the Christian lifestyle is the Christian work ethic, and Robertson achieved his dream of getting his duck call on the market by setting goals, maintaining his focus, and holding fast to his unwavering faith in God.
"I worked hard," Robertson said about his job as a commercial fisherman, catching catfish and buffalo while he worked to get his small business off the ground. "The first year, my gross sales totaled $8,000 in the duck call business. The second year was like $13,000, and the third year was $22,000. Simply put, I set a goal, stayed the course, and trusted in the Almighty. I did what was right, and the result is for everyone to see now."
Si Robertson and Miss Kay will also release new books this fall, along with a Duck Commander Devotional.
read full article
Saturday, April 27, 2013
Andy Mineo is a Chart Hero
Hip hop artist Andy Mineo's debut album Heroes for Sale debuted at #11 on the Billboard Top 200 and No. 4 on the Rap Album Chart. Additionally, the record took the No. 3 spot at iTunes ® Overall Album and Hip Hop Chart, proving to be an audience favorite.
The momentum for Mineo keeps going as his brand new single featuring Christian Rock duo For KING & COUNTRY. "Caught Dreaming" is currently impacting radio.
"This marks our first time to be featured on another artist's album as well as our inaugural journey into hip-hop, says Joel & Luke of For KING & COUNTRY. "We couldn't think of a more unique but fitting collaboration. We're 100% behind Andy both as a musician & man of character!"
Heroes for Sale blends a variety of Mineo's musical influences including hymns, heavy metal, hip-hop, and classical while unveiling a personal side of the hip hop artist. Mineo strips back layers of his own life in and gets real with his audience to reveal his authentic self, letting them see into his brokenness in hopes it will be something others can identify with.
The momentum for Mineo keeps going as his brand new single featuring Christian Rock duo For KING & COUNTRY. "Caught Dreaming" is currently impacting radio.
"This marks our first time to be featured on another artist's album as well as our inaugural journey into hip-hop, says Joel & Luke of For KING & COUNTRY. "We couldn't think of a more unique but fitting collaboration. We're 100% behind Andy both as a musician & man of character!"
Heroes for Sale blends a variety of Mineo's musical influences including hymns, heavy metal, hip-hop, and classical while unveiling a personal side of the hip hop artist. Mineo strips back layers of his own life in and gets real with his audience to reveal his authentic self, letting them see into his brokenness in hopes it will be something others can identify with.
'Duck Dynasty' Finale Beats American Idol in Key Demo
Nearly 10 million people watched the Robertson family vacation in Hawaii for the Wednesday, April 24 finale.
In comparison, the most watched episode of TLC's “Here Comes Honey Boo Boo” history was 3.1 million viewers (only a third of ‘Duck Dynasty’s’ finale amount).
However, History’s “The Bible” miniseries finale ended their successful run with 11.7 million viewers.
Prior to ‘Duck Dynasty,' 'Storage Wars' was the network’s golden child. Their most watched episode was 5.6 million.
‘Duck Dynasty’ is particularly really appealing to the 18-49 crowd. In this age bracket alone, they scored 5.6 million viewers in the finale, shattering all of A&E’s records. ‘American Idol’ which was airing this same night had 4.13 million viewers in that same age group. However, the Fox reality show was the most watched overall because of their lead of viewers aged 50 and older, and women aged 25-to-54.
Nonetheless, ‘Duck Dynasty’ won in every other key category. In the 18-34 age group, they beat ‘American Idol’ by an impressive 70 percent.
The A&E hit focuses in on the backwoods Robertson family that made millions from their top-notch duck calls. The Robertson family is definitely not the typical reality TV family. They are witty, genuine, and hilarious, but they keep the show completely clean in the process. It’s harmless fun, and has won the family stamp of approval. The Christian family even eats dinner together at the end of every episode. The gun-loving, duck-hunting men are known for their excessive facial hair, and their jabs at one another.
The show has been on hold for season 4 as salary negotiations are going on, but at this point in time, viewers would be shocked if A&E doesn’t come through with their requests.
In comparison, the most watched episode of TLC's “Here Comes Honey Boo Boo” history was 3.1 million viewers (only a third of ‘Duck Dynasty’s’ finale amount).
However, History’s “The Bible” miniseries finale ended their successful run with 11.7 million viewers.
Prior to ‘Duck Dynasty,' 'Storage Wars' was the network’s golden child. Their most watched episode was 5.6 million.
‘Duck Dynasty’ is particularly really appealing to the 18-49 crowd. In this age bracket alone, they scored 5.6 million viewers in the finale, shattering all of A&E’s records. ‘American Idol’ which was airing this same night had 4.13 million viewers in that same age group. However, the Fox reality show was the most watched overall because of their lead of viewers aged 50 and older, and women aged 25-to-54.
Nonetheless, ‘Duck Dynasty’ won in every other key category. In the 18-34 age group, they beat ‘American Idol’ by an impressive 70 percent.
The A&E hit focuses in on the backwoods Robertson family that made millions from their top-notch duck calls. The Robertson family is definitely not the typical reality TV family. They are witty, genuine, and hilarious, but they keep the show completely clean in the process. It’s harmless fun, and has won the family stamp of approval. The Christian family even eats dinner together at the end of every episode. The gun-loving, duck-hunting men are known for their excessive facial hair, and their jabs at one another.
The show has been on hold for season 4 as salary negotiations are going on, but at this point in time, viewers would be shocked if A&E doesn’t come through with their requests.
Thursday, April 25, 2013
Tobymac Featured in Space Warriors
Tobymac's "Unstoppable" is the featured closing song in the new movie "Space Warriors" starring Dermot Mulroney, Academy Award winner Mira Sorvino, Josh Lucas, Thomas Horn ("Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close") and Danny Glover. The film is directed by Sean McNamara ("Soul Surfer"). In addition to its theatrical release on April 26, "Space Warriors" will also make its World Television debut as part of the Walden Family Theater series on Hallmark Channel, May 31 at 8pm ET.
"Space Warriors" tells the story of a smart and mischievous teenage boy who dreams of attending Space Camp. He is among six highly skilled teenagers handpicked to be part of a summer space camp competition at the U.S. Space & Rocket Center in Huntsville, Ala. A motley crew with formidable competition, they band in friendship, humor and resourcefulness and ultimately become heroes when danger erupts on the International Space Station and they use their ingenuity to save the day.
Tobymac joins Britt Nicole as well as some emerging artists in sonically decorating the film, set at the world-famous U.S. Space & Rocket Center in Huntsville, home of Space Camp and Aviation Challenge.
"This wonderful film should inspire and entertain kids all over the world in the space and science arena," says Tim Hall, USSRC's media strategist and communications director. "The music in this movie is amazing. It punctuates the film and will resonate with our audience to bring even more attention to it. We here at the Space Camp and the U.S. Space & Rocket Center could not be happier to be involved."
"Space Warriors" tells the story of a smart and mischievous teenage boy who dreams of attending Space Camp. He is among six highly skilled teenagers handpicked to be part of a summer space camp competition at the U.S. Space & Rocket Center in Huntsville, Ala. A motley crew with formidable competition, they band in friendship, humor and resourcefulness and ultimately become heroes when danger erupts on the International Space Station and they use their ingenuity to save the day.
Tobymac joins Britt Nicole as well as some emerging artists in sonically decorating the film, set at the world-famous U.S. Space & Rocket Center in Huntsville, home of Space Camp and Aviation Challenge.
"This wonderful film should inspire and entertain kids all over the world in the space and science arena," says Tim Hall, USSRC's media strategist and communications director. "The music in this movie is amazing. It punctuates the film and will resonate with our audience to bring even more attention to it. We here at the Space Camp and the U.S. Space & Rocket Center could not be happier to be involved."
Tracey Edmonds Reveals the Challenges of Producing Reality TV And Programming a Channel
Tracey Edmonds launched a YouTube faith-based channel, AlrightTV, with a lineup of Christian programming on Easter Sunday, and recently revealed that she has no qualms with competition from the rising genre of reality television.
Edmonds is best known as the CEO of Edmonds Entertainment Group, which she formed with her ex-husband and music mogul Kenneth "Babyface" Edmonds. As a film executive, the Alright TV founder has produced well-known movies like "Soul Food" and "Jumping The Broom" with the likes of Bishop T.D. Jakes.
Edmonds spoke with Sister 2 Sister magazine's May 2013 issue about her line of programming competing with the popularity of reality TV shows.
"I'm in a whole different lane. My programming is uplifting and funny and entertaining," Edmonds told Sister 2 Sister. "I don't even have to worry about reality shows. If that's what you're looking for, you know where to find that. If you want to laugh, feel good, be uplifted and feel positive about life, then you tune in to AlrightTV."
Still, Edmonds noted that reality television stars often have to deal with pressures to remain relevant in the genre.
"..The sad thing is that when you sign on to do a reality show, you've got to make some noise in order to keep your role on there," Edmonds told Sister 2 Sister.
Earlier this year, Edmonds described her vision for Alright TV in an interview with The Christian Post.
"Alright TV will serve as a safe haven to entertain families of all ethnicities and economic backgrounds," Edmonds told CP. "Programming will center around comedy, relationships and other topics that will make people feel good and laugh about life."
For the film executive, producing content with Christian themes was an important factor driving her to create the channel.
"I want to produce a value driven channel with positive Christian morals. I remember meeting with Robert Kinsel (the) YouTube executive in which we were discussing the success of YouTube's premium channels," Edmonds told CP. "He asked if I thought something was missing and I pitched him 'Alright TV' right there. My idea did not have a name but I knew that a platform to inspire and encourage people to live a higher purpose is what was needed."
Tuesday, April 16, 2013
USA Seizes Marketing ‘Moment’ With Christian Community
With “American Bible Challenge” breaking GSN’s ratings records, “The Bible” miniseries pulling over 10 million viewers a week on History, and Lifetime’s “Preachers’ Daughters” offering a cheekier take on religion, faith-friendly fare is having a big impact on general entertainment networks.
“Bible Challenge” exec producer Tom Forman has even quipped that he can’t believe it’s taken mainstream TV “this long” to realize that there is an untapped market with the Christian community, noting that almost three-quarters of the U.S. identifies itself as Christian.
Now, USA is trying its hand in the space with reality series “The Moment.”
“The Moment” is by no means an in-your-face, God-forward series. Alexandra Shapiro, the cabler’s exec veep of marketing and digital, says that the show possesses “universal themes that resonate with a Christian audience,” however, which allots USA a bevy of marketing opportunities to promote the show.
The Network took the program to hundreds of churches across America, offering advanced screenings and simulcast events with famed preacher Max Lucado and Warner, who is a celeb in his own right within the Christian community.
A similar marketing strategy was employed for Mark Burnett and Roma Downey’s “The Bible,” which was screened at mega churches as well.
Word of mouth is an increasingly valuable commodity in today’s TV landscape, as many viewers ditch water cooler talk by consuming programming on their own time frame with DVR or streaming sites.
What’s more, promoting a show can be difficult given the constant noise of programming on cable lineups.
The question that every exec asks is: how do you get people to talk about your show?
For the creatives behind faith-friendly shows like “The Moment,” the answer lies in the Christian community, where church leaders are constantly looking for a fresh way to discuss established Christian values.
Previously, shows like “Extreme Makeover: Home Edition” and films like “The Blind Side” were exemplary of faith-friendly fare, but not marketed directly to Christian auds the way “The Bible” and now “The Moment” explicitly are.
“The Moment” has seized upon this niche in the marketplace, even launching an initiative with ministries dubbed “Make the Moment” that calls thousands upon thousands of ministry members to action within their communities. “Make the Moment” features a website — MaketheMoment.org — that churches can register with, and pair those in need with church members with skill sets that can help improve the lives of others. Site features an online questionnaire that churches can email to their parishioners, along with sermon outlines and clips from “The Moment” to help pastors “build enthusiasm for the campaign to their congregations,” according to USA.
“The show (‘The Moment’) is all about second chances, which is something we as Christians certainly understand because we serve a God of second chances,” Warner says. “‘Make the Moment’ puts churches in a better position to make second chances a reality for those in need in their communities.”
Ken Foreman, senior pastor of Cathedral of Faith in San Jose, Calif., adds: “I’ve never found something as simple and impactful to help us meet the needs of our neighbors as ‘Make the Moment’. It’s made it so easy for us to tackle outreach efforts from two perspectives: identifying the gifts and talents of those in our congregation and then matching them to the needs all around us.”
The uplifting message not only promotes positive, actionable values within the churches, but also of course touts the show, spreading the word about the cable net’s frosh unscripted skein.
“The Moment” is also being promoted on shows and stations that Christian auds are already watching. Warner will appear on “Bible Challenge” tonight at 9 p.m. before the USA bow of “The Moment.” History also offered “The Moment” promo time during its marathon of “The Bible” that led up to the mini’s finale on March 31.
Not all uplifting fare fits the bill, though, when it comes to marketing to Christian audiences.
Shapiro notes: “People have made a business out of this, of course. But, at the end of the day, the product has to deliver, and a faith-based campaign is not for every property. You need to have the appropriate content and it needs to ring true and feel authentic in order for it to be a success.”
“Bible Challenge” exec producer Tom Forman has even quipped that he can’t believe it’s taken mainstream TV “this long” to realize that there is an untapped market with the Christian community, noting that almost three-quarters of the U.S. identifies itself as Christian.
Now, USA is trying its hand in the space with reality series “The Moment.”
“The Moment” is by no means an in-your-face, God-forward series. Alexandra Shapiro, the cabler’s exec veep of marketing and digital, says that the show possesses “universal themes that resonate with a Christian audience,” however, which allots USA a bevy of marketing opportunities to promote the show.
The Network took the program to hundreds of churches across America, offering advanced screenings and simulcast events with famed preacher Max Lucado and Warner, who is a celeb in his own right within the Christian community.
A similar marketing strategy was employed for Mark Burnett and Roma Downey’s “The Bible,” which was screened at mega churches as well.
Word of mouth is an increasingly valuable commodity in today’s TV landscape, as many viewers ditch water cooler talk by consuming programming on their own time frame with DVR or streaming sites.
What’s more, promoting a show can be difficult given the constant noise of programming on cable lineups.
The question that every exec asks is: how do you get people to talk about your show?
For the creatives behind faith-friendly shows like “The Moment,” the answer lies in the Christian community, where church leaders are constantly looking for a fresh way to discuss established Christian values.
Previously, shows like “Extreme Makeover: Home Edition” and films like “The Blind Side” were exemplary of faith-friendly fare, but not marketed directly to Christian auds the way “The Bible” and now “The Moment” explicitly are.
“The Moment” has seized upon this niche in the marketplace, even launching an initiative with ministries dubbed “Make the Moment” that calls thousands upon thousands of ministry members to action within their communities. “Make the Moment” features a website — MaketheMoment.org — that churches can register with, and pair those in need with church members with skill sets that can help improve the lives of others. Site features an online questionnaire that churches can email to their parishioners, along with sermon outlines and clips from “The Moment” to help pastors “build enthusiasm for the campaign to their congregations,” according to USA.
“The show (‘The Moment’) is all about second chances, which is something we as Christians certainly understand because we serve a God of second chances,” Warner says. “‘Make the Moment’ puts churches in a better position to make second chances a reality for those in need in their communities.”
Ken Foreman, senior pastor of Cathedral of Faith in San Jose, Calif., adds: “I’ve never found something as simple and impactful to help us meet the needs of our neighbors as ‘Make the Moment’. It’s made it so easy for us to tackle outreach efforts from two perspectives: identifying the gifts and talents of those in our congregation and then matching them to the needs all around us.”
The uplifting message not only promotes positive, actionable values within the churches, but also of course touts the show, spreading the word about the cable net’s frosh unscripted skein.
“The Moment” is also being promoted on shows and stations that Christian auds are already watching. Warner will appear on “Bible Challenge” tonight at 9 p.m. before the USA bow of “The Moment.” History also offered “The Moment” promo time during its marathon of “The Bible” that led up to the mini’s finale on March 31.
Not all uplifting fare fits the bill, though, when it comes to marketing to Christian audiences.
Shapiro notes: “People have made a business out of this, of course. But, at the end of the day, the product has to deliver, and a faith-based campaign is not for every property. You need to have the appropriate content and it needs to ring true and feel authentic in order for it to be a success.”
Corbin Bernsen: I’d rather talk about God than Lindsay Lohan
Corbin Bernsen, famous for hit shows, “Psych” and “L.A. Law,” spoke to FOX about his career, marriage and faith.
"I have a production company called Home Theater Films which makes faith based films."
FOX 411: Are you born again?
Bernsen: That’s not where I put myself. I consider myself a Christian. It’s the kind of thing I struggle with. I have faith, I believe in God… All I know is I march to my own drummer these days. I stay true to myself and there’s a lot of people who want faith in their lives and I’m more about that. I would like to bring them into the discussion.
I am certainly on a journey of discussion. We’re have a conversation about it and in these days where there’s so much in the world that’s not working and somehow we’ve used faith and religion as a glue for society, something that’s made things work, not drive things apart, I feel there’s a need to celebrate that for the good of what it is. It gets so much bad press.
There’s an assumption if you have any faith you vote a certain way or you’re a conservative and that’s not true. There are very cool, relevant people who have faith in their lives and people who want to have faith who are afraid to enter the conversation. That’s all I care about, entering the conversation. I have four sons who are basically growing up in a world where basically they don’t believe… that’s not good either. So I’m not saying you have to believe in God or Christ, just come into the conversation for a bit…I find it far more interesting than say, talking about Lindsay Lohan.
read full article
"I have a production company called Home Theater Films which makes faith based films."
FOX 411: Are you born again?
Bernsen: That’s not where I put myself. I consider myself a Christian. It’s the kind of thing I struggle with. I have faith, I believe in God… All I know is I march to my own drummer these days. I stay true to myself and there’s a lot of people who want faith in their lives and I’m more about that. I would like to bring them into the discussion.
I am certainly on a journey of discussion. We’re have a conversation about it and in these days where there’s so much in the world that’s not working and somehow we’ve used faith and religion as a glue for society, something that’s made things work, not drive things apart, I feel there’s a need to celebrate that for the good of what it is. It gets so much bad press.
There’s an assumption if you have any faith you vote a certain way or you’re a conservative and that’s not true. There are very cool, relevant people who have faith in their lives and people who want to have faith who are afraid to enter the conversation. That’s all I care about, entering the conversation. I have four sons who are basically growing up in a world where basically they don’t believe… that’s not good either. So I’m not saying you have to believe in God or Christ, just come into the conversation for a bit…I find it far more interesting than say, talking about Lindsay Lohan.
read full article
Saturday, April 13, 2013
Fox Passed on 'The Bible' Miniseries Over Scheduling, Contract Differences
Fox and Fox News Channel came close to acquiring the rights for the hit miniseries "The Bible," but at the end missed out on the show that went to the History Channel.
The LA Times reported that Rupert Murdoch, chairman and chief executive of News Corp., wanted to have "The Bible" air on Fox as soon as producer Mark Burnett mentioned the idea to him. However, the network was unable to find a day in which the show would have fit, with other big-name shows like "American Idol" and "The Following" occupying popular TV nights.
There was talk that the show could have actually played on Fox News, which the Times noted might have seemed a strange choice among the news and political opinion centered content, but its older and more conservative audience could have appreciated it.
The option was discussed, but at the end Burnett and his wife, fellow co-producer Roma Downey, wanted to hold onto international rights and have final cut over the miniseries, which proved to be a deal-breaker in the equation.
News Corp., however, did manage to get into the success of the show by securing the rights to distribute DVDs of "The Bible," which have also reached record-breaking numbers. In its first week of release at the beginning of April, "The Bible" sold 525,000 copies, making it the fastest-selling TV title released on DVD in the last five years and the top-selling DVD miniseries ever.
The History Channel beat out other tough competition for the rights to air the 10-episode series, however, as it was revealed that Discovery's TLC network also wanted the show, but the husband and wife co-producers again didn't budge on international rights.
The LA Times reported that Rupert Murdoch, chairman and chief executive of News Corp., wanted to have "The Bible" air on Fox as soon as producer Mark Burnett mentioned the idea to him. However, the network was unable to find a day in which the show would have fit, with other big-name shows like "American Idol" and "The Following" occupying popular TV nights.
There was talk that the show could have actually played on Fox News, which the Times noted might have seemed a strange choice among the news and political opinion centered content, but its older and more conservative audience could have appreciated it.
The option was discussed, but at the end Burnett and his wife, fellow co-producer Roma Downey, wanted to hold onto international rights and have final cut over the miniseries, which proved to be a deal-breaker in the equation.
News Corp., however, did manage to get into the success of the show by securing the rights to distribute DVDs of "The Bible," which have also reached record-breaking numbers. In its first week of release at the beginning of April, "The Bible" sold 525,000 copies, making it the fastest-selling TV title released on DVD in the last five years and the top-selling DVD miniseries ever.
The History Channel beat out other tough competition for the rights to air the 10-episode series, however, as it was revealed that Discovery's TLC network also wanted the show, but the husband and wife co-producers again didn't budge on international rights.
Friday, April 12, 2013
Brad Paisley Tackles Religion in 'Those Crazy Christians'
Brad Paisley is dealing with the backlash from his highly-debated tune “Accidental Racist,” but there’s another song on his new album, Wheelhouse, that could raise a few eyebrows of fans who prefer their country music without controversy.
Paisley tackles religion in “Those Crazy Christians,” written from the viewpoint of a nonbeliever. Born and raised a Southern Baptist in West Virginia, Paisley is still a churchgoer (and an appreciator of traditions like Lent, for which he gave up bread this year), but he likes looking at topics from different angles.
“This is what I would consider a gospel song, the most important one I’ve ever done—a lot more important to me than ‘What a Friend We Have in Jesus,’ ” he told PARADE’s March 24 cover story.
With lyrics like “A famous TV preacher has a big affair and then…One tearful confession and he’s born again” and “Every untimely passing, every dear departed soul/Is just another good excuse to bake a casserole,” this isn’t your mom’s gospel song.
As Paisley told PARADE, “I wrote it shortly after my cousin-in-law passed away in 2011,” he said. “He was young, and he fought against a debilitating disease. There weren’t five minutes of intensive care that there weren’t at least two church members at the hospital, around the clock, and I remember thinking, what makes people take shifts for somebody they haven’t known very long? Well, it’s belief.
“To play the part of the skeptic in that song is a much more powerful argument to me—in favor of [belief] as well as looking at some of the things that are baffling. My most devout friends love it and so do my agnostic ones, but for very different reasons. I [chose] the tittle because I remember thinking, ‘Those crazy Christians. Look at them go. Look at them swoop in to save the day.’”
As with “Accidental Racist,” Paisley isn’t one to preach, he’s only asking the questions.
“They look to heaven their whole life,” he sings in “Those Crazy Christians.” “And I think what if they’re wrong but what if they’re right…You know it’s funny, much as I’m baffled by it all…If I ever really needed help, well you know who I’d call…Those crazy Christians.”
Paisley says he isn’t too worried if the edgier material on Wheelhouse doesn’t click with all his fans. “Maybe I’m naive, but I give them a lot of credit for having been with me a long time and knowing me really well. So it’s not like with one album I’m a whole new guy. I’ve had a great career, and if I don’t have one after this …”—he chuckles—“… then so be it.”
What are your thoughts on the singer’s hot-button tunes? Tell us in the comments. To find out more about Brad Paisley’s new album, Wheelhouse, read the full PARADE interview.
Paisley tackles religion in “Those Crazy Christians,” written from the viewpoint of a nonbeliever. Born and raised a Southern Baptist in West Virginia, Paisley is still a churchgoer (and an appreciator of traditions like Lent, for which he gave up bread this year), but he likes looking at topics from different angles.
“This is what I would consider a gospel song, the most important one I’ve ever done—a lot more important to me than ‘What a Friend We Have in Jesus,’ ” he told PARADE’s March 24 cover story.
With lyrics like “A famous TV preacher has a big affair and then…One tearful confession and he’s born again” and “Every untimely passing, every dear departed soul/Is just another good excuse to bake a casserole,” this isn’t your mom’s gospel song.
As Paisley told PARADE, “I wrote it shortly after my cousin-in-law passed away in 2011,” he said. “He was young, and he fought against a debilitating disease. There weren’t five minutes of intensive care that there weren’t at least two church members at the hospital, around the clock, and I remember thinking, what makes people take shifts for somebody they haven’t known very long? Well, it’s belief.
“To play the part of the skeptic in that song is a much more powerful argument to me—in favor of [belief] as well as looking at some of the things that are baffling. My most devout friends love it and so do my agnostic ones, but for very different reasons. I [chose] the tittle because I remember thinking, ‘Those crazy Christians. Look at them go. Look at them swoop in to save the day.’”
As with “Accidental Racist,” Paisley isn’t one to preach, he’s only asking the questions.
“They look to heaven their whole life,” he sings in “Those Crazy Christians.” “And I think what if they’re wrong but what if they’re right…You know it’s funny, much as I’m baffled by it all…If I ever really needed help, well you know who I’d call…Those crazy Christians.”
Paisley says he isn’t too worried if the edgier material on Wheelhouse doesn’t click with all his fans. “Maybe I’m naive, but I give them a lot of credit for having been with me a long time and knowing me really well. So it’s not like with one album I’m a whole new guy. I’ve had a great career, and if I don’t have one after this …”—he chuckles—“… then so be it.”
What are your thoughts on the singer’s hot-button tunes? Tell us in the comments. To find out more about Brad Paisley’s new album, Wheelhouse, read the full PARADE interview.
Thursday, April 11, 2013
New USA Network Reality Series 'The Moment' Is a Show With “Christian Values”
USA has ruled the cable ratings for seven straight years, with light, bright procedurals like Burn Notice, White Collar, Royal Pains, and Covert Affairs. Now, starting with The Moment, USA is adding reality shows and comedies to its lineup. USA appears to believe that it has maxed out its current audience.
Earlier this week, USA’s co-president Chris McCumber told me, “To grow,
we need to be in reality.”
The series has been heralded as a game-changer in today's reality television culture and will make is premiere on USA tonight..The network's unscripted original series hosted by former NFL star Kurt Warner should have a wide appeal.
Based on the fact that many Americans are dissatisfied in their jobs and that very few are living their dreams, "The Moment" offers ordinary people the opportunity to do what they have always wanted to do.
Each week Warner will appear at the doorstep of one nominee with a unique offer. Depending on the career they have always dreamed of- from a college football coach to a race car driver- Warner will provide the tools and expert mentors needed to work toward rewriting the story of their lives.
Providing nine people with a second chance at their lifelong dreams, "The Moment" is complete with strong undertones of God's plan and a commitment to family.
In the series premiere of "The Moment" on Thursday, Tracie Marcum will train with famed sports photographer Lou Jones as she strives to fulfill her dream of being a photographer for Sports Illustrated.
Warner is an outspoken Christian who has won awards for his work both on and off the football field. His 12-year career in the NFL is considered one of the greatest stories in the NFL's history.
The Moment drawns on many of the standard USA procedural
elements. It’s aspirational and upbeat—what could be more pleasant than
seeing good people get another chance to accomplish their life goals? There is a wholesomeness to the show that’s
sometimes hard to find in reality television. And though faith and
religion aren’t specifically mentioned in the first two episodes,
executive producer Charlie Ebersol told Slate that the show is designed to
promote Christian values.
The series has been heralded as a game-changer in today's reality television culture and will make is premiere on USA tonight..The network's unscripted original series hosted by former NFL star Kurt Warner should have a wide appeal.
Based on the fact that many Americans are dissatisfied in their jobs and that very few are living their dreams, "The Moment" offers ordinary people the opportunity to do what they have always wanted to do.
Each week Warner will appear at the doorstep of one nominee with a unique offer. Depending on the career they have always dreamed of- from a college football coach to a race car driver- Warner will provide the tools and expert mentors needed to work toward rewriting the story of their lives.
Providing nine people with a second chance at their lifelong dreams, "The Moment" is complete with strong undertones of God's plan and a commitment to family.
In the series premiere of "The Moment" on Thursday, Tracie Marcum will train with famed sports photographer Lou Jones as she strives to fulfill her dream of being a photographer for Sports Illustrated.
Warner is an outspoken Christian who has won awards for his work both on and off the football field. His 12-year career in the NFL is considered one of the greatest stories in the NFL's history.
Kari Jobe Song Performed on American Idol by Top 6 Contestant Angie Miller
Last night on American Idol, one of the Top 6 contestants, Angie Miller, chose a Kari Jobe song to perform as her "Song I wish I had written" selection. Miller's performance of "Love Came Down" from Jobe's 2012 release Where I Find You resulted in a standing ovation from the crowd and all four judges. Her performance evoked responses from Keith Urban and Mariah Carey, and garnered a heartfelt response from Jobe as well.
"I have watched American Idol for 12 years, and it was so much fun to have 'Love Came Down' from my album, Where I Find You on there this week," shared Jobe after watching the performance. "I met Angie a year ago and was blown away by her talent and love for Jesus! Excited for her!"
Miller also shared on Twitter last night to Jobe, "I watched you perform 'Love Came Down' quite some time ago and fell in love with it. Thank you for inspiring me so much! Love you!"
Following Miller's performance last night, Jobe's song quickly climbed to the top of the iTunes Christian & Gospel singles chart, and the album is currently at No. 6 on the iTunes Christian album chart.
Wednesday night, Top 6 American Idol contestant Angie Miller sang chart-topping CCM artist Kari Jobe's song "Love Came Down" and received a standing ovation from both the crowd and the judges.
"I have watched American Idol for 12 years, and it was so much fun to have 'Love Came Down' from my album, Where I Find You on there this week," shared Jobe after watching the performance. "I met Angie a year ago and was blown away by her talent and love for Jesus! Excited for her!"
Miller also shared on Twitter last night to Jobe, "I watched you perform 'Love Came Down' quite some time ago and fell in love with it. Thank you for inspiring me so much! Love you!"
Following Miller's performance last night, Jobe's song quickly climbed to the top of the iTunes Christian & Gospel singles chart, and the album is currently at No. 6 on the iTunes Christian album chart.
Wednesday night, Top 6 American Idol contestant Angie Miller sang chart-topping CCM artist Kari Jobe's song "Love Came Down" and received a standing ovation from both the crowd and the judges.
Wednesday, April 10, 2013
Winter Jam #1 Tour in the World for Third Straight Year
For the third consecutive year, the Winter Jam Tour Spectacular
reigns as the #1 tour in the world (first quarter). Leading Pollstar's
2013 Worldwide First Quarter Ticket Sales Charts - Top 100 Tours, Winter
Jam attendance surpassed all other tours to date this year, including
outings by Pink, Maroon 5, Justin Bieber and Bon Jovi, among others.
Concluding its 18th season March 30 with a record-setting 42 sellouts since launching in January, the 44-city mega tour hit some of the country's largest arenas. With a combined total audience of nearly 554,000 people, this year's tour was the biggest in Winter Jam history.
Founded and hosted by NewSong, Winter Jam was headlined by GRAMMY®-winning, multi-platinum artist TobyMac. The tour also featured RED, Matthew West, Jamie Grace, Sidewalk Prophets, Royal Tailor, Jason Castro, OBB and Capital Kings.
Highlights of this year's tour included sellouts at such top venues as Chicago's Sears Centre; Atlanta's Philips Arena; The Sprint Center in Kansas City; Oklahoma City's Chesapeake Energy Arena; and Cleveland's Wolstein Center, among numerous others. Winter Jam's capacity "hometown" stop at Nashville's Bridgestone Arena February 9 featured a string of special guest appearances, including Newsboys' Michael Tait, Francesca Battistelli, Mandisa and for KING & COUNTRY.
Concluding its 18th season March 30 with a record-setting 42 sellouts since launching in January, the 44-city mega tour hit some of the country's largest arenas. With a combined total audience of nearly 554,000 people, this year's tour was the biggest in Winter Jam history.
Founded and hosted by NewSong, Winter Jam was headlined by GRAMMY®-winning, multi-platinum artist TobyMac. The tour also featured RED, Matthew West, Jamie Grace, Sidewalk Prophets, Royal Tailor, Jason Castro, OBB and Capital Kings.
Highlights of this year's tour included sellouts at such top venues as Chicago's Sears Centre; Atlanta's Philips Arena; The Sprint Center in Kansas City; Oklahoma City's Chesapeake Energy Arena; and Cleveland's Wolstein Center, among numerous others. Winter Jam's capacity "hometown" stop at Nashville's Bridgestone Arena February 9 featured a string of special guest appearances, including Newsboys' Michael Tait, Francesca Battistelli, Mandisa and for KING & COUNTRY.
Christian Dating Show in Development for GSN
GSN is considering adding a faith-based dating show as a way to continue appealing to the audience that was drawn to the network by "The American Bible Challenge."
The dating show, "It Takes a Church," follows church members as they try to find a romantic match for a single member of their congregation without his or her knowledge.
"The congregation, Pastor, friends, and family will all contribute, but in the end our single will decide which suitor she is putting her faith in. The parishioner who brought the chosen suitor will win money for both themself and their charity."
Amy Introcaso-Davis, executive vice president for programming and development at GSN, told reporters Tuesday that the show is like a modern version of how "the ladies of the church are always trying to fix up the few single" congregants, according to The New York Times.
She also said the show will target the network's new viewers who were brought in by "The American Bible Challenge," though GSN officials stated they don't plan to fill the station's schedule with faith-based programming. "It Takes a Church," which is being developed for GSN by Sean Kelly, is one of six original series being developed for the network, including another dating show and a program featuring competing dance studios.
"The American Bible Challenge," hosted by comedian Jeff Foxworthy, is a Bible trivia show in which contestants compete for money for their favorite charity. In its first season last year, the show became the most-watched program in GSN's history. Kirk Franklin, a nine-time Grammy-winning recording artist, joined the show as a musical co-host for its second season, which began in March.
"I'm very excited to create the musical environment for The American Bible Challenge," Franklin said before the season began, according to GSN. "The show is a fresh and fun approach to celebrating the Word of God, and being able to provide an element of praise, worship and honor is both exciting and humbling."
The network also announced the release of "The American Bible Challenge Bible Study" in March. The curriculum for the 10-week study was written in conjunction with the American Bible Society and features video and commentary from best-selling author Max Lucado, novelist Karen Kingsbury and country music artist Clay Walker, among others.
The dating show, "It Takes a Church," follows church members as they try to find a romantic match for a single member of their congregation without his or her knowledge.
"The congregation, Pastor, friends, and family will all contribute, but in the end our single will decide which suitor she is putting her faith in. The parishioner who brought the chosen suitor will win money for both themself and their charity."
Amy Introcaso-Davis, executive vice president for programming and development at GSN, told reporters Tuesday that the show is like a modern version of how "the ladies of the church are always trying to fix up the few single" congregants, according to The New York Times.
She also said the show will target the network's new viewers who were brought in by "The American Bible Challenge," though GSN officials stated they don't plan to fill the station's schedule with faith-based programming. "It Takes a Church," which is being developed for GSN by Sean Kelly, is one of six original series being developed for the network, including another dating show and a program featuring competing dance studios.
"The American Bible Challenge," hosted by comedian Jeff Foxworthy, is a Bible trivia show in which contestants compete for money for their favorite charity. In its first season last year, the show became the most-watched program in GSN's history. Kirk Franklin, a nine-time Grammy-winning recording artist, joined the show as a musical co-host for its second season, which began in March.
"I'm very excited to create the musical environment for The American Bible Challenge," Franklin said before the season began, according to GSN. "The show is a fresh and fun approach to celebrating the Word of God, and being able to provide an element of praise, worship and honor is both exciting and humbling."
The network also announced the release of "The American Bible Challenge Bible Study" in March. The curriculum for the 10-week study was written in conjunction with the American Bible Society and features video and commentary from best-selling author Max Lucado, novelist Karen Kingsbury and country music artist Clay Walker, among others.
Tuesday, April 9, 2013
Christafari #1 on Reggae Chart
Nearly nine months after it was first released, Gospel reggae pioneers Christafari have jumped to #1 on this week's Billboard Reggae Albums Chart with their latest album, Reggae Worship: A Roots Revival.
While Christafari is no stranger to the Top 10 on the Reggae chart,
this marks the first time in Billboard's history that a Christian band
has secured the top spot.
On Reggae Worship: A Roots Revival, Christafari reworks classic hymns, reinterprets many of today's top worship anthems and gives fans a handful of original worship songs that truly capture the band's signature sound.
"We've been blown away by the positive response from our fans and the press for our latest album," says Christafari's founder and frontman, Mark Mohr. "To think that just a year ago we were asking our fans to help fund this album and now we are #1 on the Billboard chart! It's an honor to be the very first Christian artist to ever top this mainstream chart-and to do so with a worship album is even more incredible!"
On Reggae Worship: A Roots Revival, Christafari reworks classic hymns, reinterprets many of today's top worship anthems and gives fans a handful of original worship songs that truly capture the band's signature sound.
"We've been blown away by the positive response from our fans and the press for our latest album," says Christafari's founder and frontman, Mark Mohr. "To think that just a year ago we were asking our fans to help fund this album and now we are #1 on the Billboard chart! It's an honor to be the very first Christian artist to ever top this mainstream chart-and to do so with a worship album is even more incredible!"
Monday, April 8, 2013
The Bible Shatters Home Entertainment Sales Records
The epic miniseries, The Bible, continues its unprecedented success
with its home entertainment launch and quickly has become the biggest
selling TV on DVD in the last 5 years and the biggest miniseries of all
time on Blu-ray, Digital HD and DVD in its first week of release. The Bible series sold
525,000 units in its first week. The Bible also ranked #1 across digital stores including iTunes, Amazon,
VUDU, Xbox, PlayStation, CinemaNow, and GooglePlay.
“We are humbled by the overwhelming response from audiences to The Bible miniseries,” said co-executive producers, husband and wife team Roma Downey and Mark Burnett. “First, the show was number one on HISTORY, now it is number one on Blu-ray and DVD and has been number one in every country in which it aired. We feel incredibly blessed that we were able to bring this amazing love story to life on the screen. It is our hope that folks everywhere will continue to be touched by the message of the Bible and cherish these stories at home with their families for years to come. This is just the beginning.”
During its run, The Bible propelled HISTORY to number one in all of television from 8-10PM on Sunday nights with 95 million cumulative viewers watching the miniseries.
After being named the official app of THE BIBLE series, YouVersion’s Bible App had its biggest month ever, reaching 88 million total installs, breaking into the top 15 of all free apps in the iTunes App Store, and seeing 3.4 billion minutes of Bible engagement in the app.
“We are humbled by the overwhelming response from audiences to The Bible miniseries,” said co-executive producers, husband and wife team Roma Downey and Mark Burnett. “First, the show was number one on HISTORY, now it is number one on Blu-ray and DVD and has been number one in every country in which it aired. We feel incredibly blessed that we were able to bring this amazing love story to life on the screen. It is our hope that folks everywhere will continue to be touched by the message of the Bible and cherish these stories at home with their families for years to come. This is just the beginning.”
During its run, The Bible propelled HISTORY to number one in all of television from 8-10PM on Sunday nights with 95 million cumulative viewers watching the miniseries.
After being named the official app of THE BIBLE series, YouVersion’s Bible App had its biggest month ever, reaching 88 million total installs, breaking into the top 15 of all free apps in the iTunes App Store, and seeing 3.4 billion minutes of Bible engagement in the app.
Friday, April 5, 2013
Where Has All the Christian Music Media Gone?
The Sound Opinion has a nice post on the decline of coverage of Christian music. It's worth a read.
Thursday, April 4, 2013
'The American Bible Challenge' Teams With YouVersion's Bible App
Producers of "The American Bible Challenge" TV game show have teamed up with the popular Bible App by YouVersion to provide polling data, study and reference for teams for the show's second season.
Hosted by comedian Jeff Foxworthy, the GSN show features three teams being tested for their Bible knowledge and winning money for their favorite charities.
YouVersion draws upon its vast community to provide the polling data for a new show challenge focused on Bible interpretation. In this segment, contestants are asked to correctly estimate how people responded to questions about Bible passages or what they would do in similar situations. As well, when the teams prepare for their intense final round, they'll rely on the Bible App for study and reference. The Bible App offers over 400 versions of the Bible in more than 200 languages.
Additionally, YouVersion's Bible App is the official app host of the entire daily line-up of the show's new "American Bible Challenge Bible Study." This devotional features prominent figures such as Max Lucado, Randy Frazee and Karen Kingsbury as they share their favorite passages – along with what God's Word has meant in their lives. "The American Bible Challenge Bible Study" will cover topics such as love, forgiveness, prayer, acceptance, character, anxiety, courage and the Bible itself. The curriculum for "The American Bible Challenge Bible Study" was written in conjunction with American Bible Society.
With the Bible App by YouVersion users can access tools like bookmarks, notes, highlights, hundreds of reading plans, and more. Everything a user adds is automatically synced across any device you use. Content can be accessed online at bible.com.
Providing an entertaining mix of pop culture and questions about the best-selling book of all time, the show pits teams who are playing for charity against one another in tournament play, with a finale that awards $100,000 to the charity of the championship team. "The American Bible Challenge" premiered on Aug. 23, 2012, to critical acclaim and record-setting ratings. The premiere garnered GSN's highest delivery in its 18-year history with 1.7 million total viewers for its series premiere and over 13 million total viewers during its run.
The Bible App by YouVersion – among the first 200 apps offered as part of Apple's app store – is recognized by Appsfire as the #3 and #9 Best App of All Time for iPad and iPhone, respectively. For three years in a row, the app has been ranked in the top 100 free apps on Apple's "Best of" list.
Pastor Bobby Gruenewald came up with the idea of using technology to make the Bible more accessible while waiting in an airport security line. Before his plane departed, he'd already registered the domain name. When Apple's app store launched in July 2008, Gruenewald hoped for 80,000 downloads in the first six months – a number surpassed in the first weekend. To date, readers have clocked over 45 billion minutes of Bible-reading time. Today, the Bible App has 20+ full-time employees along with several hundred volunteers providing support for virtually every mobile device.
YouVersion is a ministry of LifeChurch.tv, a multi-site church based in Oklahoma. Meeting in 15 different physical locations and globally online, the church is devoted to helping people around the world become fully devoted followers of Christ.
Hosted by comedian Jeff Foxworthy, the GSN show features three teams being tested for their Bible knowledge and winning money for their favorite charities.
YouVersion draws upon its vast community to provide the polling data for a new show challenge focused on Bible interpretation. In this segment, contestants are asked to correctly estimate how people responded to questions about Bible passages or what they would do in similar situations. As well, when the teams prepare for their intense final round, they'll rely on the Bible App for study and reference. The Bible App offers over 400 versions of the Bible in more than 200 languages.
Additionally, YouVersion's Bible App is the official app host of the entire daily line-up of the show's new "American Bible Challenge Bible Study." This devotional features prominent figures such as Max Lucado, Randy Frazee and Karen Kingsbury as they share their favorite passages – along with what God's Word has meant in their lives. "The American Bible Challenge Bible Study" will cover topics such as love, forgiveness, prayer, acceptance, character, anxiety, courage and the Bible itself. The curriculum for "The American Bible Challenge Bible Study" was written in conjunction with American Bible Society.
With the Bible App by YouVersion users can access tools like bookmarks, notes, highlights, hundreds of reading plans, and more. Everything a user adds is automatically synced across any device you use. Content can be accessed online at bible.com.
Providing an entertaining mix of pop culture and questions about the best-selling book of all time, the show pits teams who are playing for charity against one another in tournament play, with a finale that awards $100,000 to the charity of the championship team. "The American Bible Challenge" premiered on Aug. 23, 2012, to critical acclaim and record-setting ratings. The premiere garnered GSN's highest delivery in its 18-year history with 1.7 million total viewers for its series premiere and over 13 million total viewers during its run.
The Bible App by YouVersion – among the first 200 apps offered as part of Apple's app store – is recognized by Appsfire as the #3 and #9 Best App of All Time for iPad and iPhone, respectively. For three years in a row, the app has been ranked in the top 100 free apps on Apple's "Best of" list.
Pastor Bobby Gruenewald came up with the idea of using technology to make the Bible more accessible while waiting in an airport security line. Before his plane departed, he'd already registered the domain name. When Apple's app store launched in July 2008, Gruenewald hoped for 80,000 downloads in the first six months – a number surpassed in the first weekend. To date, readers have clocked over 45 billion minutes of Bible-reading time. Today, the Bible App has 20+ full-time employees along with several hundred volunteers providing support for virtually every mobile device.
YouVersion is a ministry of LifeChurch.tv, a multi-site church based in Oklahoma. Meeting in 15 different physical locations and globally online, the church is devoted to helping people around the world become fully devoted followers of Christ.
Bebo Norman Retiring from Music
Singer-songwriter Bebo Norman's applauded seventeen-year musical career is nearing its end. Norman has announced that as of the end of 2013, he will officially retire from everything music.
"For those closest to me, this really has been a decision that was years in the making, but after a lot of prayer and continued conversation, my wife Roshare and I made the final call back in December," shares Bebo. "And honestly I wasn't sure if I would be done right away, or what the exact timetable would be, but ultimately I decided that I really wanted to honor my label and publishing commitments through 2013 and tour this new record (Lights of Distant Cities) for at least a year from release just to make sure I "finish well."
In October 2012, Bebo released his last full-length studio release, Lights of Distant Cities, on BEC Recordings to much acclaim - as with all of his releases. Media called this album a "triumph," "beacon of hope," "stunning masterpiece" and one of his best pieces of work.
"Everything that I had left in my heart for music, I feel like I squeezed out and emptied into writing and recording this latest project, which I love so dearly. And to have had the chance to write and record such a personal record with my close friend and longtime live collaborator, multi-instrumentalist Gabe Scott, was the perfect way to finish out my recording career."
Pushing the fear of the unknown aside, Bebo knows he is following his heart just as he did 20 years ago when he entered into a musical career. As many may know, Bebo has often called himself an "accidental" musician as he turned away from his plans for medical school to a season of music. "The reality for me is that I don't have any one specific calling moving forward - I feel pulled in quite a few different directions, but none of them are music-related. I don't know that I really feel called to something else as much as I feel called away from music."
Cultivating a substantial national following as a self-supported independent artist in the mid-90's, Bebo became the poster child for Christian music's acoustic singer-songwriter revival with his 1999 major label debut, which landed Norman on the cover of CCM - a rare honor for a new artist. The follow-up, Big Blue Sky, was voted No. 1 Christian album of 2001 by the editors at Amazon. Myself When I Am Real (2002) earned seven Dove Award nods and charted the defining hit, "Great Light of the World." Projects Try (2004) and Between the Dreaming and the Coming True (2006) continued the steady climb. In 2007, Norman partnered with Seattle's BEC Recordings to release his first Christmas project that garnered another Dove nomination. In 2008, he released the critically acclaimed self-titled project. In 2010, Bebo received a Dove Award for "Inspirational Recorded Song" for his song "The Only Hope" from this self-titled project. His next project, Ocean, released in 2010 and explored the theme of finding one's real identity. Bebo resides in Franklin, Tennessee with his wife and two boys Smith and Miller.
Show Hope Announces Partnership with Tim Tebow Foundation
Show Hope™, a nonprofit orphan care ministry founded by GRAMMY® award winning Steven Curtis Chapman and his wife Mary Beth, announced a partnership with the Tim Tebow Foundation that will raise awareness and provide assistance for families, who have a desire to adopt children with special needs.
"We are privileged to combine our efforts with funds provided by the Tim Tebow Foundation to provide critical help to waiting children with special needs," said Scott Hasenbalg, Executive Director, Show Hope. "With this assistance, we can help to remove the financial barrier that exists for many families. We celebrate the thousands of children that Show Hope has helped through the miracle of adoption, but the truth is, the need is great. Together, we will help make adoption a reality as we continue to transform the lives of many children with special needs."
Show Hope believes that the millions of waiting children around the world should not be left as orphans. By collaboratively addressing their needs, this partnership will have a life-changing impact in illuminating the need for families to adopt children with special needs and by helping to place these children from across the globe with forever families. Additionally, families will be awarded with financial grants to help them overcome the high cost of adoption.
"We are so excited to be able to partner with Show Hope in providing financial assistance to these families who are courageously adopting children with special needs," said Erik Dellenback, Executive Director, Tim Tebow Foundation. "We believe this program is a great way to share God's love and it ties perfectly to our mission to bring Faith Hope and Love to those needing a brighter day in their darkest hour of need."
In helping to shape an adoption-friendly culture, the goal is to come together through this alignment to raise awareness and provide assistance for families to adopt children with special needs and make it a viable option for many to build their families.
"Ten years ago we began this ministry because the need outgrew what we were blessed to do by ourselves," explains Steven Curtis Chapman. "We always believed we can do more by working together and we are thrilled to be working with Tim and his foundation - we believe this is the start of life change for many orphaned children with special needs in the months and years to come."
Approximately 1,000 families apply annually to Show Hope for adoption assistance. Often, families are willing to welcome a child into their home, but are unable to afford the high cost, which averages $25,000 per adoption. Due to the lack of funding, more than 8,000 grant requests have been turned away since Show Hope was founded in 2003. With the financial support from the Tim Tebow Foundation, Show Hope can help more children through grants, which will be awarded in the average amount of $7,000 to $10,000 to each family. With an initial contribution given in December, a hundred percent of the donations received from the Tim Tebow Foundation will go directly toward special needs adoptions. As a result, about 10 to 14 additional families will receive grants on an annual basis.
Additionally, to commemorate the past decade, Show Hope is hosting its 10-year Anniversary Celebration with two full days of fellowship, food, music and fun for the entire family. The event will take place Saturday, May 25 at Show Hope's office in Franklin, Tenn., and carry through to Sunday, May 26 at Lipscomb University in downtown Nashville where attendees will enjoy a live concert featuring Steven Curtis Chapman, Mark Hall of Casting Crowns and Andrew Peterson. Tickets are available at www.ticketnashville.com.
"We are privileged to combine our efforts with funds provided by the Tim Tebow Foundation to provide critical help to waiting children with special needs," said Scott Hasenbalg, Executive Director, Show Hope. "With this assistance, we can help to remove the financial barrier that exists for many families. We celebrate the thousands of children that Show Hope has helped through the miracle of adoption, but the truth is, the need is great. Together, we will help make adoption a reality as we continue to transform the lives of many children with special needs."
Show Hope believes that the millions of waiting children around the world should not be left as orphans. By collaboratively addressing their needs, this partnership will have a life-changing impact in illuminating the need for families to adopt children with special needs and by helping to place these children from across the globe with forever families. Additionally, families will be awarded with financial grants to help them overcome the high cost of adoption.
"We are so excited to be able to partner with Show Hope in providing financial assistance to these families who are courageously adopting children with special needs," said Erik Dellenback, Executive Director, Tim Tebow Foundation. "We believe this program is a great way to share God's love and it ties perfectly to our mission to bring Faith Hope and Love to those needing a brighter day in their darkest hour of need."
In helping to shape an adoption-friendly culture, the goal is to come together through this alignment to raise awareness and provide assistance for families to adopt children with special needs and make it a viable option for many to build their families.
"Ten years ago we began this ministry because the need outgrew what we were blessed to do by ourselves," explains Steven Curtis Chapman. "We always believed we can do more by working together and we are thrilled to be working with Tim and his foundation - we believe this is the start of life change for many orphaned children with special needs in the months and years to come."
Approximately 1,000 families apply annually to Show Hope for adoption assistance. Often, families are willing to welcome a child into their home, but are unable to afford the high cost, which averages $25,000 per adoption. Due to the lack of funding, more than 8,000 grant requests have been turned away since Show Hope was founded in 2003. With the financial support from the Tim Tebow Foundation, Show Hope can help more children through grants, which will be awarded in the average amount of $7,000 to $10,000 to each family. With an initial contribution given in December, a hundred percent of the donations received from the Tim Tebow Foundation will go directly toward special needs adoptions. As a result, about 10 to 14 additional families will receive grants on an annual basis.
Additionally, to commemorate the past decade, Show Hope is hosting its 10-year Anniversary Celebration with two full days of fellowship, food, music and fun for the entire family. The event will take place Saturday, May 25 at Show Hope's office in Franklin, Tenn., and carry through to Sunday, May 26 at Lipscomb University in downtown Nashville where attendees will enjoy a live concert featuring Steven Curtis Chapman, Mark Hall of Casting Crowns and Andrew Peterson. Tickets are available at www.ticketnashville.com.
Wednesday, April 3, 2013
Kevin Pollak, James Denton, AJ Michalka and Jamie Grace Star in 'Grace Unplugged'
Lionsgate announced today that production has completed on the inspirational film Grace Unplugged and it will release in theaters October 4. The film features a cast led by AJ Michalka (Super 8, The Lovely Bones), James Denton (Desperate Housewives), Kevin Pollak (A Few Good Men,), Michael Welch (Joan of Arcadia) and Shawnee Smith (The Secret Life of the American Teenager). Lead actress Michalka is known for both her acting roles and her singing career as half of the duo Aly & AJ, more recently known as 78Violet.
The film features the acting or feature film debuts of three music stars: Jamie Grace, American Idol Season 10 Finalist Pia Toscano, and Chris Tomlin.
Grace Unplugged stars Amanda "AJ" Michalka as 18-year-old Christian singer/songwriter Grace Rose Trey, who plays guitar and leads worship with her dad Johnny (James Denton). Her dad is a former rock star who has left his secular career behind and is now a worship leader at their small-town Alabama church. Grace is restless for her own shot at pop stardom, and seizes on an opportunity to go to L.A., against the wishes of her family. Cutting off contact with her parents, Grace seems prepared to walk away from her Christian faith and music to achieve her Hollywood dream. Will the experience cause her to reject her faith or rediscover it? Grace Unplugged is a modern day prodigal-daughter story.
The film features the acting or feature film debuts of three music stars: Jamie Grace, American Idol Season 10 Finalist Pia Toscano, and Chris Tomlin.
Grace Unplugged stars Amanda "AJ" Michalka as 18-year-old Christian singer/songwriter Grace Rose Trey, who plays guitar and leads worship with her dad Johnny (James Denton). Her dad is a former rock star who has left his secular career behind and is now a worship leader at their small-town Alabama church. Grace is restless for her own shot at pop stardom, and seizes on an opportunity to go to L.A., against the wishes of her family. Cutting off contact with her parents, Grace seems prepared to walk away from her Christian faith and music to achieve her Hollywood dream. Will the experience cause her to reject her faith or rediscover it? Grace Unplugged is a modern day prodigal-daughter story.
Switchfoot to Share Surfing, Stage and Other Footage in 'Fading West' Film
Jon Foreman. lead singer of Switchfoot, promises that Switchfoot fans will get a different perspective on the band from its upcoming film project, "Fading West," which the band will tease with a trailer at the auction night before the group's 9th Annual Bro-Am surfing contest and concert.
The Bro-Am takes place July 12-13 in Encinitas, California. A charity auction, a performance by Switchfoot and a sneak peek of "Fading West" will take place on the 12th, while the 13th will feature a full-scale beachfront concert, a charity surf contest with surf jousting exhibitions between heats, and the Rob Machado Bro Junior competition. The Bro-Am has raised more than $715,000 for San Diego-area children's charities during its history. More information about the event will be posted on the band's website.
As for the "Fading West" film, Foreman tells Billboard that, "Our goal was always to be professional surfers -- and I'm only partially kidding when I say that -- and if nobody is gonna make a movie about us, let's do it ourselves. We love surfing, so this was kind of a chance to introduce that to the rest of the world and maybe connect a few of the dots to the music as well."
"Fading West" combines scenes of the band surfing at locales around the world -- including the U.S., South Africa, Bali, Australia and New Zealand -- with behind-the-scenes of Switchfoot on tour and in the studio, as well as on stage. "It's about rock 'n' roll and the journey we've been on for the past eight albums," Foreman says. "There's a lot of special moments in the film."
There will be no formal soundtrack for "Fading West;" a new Switchfoot album is due out in September that will include some songs heard in the film. And Foreman says the group has reached out to some friends to be part of it, including his Fiction Family bandmate Sean Watkins and his sister Sara, Karl Denson, Charlie Peacock and others.
"We want to just kind of pull on different people whop lay other instruments and can add colors to the score that we would never be able to add," Foreman says. "It's been a whole lot of fun to dream it up."
The Bro-Am takes place July 12-13 in Encinitas, California. A charity auction, a performance by Switchfoot and a sneak peek of "Fading West" will take place on the 12th, while the 13th will feature a full-scale beachfront concert, a charity surf contest with surf jousting exhibitions between heats, and the Rob Machado Bro Junior competition. The Bro-Am has raised more than $715,000 for San Diego-area children's charities during its history. More information about the event will be posted on the band's website.
As for the "Fading West" film, Foreman tells Billboard that, "Our goal was always to be professional surfers -- and I'm only partially kidding when I say that -- and if nobody is gonna make a movie about us, let's do it ourselves. We love surfing, so this was kind of a chance to introduce that to the rest of the world and maybe connect a few of the dots to the music as well."
"Fading West" combines scenes of the band surfing at locales around the world -- including the U.S., South Africa, Bali, Australia and New Zealand -- with behind-the-scenes of Switchfoot on tour and in the studio, as well as on stage. "It's about rock 'n' roll and the journey we've been on for the past eight albums," Foreman says. "There's a lot of special moments in the film."
There will be no formal soundtrack for "Fading West;" a new Switchfoot album is due out in September that will include some songs heard in the film. And Foreman says the group has reached out to some friends to be part of it, including his Fiction Family bandmate Sean Watkins and his sister Sara, Karl Denson, Charlie Peacock and others.
"We want to just kind of pull on different people whop lay other instruments and can add colors to the score that we would never be able to add," Foreman says. "It's been a whole lot of fun to dream it up."
Monday, April 1, 2013
The Bible Conquers the Walking Dead with Finale
You know those nights when you have a choice of 250 channels, plus On Demand and there’s nothing you want to watch? Sunday night wasn’t one of those nights.
Cable television put two of its hottest series of 2013 up against each other and drew record ratings despite the intense competition. While the figures are still preliminary, the finales of AMC’s “The Walking Dead” and History’s “The Bible” combined drew an estimated audience about 25 million viewers.
History concluded its 10-part miniseries The Bible on
Sunday night, pulling an average 11.7 million viewers over the course of
the two-hour broadcast, up 14 percent week-over-week.
The Bible previously hit a ratings high with its March 3
debut, raking in 13.1 million viewers. Previous installments have
hovered above the 10 million mark.
Serving as a solid lead for scripted series foray Vikings, The Bible has only been eclipsed by last summer's Hatfields & McCoys in History's ratings highs.
Among total viewers, History noted that The Bible (12.33 million) barely edged AMC's The Walking Dead (12.29 million) in the 9 p.m. hour. It’s a strong performance for the religious miniseries that few expected to be a ratings competitor.
Last night’s conclusion of History’s popular project depicted the crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus. Since the show premiered last month, the miniseries has frequently managed to beat most broadcast shows on Sunday nights.
Cable television put two of its hottest series of 2013 up against each other and drew record ratings despite the intense competition. While the figures are still preliminary, the finales of AMC’s “The Walking Dead” and History’s “The Bible” combined drew an estimated audience about 25 million viewers.
Serving as a solid lead for scripted series foray Vikings, The Bible has only been eclipsed by last summer's Hatfields & McCoys in History's ratings highs.
Among total viewers, History noted that The Bible (12.33 million) barely edged AMC's The Walking Dead (12.29 million) in the 9 p.m. hour. It’s a strong performance for the religious miniseries that few expected to be a ratings competitor.
Last night’s conclusion of History’s popular project depicted the crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus. Since the show premiered last month, the miniseries has frequently managed to beat most broadcast shows on Sunday nights.
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