New Releases on Our Radar for the remainder of 2015

New music excites us!

October 9
MercyMe - MercyMe, It's Christmas!

October 16
Capital Kings - II
Danny Gokey - Christmas Is Here
Stryper - Fallen

November 13
Kutless - Surrender
Casting Crowns - A Live Worship Experience
Natalie Grant - Be One
Phillip LaRue - You


A few bonus ones:

November 2015
DC Talk - Jesus Freak Vinyl
DC Talk - Supernatural Vinyl

February 12, 2016
The Afters - untitled new album

The Afters Blanket TV

Since The Afters have burst on the scene, their music has been a popular choice for TV.  They seem to be inescapable on TV these days.

You'll hear their "Moments Like This' during NHL playoff coverage, 'This Life' in the new promo for ABC's Grey's Anatomy, and earlier 'Moments Like This' was used in NBC's “We Create Moments” promo campaign and during the Winter Olympics.

The Afters' “Moments Like This” On NBC for “We Create Moments” Campaign

The Afters have already had a win this year. The band’s song “Moments Like This” was selected by NBC as the feature song for their “We Create Moments” promo campaign. The song aired frequently during NBC’s promo ads around the Winter Olympics last month, and will continue to run alongside other programming in the weeks ahead. Earlier this year, "Moments Like This" was used on American Idol on FOX. Check out the video for NBC's "We Create Moments" campaign.

“Moments Like This” comes off The Afters’ fourth studio album, Life is Beautiful which was released earlier last year. The chart-topping foursome recently celebrated their last single “Every Good Thing” going No. 1 with their current single “Broken Hallelujah” following in its footsteps as it rises on the charts. They are out on the road performing their hit songs with five-time GRAMMY winner Steven Curtis Chapman on his “The Glorious Unfolding Tour.”

Notable 2013 Releases

Below are the announced CDs we just can't wait to play:

January 8

.Capital Kings Capital Kings

.VOTA Love Found Me

January 15

.Jason Castro Only A Mountain

January 22

.Love and Death Between Here and Lost

January 29

.Colton Dixon A Messenger

.Fiction Family Fiction Family Reunion

February 5

.Tal & Acacia Black & White

.RED Release The Panic

.Sanctus Real Run

February 12

.Jeremy Camp Reckless

February 26

.NewSong Swallow The Ocean

.Britt Nicole Gold (Mainstream Re-Issue) [Capitol]

.Plumb Need You Now

.Salvador Make Some Noise

March 12

.Steven Curtis Chapman Deep Roots

March 12

.Audio Adrenaline Kings & Queens

.Seventh Day Slumber Love & Worship [BEC]

March 26

.Stryper Second Coming

April 2

.Hawk Nelson Made

April 9

.The Almost Fear Inside Our Bones

.Josh Wilson Carry Me

April 16

.The Afters Life Is Beautiful

May 2013

.Skillet Rise

Unknown 2013

.Amy Grant untitled new studio album

.Guardian Almost Home

.Jars of Clay untitled

.NEEDTOBREATHE untitled

.Newsboys untitled new album

.Relient K untitled

.Seabird untitle

.The Waiting Mysteriet

Best Christian Male Lead Singers of All Time

Below are the 10 best male lead singers of Christian bands.

This list is not just based on vocal prowess, criteria also include song quality, impact on industry, ability to play an instrument and/or craft a song, and of course my personal bias...

10. Rick Florian (WhiteHeart)
9. Matt Hammitt (Sanctus Real)
8. David Crowder (DavidCrowderBand)
7. Jon Foreman (Switchfoot)
6. Bear Rinehart (needtobreathe)
5. Michael Barnes (Red)
4. Jon Micah Sumrall (Kutless)
3. Bart Millard (MercyMe)
2. Mac Powell (Third Day)
1. Marc Martel (of downhere)

Some notable misses (like dc Talk)?  Check here.

Honorable Mentions:
Mark Hall (Casting Crowns)
Jamie Rowe (Guardian)
Dan Haseltine (Jars of Clay)
Derri Daugherty (The Choir)
Edin Adahl

Kevin Young (Disciple)

Josh Reedy (Decemberadio)
Josh Havens (The Afters)

Thoughts?

The Afters' "Light Up The Sky" Featured On Final Season Of MTV's "The Hills" Tonight

The latest single from The Afters', "Light Up the Sky," will be used in the popular MTV show "The Hills" tonight. The show, in its final season, airs on MTV on Tuesday evenings at 10/9 central.

No stranger to television exposure, The Afters' music has also received placement in NBC's "Secrets of the Mountain" soundtrack, "Grey's Anatomy" (ABC), "8th & Ocean" (MTV), "Dr. Phil," "Army Wives" (Lifetime) and "Rachael Ray."

A digital EP from the band will release on July 13 and feature new songs "Light Up the Sky," "We Won't Give Up" and "Runaway." The band's third full-length album titled Light Up the Sky will release on Sept. 14.

The Afters & Jordin Sparks Share "Secrets of the Mountain"

The Afters’ “Never Going Back to OK” is featured on the soundtrack of the family friendly film “Secrets of the Mountain.” Hand-picked for the soundtrack by American Idol judge, Randy Jackson, The Afters’ music will be featured with the likes of Taylor Swift, Carrie Underwood, Jordin Sparks and more on the soundtrack. The “Secrets of the Mountain” debuted in first place on NBC April 16th.



The movie focuses on a single mother who brings her family to a mountainside cabin. The film highlights values such as generosity, honesty and togetherness. The DVD version of the film bundled with the soundtrack will be available exclusively at Walmart.

The Definition of Irony

The Afters, who once released a song and video entitled "MySpace Girl," recently updated their MySpace blog to read:

so its been awhile
Hello myspace! So it's been a while since I posted a blog! It's because I've been twittering and facebooking! Anyway thank you all for following us and keeping us making and playing music. We're writing this week and next in Nashville and L.A. The new music is awesome hang in there and we'll get you a new record of awesome music in the spring. But I digress. Twitter? Facebook? Or myspace? Your thoughts Matt

MercyMe Most Played Artist on Christian Radio in 2008

Here are the most played artists on Christian radio in 2008 according to Radio & Records. MercyMe is the most played artist and the rest of the top 10 contain no real surprises except for Robbie Seay Band.

Top 10 Christian AC artists:
1. MercyMe
2. Matthew West
3. Chris Tomlin
4. Casting Crowns
5. Jeremy Camp
6. Third Day
7. Natalie Grant
8. Brandon Heath
9. Steven Curtis Chapman
10. Robbie Seay Band

No surprises in the CHR list except for Skillet at #1.

Top 10 Christian CHR artists:
1. Skillet
2. Addison Road
3. The Afters
4. Needtobreathe
5. Sanctus Real
6. Hawk Nelson
7. Jeremy Camp
8. TobyMac
9. Relient K
10. Brandon Heath

No real surprises in the Top 10 except for The Wedding and Ivoryline.

Top 10 Christian Rock artists:
1. Pillar
2. The Wedding
3. Skillet
4. Family Force 5
5. Fireflight
6. Relient K
7. Wavorly
8. Ivoryline
9. Project 86
10. The Almost

"You Are Everything" was Most Played Song on Christian Radio

Here are the most played songs on Christian radio in 2008 according to Radio & Records.

Top 5 Christian AC songs:
1) You Are Everything, Matthew West
2) Let It Fade, Jeremy Camp
3) Call My Name, Third Day
4) God With us, MercyMe
5) You Reign, Mercy Me

Top 5 Christian CHR songs:
1) Never Going Back To OK, The Afters
2) Give Me Your Eyes, Brandon Heath
3) Those Nights, Skillet
4) No Matter What It Takes, Jeremy Camp
5) Call My Name, Third Day

Top 5 Christian Rock songs:
1) Whispers In The Dark, Skillet
2) Hello Alone, Anberlin
3) Crash, Decyfer Down
4) Devastation And Reform, Relient K
5) The Flame In All Of Us, Thousand Foot Krutch

Top 5 Soft AC/Inspirational songs:
1) Jesus Messiah, Chris Tomlin
2) You Reign, MercyMe
3) You're Not Along, Meredith Andrews
4) What Life Would Be Like, Big Daddy Weave
5) Mighty To Save, Laura Story

To put some of this into perspective, Matthew West's "You Are Everything" had 47,006 plays in 2008. In contrast, Skillet's "Whispers In The Dark" had 4,505 plays.

All of the Radio & Records year end charts are here.

The Afters' Keeping Me Alive on "Secret Millionaire"

The Afters' "Keeping Me Alive" is being used on the new reality show, "Secret Millionaire."

The Afters on TV

The Afters continue to be heard on the small screen with songs from “Never Going Back to Ok” being used in episodes of Army Wives and Rachael Ray as well as in promotion for Dr. Phil.

Rachael Ray’s daytime show used “Tonight” in May of this year as well. “One Moment Away” will be used to promote the new season of Dr. Phil.

Christian artists on TV

Just a few songs I can immediately think of...

The Afters' "Beautiful Love" theme of MTV's "8th & Ocean", “Until the World" theme for ABC Family's “Beautiful People"
Caedmon's Call's "Ten Thousand Angels" in ABC's "Grey's Anatomy" (on heels of the inclusion of alum's Derek Webb's inclusion)
Derek Webb's "Name" in ABC's "Grey's Anatomy"
Disciple's "Game On" in “Best D#$n Sports Show,” NFL’s “Total Axxess,” WWE’s “Cyber Sunday” and Speed TV’s “Speed Report”
Jars of Clay's "Five Candles" in NBC's "Providence" (episode 106), "Show You Love" in The WB's "Summerland"
Jon McLaughlin - "Human" in NBC's "Scrubs" episode "My Conventional Wisdom" as well as CBS'"The Walk-In" of "Ghost Whisperer. "
Kutless' "All Of The Words" in NBC's "Scrubs" episode titled "My Bright Idea"
Mat Kearney's "Nothing Left to Lose" and "Breathe In, Breathe Out" in ABC's "Grey's Anatomy", "Nothing Left to Lose" in CBS' "Jericho", "All I Need" in CBS' "NCIS", and "Where We Gonna Go From Here" in NBC's "Scrubs"
Margaret Becker's "Clay & Water" in NBC's "Providence" (episode 111)
Michelle Tumes' "Life Is Beautiful" in NBC's "Providence" (episode 117)
Needtobreathe's “Shine On” in "Employee of the Month," and MTV's “Newport Harbor”, “We Could Run Away” in MTV's “The Hills”, "More Time" in "P.S. I Love You"
Plumb's music has been heard in TV series (Dawson's Creek, Felicity, ER, Roswell, etc.)
Superchick's "We Live" in "Brothers & Sisters"
TobyMac's "Diverse City" in The CW's "Veronica Mars"

also, see Crossover posts