Bebe Winans Criticized For Performing for Republican Convention

Gospel singer and registered Democrat Bebe Winans has upset some fans by performing at the Republican National Convention in Tampa last night. Some have interpreted his presence as an endorsement of GOP presidential candidate Mitt Romney, but Winans says his performance wasn't about politics.

Winans, who performed in 2004 at the Democratic National Convention and also campaigned for President Barack Obama when he ran for office, baffled fans tuned into broadcasts of the RNC last night, when Romney accepted his party's nomination for the presidency.

Apparently aware that some might be upset with his presence in Tampa, Winans told The Washington Post ahead of his closing performance: "I want to remind people that before any association with any party that we're all Americans. No matter who wins, if we don't come together and really invest in the country we love, we're not going to solve the problems."

However, some fans who didn't see it that way took to Twitter to assail the Christian singer, who earned a standing ovation for his performance of "America, America."

Others thought it best to voice their disagreement by boycotting Winans' music. While others wrote: "Bebe Winans received a healthy dose of left-wing intolerance last night. The disgraceful comments lobbed at this man by Democrats were simply disgusting."

Winans shared with The Washington Post that he had also been scheduled to perform at the Democratic National Convention next week in Charlotte, N.C., but those plans have fallen through.

"I was, but the invitation was taken back," Winans said. "No hard feelings."
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Are Christian Media Avoiding '2016: Obama's America?'

The filmmakers of "2016: Obama's America" are questioning why some Christian media and even some Christian leaders are reluctant to give movie reviews or place ads of their documentary-style film. Although not financed by any political group, the movie critically questions President Obama's worldview and paints a dire future under a second-term should he be re-elected.

"Christians can be weirdly defensive and timid about standing up for what we believe. Maybe this is why we have let the culture slip away from us," co-producer Dinesh D'Souza told The Christian Post on Thursday. "This film is one that would passionately interest many conservative Christians, so it is downright strange that some Christian editors and Christian leaders would deny their audiences a chance to hear about it."

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Double Platinum Crowns

Casting Crowns recently received notification of its first career RIAA certified double Platinum album. Casting Crowns, the band's 2005 debut release, is one of only eight Christian projects ever to achieve 2x multi-Platinum status.

Joining the elite ranks of other 2x multi-Platinum Christian CDs including Satellite (P.O.D.), The Beautiful Letdown (Switchfoot) and Almost There (MercyMe), Casting Crowns was the band's breakthrough album, spawning Gold single "Who Am I," while making Casting Crowns a household name. The group has since become one of the most decorated acts in Christian music, reigning as Billboard's top-selling CCM artist since 2007.

Owl City, Tenth Avenue North Fly Into Top 10

Owl City's "The Midsummer Station" premieres at No. 7 on the Billboard 200 chart, marking the act's third top 10 set. The album's current single, "Good Time" (with Carly Rae Jepsen), has been percolating in the top 15 of the Billboard Hot 100 for the past month.

Owl City's last full-length set, 2011's "All Things Bright and Beautiful," debuted and peaked at No. 6. However, the album only spent nine weeks on the charts - a meager total compared to the 56 frames the act's debut album "Ocean Eyes," spent on the list. ("Ocean" was fueled by the No. 1 Hot 100 single "Fireflies.") It's probably safe to suspect that the new album could have a longer shelf life than "All Things" on the chart, thanks to the popularity of his Jepsen collaboration.

Downloads made up 72% of Owl City's first week, as compared to the 38% they accounted for the #1 title. That's not terribly surprising, as digital sales amounted to 48% of the total sales of Owl City's last album.

Tenth Avenue North also debuted in the top 10 this week, as the group's "The Struggle" arrives at a career-high No. 9 and with a weekly sales peak for the act. Over on the Top Christian Albums chart, the set bows at No. 1 -- the group's second leader on that tally.

TobyMac's New Release Rises to #3 on Amazon, Remains at #1 on iTunes

TobyMac's new release, Eye on It, rises to #3 (Deluxe Edition) on Amazon and is at #17 on the Amazon MP3 Albums chart. It's also risen to #6 on the Bestsellers (physical copy) chart on Amazon.com.

Apple is featuring the title and it remains at #1 on iTunes.