Zomba Label Group executives present Gospel great Marvin Sapp with a plaque commemorating RIAA-certified Gold sales of his 7th CD “THIRSTY.” It is the first Gold CD for Sapp, who this year made history as his single “Never Would Have Made It” became the longest running #1 radio single in the history of the BDS chart. The song has spent a total of 47 weeks in the #1 position.

iroCc Williams -- BORN A KING - In Stores September 16, 2008
Ready or not iroCc Williams is back on the scene; bringing with him his hottest CD to date -- BORN A KING; brought to you via his own multimedia firm – JUS’ ROCC Entertainment and nationally distributed by Central South Distribution. Of course the CD features banging tracks from a lot of untapped talent representing diverse styles; but the real draws are the thought provoking, transparent and heartfelt lyrics. Lyrics that express in his own manner; his love and passion for Jesus Christ; while providing a glimpse into the heart and mind of this young hip-hop phenom. iroCc offers his fans and newcomers to his musical experience a CD like no other. BORN A KING is a representation of iroCc as he ventures into manhood. iroCc makes bold confessions of faith and exudes a confidence that is justified by his royal lineage – the son of a KING! 

THIRD DAY TO PERFORM ON
THE TONIGHT SHOW WITH JAY LENO JULY 29
Having recently graced the cover of the June 7 edition of Billboard Magazine, Atlanta based rock band, Third Day, has been confirmed for a performance on NBC’s The Tonight Show with Jay Leno on Tuesday, July 29, the street date of its highly anticipated tenth studio album Revelation. The Tonight Show with Jay Leno airs weeknights at 11:35/10:35 CT.
  In addition, the band maintains its No. 1 position for the fifth consecutive week on the R&R Christian AC Monitored chart, the R&R Christian CHR and Christian Radio Weekly (CRW) AC charts this week. In addition, “Call My Name,” the first single from the band’s July 29 Revelation project, is nearing 25 million weekly impressions, according to the CRW radio-impressions chart. The single debuted at radio on April 4.
  Following the release of Revelation, the band will hit the road for summer festival appearances and the highly anticipated Music Builds Tour with Switchfoot, Robert Randolph & the Family Band and Jars of Clay. (Please visit www.musicbuildstour.com for updated information.)

Reach Records Launches 25 City 'UNASHAMED TOUR'
Atlanta, GA -- Reach Records is proud to announce the launch of the 'Unashamed Tour' which began on June 3, 2008 featuring Reach Records recording artists Lecrae, Trip Lee, Sho Baraka, and Tedashii. With a mission to spread the gospel by calling each city to live an unashamed life for the Lord, entry to most stops will be FREE. Special guests will appear in select cities.
  The 'Unashamed Tour' will visit more than 25 cities nationwide and internationally, including Los Angeles, Dallas, Seattle, and Miami. The tour will conclude in the UK with stops in London and Birmingham, just to name a few.
  "We want to steward the platform the Lord has given us," says Ben Washer, CEO of Reach Records. “With so many eyes and ears tuned into our music, we want to point that attention to Christ through the tour, praying that others will take notice of Him and live for the Lord."
  The 'Unashamed Tour' is the first for Reach Records since debuting on the scene in 2003. Based in Memphis, the powerhouse record label consists of four unique Christian rap artists who are all unashamed of the gospel and spreading the Gospel message through their lyrics.

Third Day graces the cover of the June 7 edition of Billboard magazine, marking the first time since the trade publication's redesign in 2005 that a Christian band has been featured on the cover. Billboard, largely considered the "bible of the music industry," is read weekly by more than 50,000 people including music industry gatekeepers and music fans, world wide, according to a press release.

Besides the cover, there's also a four-page feature, titled "Third Day Keeps The Faith." Written by GMA Board of Directors member Deborah Evans Price, the feature details the band's history, their commitment to their fans and faith, and the writing and recording process for Revelation, their 10th studio project which is scheduled to be released on Essential Records on July 29.

Christopher Lewis is the Middle of a Real Crisis
Atlanta, GA – While Gospel recording artist Christopher Lewis is enjoying the release of his latest project, he’s also been busy with promotional stops, concert gigs and radio appearances. During a radio stop last week on Atlanta’s PRAISE 97.5, Lewis was invited to do a sit in interview with Hip-Hop’s own Cocoa Brotha. The show’s topic was, ‘Dealing with Crisis…How do we Cope?
  During the show, a woman called in with a very serious medical issue. The caller had recently given birth to a baby, however, recently found out that her doctors left much of the afterbirth inside her. X-rays also showed that something that looked like a utensil in her as well. As a result she was starting to hemorrhage and was becoming very sick. While sharing her story, she began to cry. She also said, she had already been to three hospitals, just the day before and was now sitting outside a fourth hospital, but was turned away because she had no medical insurance. 
  Christopher and Cocoa were now in shock, but immediately began to call on the Lord. Over the mic, Cocoa shouted, “I know there’s a doctor out there, so God we are calling on you to direct and correct this situation!”
  While Cocoa began making a plea over the airwaves, Christopher started singing a worship song God drop in his lap, while all of this was going on. Christopher called the song “Faithfulness.” As Cocoa continued to pray, the phone started to ring. When he answered, he found Dr. Catherine LaFay on the other end. She immediately shouted, “I will help her and I won’t charge her a dime.” Christopher and Cocoa, couldn’t stop praising the Lord.
  Another appeal was offered to listeners to sow into this family because they simply needed help. After everything was said and done, these two men of God raised between $10,000 - $12,000.
  “It was such a blessing to help someone who needed help and hear people do real ministry, as well as be a blessing to the glory of God,” says Christopher.
  In the end, these two men helped bring a calm to a CRISIS! What a blessing.

Multiple 2008 Dove Award Nominee And Urban Gospel Artist
Kyle Bynoe Returns With Riveting Urban Single "Favor"
 Kyle Bynoe has paid his dues in the music industry. With his production company, he's written for artists such as Tina Turner, Angie Stone and Mary J. Blige. He brought his talents to the gospel music side of the industry and penned hits for Rizen, The Mighty Clouds of Joy, and New Harvest, songs that netted Bynoe Dove Award Nominations, including three in 2008 alone: Traditional Gospel Recorded Song of the Year, Urban Recorded Song of the Year and Traditional Gospel Album of the Year. Bynoe took on the role of artist with his group Kyle Bynoe & Praise with a debut release in 2005. But now Bynoe returns as a solo artist with an urban inspirational single entitled "Favor" from his upcoming release The Kyle Bynoe Project.
  Not only is Bynoe stepping out as a soloist with an urban vibe and a message of hope, but he's using his music as a vehicle for outreach. "I just don't want to reach the church, but I want to reach the nations," says the singer. "Although this project is a praise and worship project, I want tap into those who don't normally listen to praise and worship. For me it's about reaching the lost."
  It's that desire to evangelize that had the consummate producer and Ossining, New York native record an Old School Mix and a Club Mix for "Favor", in addition to the urban and pop-flavored original. An up-tempo, catchy song about the overwhelming blessing of God, "Favor" is already hitting radio hard, and is heard on stations such as WPZE in Atlanta, WUFO in Buffalo, WNOO in Chattanooga, WNAP in Philadelphia and KTSU in Houston.
  A minister of the gospel and a musician since his youth, Bynoe has a long history in the music industry. Formerly signed to an 8-year publishing deal with EMI Music, he was an executive at Waymaker Records. With his production team, Jon Doe Muzic Group, he's written hits for artists such as Will Downing, Christopher Williams, EnVogue, The Winans and Howard Hewett.
  The Kyle Bynoe Project, a twelve-track CD, is a mixture of contemporary gospel, urban inspirational, Latin, pop and praise and worship. Produced by Bynoe, Vencott R. Palmer and Kevin Deane, the CD is scheduled for an August 2008 release.
  For more information on Kyle Bynoe or to hear "Favor", go to www.MySpace.com/KyleBynoeMusic 

Sprit Rising Music/Music World Entertainment Introduces Debut Inspirational Artist Brian Courtney Wilson
Spirit Rising Music/Music World Entertainment artist BRIAN COURTNEY WILSON will release his debut inspirational CD JUST LOVE in-stores on August 5. The Houston-based singer/songwriter's new disc contains 10-tracks, including the self-penned title track, "Just Love" and "All I Need." Both songs are available on iTunes and were released simultaneously to Gospel radio on May 27. A "Just Love" national promotional tour will be scheduled and include stops in Atlanta, Chicago, New York, Detroit, Houston, Charlotte, Philadelphia, Raleigh, Baltimore and Washington, DC. In June, Wilson opens for Trin-i-tee 5:7 on several Six Flags Parks dates including Magic Mountain in Valenica, CA (Saturday, June 21), Mitchellville, MD (Friday, June 27) and two shows at Alameda County Fair in Pleasanton, CA (Monday, June 30).

"'Just Love' is a special song," says Wilson. "This song is a love song to the first church to bring me on to serve in their music ministry [St. John's]. Every Sunday the Pastor opens service by inviting the congregation to say 'We love you and there's nothing you can do about it.' Then people would be invited to hug three people. Some people just got through spending the night on the front step of the church, so hugging them and their willingness to be hugged was no small thing. My prayer is that many different communities (faith-based or otherwise) hear the song and connect the love described in the lyrics to their own experiences. 'Just Love' is also featured on ESSENCE MUSIC FESTIVAL VOLUME 1: Songs From Our Triumphant Return to New Orleans as a bonus track."

Christopher Lewis “LISTEN UP” Brings a New Energy, Sound and Look to Tyscot Records along with BET.com!
Christopher Lewis is not your average inspirational singer, songwriter, producer and worship leader. His ministry encompasses a myriad of music styles designed to touch lives at their current juncture. His debut release on Tyscot Records, CRISIS Change Is Required is poised to accomplish just that.
 The 18 track CRISIS Change Is Required is Lewis’ fifth CD overall. Because he believes that God created all forms of music and that music has no boundaries, he’s packed this release with an eclectic mix of musical sounds, including Gospel, Urban, R&B, Rock, Reggae and Jazz, sandwiched between real life in-your-face lyrics.
And now, to give Lewis some added boost, Tyscot Records has teamed up with BET.com to market Christopher Lewis's new release. Starting today and throughout the week music lovers all over the world can tune in to BET.com to enjoy the music of Christopher Lewis per his new release Crisis - Change Is Required on Tyscot Records.
  LISTEN UP! is a new music listening platform via BET.com/Music that gives consumers around the world the opportunity to either listen to the entire CD or skip to various tracks during a continuous streaming audio experience. The listener cannot download any tracks as the platform is purely for an artist marketing aspect to build consumer awareness and appreciation leading to the end result of a sale! 
Tyscot Records VP of Marketing Leslie Lewis comments; "This is a great marketing opportunity for our artist to be a LISTEN UP! feature on BET.com/Music! The overall appeal of Christopher Lewis is very much mainstream. His music is urban flavored with a message about everyday life issues and how to deal with the challenges in a positive and inspirational way. We felt that the BET.com/Music audience would be a perfect match and a great way to drive sales.”  

Fred Hammond’s Warehouse Worship
Imagine the ultimate Fred Hammond musical experience with the push of one button - Enter. It’s your own personal concert and variety show on-demand. Fred Hammond - the architect of Urban Praise and Worship presents “Fred Hammond’s Warehouse Worship” Innovation at your fingertips. All you have to do is sign-up and log in for front row seats to Fred’s internet-based, pay-per -view concert series.
  Each thirty minute program includes 15 - 20 minutes of funky- R & B praise, thought-provoking ballads and the heartfelt, soul-mending spirit-lifting worship that has made Hammond a favorite in the gospel industry today. Each program also offers inspirational messages from Fred and You-Tube- styled comedic skits, plus, Fred’s intimate stories of struggle and triumph.
  “I want people to have daily access to what they’ve grown to depend on from me in terms of praise and worship and they’ll learn even more about me through the comedy and talk segments. Every element is created to help people get from one day to the next,” says Hammond.
www.thewordondemand.com/worshipwarehouse

Platinum Souls is featured on the cover of the UK Magazine: "STW (Spread the Word)."
The magazine is available throughout the UK, and can also be viewed on-line by clicking this link (be patient for just a few seconds while it loads): 
In addition to the "STW Magazine," Platinum Souls will be featured on a hot new joint with the UK's own: Karl Nova. So, keep your ears to the streets.

Chante Moore's First Solo Album in Eight Years
Following two highly successful albums with her husband, Kenny Lattimore, Grammy nominee Chante Moore returns with her long awaited first solo CD in nearly a decade, Love The Woman, due June 17th on Peak Records. 

Darwin Hobbs will release his fifth CD FREE in stores August 26, 2008 on Tyscot/Liaison Records. 

Marvin Sapp’s “Never Would Have Made It”- Becomes Longest #1 Radio Single Across All Genres
This week, after spending 32 weeks as the #1 song at gospel radio, Marvin Sapp’s “Never Would Have Made It” becomes the longest running #1 radio single across all formats in the history of the BDS chart and surpasses former record-shattering hits that have topped the Adult Contemporary, Rock, Hot AC and Regional Mexican charts for 25 weeks or more. Gaining a new and growing audience at urban mainstream, “Never Would Have Made It” is currently the #10 most played and #3 most increased airplay single on the Urban AC Chart.
 “We are immensely proud to have made radio history. This is a great moment for Marvin Sapp and a great moment for gospel music that will stand for years to come,” says B. Jeffrey Grant-Clark, Zomba Gospel’s Vice President of Promotions/Artist Relations. 

Jay-Z Reportedly Closes $150 Million Deal With Live Nation
The $150 million deal Jay-Z was working on with Live Nation back in early April appears to have been sealed.
 According to Billboard.com, Jay-Z and Live Nation closed the deal Wednesday night (April 30).
 The company filed a Form-8K on Thursday (May 1) with the SEC that states Jay is getting 775,434 Live Nation shares, plus an option on an additional 500,000 with the exercise price of $13.73. The shares will be given to Marcy Media, the company affiliated with the mogul, in connection with the formation of Roc Nation LLC, a joint entertainment venture between Live Nation and Jay-Z.
 Via the deal, Live Nation will is said to agreed to contribute $5 million each year in overhead for five years and offer $25 million to finance Jay-Z's outside investments, as well as $10 million per album for a minimum of three albums within the deal's term.
 Jay-Z will also receive another $20 million for other rights including publishing and licensing.
 Live Nation will gain a stake in all recordings and tours for the next 10 years, and has already begun, according to reports.
 The company is said to already be producing the current Jay-Z/Mary J. Blige tour, which have been selling out across the nation.
 The Jay-Z deal follows pacts Live Nation has struck with megastars Madonna and U2. There is also speculation that the company is has pending deals with other artists such as Shakira.

Flame to Celebrate CD Release with Special Concert
Cross Movement Records gospel hip-hop artist FLAME will be celebrating the March 4, 2008 release of his fourth album, Our World: Redeemed, with a special hometown concert in St. Louis, Mo., on March 8, 2008, at the Missouri History Museum (5700 Lindell Blvd., St. Louis, Mo.). Hosted by Kenny Petty with DJ Official, the concert will begin at 7 p.m. CST, with doors opening at 6:30 p.m. CST, and FLAME will be joined by special guests Trip Lee and friends. General admission tickets are $5.00 and can be purchased at the door or in advance through FLAME's website, www.flame314.com. For more information, email info@flame314.com.
  Our World: Redeemed is the second installment in FLAME's two-part audio novel and is the sequel to his album Our World: Fallen, which released April 17, 2007, to rave reviews. The two-part album series captures the story of FLAME befriending a non-believer and pointing him to the cross of Christ, while examining the fallen condition of the world.

Founding P.O.D. Member Re-Joins For 'Angelic' Effort
Mitchell Peters, L.A.
After parting ways with P.O.D. four years ago, original guitarist Marcos Curiel has reunited with the San Diego-based rock act for its next release, "When Angels & Serpents Dance," due April 8 via INO/Columbia.
 "I'm excited to be back," Curiel tells Billboard.com. "And they're definitely excited to have me back."
The forthcoming album, the band's first since 2006's "Testify," also features guest appearances from the Marley Sisters, Suicidal Tendencies singer Mike Muir and Helmet guitarist Paige Hamilton. The song "Kaliforn-Eye-A," which features vocals from Muir, allowed P.O.D. to collaborate with an "iconic punk rock figure that played an influence on us as a band," Curiel says. "It's a more upbeat song about where we came from."
 Curiel exited P.O.D. following 2001's "Satellite" (Atlantic), which has moved 3.2 million units in the United States, according to Nielsen SoundScan. "We were at the height of our career and all of a sudden this big mess happened," the guitarist says, declining to give specifics about leaving the band. "It was just business."
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Missy Makes History With First Ever 3D Music Video
By Kim Osorio, BET.com Staff 
When it comes to hip-hop music videos, Missy Elliott is an innovator, always pushing the envelope. And with her upcoming "Ching-A-Ling" video, it's no different as she releases the first ever music video in 3D. The video will premiere on BET on Monday (Feb. 4) on "106 & Park" at 6:30 p.m. in 2D and then later that evening in 3D.
 In an exclusive interview with BET.com, Missy explained the video. "Basically a 3D video is when you almost feel like something is coming outside of the screen. I’ve done the head thing [in my videos], but it’s not the same. It feels more like it’s in the room with you. [In ‘Ching-A-Ling’] I got leaves and confetti stuff," she said. "When I look at it, it feels like a leaf can fall on you. All this stuff comes outside of your TV instead of just hitting the screen and stopping."
 For the direction of the video, Missy has once again teamed up with longtime visual collaborator Dave Meyers, the director of some of Missy's biggest videos including "Get Your Freak On."
 Missy says she was inspired to do the video after watching Terminator 3D at Disney World.

Platinum Souls is continuing to Dominate this Great '08 in a BIG way! 
Check out the article Creative Loafing's Rodney Carmichael did on the dynamic duo... it's on news stands now (page 67)! If you can't get it (cause it's flying off the racks or you're an out of town fan), check it out on: www.creativeloafing.com  (Atlanta, Music).
Tune in to XM Radio #167 or www.airamerica.com  1/20 @ 11pm EST to hear Platinum Souls chop it up with Hip Hop Legend: Chuck D on his candid Talk Show- "On the Real- Off the Record". This is Part 2 of their interview, cause last week when Mr. Chuck caught up with them, he said he needed more time to really get to know them! So, make sure you're listening as PS speaks to the nations!
2/9/08 issue of Billboard Magazine Platinum Souls' hit: "Dey Don't  Know" is currently #2 on the "R&B/Hip Hop Singles Sales" Chart (making 10 weeks and counting) & # 37 on the "Hot Singles Sales" Chart (making 3 weeks and counting)! www.billboard.com 

Kirk Franklin Bio-Pic Won't Shy Away from Past Scandals
 Multi-Grammy-winning gospel superstar Kirk Franklin promises Lionsgate Films' upcoming planned biopic on his life, "Church Boy," will be no holds barred. "Oh, yeah," declares Franklin, who's also co-producing the project. "That's how I've always lived my life, so that's how I'm doing it."

Rock and Hip Hop Collide On This Week’s
The Kitchen Sink with Guests Pillar and Canton Jones
Atlanta, GA -- The Gospel Music Channel (GMC) gives fans a weekly dose of everything Christian/gospel music with its new weekly primetime series The Kitchen Sink, with new episodes premiering Saturday nights at 8:00 p.m. (ET/PT). This Saturday, January. 19th, appearances and performances by GRAMMY nominated rockers Pillar and rising hip-hop artist Canton Jones are among the show’s highlights.
 Pillar, which will find out if it wins its first GRAMMY Award on Feb. 10, comes to The Kitchen Sink to preview the Oklahoma-based group’s upcoming new release For the Love of the Game. Canton Jones is one of Christian music’s rising stars in the Urban Gospel and Holy Hip Hop genre. He shares music from his upcoming release Kingdom Business. Also on this week’s The Kitchen Sink: a visit to the House of Blues in West Hollywood for its weekly gospel music brunch.
Episodes of The Kitchen Sink encore Saturday at 11:00 p.m., Sundays at noon, 6:00 p.m. and 11:00 p.m., Mondays at 10:00 a.m. and Tuesdays at 2:00 p.m. (All times Eastern.) Check www.gospelmusicchannel.com  for listings.

EMI Christian Music Publishing and Lilly Mack Publishing 
Announce Groudbreaking Partnership #1 Christian Music Publisher and One of World’s Largest Indie Gospel Publishers to Create New Markets for and take Gospel Genre Beyond Traditional Gospel Audience
Brentwood, TN -- In one of the first deals of its kind, EMI CMG Publishing and Lilly Mack Publishing, home to the song catalog of Grammy® Award winning, multi-platinum artist Kirk Franklin, and one of the world’s largest Gospel music catalogs, have agreed to a groundbreaking partnership that will open new territories for gospel songwriters and their music, announced Eddie DeGarmo, president of EMI CMG Publishing and Vicki Mack-Lataillade and Claude Lataillade, owners of Lilly Mack Music Publishing and founders of Gospo Centric Records. Under this unique agreement, this market leading Gospel catalogue will work with the biggest Christian music publisher to extend the reach of the Gospel genre beyond its core market.
 Effective immediately, EMI CMG Publishing and Lilly Mack Publishing have entered into a long-term worldwide administration and exploitation deal and new writer development co-publishing partnership. With a united motivation for serving gospel songwriters, the companies will work together on all aspects of Lilly Mack Publishing’s business including promoting gospel songs to the church. The companies will also pursue new opportunities in the licensing of music for film, television, advertising, electronic gaming and print; one of the first strategic ventures to market gospel repertoire in these forms of entertainment.

Marvin Winans Receives Nomination for 2008 NAACP Image Awards
Congratulations are in order for veteran singer/ songwriter/producer, Marvin Winans, as he snags another nomination for his first solo release CD, Alone But Not Alone (Pure Springs Gospel/EMI). The NAACP Image Awards announcements recently hit the wire and he made the cut in the category of Outstanding Gospel Artist. Joining Winans in the celebrated arena are Kirk Franklin, Yolanda, Adams, Mavis Staples and Sounds of Blackness. The 39thAnnual NAACP Awards will be broadcast live on FOX at the Shrine Auditorium on Thursday, February 14 at 8pm (ET/PT).

DMX - Planning To Release Gospel Album In '08
Many of DMX's conversations with God have been a matter of public record since his career bloomed to superstar status in 1998. His catalog features nearly as many inspirational ghetto hymns - such as "Lord Give Me a Sign," "A Minute For Your Son" and "The Prayer" - as it does party anthems and street-corner knockers, and last year he pondered changing his name for "spiritual reasons." But now, DMX, whose real name is Earl Simmons, has decided to go in full throttle with his first ever Gospel Rap Album, which he said will be coming out this year. 
 However, this is not your typical rapper talking about doing a Gospel project. We’re talking about DMX, a man known for hardcore rap. 
 During a recent interview, DMX says, "I [was] the first n---a to put out two albums in one year, now I'm gonna hit 'em again - drop two albums on the same day, yo," X said from his home in Arizona on Friday. "A double album will make a lot of people mad, because they gotta spend more money - plus it's already a long album. I'm talking about a hip-hop album and a gospel album."
 As for the gospel album, X noted that the lyrics will be "without cursing - how 'bout that one? No songs about killing, no songs about robbing, just straight 'Give God the glory.' "
 He wasn't quite as talkative when asked why he decided to put out a Gospel album now. "Destiny, I guess," he replied. "I just go with the flow."
During a hiatus from hip-hop a few years ago, X said he contemplated leaving music altogether to become a minister, but decided to return to the mic. On Walk With Me Now and You'll Fly With Me Later, he said he'll be working with a variety of producers, from the familiar to the unknown.

The Passion of Kirk Franklin - By, Vibe’s Linda Hobbs
Kirk—who's dropping a new album, The Fight of My Life, Dec. 18— still has a chokehold on the industry. He's slid across stages praising Jesus with everyone from Bono to Mary J. Blige. VIBE sat with the 37-year-old performer, who can't be no more than about 5'5, high in the sky in the Sony Building on Madison Avenue. He wore throwback Doc Martens-style boots and a fur-collared black hoodie, ate a salad, and spilled his guts on hating his parents, the trials of televangelist Juanita Bynum, and his choice to no longer work with secular artists.  more>

MC Hammer Launches Online Dance Social Network
20 years after making super baggy pants trendy, MC Hammer is virtually non-existent in the music world, but he plans to make a comeback in the business with his dance moves.
 According to AndPop.com, Hammer has launched a new social network aimed at bringing together dancers called DanceJam.com.
 "Dance itself is a social movement," he says. "We want to help facilitate and introduce local dances to a national audience.
 "Dance is being defined from the streets right now. From a pop perspective, user generated dances are what is driving dance throughout the country," he continued.
 So, everything from the Soulja Boy to Chicago's footworkin' movement can be shared on DanceJame.com. It allows its users to interact with other dance aficionados or upload and share videos of themselves displaying their moves. Users can engage in the usual social networking tools, watch tutorials by professional choreographers and be entertained by complete amateurs.
 It will also feature a database of every high school and college in America allowing each school to represent itself with videos via cheerleading competitions or any other dance related activities.
 Trying to find its share of the social networking market, Hammer's hopes are not to replace places like MySpace or Facebook, but rather garner the dance enthusiasts and lovers.
"While the other social networks are really good at what they do, we hope DanceJam will be the go-to place that can push dance to another level. The dance community has been starving for this," he told AndPop.com.

New York, NY -- Epic/Legacy Recordings proudly celebrates the 25th anniversary of Michael Jackson's Thriller, the world's biggest-selling album of all time, with a newly expanded deluxe edition of the phenomenal record-breaking pop culture touchstone, available in the U.S. on Tuesday, February 12, 2008. The album will be available worldwide the week of February 11, 2008.
 The Michael Jackson Thriller 25th anniversary celebration kicks off in December 2007 with the release of a new single and continues throughout 2008 with a multi-faceted global marketing campaign featuring high-profile television, radio and online events around the world.
 The Thriller - 25th Anniversary Edition will include the original album in its entirety as well as eight bonus tracks and a DVD featuring Michael Jackson's groundbreaking short films from Thriller ("Thriller," "Beat It," and "Billie Jean") and the artist's Emmy-nominated breakout performance of "Billie Jean" from the legendary "Motown 25: Yesterday, Today, Forever" television special (first broadcast on NBC on May 16, 1983).
 The newly expanded version of Thriller premieres five tracks previously unreleased in any form: a new Kanye West remix of "Billie Jean"; a new 2008 version of "Wanna Be Startin' Somethin'" with Akon and will.i.am; will.i.am remixes of "The Girl Is Mine" and "P.Y.T."; and "For All Time," a rare unreleased cut from the original Thriller recording sessions, newly mixed and mastered by Michael Jackson.
 Additional bonus material on the Thriller - 25th Anniversary Edition includes "Someone In The Dark," "Carousel," and Michael Jackson's original demo recording of "Billie Jean."
 The deluxe Thriller - 25th Anniversary Edition packaging contains a personal greeting from Michael Jackson to his fans penned exclusively for
this special release.

Rapper Master P tells what he's doing to help clean up hip-hop 
By Charreah Jackson
You sound a lot different from your No Limit Records days when you were known to keep it street and making folks “say uhn”. What brought about the change?
I watched Oprah Winfrey with Al Sharpton on her show and I tried to walk pass the TV, because they were saying we gotta be more responsible, clean up these lyrics in hip-hop. I’m like I done sold 75 million records, I really don’t want to hear that. To be honest my conscious was like, P, it’s people like you that’s part of the problem. We’re giving these kids the wrong information. I can do something about this; I can really take a stand and do something about this. If I’m in the car with my kids and my wife and have to turn my own music down when it comes on, that’s a problem. I need to get my act together. So it made me like “P, you have to do something. Oprah’s talking to you.” I’m so proud of Oprah. I hear the negative comments rappers make about her and it’s sad.

Wait, Master P is doing something without trying to make money? Why release it if you don’t expect it to sell well? 
My whole goal for this project is to show people that we can be responsible for what we say in music. In order for there to be change, somebody’s got to spark that change because right now it’s cool to be bad. It’s about putting balance in the marketplace. The whole positive thing is going to take time. Right now people—from the media to the radio—are glorifying negativity. I can take the cussing out of my record and still have my street cred.
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Denzel Washington Reads Bible 'Every Day'
Music star Carrie Underwood and award-winning actor Denzel Washington lead the way for Hollywood celebrities who are devoted Bible readers, according to this week’s issue of celebrity magazine Us Weekly.
 Celebrities Joel Madden and Heidi Montag also made it to the list, although the two have no prominent past history of sharing their faith openly and have lifestyles that many might describe as far from biblical. Underwood and Washington, on the other hand, are different cases.
In a poll compiled by BeliefNet.com, Washington, 52, came in as the second ”Most Powerful Christian in Hollywood” after Mel Gibson.
He also played the voice of Solomon in the audio Bible "Inspired by: The Bible Experience."
 "I read the Bible every day," the married father of four said in a new interview with Reader's Digest. "I'm in my second pass-through now. It's better the second time around."
 Similar remarks were made by country singer and American Idol star Underwood, who has often expressed her faith through her music, such as hit single “Jesus Take the Wheel.”
 "I keep it on the bus," the 24-year-old songstress said, according to Us Weekly. "It's always there."
 Meanwhile, Montag of the MTV reality TV series “The Hills” says she owes all her success to her faith.
 "I'm reading the Bible beginning to end," Montag, 21, said. "I'm very religious. That's how I've gotten to where I am."
 In Madden’s remarks, the 28-year-old frontman for rockband Good Charlotte said, "I read the Bible a lot."
 "I'm a pretty conservative guy in the way I live," claimed Madden, who has a tattoo of Jesus on his arm and is expecting a baby with girlfriend Nicole Richie.

PLATINUM SOULS ENTERS THE BILLBOARD CHARTS WITH HIT SINGLE: “DEY DON’T KNOW”
Platinum Souls are teaching must definitely be “penetrating the hearts of men” because “Dey Don’t Know” was reported by retailers as being: “#1 in Sales for the Atlanta Market” for the Week of: November 18, 2007, and entered the New World Music Top 10 (powered by: DJ Lace) at the #1 spot. In addition, as of December 1, 2007, “Dey Don’t Know” will make its debut on the Billboard Charts (www.billboard.com) in two categories: 
· #6 on the “Hot R&B/ Hip-Hop Singles Sales” 
· #99 on the “Hot R&B/ Hip-Hop Songs”
· more>

Fred Hammond Speaks - By Candace Walker
Last August Fred Hammond learned something about himself that every artist’s fears...he was broke. Maybe not the TLC/Toni Braxton..."I got to go file bankruptcy right away" type broke...but broke just the same. "There was some inappropriate things that happened that left me in a bad way business wise." says Hammond "At the end of the day you look at your royalty statement and you have a zero balance" he added. Here he was a platinum selling, multi-award winning, and top grossing artist and "technically" he was broke. Gospel@Bellaonine spoke with representatives of ZombaGospel/Verity Records, Hammonds record company and they had this to say “Fred Hammond is one of the most important artists in Gospel music. It is an honor to have him on our roster, and we look forward to continuing our relationship with him.”
 On that hot August day Hammond says he broke down. "Finally I had a talk with the Lord and I said I appreciate you. Help me take care of my obligation to my former wife because I don't have a way to make a living. I'm not going back there (singing for Verity Records) unless they give me the wealth of that place because I served them." says Hammond. "Out of the blue I heard Him say 'Remember at 19 when I told you that you were going to do great things...well you haven't done them yet'," says Hammond. The word that God gave Hammond was film. As a former film student, Hammond says he always knew that he was interested in creating films so when he learned that his image in movies was not owned by the record label he decided to open a production company and make movies. Hence the creation of his latest project "Christmas...Who Needs It?" which is set to hit in 2008.

New York Politician Demands Nas' Album Title Change Or 
Universal Loses $84 Million
Nas is causing even more controversy. This week, it was revealed that the Universal Music Group may lose $84 million in state investments over the title of Nas' new album – Nigg**.
 According to The Brooklyn Paper, Assemblyman Hakeem Jeffries (D-Fort Greene) has requested that Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli withdraw the $84 million that New York's state pension fund has invested in Universal and its parent company, Vivendi, claiming that they plan to profit from a racial slur.
 "[Ni--er] has been used to dehumanize people of color for centuries," Jeffries said. "It is time for Nas and other hip-hop artists to clean up their act and stop flooding the airwaves with the N-word."
 Despite the first reports from FoxNews.com that claimed Def Jam was not supporting Nas' album title Nigg* , Nas responded, claiming that those reports were false and revealed that he did change the title, but only slightly -- to Nigg** .
 And furthermore, Def Jam's chairman, L.A. Reid, said publicly that they would stand behind Nas' choice.

T.I. Granted $3 Million Bond According to Fox News in Atlanta, U.S. Magistrate Judge Alan Baverman granted T.I. (real name: Clifford Harris) a $3 million bond during a court hearing Friday (October 26) in his federal weapons case.
 Via terms of the bond, T.I. is to remain under house arrest at his home in Henry County, but wasn't specific about the location, according to the Associated Press.
 The rapper will be monitored 24 hours a day by a private monitoring service that he must pay for, and will remain at home except under certain circumstances, including medical appointments and court appearances.
 He cannot own any firearms and cannot have contact with any witnesses or informants in the case, reports the AP.
 T.I. is charged with possession of unregistered machine guns and silencers, and possession of firearms by a convicted felon, stemming from a sting in Atlanta on October 13th where ATF Agents caught T.I. in the act of purchasing the weapons.
 If convicted of the weapons charges, he faces up to 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine for each count.

Exit Souljahz - enter Washington Projects
They are a brother and sister duo formerly with the WORD/Warner Bros Recording artists Souljahz. The 2 time Dove-award winning Souljahz who also toured with tobyMac and Kirk Franklin back in 2002 has yet to release their sophomore album "JustUs" that was completed in 2005. A change of guard at the record label led to the postponement and eventual shelving of the album with only one single S.O.S being released in August 2005. Souljahz was composed of three siblings; Josh, Je'kob and Rachel Washington. After parting ways with their record label, they made a very tough decision to no longer record as a group. After that, Rachel and Je'kob formed the Washington Projects with a different format in mind. After a year in the studio, a catalog of new incredible music, creating their own label (The black and White label) and a strategic relationship and imprint with Avista Urban / Provident / Sony BMG, the sky is the limit. The new album now titled "Commanders of the Resistance" drops on 9th October 2007. 

Pettidee Nabs Ensound Music Award, Cover of Love Express And
Makes Second Round of Stellar Nomination!
Veteran “dirty south, hip-hop” rapper Pettidee is blessed and highly favored with all of his latest accomplishments. Just within this last week, he’s been blessed to win the Ensound Music Award for “Best Holy Hip Holy Album” held in Newark, NJ, made the cover of Love Express, the NY Metropolitan area’s largest Christian newspaper, distributed monthly to over 5,000 churches with a readership of over 250,000 people and made the 2nd round of the Stellar Award ballot for “Best Hip Hop CD”. Indeed Pettidee is cranking it up with newly released Resurrections: Past, Present and Future, in stores now! When asked how he feels of his latest accomplishments, Pettidee simply responds “God is good”.

Stevie Wonder, Working on Inspirational CD
‘The Gospel Inspired by Lula'
-Soul legend Stevie Wonder is dedicating his next release to his late mother, who inspired the singer/songwriter to go back out on the road. He hopes to release 'The Gospel Inspired by Lula' on what would have been his late mother's 77th birthday.

Ifeanyi has made the finals of Bet's Sunday's Best!!!
The show will premier on October 2nd at 8PM
"Sunday Best" has conducting a nationwide talent search, taking auditions to cities all across the country. Singers from storefront to mega churches will compete as BET finds the best undiscovered singers in America. 
 The top contestants will be coached by great performers from the gospel and secular worlds as they strive to win the Sunday Best title. These up-and-coming stars will get a chance to work with big-name Gospel and secular performers.

Gospel Hip Hopper DA’ T.R.U.T.H. Lights Up MTV Stage
At “MTV SUPER SWEET 16” Taping This Weekend
New York, NY – On the heels of his new CD OPEN BOOK’s record-setting debut on the Billboard Top Gospel Chart at #2, Gospel Hip Hopper Da’ T.R.U.T.H caps off a weekend of concerts in both Dallas and Austin, TX on the HIStory Tour with a stop in Cleveland, OH to appear as the special musical guest at the private celebration honoring the daughter of local mega church pastor Rev. R.A. Vernon of The Word Church. 
 Al Sharpton won’t need to police the use of “N”, “B” or “H” in these Hip Hop songs. The message of Da’ T.R.U.T.H.’s OPEN BOOK is the perfect groove for this party. In a package of scintillating lyrics and electrifying tracks, OPEN BOOK depicts the concept of living a visible faith through intentional transparency. 
 MTV’s hit reality show “MTV Super Sweet 16” will be on hand to chronicle the sweet 16 party with a “holy” different outlook. “Don't expect any of the outrageous, over-the-top behavior that is a staple of the MTV show. This is one celebration where virginity is prized, and no one is going to sneak in any alcohol. Among the more than 500 invited guests are needy teens who showed up at the church recently for a school supplies giveaway.” In an interview with the Cleveland Plain Dealer, Miss Vernon stated "I wanted everybody to know Christian girls can have fun. It's not about the money. It's not about the flashy stuff.” For an MTV generation taught to focus on overindulgence, the Rock Hall party will help the nation's youth realize they can have fun and love God and build up a community and a nation that will embrace God's values.

Jay-Z Tops Forbes’ Hip-Hop Earnings List
The rap icon, aka Shawn Carter, is No. 1 on the site's list of "Hip-Hop Cash Kings," based solely on 2006 income. He banked an estimated $34 million.
Jay-Z, president and CEO of Def Jam Recordings, released his 11th studio album, "Kingdom Come," which sold around 2 million copies. Jay-Z, 37, is also part owner of the New Jersey Nets and has endorsement deals with Budweiser, Hewlett-Packard and General Motors. 
 Curtis "50 Cent" Jackson ranks second with an estimated $32 million.
Diddy (real name: Sean Combs) placed third with an estimated $28 million. 
Rounding out the top five are Timbaland ($21 million) and Dr. Dre ($20 million). They're followed by Eminem ($18 million); Snoop Dogg, Kanye West, Pharrell Williams and Scott Storch (all $17 million); Ludacris and T.I. (both $16 million); Outkast and Lil Jon (both $14 million); Ice Cube ($13 million); Jermaine Dupri and Swizz Beatz (both $12 million); Chamillionaire and The Game (both $11 million); and Young Joc ($10 million).

Christian Band, Switchfoot Cuts Ties with Record Label
Grammy-nominated alternative rock band Switchfoot has cut ties with Columbia Records after several years of “trying to make things work” and will be spend its “newfound freedom” making music independently.
 “We are thankful for the incredible success that our partnership has produced over the years, yet within this ever changing business there can arise differences in vision and goals,” the band stated in a weblog entry to their fans last week. “These differences have now come to a point where we feel like parting ways would be best for us, and best for Sony.”
 Switchfoot, which has long claimed to be “Christian by faith, not by genre,” had signed with Columbia Records – the premier subsidiary label of Sony BMG Music Entertainment, Inc. – in 2003 shortly after recording their fourth album, The Beautiful Letdown. Through Columbia, the band was able release the album to a wider audience and sell faster than their previous albums.
 Two years after their major label debut, Switchfoot received five Dove Award nominations and won four – including Artist of the Year. The band that year also released their most recent album, Oh! Gravity, which has earned considerable critical acclaim under the Columbia/Sony BMG label.
Despite their success with Columbia, bandmembers stated, “As a hands-on band, we feel so grateful for our newfound freedom.”
 “We are continually dreaming up ways to bridge the gap between the audience and the stage; this feels like an incredible step in that direction.”
The band is currently working on a new album, which may come out as soon as spring 2008.

Neo Soul gospel artist Cynthia Jones, signed deals with 
Kingdom Records and Universal Music Christian Group
Cynthia Jones, CEO of Angel Dove Records Inc., and is one of the Tar Heel States definite rising artist according to Radio One Melissa Wade of WNNL, has signed a distribution agreement with Universal Music Christian Group and a label deal with Kingdom Records Inc.
According to Bernie McLean, Cynthia has a special way of expressing her love for our Lord with her style of neo soul gospel music. We are excited to have Cynthia Jones and Angel Dove Records, Inc. join the Kingdom Records Inc. family.
  Now since Cynthia has moved to a national level with Kingdom Records Inc. and is distributed by Universal Music Christian Group, her new project which is scheduled to release nationally in the first quarter of 2008, will have the access and opportunity to reach souls from all walks of life, maximizing the availability of her much requested CD from admirers everywhere that has heard about Cynthia Jones, and are excited about the gospel neo soul sistah with the signature fro that has finally come along giving the sanctified neo soul saints music that they’ve been looking for within the gospel music industry.

Chamillionaire Brushes Off 50 Cent Comments
By Emil Wagenius
Houston rapper Chamillionaire is focusing on his upcoming profanity-free album Ultimate Victory and is brushing off media hype caused by disparaging comments made by rapper 50 Cent.
 Chamillionaire dismissed recent remarks made by 50 Cent in a recent interview with Spin magazine.
 "Let him [Chamillionaire] go sell gospel records, if he's so f***in' righteous," an agitated 50 Cent told Spin magazine in response to rappers cleaning up their lyrics. "I can write around the curses if I want to, but you can't tell me to write around the curses."
 Chamillionaire, who recently released his street album Mixtape Messiah 3, vowed not waste his creative energies engaged in a feud.
 "There are way more interesting things to talk about, besides, beef and dissing people," Chamillionaire told AllHipHop.com. "I'ma leave that to everybody else. There was a time were the Hip-Hop battle was cool, cause it was lyrical or whatever, but now, its stale, people used it as a gimmick."
 Instead, Chamillionaire will use his album as a platform to express his opinions on a number of subject's, including President George W. Bush.
 "On a record called 'Evening News' I'm speaking from the stand point of a newscaster," Chamillionaire revealed. "I talk about Kobe Bryant, OJ, to Bush, to Katrina, I just shot a video for it. People will see it real soon."
 Chamillionaire hopes Ultimate Victory will raise the bar in Hip-Hop music and set him apart from his peers, creatively.
 "Creatively, people are doing the same stuff," Chamillionaire said. "People need to set their own paths. Even with the labels, putting out the same stuff, and look at what's happening to the music! But I'm not feeling that, I'll continue to do what I want to do. Even if it goes against the grain or whatever I gotta do what I do."
 Ultimate Victory is due in stores September 18.

DA’ T.R.U.T.H.’S OPEN BOOK IS #2 GOSPEL RECORD IN THE COUNTRY
Stellar Award Winner’s New CD Sets New Record With Highest 
Debut Of A Gospel Hip Hop Album at #2 on the Billboard Top Gospel Chart-Hottest Entry of the Week
  New York, NY – Street week has been a “big” week for Stellar Award Winner Da’ T.R.U.T.H as he set a new record in Gospel music history with the breakthrough debut of his junior CD OPEN BOOK (released nationwide on July 10th) on the Billboard Top Gospel Chart at #2. (The CD has also been a mainstay in the top-10 on the iTunes Christian & Gospel chart since its release.) This marks the highest debut of any Gospel Hip Hop artist on this chart and heralds an overwhelming indication that Gospel Hip Hop is an authentic and viable form of Gospel music ministry.) At the same time, the album’s current single “Who Am I?” featuring Tye Tribbett debuted #9 on HipHopRnBSoul.com’s Top 10 Hip-Hop Songs, as the only Gospel song on the chart, sandwiched between Kanye West’s “Can’t Tell Me Nothin’” and 50 Cent’s “Amusement Park.”
  In a package of scintillating lyrics and electrifying tracks, OPEN BOOK depicts the concept of living a visible faith through intentional transparency. The 2008 Holy Hip Hop Award Honoree’s lyrics emphasize personal responsibility at a time when many are protesting the mainstream hip hop industry’s glamorization of misogyny and recklessness, highlighted recently by the fallout over radio talk-show host Don Imus’ blaming rap songs for his verbal slur against the young women of the Rutgers University women’s basketball team. This week, Da’ T.R.U.T.H. heads to Nashville where he will share the message of OPEN BOOK at the finale concert of CeCe Winans’ “Always Sisters” Conference on Saturday, July 28th (www.alwayssisters.com).
  OPEN BOOK hosts a superb lineup of guest vocalists, including GRAMMY, Stellar and GMA Dove Award winner Donnie McClurkin; GRAMMY Award nominee Tye Tribbett; and Stellar and GMA Dove Award nominee Lisa McClendon. Tribbett joins Da’ T.R.U.T.H. on “Who Am I?”—a song challenging believers to examine the narrative of their lives and make sure each day is lived with purpose, passion and godly focus. “Man Up” featuring The Tonic (of The Cross Movement) reminds men to hold manhood and Christlikeness as synonymous. “Rose” fuses Latin string guitars with the enrapturing voice of McClendon and reaffirms through its lyrics the beauty and worth of a godly woman. “13/30” featuring TWyse encourages youth (many of whom are teens but act like they’re 30) to avoid being “conveniently” grown, but to mature in their relationship with God and other authorities. 
  He has been featured in Vibe, The Source, XXL, Sister2Sister and JET magazines and profiled in Charisma, CCM and New Man magazines. His television appearances include “BET News” (aired during “106 & Park”), BET’s “Lift Every Voice,” TBN’s “Praise The Lord,” INSP’s “Steelroots” and “Mixx Master’s Lounge” and the Word Network’s “Bobby Jones Gospel.” Da’ T.R.U.T.H. was also a featured artist in “Holy Hip-Hop: The Movie,” Christopher Martin’s urban Christian film.

Christian Rapper Michael Peace To Record Live
At Kingdom Bound, August 7
One of Christian rap’s first solo artists, Michael Peace, will make a triumphant return to the music scene on Tuesday, August 7, when he makes his first recording since 1994, live at Kingdom Bound Christian Music Festival on the Midway Stage at Darien Lake Theme Park Resort in Darien Center, New York.
Peace, who is now a minister at Bethel Christian Fellowship in Rochester, New York, started out in 1985, with several hit albums released by Reunion and Star Song Records in the late 1980s and early 1990s, including RRRock It Right, Rappin Bold, Vigilante Of Hope, and Outta Control. In 1995, he stopped touring in order to concentrate on mentoring at-risk youth in his hometown of Rochester.
  For many years, Peace has been in charge of the hip-hop stage at Kingdom Bound at Darien Lake, about an hour’s drive from Rochester. At this summer’s Kingdom Bound, Peace plans to assemble almost two dozen artists to put together the world’s biggest freestyle single, where rappers will each get several seconds to add their own unique lyrical spin to a funky beat. Peace also plans to perform songs from his past, as well as a few new ones. A CD of the concert will then be made available for purchase Tuesday night and all day Wednesday at Kingdom Bound, with proceeds to benefit the youth of Western New York.

Zomba Gospel Group has announced that Tonex’s upcoming CD, Stereotype: Steel & Velvet, has been removed from its release schedule. This is a result of Tonex’s decision to move in an artistic direction outside the scope of gospel music. 

Rhythm and Praise Emerging Onto Houston's Urban Music Scene
In 2005, Houston exploded onto the rap scene and captured the national spotlight. Artists including Mike Jones, Slim Thug, Chamillionaire, Bun B of UGK and Paul Wall enjoyed great commercial success. The pendulum however, appears to be swinging in the opposite direction and it is not just Houston that has a problem. 
  The rap market has been bearish for the last several years in terms of CD sales and the pace is accelerating, as we cross the halfway mark for the year. In 2006, rap sales were down 21% from 2005 and 27% from 2004. Thus far in 2007, rap sales are down 33% from 2006. There are arguably several contributing factors; however it's the partial results of a recent poll released by SOHH.com that offers some compelling insight. Of those that participated in the survey, 69% said they are not inspired by many of the albums. While rap may be taking blows in the rings corner with its back against the ropes, there is an exciting new genre of urban music emerging and inspiration is at its core. 
  Rhythm and Praise or R&P as it has been termed, is the energetic and uplifting form of Gospel music that has the sound and appeal of the mainstream, but offers in addition, an inspiring message of faith and hope by way of the Good News. It replaces the blues in R&B with praise, hence R&P. 

Houston is again at the helm and appears to be preparing for takeoff. This time the field is being led by a host of faith-filled female vocalists including, Grammy nominated Shei Atkins, stellar award winner Kim Burrell, Nikki Ross who currently sings with Kirk Franklin and Southern Gospeltality Records recording artist, Alkendria.

Wine-O To Release New Album August 7th 
Chart-topping Houston rapper Wine-O recently cited August 7th as the release date of his next full-length album, “I Hear You Talkin’ Behind My Back.” The first single from the record, “Hokey Pokey,” features a collaboration with DJ UNK and will be out in early June. Wine-O’s own label, Wine-O Music, will release the disc in a partnership with OarFin Distribution, and it will be available through Navarre Corp.
  Since his hit single “Pop My Trunk” (featuring Paul Wall) landed on the Top 100 R&B/Hip-Hop chart in 2006, Wine-O has been stock-piling new material. The rapper plans to release more than one album this year, including the highly-anticipated record “Hate Me.”
  Wine-O, formerly known as the “spiritual” rap artist Nuwine, has had success with both Christian and secular music, topping the hip-hop charts in each category. He is also an accomplished producer, having worked on tracks for Mike Jones and Letoya Luckett of Destiny’s Child, among others.
For more information on Wine-O, visit www.myspace.com/gotwineo 

Amen Gospel and 8th Day Entertainment form Strategic Alliance –
To Distribute "Joi Marshall" (Formerly of the Platinum-R&B Group-Jade) 
Atlanta, GA -- Atlanta-based Amen Gospel and Los Angeles-based 8th Day Entertainment announced today that they have entered into a multi-year Strategic Alliance. The terms of the Agreement provide generally that: Amen Gospel will distribute, as a part of its Agreement with EMI Gospel, 8th Day Entertainment Recording Artist: Joi Marshall. Joi Marshall's album titled "Testimony & Praise" is slated to to be released worldwide, via EMI Gospel, on September 25, 2007.
  Joi's upcoming album tracks titled: "Victory", "House Divided" and "I Needed" are receiving airplay on FM and AM radio stations nationwide nearly 90-days prior to Joi's September 2007 planned album release. Joi will serve as the cornerstone of Amen Gospel's primary focus on Rhythm & Gospel Artists (R&G = "R&B Music Infused with Gospel").

Yolanda Adams Keeps it Coming 
New Record Deal, Another Syndicated Market and a Clothing Line
New York, NY – Just last week it was announced that Yolanda Adams, had signed with Columbia Records, and will release her new collection of holiday songs on Tuesday, October 16. Currently she is recording the as-yet-untitled seasonal showcase with legendary production team Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis in her hometown of Houston, Texas. Adams, Jam and Lewis will continue their creative collaboration on a follow-up studio album for Columbia to be released in early 2008.
  But now comes word, that the star of "The Yolanda Adams Morning Show," will be adding another radio market to her growing syndicated list. Star 94.1 in the Hampton Roads area will be adding the show to their morning line up.
  Additionally, the Gospel icon is also launching her own clothing line. Clozet is specifically designed for taller women. The singer's clothing line, which will be in conjunction with Wal-Mart and Macy's, will be launched next month.

Christian Phenom Claims 'American Idol' Crown
Jordin Sparks, the 17-year-old Christian phenom from Glendale, Ariz., became the youngest “American Idol” champion following Wednesday night’s live results finale, showing that America preferred the “singer” more than the “entertainer.”
  Sparks was one of several Christian vocalists who were backed by the Gospel Music Association (GMA) on this sixth season of America’s most watched show. She had been the Overall Spotlight Winner at the 2004 GMA Academy and grabbed top prize in the Country/Southern Gospel category. With her latest win, the Arizona native has now nabbed a recording contract with BMG Music Group.
  "I can't thank you [enough] for keeping me around and thank you so much for everything," explained the ecstatic Arizona teen after the vote was revealed.
Sparks and fellow “Idol” finalist Blake Lewis, 25, were both described by judges as having fairly even shots of winning, during the live two-hour climax. They had argued that Sparks was the stronger singer while Lewis was the better entertainer.

Marvin Winans, Jr. Signs Distribution Deal with Central South
One of the founding members of `90s gospel super group Winans Phase 2, Marvin Winans Jr. has officially launched his own recording label, M2 Entertainment with an exclusive agreement with Central South Distribution. "I believe Central South Distribution is the company I have been looking for,” says Winans. “They have been patient answering all of my questions and addressing my concerns. They have a very simple business model that allows my label to project what type of returns we can actually expect."
  Marvin Winans Jr. has a fresh relevant message that appeals to today's Generation,” says Terry Woods, Director of Distribution at Central South. “Continuing the legacy set before him, Marvin can unquestionably carry the torch.”

Akon apologizes for dirty dance with underage girl
Akon, under fire for doing a sexually explicit dance onstage with a 14-year-old girl, has offered an apology to the teen and anyone else who was offended by the display.
 Akon, whose hits include Don't Matter,I Wanna Love You with Snoop Dogg and Smack That with Eminem, was videotaped simulating sex with a girl invited onstage as part of his act during an April 12 concert in Trinidad. After the video was circulated widely on the Internet, it was revealed that she was 14.
 Since the incident, Verizon has pulled out as a sponsor of his tour with Gwen Stefani, for whom he wrote the hit The Sweet Escape.
 In a statement released Wednesday to The Associated Press, Akon, 34, said he was sorry for the incident but also said he didn't know the girl was underage.
 "I want to sincerely apologize for the embarrassment and any pain I've caused to the young woman who joined me onstage, her family and the Trinidad community for the events at my concert," Akon said.
Prime Minister of Trinidad Investigating Akon Dirty Dancing Incident
 The Prime Minister of Trinidad, Patrick Manning, has demanded a formal investigation into a raunchy dance routine between R&B singer Akon and a 14-year-old girl. The Lonely star sparked controversy after getting steamy on the dance floor with the teenager at Trinidad's Club Zen on April 12.

The singer hitmaker has come under fire for bumping and grinding with a fourteen-year-old preacher's daughter during a nightclub performance in Port of Spain. 
  The young lady won a dance contest at the club and the prize was "a trip to Africa." Well, it turns out that "Africa" was code for Akon and when she got on stage he proceeded to smack it, flip it, and rub it down. Akon neglected to ask for ID before he simulated sex acts on stage with the scantily clad teen.

The Cross Movement, Possibly Working on Last CD
We live in a world obsessed with reality shows. As much as we try to pretend to have “had enough of them,” every season we end up addicted to some new series. The success of the reality show is that it’s unscripted. No actors, no one to yell “cut” when someone messes up. In fact, there is no such thing as messing up, because there’s no script. It’s real people in manipulated and yet somehow still real situations. And we want to see how they will react. 
  What if you could combine the brilliance of a writer and the wisdom of a director with the seemingly unpredictable passion of real life? What if this whole life was operating under these conditions, with God as the writer/director/star and each of us - with a role to play? Could you find your place? Do you know your place…in HIStory?
  Itching to ask and answer that question, The Cross Movement is back with what may be the group’s last album together. Taking their cue from the writer of Hebrews, who tells in chapter 11 about a host of people who faithfully played their role in the story being told by God, The Cross Movement stands to answer the call of the 12th chapter which says, “having such a great cloud of witnesses that have gone before us, let us run the race that is set before us.” In other words, it’s our turn to play our part in HIStory.
 For more information go to; www.crossmovementrecords.com 

Khul Rhema of 'Dem Ziklag Boyz To Release Debut Solo Album
Established urban gospel artist Tico Hudson, aka Khul Rhema (pronounced 'kool ray-mah'), the founding member of the GRAMMY-nominated group Ziklag Boyz, is excited to announce the national July 3, 2007, release of his debut solo album What The World Needs Now (Provident-Integrity/SONY BMG).
  Tico's own imprint, Powwerhouse Productions, entered into a joint-venture agreement with Gozpul Music, LLC (headed by “Big Earl” Franklin and Terry “Did’um” Bolen) in the winter of 2006 for the release of the album. 
  What The World Needs Now adds a bit of maturity to Khul Rhema's characteristic energetic crunk sound. With a rap moniker that literally means “keeper of the word” in ancient Aramaic, his goal is to maintain the same party feel he’s known for while including a thread of God’s greatest commandment—to love Him with all our heart, mind, and soul, and to love our neighbors as ourselves—throughout the entire project. 
 Although What The World Needs Now is Khul Rhema's solo debut, he is an established artist as the founding member of Ziklag Boyz, one of the originators of infusing the crunk sound into Holy Hip Hop. Ziklag was nominated for a GRAMMY in 2005 and has independently moved over 20,000 units internationally. As a result, Khul Rhema's fan base encompasses the globe as he has been called on to perform in most major U.S. cities and abroad in countries including Kenya, the Virgin Islands and Costa Rica.
  Since Ziklag, Tico has worked diligently at developing his career as a producer. He won a Stellar Award in 2006 for his production work on "The Sequel," the LP release by Lil' I Rocc (Authority/Whitaker) which earned two Stellar Awards, one of which was for 'Best Hip Hop/Rap Album of the Year.' Tico has also produced work for renowned superstar producer, Dallas Austin, (TLC, Michael Jackson, Outkast, Boys II Men, Mariah Carey, etc.), contributing to Dallas's first gospel endeavor, Darlene McCoy, remixing the hit single, "Fallen In Love," which originally gained much attention and fanfare on the soundtrack to the blockbuster Tyler Perry big screen debut, Diary of a Mad Black Woman. He has also worked with other artists such as Ghetto Mafia and EJ the Witchdoctor of the Dungeon Family. 
  After a much needed sabbatical dating from mid- to late-2005, Tico received instruction from God to get back to the business of doing damage to Satan's stronghold in urban music and entertainment as a frontline 'souljah.' In 2006 he independently released The Incredible HudRock, an EP release chronicling his bout with betrayal and his own 'self-destructive' habits.

Mark J Soulutions out in Japan 
The album contains 13 tracks, and a new remix of "Agape Soul" by pH7.
A vinyl was also released in Japan

Is Hip Hop Dead? Part II - SHONLOCK vs. WORD RECORDS
“..Things changed after I signed the deal and anything outside of the CCM or the white side of the industry they weren’t interested in putting money in.   That was a hard pill to swallow because I’m black.” – Shonlock on his controversial deal with Word Records. 
Ever been to a Shonlock show? The energetic Chicago reared rap artist is a performer. So when hip hop crooner’s, out-of-the-trunk CD sales receipts topped more than 15,000, record labels came knocking. However, two years after signing with Warner Bro’s Christian storefront Word Records, the Atl-ien hip hop artist sits restless on the back of a Toby Mac tour bus wondering like Marvin Gaye “What’s Going On?” The reality is Bullock knows exactly what’s going on. He signed on as the first hip hop artist to a label whose urban track record alone is cause for an NAACP intervention and now he’s out of a deal. 
  But things changed after I signed the deal and anything outside of the CCM or the white side of the industry they weren’t interested in putting money in. That was a hard pill to swallow. I’m not calling anybody anything but if you’re a Christian label and you have an African American artist and you don’t want to market anything outside of the white market with respect to an art form that was made from African Americans then something is wrong.” more>

An Interview with Holy Hip Hop Musician M.A.J.O.R.S
Rhymes With Reason and in Due Season more>

Gospel Artist Darwin Hobbs To Compete on ABC’s “The Next Big Thing” Taping April 28th at the Orpheum Theater in Los Angeles
Former EMI Gospel recording artist Darwin Hobbs has been chosen to compete on ABC Television’s upcoming primetime series, “The Next Big Thing,” which will debut Wednesday, May 30, 2007 @ 8-10 p.m. EST. The nationwide search is on for the best celebrity impersonators on this exciting new talent competition. Viewers will have an opportunity to vote for the winner. The show is hosted by Michele Merkin with celebrity judges: Jeffrey Ross, Elon Gold and Lisa Ann Walter. 
  Contestants from the age of 14 and up will impersonate their favorite celebrity. Hobbs, who is known for his radio hits such as “Glorify Him” and a gospel remake of Luther Vandross’ “So Amazing” will be impersonating Vandross on the show.
  "For years and years I've always been compared to Luther Vandross,” says the Atlanta-based crooner. “Finally, I'm able to act on the comparison by actually competing as Luther himself! What better way to honor this legendary icon in our industry than to sing his songs during a primetime slot on ABC!"
  Gladys Knight personally invited Hobbs to Washington, D.C to impersonate Vandross during the grand opening of the Ron Winans and Gladys Knight's Chicken and Waffles there. She and Robert Townsend hosted an evening of music to honor the memory of Vandross, Ron Winans, and Obie Benson of the Four Tops.
  Hobbs would love to see his fans show up to the tapings with t-shirts and placards in his support. The general public is invited as well to the tapings, which take place Saturday, April 28 - 3:00 & 7:00pm at the Orpheum Theatre, Los Angeles, CA. To get free tickets, log on at www.tvtickets.com 

Rev. Run Makes Rare Hip Hop Appearance On Oprah
Posted April 2, 2007 – Reverend Run Simmons, star of the reality series "Run's House," is scheduled to appear on the "Oprah Winfrey Show," according to AllHipHop.com. Winfrey, who has had ideological run-ins with hip-hop artists, such as Ludacris and Ice Cube, has not had many hip-hop artists as guests on the show. However, at the prompting of longtime friend Gayle King, who is a fan of "Run's House," the talk-show maven has decided to change up. The industry Web site quotes Rev. Run as saying, "Well, Gayle King is a friend, and she kept telling Oprah, 'Man, there's this show with Reverend Run, and he writes these words of wisdom,' and she was talking to her for a while about it until she finally said, 'OK, let's have him on the show'." "Run's House," which reveals the home life of Simmons, his wife and their children, is going into its third season.

Christians Represent in 'American Idol' Final 12
Several Christians made the big cut to make it as the final 12 competitors in this year's American Idol, one of America’s most watched television programs.
  Jordin Sparks, Melinda Doolittle (right), and Chris Sligh have all sang their way into America's homes and each of them share a link to the Gospel Music Association (GMA) to some degree.
  The trio stands as an achievement for Christians as they help break stereotypes in mainstream media, which has often looked down upon the Christian genre as lower in quality. And, in addition to proving that people of faith can sing, these contestants are also becoming witnesses for Christ.
  “I want them (non-believers) to know that God loves them, Jesus died for them, and that God has a plan for their life,” explained Sparks in her online e-profile at the GMA website. “I want them to see and hear that being a Christian and singing about it isn't weird!”
  Each of the three artists has strong Christian accolades backing themselves.
  Sparks and Sligh both have roots back to the GMA Music in the Rockies - a showcase event for aspiring, often unsigned, songwriters and artists in the Christian music industry. Today's renowned professional artists also attend to help these amateurs mature.
  Sligh took home first place in the Pop-Adult Contemporary/Inspirational Song category during the conference in 2003 for writing "Only You Remain."
Sparks became the Overall Spotlight Winner at the 2004 GMA Academy in Washington, D.C., and grabbed top prize in the Country/Southern Gospel category.
As for Doolittle, she has performed as a backup singer in Nashville, home to most of today's Christian chief artists.
  Now that they have all reached the current round, the twelve remaining singers on American Idol will all compete together and be eliminated one by one every week until a winner is crowned.
  Last week, Sligh resonated one of Christian music's greatest hits by singing dcTalk's "We Just Wanna Be Loved."
  The competition resumed last night on its broadcasting station, FOX. Tonight, at 9 p.m. ET, the live results show will announce who has been slashed from the contest.

EMI Gospel Ready to Reveal Something Special – 
Meet New Urban Inspirational Artist, Darlene McCoy
Atlanta, GA -- EMI Gospel President, Ken Pennell is finally ready to share his new urban inspirational artist with the world. Darlene McCoy, an anointed singer-songwriter, signed with EMI Gospel back in 2004. Since the initial signing, she’s been on numerous gospel compilations most notably, the gold certified, WOW Gospel 2006 release. Darlene shined brightly on this collection among established artist such as, Donnie McClurkin, Mary Mary and Karen Clark-Sheard. When asked how was the process in forming your record; Darlene’s response was given from the heart of a true artist with convictions, “Every birth goes through a process, some processes are longer than others...it was important to me and my team that this record took on its own character and remained true to the vision God gave us for it in the beginning.” Atlanta’s own Darlene McCoy now has one of the most anticipated inspirational albums to be released in 2007. The early buzz surrounding this project has been tremendous and steadily building throughout the industry, where most are asking, “Who is Darlene McCoy?” Some may recognize her passionate voice from the song entitled, “Fallen in Love” from Tyler Perry’s “Diary of a Mad Black Woman” Motion Picture Soundtrack released last year.

Holy Hip Hop artist Mark J releases 5th album ‘Soulutions’
Atlanta, GA -- Back on the scene with a new album surpassing expectations, Atlanta based Mark J enlightens us with his fifth album Soulutions. A comeback from City of Pain where he spoke of God’s perspective concerning the people of today, he debuts with music that will remedy your soul by speaking through testimony of maturing in God’s love. Soulutions is being released under Mark’s imprint, Mark J Music, and distributed nationwide by Comin’ Atcha Distribution. Taking the gospel to the streets, one nation at a time, the Soulutions tour includes an impressive lineup of cities and countries. Kicking off the tour close to home in Macon Georgia, the tour continues throughout the US and then overseas making stops in Spain, Africa, and Italy. 

“Overall, I feel a sense of accomplishment and fruition. I feel humbled that God is using me for His will,” says Mark J speaking of his latest release. The album contains so much truth; true gospel – the Word and with the additions of holy hip hop producing vet Tony Stone, hit makers Firstborn and Anthony Delano, Mark’s album creatively comes alive.

Dreamgirl' Celebrates Success at Church
For Oscar nominee Jennifer Hudson, there was no question where she'd celebrate her success in the week leading up to the Academy Awards - at her family's church.
 "I don't do clubs. I don't drink. I don't smoke," Hudson told a boisterous crowd at Progressive Baptist Church on the city's South Side on Monday night. "I'm not having no club party; I better have a praise party."
 Hudson, 25, headlined a gospel concert named in her honor, "An Evening of Praise With Jennifer Hudson," accompanied by the acclaimed Soul Children of Chicago.
 She won a Golden Globe Award last month and is among the nominees for best supporting actress at the Oscars on Sunday for her role in "Dreamgirls." Many of the more than 3,000 people in the audience Monday were no church members drawn in to hear Hudson and others sing.