BMI (Broadcast Music, Inc.) will honor Gospel superstars Tamela and David Mann and Dr. Bobby Jones at its 22nd Annual Trailblazers of Gospel Music Awards to be held at Flourish Atlanta on March 30th. The inspirational ceremony will recognize the impact that the three legendary entertainers have made on the genre and beyond and pay tribute to the songwriters and publishers behind the best in Gospel music. The private event will be hosted by BMI President & CEO Mike O’Neill and BMI Vice President, Creative, Atlanta, Catherine Brewton.

“BMI is thrilled to be back in Atlanta celebrating the best in Gospel music,” said Brewton. “We’re extremely proud to honor powerhouse couple Tamela and David Mann for their incredible contributions to the Gospel community, the enduring legacy of Dr. Bobby Jones and the songwriters and publishers behind the top Gospel songs of the previous year. Through song and praise, they deliver inspirational messages of hope, faith and goodwill to music lovers around the world. We feel truly blessed to bring these trailblazers together in fellowship and celebrate their creative works.”

hroughout the ceremony, BMI will also recognize the songwriters, producers and music publishers of the past year’s 25 most-performed Gospel songs in the United States. The BMI Gospel Song, Songwriter and Publisher of the Year will also be named during the event.

Together, Tamela and David Mann have become staples in the Gospel community and have flourished across radio, television, film and stages around the world. The iconic couple began their professional music careers in the ‘90s after joining the Gospel group Kirk Franklin and the Family and toured the globe. They went on to develop successful solo careers and joint ventures as a couple in music and beyond, creating Tillymann Entertainment in 2005, a home for all of their many projects in entertainment. In 2018, David and Tamela released Us Against the World, their first collaborative album as a duo. The companion book of that album won an NAACP Image® Award for Outstanding Literary Work, and the album’s singles have topped the charts, including the Urban AC track “Ups & Downs.” Most recently, The Manns embarked on the acclaimed “Overcomer Family Tour,” a mixture of music and comedy, featuring their son David Jr. and their daughters La’Tia and Tiffany Mann.

As a solo artist, Tamela has released six studio albums and has received a GRAMMY Award, BET Award, Billboard Music Award and multiple NAACP Image, Stellar Gospel Music and GMA Dove Awards. She was also the first Gospel lead artist in Billboard Gospel radio chart history to score three consecutive No.1 singles from her album Best Days. Beyond music, The Manns have appeared in numerous Tyler Perry plays, films and television shows, including I Can Do Bad All By Myself, Meet the Browns and Madea Goes to Jail, among others, and the pair also starred in their own sitcom, Mann & Wife, and the docuseries, It’s a Mann’s World.

In addition, the esteemed singer, TV host and radio broadcaster Dr. Bobby Jones will be celebrated, honoring his illustrious career spanning more than 40 years. For more than 35 years, he was the host of Bobby Jones Gospel on BET, which was the highest rated show on the network and longest running original cable show in history. Jones is credited for giving Yolanda Adams, Kirk Franklin, Mary Mary and many others their first national exposure on television.

An established Gospel singer and songwriter, Jones has received a GRAMMY Award for Best Soul Gospel Performance by a Duo or Group in 1984 for “I’m So Glad I’m Standing Here Today” with Barbara Mandrell. He has also received a Dove Award, three Stellar Awards and a presidential commendation from President George W. Bush, among several other awards and accolades. He currently serves as a UNICEF Ambassador and was inducted into the Black Music & Entertainment Walk of Fame (BMEWOF) in February 2023.

For more information on the BMI Trailblazers of Gospel Music Awards, visit www.bmi.com/genres/gospel and use hashtag #BMIGospel on social.

GRAMMY Nominated, and internationally renowned artist collective Bethel Music has unveiled the track list and featured artists for their highly anticipated forthcoming album, Come Up Here, which will be released March 17th.

Jenn and Brian Johnson, David Funk, Hannah McClure, Zahriya Zachary, Jonathan David and Melissa Helser, Josh Baldwin, Emmy Rose, John Wilds, and Bethany Wohrle take the lead on some of the most powerful music Bethel Music has released to date. They are also joined by special guest Amanda Cook for her first new music with Bethel Music since 2020’s Peace. Come Up Here is available for pre-save HERE

“These 2 songs to me represent a re-visitation and a retracing of important steps that have been an essential part of my religious upbringing,” shares Amanda. ‘“The Great Beyond” captures the limitlessness and clarity of following Jesus into a better understanding of God and “Precious Blood” reminds me about the story that’s written into my very being.”

Captured live in the heart of the Redwoods of Northern California, Come Up Here embodies everything that Bethel Music stands for musically, lyrically, and visually. With the breathtaking Redwood Forest as a backdrop, Come Up Here, is an invitation to look up and take in the full magnificence of the celestial evergreens and reflect on the beauty of God’s glory. The stunning cinematography paired with songs that move the soul to respond make this project the most extraordinary endeavor Bethel Music has ever taken on. The hope is that as each song is heard, the presence of the living God takes over whatever space the listener is in, and that they are able to encounter Him in a way never thought possible.

This spring Bethel Music will embark on a series of worship nights throughout the US and Europe/UK. These dates will feature new songs from Come Up Here as well as the well-known anthems sung in churches around the world which Bethel Music has become known for. Join Brian Johnson, David Funk, Paul McClure, Hannah McClure, and featuring Amanda Cook for the US dates and David Funk, Bethany Wohrle, and Zahriya Zachary for the European/UK dates in a night of worship, ministry, and encounter unlike anything Bethel Music has done before. Tickets are now on sale HERE.

Come Up Here Tracklist:
1. The Great Beyond – Brian Johnson and Amanda Cook
2. Holy Forever – Jenn Johnson
3. Beauty – David Funk
4. Precious Blood – Hannah McClure and Amanda Cook
5. Isn’t He Beautiful – Brian Johnson
6. Surrounded By Holy – Zahriya Zachary
7. I Am Your Beloved – Jonathan David Helser and Melissa Helser
8. Time and Time Again – Josh Baldwin
9. Inheritance – Emmy Rose
10. Our King Jesus (Holy) – John Wilds and Bethany Wohrle
11. Come Up Here – Jenn Johnson

The K-LOVE Fan Awards announced live on the nationwide K-LOVE radio network, that CAIN will host the 10th annual  K-LOVE Fan Awards. Taking place on May 28, 2023 at Nashville’s iconic OPRY House, Coca-Cola Consolidated will once again serve as sponsor for the fan-voted awards show that concludes the biggest weekend in Christian music.

Also announced were details for some of the weekend’s events, including the Friday night kick-off concert and Sunday morning worship service.  The kick-off concert will be headlined by TobyMac, and also feature Colton Dixon, Katy Nichole and Blessing Offor.

The Sunday morning worship service will be led by Chris Tomlin and speaker David Nassar.  More details about the weekend will be forthcoming.

Fans come from all over the country to participate in the K-LOVE Fan Awards and the preceding weekend to hear great music, meet their favorite artists, and have fun with the whole family.  Providing an experience for fans that is impossible to match anywhere else, tickets for the 2023 K-LOVE Fan Awards Weekend are on sale with travel packages still available here:  www.klovefanawards.com.

As Pittsburgh’s “Lady Of The Blues,” Miss Freddye keeps the blues alive in her hometown. Miss Freddye
began singing in church at a young age. The influences of church and her mother’s love of blues music,
gave Miss Freddye the foundation to venture in the world of blues music in 1996. She joined BMW (Blues
Music Works) under the direction Of “Big” Al Leavitt.

In 2002, Miss Freddye went on to form Blue Faze and several years later, Miss Freddye started two
bands, Miss Freddye’s Blues Band (electric blues) and Miss Freddye’s Homecookin Band, (acoustic blues,
classic rock, gospel.) Miss Freddye’s influences include  Koko Taylor, Etta James, Billie Holiday, Sarah
Vaughn, Big Mama Thornton, Bessie Smith, and “Big” Al Leavitt.

Her charity works include: Relay for Life American Cancer Society, Pink Day in Leechburg, PA for Breast
Cancer Research Foundation, Sean Carney’s Blues For A Cure, Local VFWs and American Legions, Toys
for tots, homeless veterans, Band Together Pittsburgh, and Sing to Stop domestic violence.  
 
She has won past blues competitions; 2008 West Virginia Blues Society for Best Blues and 2012 Blues
Society Of Western PA Best Duo/Solo Act.
 
In 2014, Miss Freddye was awarded the Star Award from the Pittsburgh VA Medical Center for her work
with veterans. She was awarded the 2015 Freedom From Silence Award from the Center For Victims.
Miss Freddye has won in the Iron City Rocks Awards for Best Blues Band in 2016, 2017, and 2019. Her
self-released CD, “Lady Of The Blues” won for Best Album in 2017.

In 2018, Miss Freddye was nominated for two Blues Foundation Awards, one for Best Emerging Artist CD
and The Koko Taylor Traditional Blues Female.
Her latest single, “Something To Believe In” is from her forthcoming gospel/roots release, topped the
international iTunes charts.

Here is a transcript from our interview with Miss Freddye

1. Hi Miss Freddye! It’s quite an honor to talk to you today. What’s
   new in your world?
   Going back in the studio to finish up my next single and my next album!
   
   
2. You’re known as both a gospel and blues singer. How are the two?
   styles similar, and how are they different?
   I would say blues is a spinoff from gospel. Both can be slow or upbeat. Blues talks about the ills of life, the thrill of it all, how bad and sometimes how good it can be!
   Gospel is a way to contact with God. It can be an asking, a need, a plea to be given a chance to celebrate God. It’s more religious base.
   
3. What do you feel are your strengths as a singer?
   Well, since I had stayed vocal lessons 2-3 years ago, first time ever, my mechanics of singing has
   improved! This has given me the confidence to bring music to audiences and to reach deep within to neable to contact.
   
4. How would your bandmates describe you?
   HA! Well, I have two bands. Shall we start with the Blues band. They may say I’m passionate, I’m a diva, I’m strong, and vocal! The other band may say I’m passionate, I’m strong willed, and I’m fun!
   
5. What motivates you to make music?
   That’s easy….it’s a calling for me. I see how the music I sing affects the audience along with the
   interactions. Audiences want to feel good, they want some kind connection. When, the bands see this, the music is just right. This is my motivation, my reason for doing what I do!
   
6. You’ve had many high points in your career, so far. What was the biggest thing that has happened, and how did it make you feel?
   Yes, I have! When I was nominated for two blues music awards! I felt like I had just hit the lottery! I was thrilled and I was a little scared. You see this was my first ever!
   
7. We’ve heard about a new gospel album that you’re preparing for release. When do you think you’ll have that ready?
   Don’t have an official date yet.
   
8. Tell me about your favorite performance in your career?
   Honestly, performing at my local children’s hospital. It is such a joy to see the kids and their families
   smile and sometimes participate in my performances! We have fun!
   
9. What’s the best piece of advice another musician ever gave you?
   Oh that’s easy! “Always stay true to yourself cause you will find no other like you!”.
   
   
10. What’s up next for you?
    Working on going to Europe, either 2023 or 2024! Stay tuned!
    
    
11. Any words of advice or last words for your fans?
    Enjoy the music. Always be sure to live your life to the fullest. I appreciate my fans for their continued support and love of the music I do!

Today, the K-LOVE Fan Awards announced live on the nationwide K-LOVE radio network, that CAIN will host the 10th annual  K-LOVE Fan Awards. Taking place on May 28, 2023 at Nashville’s iconic OPRY House, Coca-Cola Consolidated will once again serve as sponsor for the fan-voted awards show that concludes the biggest weekend in Christian music.

Also announced were details for some of the weekend’s events, including the Friday night kick-off concert and Sunday morning worship service.  The kick-off concert will be headlined by TobyMac, and also feature Colton Dixon, Katy Nichole and Blessing Offor.

The Sunday morning worship service will be led by Chris Tomlin and speaker David Nassar.  More details about the weekend will be forthcoming.

Fans come from all over the country to participate in the K-LOVE Fan Awards and the preceding weekend to hear great music, meet their favorite artists, and have fun with the whole family.  Providing an experience for fans that is impossible to match anywhere else, tickets for the 2023 K-LOVE Fan Awards Weekend are on sale with travel packages still available here:  www.klovefanawards.com.

Former popular bands of the 40-year history of Germany’s Christmas Rock Night will reunite for a one night festival. Artists to appear include Split Level (Adrian Thompson, living in the US, Gary Preston and Rob Craner from UK), plus The Electrics who are actually working on a new album, to be out at the end of this year.

The event will be headlined by the very popular European symphonic metal band HB (Finland), fronted by female singer Johanna Aaltonen:

Seven popular bands from the last 40 years of Christmas Rock Night return to the stage at Haus-Ennepetal (near Düsseldorf) on Saturday, May 6, 2023. 

Several Christian bands of different styles (ranging from reggae to ska, folk and alternative rock to symphonic metal), will play One More Song – CRN Reunion, which is also the motto of the event, on this special CRN reunion evening. For six of the seven bands, it’s a 100% reunion, coming many years after the group’s initial split.

For this one-time reunion we have; HB from Finland, Split Level, The Electrics and Why? from the UK, Seeker’s Planet from Croatia, Heaven Bound from Germany. We also have Paul Colman from Australia, who has remained throughout as an active artist.

Multi-platinum, six-time GRAMMY-winner Amy Grant anncounced today that she is releasing her first new music in a decade.

During a two-part interview with Craig Melvin on THE TODAY SHOW, conducted in her home this week, Grant excitedly shared that the first track, “Trees We’ll Never See,” will be available across all DSP’s on March 24th and can be save pre-orderd/pre-saved now.

“Trees We’ll Never See” was written by Marshall Altman, who produced her critically-acclaimed album, “How Mercy Looks From Here,” and Michael White. Grant will release another new song this spring, which will be announced soon.

“So much creativity has been put on hold in my life, for all kinds of reasons,” shares Grant when talking about the new music. “Last summer I was asked to sing on a new Cory Asbury song yet to be released. This might be one of the best songs I have heard in a long time. I was so glad they waited for me to heal up and get back to the studio. Inspired by Cory’s beautiful song, Marshall Altman and I started talking about songs that we’ve written recently that affected us. I played him one of mine. He played me one of his. His song was “Trees We’ll never See. I loved it immediately and asked him if I could record it, and within two weeks, both songs were mixed & mastered!”

After taking time to heal from her bike accident last summer, Grant joined Michael W. Smith for their Christmas tour, followed by her annual Christmas at the Ryman residency with husband Vince Gill. Amy’s year culminated in receiving a prestigious Kennedy Center Honor along with U2, George Clooney, Gladys Knight and Tania Leon. This spring, she will be heading to 70 cities across the U.S., excited to share new music and fan favorites. 

About Amy Grant:
Amy Grant’s career spans more than 40 years and stretches from her roots in gospel into becoming an iconic pop star, songwriter, television personality and philanthropist. With three multi-platinum albums, six platinum albums and four gold albums, her total career album sales have exceeded 30 million and over 1 billion global streams.

Grant’s chart success has been consistent throughout her career with six No. 1 hits, 10 Top 40 pop singles, 17 Top 40 Adult Contemporary tracks and multiple Contemporary Christian chart-toppers. In addition to her six GRAMMY® Awards, Grant has earned 26 Dove Awards (including four Artist of the Year Awards) and has been awarded a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame as well as the Music City Walk of Fame and the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame.

Conventional wisdom has it that Grant put Contemporary Christian Music on the map becoming the first Contemporary Christian artist to have a platinum record, the first to hit No. 1 on the Pop charts and the first to perform at the GRAMMY® Awards. With that, her legacy as one of the most influential artists of the past four decades is assured. In 2020, the T.J. Martell Foundation – the music industry’s leading nonprofit to fund innovative medical research focused on treatments and cures for cancer – honored Grant with the Tony Martell Outstanding Entertainment Achievement Award at their annual Honors Gala.

Most recently, The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts included Grant as one of their five distinguished Honorees to receive the 45th Kennedy Center Honors for lifetime artistic achievements. This year Grant is hitting the road and will be performing in 70 cities across the country and releasing her first new music in a decade, starting with the single “Trees We’ll Never See.” 

In support of FOR KING + COUNTRY’s “What Are We Waiting For?,” the duo’s second Top 10 Billboard 200 charting album (#7), which garnered a Grammy nomination and American Music Award this year, the RIAA Platinum-selling duo and Curb | Word Entertainment recording artist is gearing up for their 31-city 2023 “What Are We Waiting For?  The Tour Part II” which starts on March 23. 

The U.S. and Canadian circuit will kick off in Honolulu, Hawaii and will continue through May 31 in Vancouver, BC; followed by additional festival/fair performances. Tickets for the tour are available now and can be purchased HERE.

The brother duo made up of Joel and Luke Smallbone just scored their latest #1 Billboard Christian Airplay Chart with “Love Me Like I Am” feat. Jordin Sparks, marking their 13^th #1 hit single (and 8^th consecutive #1 hit single) on the chart.

Says FOR KING + COUNTRY: “’Love Me Like I Am’ is a song that speaks to God loving us right where we are, and just as we are. The fact that radio (and the fans!) rallied to bring this idea to this world is profoundly moving to us.  We’re so grateful to Jordin Sparks for lending her talents in bringing this important message to the world!”

Adds Sparks, “#1 on the Billboard Charts!  Thank you For King + Country for having me on this incredible record, and thank you to the radio stations and fans across the country for showing the love!”

Additionally, the Smallbones, with Hillary Scott of Lady A, recently garnered a 2023 Grammy® Award nomination for “Best Contemporary Christian Music Performance/Song” for their collaborative track, “For God Is With Us”. The song is co-written by the Smallbones, Josh Kerr, and Jordan Reynolds, with the official music video viewed more than 8.9 million times since its 2022 release.

FOR KING + COUNTRY remains one of the music industry’s most respected and decorated duos.

In addition to their 2023 Grammy nomination, the due celebrated its first-ever American Music Award win for “Favorite Inspirational Artist.” Other career accolades include 10 GMA Dove Awards, a Billboard Music Award, four Grammy Awards (with seven nominations), and 16 K-LOVE Fan Awards. Their 13 No. 1 songs have produced an astonishing 2 billion career streams and the act’s live show has been hailed as a must-see concert event that continues to wow sold-out crowds around the world.

Seven-time GRAMMY Award-winning artist TobyMac is officially impacting radio with “Cornerstone (feat. Zach Williams).”  The new single, originally recorded for his GRAMMY-nominated album, LIFE AFTER DEATH, launched for adds this past Friday 2/24. The song made its radio debut on Jan. 30 exclusively on K-LOVE as part of a K-LOVE First event. 

Out of the gate, “Cornerstone” received 56 adds as Capitol CMG’s most added song of 2023 and the second most added song at Christian Radio this year. The single is currently reporting in the Top 20 on the Billboard Airplay and MediaBase Audience charts.  Listen HERE.

TobyMac’s latest single follows a string of previous hits from LIFE AFTER DEATH:  “The Goodness (feat. Blessing Offer), “ which became the hitmaker’s 14th No. 1 on Christian Airplay; “Promised Land,” which peaked at No.2 on the AC Indicator and AC Monitored charts and reached Top 5 on Christian Airplay; and “Help Is On the Way (Maybe Midnight),” which topped five charts and held on to No. 1 at Hot AC for 13 consecutive weeks. 

“Cornerstone” remains a personal declaration of hope for the singer and his family in the wake of his oldest son’s passing.

“What are you building your life on? Sometimes we may not even mean to, but we start building on the promises of this world. At times, it can be difficult to navigate.

I wrote this one with my brothers, Brian Fowler and Micah Kuiper. We were tired of the fogginess and wanted to say it out loud… We want to intentionally build our lives in every area on the solid rock. On Christ alone, the Cornerstone. All other ground is sinking sand,” he shares of the message behind the track. “Honored to have my man, Zach, on this one with me. I love this song, and I love Zach’s voice on it. He brought it to a whole ‘notha level.”

TobyMac surprised fans at Nashville’s Bridgestone Arena last weekend during a hometown stop on his “Hits Deep Tour” when he invited Williams to join him on stage to sing “Cornerstone” for the packed house. The 32-date trek runs through Mar. 31 and visits the Huntington Center in Toledo, OH. tomorrow. In addition to a full headlining set from TobyMac, the tour also features Crowder, Cochren & Co., Tasha Layton, Jon Reddick and Terrian.

Cornerstone – TobyMac Ft. Zach Williams

Upcoming “Hits Deep Tour 2023” Dates:

Renowned singer, songwriter, worship leader Phil Wickham and GRAMMY Award-winning artist and songwriter Brandon Lake will be hitting the road together this summer! Transparent Productions announced this week the Summer Worship Nights Tour this August with special guest KB.

Pre-sale for the tour starts Friday, March 10th at 10am local time. Text the word SUMMER to 714-775-3787 to be the FIRST to receive the pre-sale code on March 10th.

Summer Worship Nights Tour 2023
8.10.23 | Tampa, FL

8.11.23 | Charlotte, NC

8.12.23 | Norfolk, VA

8.13.23 | Newark, NJ

8.17.23 | Minneapolis, MN

8.18.23 | Chicago (Hoffman Estates), IL

8.19.23 | Indianapolis, IN

8.20.23 | Reading, PA

8.24.23 | Nashville, TN

8.25.23 | New Orleans, LA

8.26.23 | San Antonio, TX

8.27.23 | Fort Worth, TX