The inaugural awards, founded by Hollywood Music in Media Awards Executive Producer Brent Harvey, will take place this summer in Hollywood, CA.

The Hollywood Independent Music Awards (HIMAwards) is the premier global platform for Independent music. Emerging and established artists, songwriters, composers, and audio recording professionals around the world are recognized for outstanding contributions and content creation.

Founded by Brent Harvey, Executive Producer of the Hollywood Music in Media Awards, the HIMAwards Advisory Board is composed of some of the industry’s most respected and seasoned professionals.

With the inaugural HIMAwards slated to take place this summer in Hollywood, CA, the first round of nominees has been announced. MTS Management Group is happy to recognize their clients Richard Lynch and Tia McGraff among the nominated artists.

Lynch is nominated in the Classic Country category for his song, “Radio Friend.” McGraff is nominated in the Americana/Roots category for “With Love.” Other nominees include Billboard chart-toppers and Grammy Award winners.

The HIMAwards will take place on August 17th, 2023 at The Avalon Hollywood.

“MTS is honored to have these two talented and hard-working artists recognized for their crafts,” said Michael Stover, MTS President.  “Both Tia and Richard are tremendous people, and they deserve all the accolades.”

ABOUT RICHARD LYNCH:

Over the past 4 decades, Richard Lynch has compiled a long list of country hits and chart-toppers on both domestic and international sales and radio airplay charts. Richard has been in Billboard Magazine, Taste Of Country, The Boot, CCM Magazine, Country Music People, Maverick, and countless others.

He has also appeared on WSM Radio Nashville, RFD TV, Fox TV, and more. He has recorded popular duets with legendary artists like Ronnie McDowell and Leona Williams, as well as Grammy Winner, Rhonda Vincent. Lynch is the owner of Keepin’ It Country Farm in Waynesville, OH, and co-founder of Love Tattoo Foundation which assists veterans.

ABOUT TIA MCGRAFF:

Tia McGraff is a multi-talented, award-winning singer, songwriter, performer, author, and podcast host from Southern Ontario, Canada. Along with her husband and co-writer Tommy Parham, the skilled songstress has been making impactful and thought-provoking art for well over a decade.

Bringing together a burning passion for the art of music and an honesty that is long lost on today’s modern charts, Tia McGraff is a trailblazer in her genre; one whose efforts have made her a beloved figure on the international music scene.

Sarantos is a dynamic genre-blending musical artist known for his powerful and thought-provoking projects. His latest single “Another Surgery” reflects on the experience of losing his father.

Sarantos is a genre-fluid singer, songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist with an ever-expanding catalog of releases. Hailing from Chicago, he has created both national and international chart-topping singles, while placing his songs on hit daytime TV shows like “Days of Our Lives.”

With more than 200K Spotify streams of his latest album, “A Spoonful of Greece,” and another 35K on his past three singles, the award-winning artist continues his monthly release schedule with “Another Surgery.”

“Another Surgery” was released on March 1st, 2023. The new single is a harrowing track that talks about losing a loved one, and shares Sarantos’ personal experience of dealing with his father’s passing.

“This modern rock song is about my dad and my health,” Sarantos said. “Every time I have surgery, which seems to be a lot, I’m not scared anymore because I always tell myself in a way, I get to spend a little bit of time with my dad, catching up on life.”

The music video is dripping with hidden agendas, storylines, and innuendos. Watch the music video for “Another Surgery” at https://youtu.be/SlDHYaklXnA

ABOUT SARANTOS:

Sarantos is not only a professional songwriter, producer & poet but also an avid comic book reader, proud nerd, workaholic, one-time owner of the Millenium Falcon, gamer, and zombie killer. He loves sarcasm because it’s funny. He’s more of a loner than a social butterfly but he’s working on it.

His music and books are 100% certified organic, caffeine-independent, gluten-free, and hypoallergenic! Because he believes that every song is a story and words are so important to him, he also hosts the Songwriters Radio Show.

The show is syndicated everywhere including iHeartRadio, Spotify, Spreaker, iTunes, TuneIn, Stitcher, Alexa & Google Play, etc.

For the first time, GRAMMY® nominee Phil Wickham and five-time GRAMMY® winner Brandon Lake are joining forces for “Summer Worship Nights,” a co-headline bill slated to visit arenas in a dozen markets this August. Presented by leading concert promotor Transparent Productions, the highly anticipated tour will feature direct support from hip-hop titan KB. Ticket pre-sale begins today, Mar. 10, nationwide at 10 a.m. local time with public on-sale starting Monday, Mar. 13. A full list of dates, cities and ticket links are available at www.summerworshipnightstour.com.

“It’s been so fun watching Brandon carry what God has given him, and I respect him as a leader, brother and friend. At ‘Summer Worship Nights,’ we truly want to gather as worshipers, to sing and lift up the name of Jesus,” Wickham shares. “I cannot wait for these nights!”

“This is a dream come true for me. There is no one else that I have imitated my life after more than Phil Wickham. He’s been a hero, brother, mentor and friend,” Lake adds. “The energy on this tour is going to be absolutely CRAZY! Expectancy is the breeding ground for miracles, and we’re coming expectant to believe God is going to move.”

“God’s glory is not restrained or limited to any musical genre,” says KB, who will open each night with his authentic brand of Gospel-centered rap. “I’m excited for this opportunity to celebrate the diversity of the Body of Christ by uniting together to bring Him glory.”

Wickham’s new single, “This Is Our God,” is proving to be one of the biggest songs of his career to date. When it officially launched at radio on Feb. 24, it become the No. 1 most-added song of 2023 thus far with more than 70 stations adding it out of the gate. The anthem is currently Top 20 and climbing on both the Billboard and Mediabase Christian Audience charts. “This Is Our God” previews the California native’s forthcoming studio effort, due later this year, and follows three back-to-back chart-topping singles from Wickham’s Dove Award-winning album, Hymn of Heaven.

Meanwhile, Lake just scored his first No. 1 at radio as a solo artist with “Gratitude” from his full-length label debut, House of Miracles. Alongside his group Maverick City Music, the Charleston, S.C., resident recently won all four Christian/Gospel categories at the 65th annual GRAMMY® Awards in February. Prior to co-headlining the “Summer Worship Nights” outing with Wickham, he’ll take his “Miracle Nights Tour” to 13 cities this spring, beginning Mar. 17.

Fresh off the release of his first book, Dangerous Jesus, KB will kickstart each evening of the “Summer Worship Nights” tour with new music, as well as fan favorites, including his recent collaboration with Lake on “Graves.”

The tour is sponsored by Compassion International who will join media partners K-LOVE and Air1. Spotify will also be executing its own Fans First pre-sale.

8/10 — Amalie Arena // Tampa, FL

8/11 — Bojangles Coliseum // Charlotte, NC

8/12 — Chartway Arena // Norfolk, VA

8/13 — Prudential Center // Newark, NJ

8/17 — Target Center // Minneapolis, MN

8/18 — NOW Arena // Chicago (Hoffman Estates), IL

8/19 — Gainbridge Fieldhouse // Indianapolis, IN

8/20 — Santander Arena // Reading, PA

8/24 — Bridgestone Arena // Nashville, TN

8/25 — UNO Lakefront Arena // New Orleans, LA

8/26 — AT&T Center // San Antonio, TX

8/27 — Dickies Arena // Fort Worth, TX

Transparent Productions announces a new tour, “The Awe of God Tour” with author and speaker John Bevere along with worship leader Kim Walker-Smith. The tour will feature eight nights of worship during the month of May. Running in tandem with the release of his new book, “The Awe of God,” the tour will be a powerful night of worship, teaching, and ministry. Tickets are on sale today and a copy of Bevere’s new book will be included with each ticket. Click on each market below to purchase tickets.

“The emphasis of this ‘ Awe of God’ tour nights will be to encounter the presence of God in an awesome way,” shares John Bevere.

The tour is designed to help us rediscover the wonder and awesomeness of God so we can encounter his presence in an intimate, tangible way. Let’s join together and cry out to God for a unifying move of His Spirit in our cities and in our nation.

Kim Walker-Smith adds, “I am really excited to be joining John. I’m excited about his new book, ‘The Awe of God,’ and the message that it carries. It is a message that is needed and necessary in the body of Christ right now, John and I want these nights to serve as a place in which people can bring their hearts to Jesus and be transformed in the presence of God.  We are looking forward to what God is going to do!”

May 4th – Nashville (Madison), TN

May 5th – Youngstown, OH

May 6th – Detroit (Sterling Heights), MI

May 7th – Greenwood, IN

May 18th – Kansas City, MO

May 19th – Tulsa, OK

May 20th – Dallas, TX

May 21st – Houston (Crosby), TX

Christina and Scott MacIntyre have hit a major milestone with their first television special, Enduring Hope, with a million viewers. The program, which shares the couples journey through Scott’s blindness and two kidney transplants, debuted in October 2020 on UpTV, NRB and WSMV-TV in Nashville.

The audience has now greatly expanded, thanks to multiple airings on new stations and networks each month. The program was produced by Dove Awards veteran, Steve Gilreath, with the MacIntyre’s, Steve and Jackie Green as executive producers. Scott and Christina’s purpose for the project is to help people find hope in the midst of hardship.

Its music and message continue to resonate with people worldwide, and will proceed to expand even further with five airings this month. These markets, Oklahoma City OK, Lancaster PA, Norfolk VA, Charlotte NC and Nashville TN, are slating to air March 25 – 26, 2023, immediately following Saturday Night Live. The program is also available online and on Demand.

“We are so grateful to witness our songs and story changing lives,” Scott said. “My favorite part of the process is hearing from people who happen to catch the program during a difficult time, when they really need encouragement, and they find new hope to press on.”

Continuing to increase their output of hope for the nation and beyond, Scott and Christina have launched their weekly Enduring Hope devotional podcast that is reaching 40 countries. It can be heard on Apple, Spotify, Audible, etc. They’ve also pioneered a music mentoring retreat for the blind called SongSight which had its first iteration in November 2022. It was a three-day event with masterclasses, songwriting and instrument experimentation, culminating in the attendees recording an original song together that was released online. It gave the participants the opportunity to explore their potential and to experience the life changing power of music.

One of the attendees, Greg Lindberg, shares in a blog post, “I was completely in awe of my SongSight experience. It totally exceeded my expectations.”

The future holds exciting opportunities for Scott and Christina’s ministry, including visiting public and private schools around the country to encourage the next generation. Scott is also releasing new music every few weeks, with two singles released so far this year being a rap collaboration called “Believe Again” and his latest entitled “We Will Serve the Lord.”

Cabot, AR —  Robert Jones is an artist rising!  He began his artistic career as a founder and former member of the Stellar Award-winning Gospel ensemble Anointed By God.  As a musician, songwriter, and worship leader, he has been developing his solo career and is one of Gospel music’s most promising young artists.  

His popular single “I Still Believe” has given Robert a national platform for his talent and solidified his commitment to the Gospel music genre.  He is preparing for his debut album release and will celebrate the milestone with a concert event.

One Voice Media presents The Robert Jones SOUND OF HEAVEN Concert & Listening Party on Saturday, March 11th, at The Edge Church, 6702 T. P. White Dr, Cabot, Arkansas 72023.  The concert event is free to the public.  

Robert will perform his current hit singles and offer a first glance at his forthcoming debut solo album, SOUND OF HEAVEN.  Robert’s special guests for the evening are Karen Brown, Cortney Richardson, and the female, a capella fusion group Adajyo.

Robert’s debut album will be available for pre-order on digital outlets on Friday, March 10, and released everywhere on Friday, April 14, 2023.  His album is produced by Grammy® Award-winning musical genius Cedric Thompson and features guest appearances by Capria McClearn and Cortney Richardson.

As a solo artist, Robert won the 2022 Gospel Choice Music Award for Contemporary Artist of the Year and received two 2022 Kingdom Image Awards nominations for Best Male Vocalist and New Artist of Year.  He is a full-time elementary school teacher and worship leader at The Edge Church in Cabot, AR. 

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!