Lifest, one of today’s top festival promoters in positive family entertainment, announces the key lineup and more for the bourgeoning LIFEST MUSIC CITY 2022 at Storytellers Hideaway Farms in Bon Aqua, Tennessee July 28-30, 2022.  Tickets are currently on sale to the 3-day family-focused extravaganza featuring musical greats Casting Crowns, Skillet, Stephen Curtis Chapman, comedians, unique speakers/seminars focusing on building your faith and protecting your community. All proceeds benefit Dignity Revolution, a youth mental health and wellness program presented in schools across the United States.  Life Promotions is based in Wisconsin and has produced the most successful Christian festival for years in Oshkosh and looks to build a unique and welcoming event to Middle Tennessee.  For more information, please visit here.

Tickets are available for the full 3-day event or a 1-day purchase.  Ticket prices for the 3-day event are on sale for $66 for adults, $33 for ages 8 to 15. Ticket prices will continue to raise up to the festival, with gate prices of $78 full event tickets for adults, $39 full event tickets for ages 8-15 and $36 one day ticket price for adults and $18 for youth 8-15.

Featuring five unique stages, patrons will have the opportunity to main stage headliners in the world Christian music, positive internationally renowned speakers, comedians, and local talent on the Nashville’s Big Back Yard stage.  Activities include family hours, archery, blood drives, movies, crafts, inflatables and more.  Additionally, some of Middle Tennessee’s top food trucks will provide unique and fresh menus.

Life Promotions President and Chief Visionary Officer Bob Lenz states, “We are honored to return to Middle Tennessee with Lifest Music City this year.  Our inaugural festival in 2021 spread a swath of excitement for our team and the attendees that came from over 30 states and 3 countries to our base camp in Bon Aqua, Tennessee at the farm of the legendary Johnny Cash.  Knowing that this land became a special part of his spiritual journey solidifies the location for this uniquely curated festival.  Our goal for this party with a purpose is to benefit the Dignity Revolution to engage in saving lives of those who are suffering with mental health. Dignity Revolution has partnered with the Professional Educators of Tennessee and virtually trained Tennessee educators on the Dignity Revolution Curriculum in 2021. The training is on the Professional Educators website and is available for any of the members to watch. In October of 2021, Dignity Revolution presented Humphreys County Schools with $500 to be used for their school system flood relief efforts. They were also gifted two Dignity Revolution assemblies ($4500 value). In addition to their involvement with the Professional Educators of Tennessee, Dignity Revolution has also trained educators from over 15 schools in the Tennessee area.

Governor Lee commented on the event saying, “We’re excited to welcome Lifest Music City to Tennessee this July,” said Gov. Lee. “It’s an honor to welcome visitors from across the nation for an event that will showcase our state’s rich musical heritage, boost local tourism and support Middle Tennessee’s thriving economy.”

We are committed to making Lifest Music City an annual destination for those who want to grow in their faith, enjoy amazing music and speakers and an experience that is felt throughout the year and beyond.  Thank you to the Nashville and Middle Tennessee partners helping create the experience.”

GRAMMY nominated, internationally renowned artist collective Bethel Music has earned three nominations at the 2022 K-LOVE Fan Awards.

The nominations include Song of the Year and Worship Song of the Year for “Too Good To Not Believe” with Brandon Lake and Jenn Johnson. In addition, Dante Bowe’s GRAMMY nominated single “joyful” is up for Breakout Single. Voting for the 2022 K-LOVE Fan Awards is now open HERE.

The 2022 K-LOVE Fan Awards will take place Sunday, May 29, 2022, at Nashville’s historic Grand Ole Opry House and will air exclusively on TBN Friday, June 3, 2022, at 8 p.m. ET / 7 p.m. CT / 5 p.m. PT.

The Indigenous People of Biafra has advised the General Overseer of the Deeper Life Bible Church, Pastor William Kumuyi, to cancel the planned crusade in Abia State because of security concerns in the South-East.

In a statement on Thursday, the group’s Media and Publicity Secretary, Emma Powerful, cautioned Kumuyi to take note of the security situation in the South-East as he comes to Aba for his gospel crusade.

Powerful said, “Let him and the organisers of the crusade make sure that nothing happens. The security of this region is not good because of political and criminal activities, therefore we advise him to stop this crusade for security reasons.

“IPOB will not allow anyone to die because of this crusade scheduled to hold in Aba. The operation of criminals operating as unknown gunmen infiltrating the events is high and they will blame it on IPOB.

“We ask him to pray for an end to the insecurity in Biafra land if he can. We charge Christians and men of God in Biafra land to engage God in fervent prayers to expose all those behind the insecurity in our land.”

He urged the pastor to pray against bad leaders and saboteurs in the South-East and Nigeria.

The statement added, “Let him use the opportunity to pray against the powers holding the people captive in Nigeria in his church in Lagos.

“We equally want them to be united against injustice. We had expected them to demand justice for the innocent Deborah Yakubu burnt alive by Muslim fanatics in Sokoto State.

“Her killers are walking freely today and 34 lawyers shamelessly volunteered to defend her killers but Christians are just watching them.

“The double-faced Nigeria security agencies only managed to arrest two of her killers because they are Muslims but if it were to be in the South-East, all the youths on the street will be in a police cell by now while the unlucky ones would have been killed.

“How many Igbo or Christian lawyers came to defend our leader fighting for the freedom of all Biafrans? But 34 Muslim lawyers have come in defence of the killers of Deborah Yakubu?

“Is it not time Christians and men of God woke up to the realities in Nigeria? They should support Biafra and Oduduwa agitators in their bid to free Biafra and Oduduwa republics from the Islamic bondage in Nigeria so that they will enjoy the freedom of worship in both republics.

“Leah Shuaibu is still in captivity today because she is a Christian but all the Muslims abducted along with her have since been freed. Christians must support IPOB to liberate them from bondage in Nigeria.

“Kumuyi should also pray against wicked Leaders and saboteurs in Biafra land and Nigeria. They are the real problems of the people. Let him use the opportunity to pray against the powers holding people captive in Nigeria in his church in Lagos.”

Human rights organization warns against sacrificing Christians in “new scramble for Africa”

(Westlake Village, CA) —Today, Dr. John Eibner, the president of Christian Solidarity International, wrote to U.S. Secretary of State Tony Blinken about last week’s lynching of Deborah Samuel Yakubu (pictured above), a 25-year-old Christian student, by a mob of Muslim supremacists in Sokoto, Nigeria.

Deborah, Eibner told the Secretary of State, “was hunted down, beaten, and set on fire in broad daylight, undefended by the security officers who were present. Deborah died because of a rumor that she had insulted Islam.” 

“Scarcely less disturbing than this deadly hate crime was the response of Nigeria’s President Muhammadu Buhari,” Eibner argued. Buhari, he pointed out, “refused to say that Deborah did not deserve to die. Instead, he warned that ‘Muslims all over the world demand respect for [Islam’s] Holy Prophets.’ Meanwhile, violent demonstrators in Sokoto lent muscle to their president’s menacing message by desecrating churches and attacking Christian-owned business, while demanding the release of two of Deborah’s suspected killers.” 

This lynching has drawn widespread condemnation, including from the Deputy Secretary-General of the United Nations. Thousands of Nigerians have been using the hashtag “#justiceforDeborah” to campaign for change. But so far, no U.S. government official has condemned or even mentioned Deborah’s murder. 

Secretary Blinken removed Nigeria from the U.S.’s list of Countries of Particular Concern for religious freedom in November 2021. The decision was issued without justification, and the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom called it “appalling” and “unexplainable.”

In his letter, Eibner put Deborah’s vicious murder, and Blinken’s removal of Nigeria from the CPC list, into the broader context of the U.S.’ pursuit of its strategic goals in Africa. As Eibner noted, the U.S.’ officially stated military strategy in Africa is to secure “access and influence” for itself while denying it to its “adversaries,” Russia and China. 

“The question increasingly asked in Africa,” Eibner said, is “whether the United States will continue to work principally in partnership with authoritarian regimes, corrupt elites, and politically pliable Muslim supremacist networks” to pursue these goals, or else take seriously “the promotion of democracy, human rights and religious freedom.”

Thus far, Eibner said, the U.S.’s removal of Nigeria from the CPC list sends “a message to perpetrators and victims alike, that crimes driven and legitimized by religious ideology, in particular the various strands of Muslim supremacism, remain of no particular concern to the U.S. State Department.”

Eibner told Blinken that, “every few days,” CSI receives reports of “indigenous Christians being killed or displaced in religious cleansing exercises by Fulani terrorists, especially in the Middle Belt.” CSI issued a Genocide Warning for Christians in Nigeria in January 2020; since then, the rate of killing has only increased.

Eibner urged Blinken to take steps to “place the United States on the side of democracy, human rights and religious” in Nigeria. Among these steps are returning Nigeria to the CPC list, declaring publicly “that no one should die for exercising their right to free speech,” undertaking a campaign to bring Deborah’s killers to justice, dispatching U.S. international religious freedom ambassador Rashad Hussain to Nigeria to meet with Deborah’s family, imposing “material consequences on the United States’ strategic partners in Abuja in response to the ill-treatment of Christians, Shi’ite Muslims, atheists, and others,” and asking the UN Security Council “to take appropriate action to prevent genocide in Africa’s largest country.” 

About Christian Solidarity International:

Founded over 40 years ago, CSI is an international Christian human rights organization, campaigning for religious liberty and human dignity, and assisting victims of religious persecution, victimized children and victims of catastrophe.

CSI delivers emergency food assistance, medical treatment, and other lifesaving aid to victims of religious persecution and natural disasters in Iraq, Syria, Egypt, Nigeria, South Sudan, Pakistan, and other hotspots around the globe. CSI is currently the only organization working to liberate Christians and other South Sudanese forced into slavery by government-backed forces during the Sudanese civil war.

For more information visit  https://csi-usa.org.

 GRAMMY Award-winning Gospel music maven Tamela Mann announced the upcoming release of a new deluxe edition of her sensational Tillymann Music Group album, Overcomer. 

Tamela also makes history this week as the first gospel artist to chart nine No. 1 singles on Billboard’s Gospel Airplay chart, with her most recent single “He Did It For Me” now holding the top spot. Heralded as some of the superstar’s best work, Overcomer: Deluxe Edition builds upon the original version’s themes of resilience, strength, purpose and the beauty of faith, with an offering of both all new tracks and intimate live renditions of fan favorites from Overcomer. Overcomer: Deluxe Edition will be distributed by The Orchard, and available as a digital release across all major music streaming platforms on July 22, 2022.

At a time when the world looks to rebuild following a turbulent chapter, Overcomer: Deluxe Edition will resonate with fans of Tamela’s music, as she reminds us that with faith we can overcome the challenges before us, receive healing and find hope. Her awe-inspiring vocals and profound lyrics on the album are supported by a prolific group of special guest features including the breathtaking ballad “Superheroes Prayer” with Yolanda Adams, the uplifting and joyous “Hello God” with Wyclef Jean and Kirk Franklin, the powerful track “Finished Work” with Todd Dulaney, and stunning new live renditions of “Help Me” with Tim Rogers and The Fellas, and “Finished,” which is written by Travis Greene.

The original version of Overcomer made a splash on the charts, immediately entering the Top Gospel Albums upon release and earning Tamela her seventh No. 1 spot in Billboard’s Gospel Airplay charts with the debut No. 1 single, “Touch From You.” The follow-up single, “Help Me,” notched Tamela’s eighth No. 1 single on the Billboard chart and the current single, “He Did It For Me” is No. 1 on the chart this week. Marking her ninth single to take the top spot on the chart, Tamela is making history as the first gospel artist to achieve this. Overcomer: Deluxe Edition takes what made the original version great and turns it into a new masterpiece. Listeners will hear Tamela elegantly proclaim her faith, lead worship, and deliver heavenly music in the magnificent way she knows how.

Overcomer: Deluxe Edition is the latest accomplishment in Tamela’s storied career. Tamela is a Grammy Award Winner, BET Award Winner, Billboard Music Award Winner, NAACP Image Award Winner, Gospel Music Stellar Award Winner, actress, songwriter, producer, and businesswoman. Her Billboard No. 1 album Best Days includes the No. 1 Platinum single “Take Me to The King” and received Billboard’s “Album of the Decade” for 2010-2019, in the Gospel category. Tamela’s Billboard No. 1 album, One Way, garnered two No. 1 singles, including “Change Me” and “God Provides,” which earned the singer her first Grammy Award in 2017. In 2018, Tamela and her husband, NAACP Image Award winning actor David Mann, released their first book and joint album, Us Against the World. The book won an NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Literary Work and the album continues to garner top-charting singles including the Urban AC track, “Ups & Downs.” Tamela and David together helm Tillymann Entertainment. They starred in the NAACP Image Award-winning docu-series “The Manns,” the hit comedy “Mann & Wife,” and are currently starring in “Tyler Perry’s Assisted Living” and “Mann Family Dinner” on their MANNTV YouTube channel. Tamela’s athleisure apparel line, the Tamela Mann Collection, is available at TamelaMann.com and in select retail stores.

“These songs are a true expression of my heart and reflect where I’m at these days on my spiritual journey,” says Tamela. “We’ve all been through so much and we’ve made it through. I want to encourage people, God helped us overcome this far, and with His help, we can keep conquering anything that comes our way.”

Overcomer: Deluxe Edition Track List:

1. Help Me (Live) feat. Tim Rogers and The Fellas
2. Finished Work feat. Todd Dulaney
3. He Did It for Me (Live)
4. Final Answer (Live)
5. Finished (Live)
6. I Am
7. Source
8. Hello God feat. Wyclef Jean and Kirk Franklin
9. Conqueror
10. Superheroes Prayer feat. Yolanda Adams
11. Touch From You
12. Forever Yours
13. Overcomer

Production Credits:
Executive Producers: David Mann Sr., Tamela Mann, Tillymann Music Group Inc.

Producers: David Mann Sr., La’Tia Mann, Justin Pearson

Produced by: Kirk Franklin, Philip Bryant, Jevon Hill, Travis Greene, Dontaniel Kimbrough, Todd Dulaney, Shaun Martin, Rickey “Slikk” Offord, Stanley Green, Tamela Mann

Tamela On Tour
5/21    Miami, FL
5/28    Houston, TX
6/4      Jacksonville, FL
6/5      Savannah, GA
6/11    Valdosta, GA
6/18    Orlando, FL
6/26    Newark, NJ

Platform Artists, a full-service talent agency, announces expansion with a strategic partnership and new hires after launching at the height of the pandemic in 2020.

Helmed and founded by veteran agents Bryan Myers and Tony Johnsen, Platform Artists is entering into a partnership with Emma Yarborough to build the speakers and comedians division for the talent agency. In addition to the new division, Platform announces the hiring of industry veteran agent Randy Humphries, booking coordinator Conner Osswald, and company coordinator Heather Jones.

“We could not be more thrilled to announce these new hires,” shares Bryan Myers. “Emma comes from a booking, artist management, and touring background and is a true self-starter. She is the perfect person to launch this new division and has already hit the ground running. And with Randy Humphries joining our team and bringing his decades of experience in booking Christian music artists, it is an exciting time for our team. We are also announcing coordinators Heather Jones and Conner Osswald. Tony and I are truly honored to give Emma, Randy, Heather, and Conner a new home and affirm the work they have already done in this industry. We see a very bright future ahead for all of us.”

“Platform represents the top artists in the Christian music industry, and I am unbelievably excited and honored to lead this new division representing speakers and comedians,” says Emma Yarborough. “My passion lies in elevating unique voices to the stage that need to be heard, and I can’t wait to see what is ahead for our artists as we expand into this new territory.”

“I’m excited and grateful to join Platform Artists,” shares Randy Humphries. “We have an amazing roster full of talented artists, and I look forward to continuing to help change hearts and lives through Christian Music.”

Celebrating less than two years into their company, Platform Artists continues to represent and book Christian artists across all live events. With these new additions, they will further expand their reach and impact in the touring realm.

“Here at Platform Artists, we strive to create a home where people are seen, heard, and valued,” adds Tony Johnsen. “We are very blessed at all God has done these past two years and could not be more excited about the days ahead.”

Capitol Christian Music Group has announced the promotions of Josh Bailey and Matt Reed. Bailey has been named SVP, A&R, while Reed is now SVP, Marketing.

“We couldn’t be happier to announce the promotions of Matt Reed and Josh Bailey,” Co-Presidents Brad O’Donnell and Hudson Plachy commented.  “Both have long and proven track records in artist development and care deeply about our roster and the artists on it. We are excited to see them take on expanded responsibilities and are confident they’ll achieve even more in their new roles.”

In his role, Bailey leads the team that oversees the creative development of the current Capitol CMG artist roster and works directly with TobyMac, Crowder, We The Kingdom, Jeremy Camp, Tauren Wells and Anne Wilson, among others.  Bailey began his career as a Business Manager for acclaimed industry veteran Tom Jackson and joined Word Entertainment in 2005, soon finding his niche when he began working in the A&R department. He quickly worked his way up through the ranks to Senior Vice President of A&R and Publishing and was instrumental in the successful careers of for KING & COUNTRY, We Are Messengers, Francesca Battistelli and others.

“It is such an honor to work alongside our industry-leading team developing artists, elevating their brands, and supporting their ministries,” said Bailey. “Thank you Brad and Hudson for entrusting me with this incredible opportunity. I’m grateful to continue to lead in this expanded role as we partner together to build bright futures for our entire artist roster and this extraordinary team.”

Reed began his career at CCMG in 2014, when he was hired in marketing to oversee the label group’s digital marketing team. In 2018, he was promoted to VP, Digital Marketing & Content to lead the company’s digital strategy, innovation and advertising efforts. Also overseeing CCMG’s content strategy and the team responsible for artists branding and visual assets, Reed has been integral to campaigns for Tauren Wells, Anne Wilson, We The Kingdom, Brooke Ligertwood, Hillsong UNITED, Chris Tomlin, TobyMac, Crowder, Riley Clemmons and more. Prior to joining the Capitol CMG team, Reed oversaw Provident (Sony) Label Group’s digital marketing department, as well as contributing to the marketing and development of the Essential Worship label.

“I’m thankful to Hudson, Brad, and the CMG team for this opportunity and their belief in me over the years,” remarked Reed. “I’m proud to be a part of a market-leading company that has a long history of success, innovation and developing the next generation of industry leaders. Our team is passionate about being an artist-first label with a globalized approach to artist development, and I’m excited to continue this vision as we connect with audiences in a digitally forward and culturally relevant way.”

Just days after 1K Phew released “The Offering,” the first single and video from his forthcoming solo album, Just As I Am, the nominations for the 37th annual Stellar Gospel Music Awards, were announced.

Reach Records, a trailblazing hip-hop label, received four nominations from The Stellar Awards, one of the most prestigious awards in Gospel music, with each going to Grammy Award winning artist, Lecrae, and Reach Records’ rising star, 1K Phew, for their collaborative album, No Church In A While.

Their nominations include for the 37th Annual Stellar Gospel Music Music Awards include:

• Rap/Hip Hop Gospel Album of the Year = No Church In A While, 1K Phew & Lecrae, Reach Records
• Rap/Hip Hop Song Of The Year = “One Call,” No Church In A While, 1K Phew & Lecrae, Reach Records

• Duo/Chorus/Group Of The Year = 1K Phew & Lecrae, No Church In A While, Reach Records
• Music Video of the Year = “One Call,” Caleb Seales & Jerrell Green, Reach Records

1K Phew’s new project collaborative album with Lecrae, No Church In A While, was released on December 3, 2021 and featured 10 tracks including: “Wildin” “Ready Or Not,” “Move It,” “One Call,” “What We Gon Do,” “Amen,” “Blockhead,” “Born Sinner” “Save Us,” and “No Church In A. While.”

The concept for their collaborative album, No Church For A While grew out of 1K Phew and Lecrae’s conversations. Lecrae was recording his mixtape, Church Clothes 4, when it occurred to him that people hadn’t been to church to even put on those church clothes in a while because of the pandemic, church hurt, and other reasons. After hearing some of the songs 1K Phew had recorded for the album, he decided to not only mentor him, but record a collaborative album together.

“No Church In A While has all types of meanings,” expresses 1K Phew. “We just went through the pandemic and ain’t nobody to church in a minute. This album is for everybody who ain’t been to church or connected to God in a while who thinks they can’t go back. It ain’t really that deep. God is waiting for everybody to tap back in. No Church In A While is telling people there’s still hope, you can still turn to God no matter how long you’ve been away.”

To stream now No Church In A While, click here. [source: Jackie O & Co. LLC).

The Stellar Awards will take place on Saturday, July 16th in Atlanta, GA.

For a full list of 2022 Stellar Award nominees, please click here https://www.thestellarawards.com/2022nominees.html

Congratulations to Maverick City Music, who have been nominated for three 2022 K-Love Awards, which include Artist of the Year, Group/Duo of the Year and Worship Song of the Year for “Promises.”

Final voting for the K-Love Awards will be open immediately on Monday, May 16th at klovefanawards.com. The 2022 K-Love Awards will be held on May 29th at the Grand Ole Opry House in Nashville, Tennessee.

Congratulations to sixstepsrecords/Capitol Christian Music Group artist Crowder, who has been nominated for two 2022 K-Love Fan Awards — Artist of the Year and Male Artist of the Year.

These nominations arrive just weeks before the genre-defying artist is set to hit the road on his headline ‘My People Tour.’ Joined by special guests We The Kingdom, Anne Wilson and Patrick Mayberry, the 9-date amphitheater trek will kick off on June 9th in Orange Beach, AL, before making notable stops in Greensboro, NC, Austin, TX, and more. Fans can purchase tickets by visiting crowdermusic.com.

The 2022 K-Love Fan Awards will take place on Sun., May 29 at Nashville’s famed Grand Ole Opry House, and final voting is open now at klovefanawards.com.