Urban inspirational star and 5x Stellar Award-winner Pastor Mike Jr. just scored his third consecutive Billboard #1 song, with the hit single, “Amazing”. “Amazing” is an inspirational cover of the Gnarles Barkley classic, “Crazy”, that talks about the “amazing” goodness of God. The song was created during a performance flow in Jacksonville that went viral. Immediately he knew it was important to share the message and the moment with the rest of the world. Pastor Mike Jr. has given show-stopping performances of “Amazing” both at the 2021 Stellar Awards where he was named “Artist of the Year”, as well as at the 2022 Super Bowl (Source: Variety) Gospel concert special where he was accompanied by Ceelo Green.

When asked about the victory, Pastor Mike Jr. says, “I’ll never take moments like this for granted! To be a new artist, independent, and have three consecutive #1 singles is unprecedented! It’s proof God is doing the impossible!” He continues, “I’m grateful for my brother Jevon Hill producing it, and Adia Andrews co-writing it with me. None of this would have been possible without you two.” Along with celebrating being number one, he has been named as an ambassador for the 2022 World Games (Source: Billboard) to be hosted in Birmingham, AL and is also currently on the final ballot for the infamous Stellar Awards in EIGHT categories including “Song of the Year”, “Album of the Year” and the coveted “Artist of the Year” that he won last year.

Megachurch pastor turned gospel solo artist scores his first chart-topping song with his debut single, ‘Your Presence is a Gift’!  Smith has garnered worldwide attention with the single being promoted as “one of the top worship ballads of the year”. 

When asked of the awesome feat, Smith says, “I’m so overwhelmed! For decades, I didn’t pursue music because my older mentors advised me to focus on preaching.”

He continues, “During the pandemic, I decided to record this song to honor my deceased mother and to encourage people who were dealing with grief and loss. I wanted people to know that that regardless of the feelings of absence that we can have, God’s ‘Presence is a Gift’!” The song’s writers include E. Dewey Smith, Andrea Fisher, Darius Paulk, Elvis Williams, John Webb Jr. Jules Bartholomew, and Natalie Sims and was promoted to radio by Tracey Artis of I Hear Music.

While Smith is not only at the top of the charts for this amazing single, he is also on the final ballot FIVE TIMES for the biggest night in gospel music: The Stellars. He is currently nominated for “Male Artist of the Year”, “New Artist of the Year”, Traditional Male Artist of the Year”, “Traditional Album of the Year” and “Special Event Album of the Year”.

“Your Presence is A Gift” can be streamed on all digital platforms and hardcopies of the album, God Period, can be ordered on edeweysmith.org.

Acclaimed Christian vocal group The Ball Brothers are returning today from Romania and Ukraine, where they brought much-needed food supplies to Revival Baptist Church in Vizhnitsa, Ukraine, which is currently housing more than 100 displaced citizens. Using Cluj-Napoca, Romania, as a homebase, The Ball Brothers helped purchase and pack fresh produce, canned goods, flour, beans, rice, sugar, coffee and tea before traveling to Vizhnitsa in two cargo vans.

Along with delivering food items and spending time with Ukrainian families, The Ball Brothers provided special music for the church’s Orthodox Easter Sunday service. The group returned to Cluj-Napoca before departing home to the United States today.

“We went to Ukraine because we were invited by a local pastor who needed help housing and feeding more than 100 people,” said Daniel Ball. “We wanted to use the influence we have been given to help shine a light on some of the specific needs many Ukrainians have right now, as most of those who have been displaced from their homes haven’t left the country. After we arrived at the church, we helped hand out the supplies and had a chance to pray with many who were staying there. We then asked what else we could do for them. They began bringing us photos of their missing family members and a paper with handwritten names and numbers. I will never forget that.”

“My first mission trip was to Romania nearly 26 years ago,” said Andrew Ball. “Initially we had talked of returning to Romania to help Ukrainian refugees there, but the plan changed when we were contacted by those with needs on the southwestern side of Ukraine. We felt God was leading us to go and we couldn’t say no. Besides hearing testimonies of many of the refugees’ escapes, we shared another experience I’ll always remember. When we were able to sing for the church, most of those listening could not understand us. However, through an interpreter after the service, several Ukrainians told us that they could feel every note and every single word in their heart while we sang.”

Andrew and Daniel Ball first traveled to Romania in 1996, helping to deliver supplies to missionaries and orphanages. Since then, the brothers have returned to Romania five times, working with local churches, missionaries and NGOs.

Mixed Bag Entertainment just signed the hottest new gospel hip hop artist to hit the industry, “Miz Tiffany”. Miz Tiffany, hailing from Jackson, MS, is notably “the state’s first multi-award-winning Christian Hip Hop Artist” (Source: The Hype Magazine). In 2019, she made history as the first-ever female solo rap artist to receive an official Stellar Gospel Music Award nomination for Rap / Hip Hop Gospel CD of the Year.

Miz Tiffany is an active Voting Member of The Recording Academy|GRAMMYs, Gospel Music Association|Dove Awards, and a registered Songwriter|Composer|Performer at Broadcast Music, Inc. (BMI). Her artistry and musical releases have been Grammy-considered in several categories for the 61st, 62nd, and 64th Annual Grammy Awards. Her single, “I’m Souled” peaked twice at number 13 on Digital Radio Tracker’s Global Top 50 Gospel Airplay Chart as well as number 56 on the DRT Top 150 Independent Airplay Chart. She has shared the stage and various platforms with renowned artists including Tamar Braxton, Deitrick Haddon, Jonathan McReynolds, Erica Campbell, Canton Jones, Jekalyn Carr, Uncle Reece, Jor’Dan Armstrong, Emcee N.I.C.E., Brian Courtney Wilson, JJ Hairston, and among many others.

In addition to her music, modeling and books she’s written, Miz Tiffany also holds a budding career in acting. Since 2010, she has landed featured roles on both cable and network television. She played a farmer on Season 2 of Queen Sugar, and earned a core featured role on Season 4 of Fox’s Empire as Shyne’s children’s mother. She is the first female Gospel Rap artist in history to perform on the legendary Dr. Bobby Jones Presents television showcase, and the first Gospel rapper to be awarded and honored during Jackson Music Awards 40th Annual Mississippi Gospel Music awards as “Mississippi Spotlight Artist of the Year” and a “Woman in Gospel, Making Things Happen.”

When asked about Mixed Bag’s new artist, A&R Director Da’ T.R.U.T.H. states, “I believe Miz Tiffany is one of the most important female voices of our generation. I believe the transparency, storytelling, wisdom and truth displayed in her music will help set a generation free.” Mixed Bag Entertainment CEO Gary Crockett concurs with “Miz Tiffany is the next best thing.  She has a great foundation, forged with rich tradition and tinged with cultural awareness.  She has a certain vibrance and authenticity that can’t be bought.  Mixed Bag Entertainment is ecstatic to bring her to prominence.” Mixed Bag Entertainment is known within the industry for its work with notable names including Joshua Rogers (BET Sunday Best Season 5 Winner), and Virtue.

Singer/songwriter, and newest Centricity Music artist, Katy Nichole, hits No. 1 for the first time this week with “In Jesus Name (God of Possible)” on both Billboard’s Christian Airplay and AC Indicator charts. “Making history, the song reaches the Christian Airplay penthouse in its 12th week, completing the quickest jaunt to No. 1 for a female artist’s first entry in the chart’s 19-year history,” notes Billboard. The viral debut single also continues its sixth week atop the Billboard Hot Christian Songs chart while topping the iTunes Christian & Gospel Songs chart for 12 consecutive weeks.

With over 70 events added to her calendar since the release of “In Jesus Name (God of Possible),” Nichole will be featured at Alive Fest 2022 (July 15) along with Skillet and more, Unite At The Cross Music Festival (July 16) with We Are Messengers and others, SoulFest (Aug. 6) with Crowder, Colton Dixon, etc., and Rock The Smokies (Aug. 27) with TobyMac and Newsboys. She also has additional solo events over the next couple months, as well as concerts with Big Daddy Weave and Zach Williams. All the latest tour details can be found at https://katynichole.com/.

21-year-old Nichole created “In Jesus Name (God of Possible)” from words in her prayer journal that were written in the midst of a global health crisis and in response to her own story of suffering, hope and healing. She suffered for years with scoliosis before a new doctor took out the metal rods that had been placed in her back and her spine miraculously went straight, no longer giving her pain. See an inspiring visual story of her going from bedridden to where she is at today at www.instagram.com/p/CcOQDlxvobh.

Now, well over 150 million people across a wide variety of backgrounds around the world have heard the “In Jesus Name (God of Possible)” chorus. Nearly eight million have seen video of Katy listening to her song on radio for the first time (TikTok / Facebook) while over two million have watched her first concept music video on YouTube. Thousands more are sharing the song along with their own heartwarming, sometimes heartbreaking, stories on TikTok as the viral track continues to circle the globe. Katy has also released a piano version of the song.

While her first single is a worshipful anthem ready-made for roomfuls of people to sing, it only reveals one facet of this multidimensional artist who is working on her debut EP to release in June, again drawing from her journal and well of life experiences.

How Far, the long-awaited full-length debut from one of Christian music’s leading female artists, Tasha Layton, is set for release May 13 from BEC Recordings. Produced by GRAMMY and Dove Award winner Keith Everette Smith, the definitive 10-song set brims with soaring ballads and bright pop gems, putting Layton’s signature vocals front and center to extol themes of Hope and encouragement.

Anchored by Layton’s #1 single “Look What You’ve Done” and her 2020 breakout hit “Into the Sea (It’s Gonna Be OK),” How Far showcases four newly recorded selections, including the debut single and title-cut set to impact radio today, April 29. A victorious anthem of assurance that God’s grace cannot be outrun, “How Far” proclaims: “A million miles of my mistakes still couldn’t keep Your love away/However far away I am from home/that’s how far Your love will go.”

“The whole album is summed up in the message of the title track, ‘How Far,’” Layton shares. “It’s about how God continues to reach out and pursue us even when we run from Him. It was God’s love for us that propelled Him to give His life on the cross. Arms stretched open wide—that’s how far He will go.”
 
Layton co-wrote nine of the project’s 10 tracks, and How Far also features songwriting contributions from such names as Matthew West, We Are Messengers’ Darren Mulligan, Matt Hammitt, Aaron Shust, Ethan Hulse and Andrew Bergthold (We The Kingdom), among others.

Additional highlights of How Far include the shimmering synth-pop opener “Help Me Let Go”; “Catch My Breath,” a plea for respite amidst the stress of life; and a new rendition of the worship anthem “Joy Comes In The Morning,” which Layton originally recorded with Franklin, Tennessee’s Church of the City worship team.

“I didn’t shy away from any hard emotions with these songs, and I really tried to lean in and hear what God had to say about each of them,” Layton says of How Far. “My hope is that listeners feel a sense of freedom in this album, understanding that God meets us even in the darkest of hours. The album speaks to God’s intimate involvement in our lives, from the mundane to the biggest moments, throughout each and every season. God is in all of those things with us. He cares; He’s kind; and He’s working all things out for our good.”

Layton’s 2021 smash hit “Look What You’ve Done” reached the pinnacle of Billboard’s Christian Airplay chart and earned her recognition as one of the publication’s Top 5 female Christian artists of the year. She has been featured on ABC’s GMA3: What You Need To Know, discussing how past struggles have shaped her life and inspired her music; and Layton served as co-host of the 52nd GMA Dove Awards Pre-Telecast last year. Her six-song holiday EP This Is Christmas bowed in October and her guided prayer journal, “Boundless: Moving Freedom From Your Head To Your Heart,” also released last fall.

In 2020 Layton was first named one of Billboard’s Top 5 female Christian artists of the year on the heels of her breakthrough single “Into The Sea (It’s Gonna Be OK),” which was among the biggest hits at Christian radio that year. Prior to her solo career, Layton appeared on Season 9 of American Idol and spent four years as a back-up vocalist for pop superstar Katy Perry. A South Carolina native, her voice has been heard in productions for Disneyland and Cirque du Soleil; she has served as an instructor at the National Praise and Worship Institute at Nashville’s Trevecca Nazarene University; and Layton is featured in pro-audio company TC Helicon’s book, “The Ultimate Guide to Singing.”

The legendary R&B group, The Whispers, known for classic dance cuts such as “Rock Steady” and “And the Beat Goes On,” are back in the news with two upbeat club remixes that will keep their fans dancing. As the group grooves towards its 60^th anniversary next year, GRAMMY Award winning Chicago Club DJ, Maurice Joshua (who has remixed tracks by the likes of Beyoncé, Janet Jackson, and Mariah Carey), has remixed “Praise His Holy Name” – a track from the group’s 2009 urban inspirational album, “Thankful” (Kingdom Records), with brilliant results.

The feel-good track about divine blessings was written by the Whispers and their longtime music producer, Magic Mendez. The Steppers remix is smooth with swag, and true to the Steppin’ style of dance that harks back to the 1970s when Chicago DJ Sam Chatman coined the term. “I had a friend of mine [Johnny Draper] who used to come to my events, and he would dance with his girlfriend,” Chatman told Chicago’s ABC TV affiliate in 2020. “They would break away from each other and he would sort of walk back towards her and it looked like he was stepping. I would say, `Step on Draper, step on.’ I kept on saying the words `Step on’ and it stuck.”

 The other new remix is a fiery House Remix. The mid-tempo rhythm segues into an aggressive beat with punchy organ swells as Scotty solos and scats on top of Walter and Leaveil’s smooth harmonies.  “Doing the Whispers remix was very exciting for myself,” says Maurice Joshua. “I grew up spinning the Whispers and playing their music as a DJ throughout the decades. Just to hear the stems and their slick vocal harmonies was wonderous. It was a wonderful and joyous feeling just to be part of their legacy and having  touched such a great record… It was so inspiring.”

When originally released, the Thankful album peaked at No. 3 on Billboard’s Top Gospel Albums sales chart and spent 45 weeks on the survey. Aside from their many R&B chart hits, they are no strangers to Billboard Dance Club Songs chart. On it, they’ve scored several Top Ten hits such as “In the Raw,”  “Up on Soul Train” and “Rock Steady.” The former quintet is now a trio of twins Wallace (aka Scotty) and Walter Scott, and Leaveil Degree. In 2000, Marcus Hutson passed of prostate cancer, and in 2016, Nicholas Caldwell died of congestive heart failure.

To listen or download the Steppers Remix: https://smarturl.it/PHHNSteppersMix

To listen or download the House Remix: https://smarturl.it/PHHNHouseMix

Nigerian Youths of Christian Faith are set to begin “The Father’s House” Reality TV Show, to combine spiritual and socio-economic principles towards promoting moral culture and national development.

The Father’s House Reality TV Show is a God-inspired Faith-based development project intentionally designed to process the multi-dimensional benefits of redemption into a real-time solution module for Nigeria and Africa at large. It is the first of its kind.

Addressing Pressmen in Abuja on Friday, the Project Director of the Reality TV Show, David Ibrahim worried that the media space in the last 2 decades has exposed children to toxic contents that have evolved into cultural structures.

Ibrahim said that the 13 custodians from different denominations will have various tasks towards promoting improved moral content for the media as well as brainstorming toward proffering solutions to the several economic challenges bedeviling Nigeria while entertaining its cumulative 200 million viewers for 40 days.

“We have received several questions from different people, and some of those questions are bordering on why should the church community have a reality TV show? Is it necessary? And how will it be, comparing it with other things that have happened? We are going to be hosting or housing selected Christian youths from different denominations; those from the Roman Catholic background, those from the Pentecostal background, and those from the Celestial Church background. We are bringing them together for 40 days and their core assignment is to answer several challenges bedeviling our country, Nigeria

“They are going to have assignments, there are things they are going to be doing. It will interest you to know that dignitaries will come into the house to launch several projects, and these projects are going to have a strong bearing on the lives of people, practically.

“Our country has been labeled the poverty capital of the world, one of the unsafe places to give birth to children, one of the most insecure zones on Earth. And our country has been also labeled one of the most religious places on earth. It’s a sharp contrast! How can people that are crying to God every day be number one in areas of negatives, there is a knowledge gap, there is an action gap and that knowledge and action gap is going to be breached by the father’s house.”

He said that the show is non-denominational for viewers as it is National development-oriented. He also stated that the show will open on 30th April while the house will open for the custodians by 8th May 2022.

According to him, the show is being sponsored by young people across Nigeria as a result of its importance. He assured that the show will not sell immoral content, but will deploy state-of-the-art equipment to ensure inspiring and innovative content.

“We are going to use state-of-the-art equipment, a very serene and aesthetic environment to interpret the Word of God in such a way that the ordinary man on the street can understand. And I’m sure one of the questions bordering your mind is, is this for Christians? The program is designed even for non-Christians to watch. A Muslim can watch it, a traditionalist can watch it, and an atheist can also watch the Father’s house. It is going to be entertaining, it is going to be inspiring, but it is going to be national development-oriented.

“We have young people across Nigeria that are volunteers for this project. They have worked hard to this point. And we have the fathers of faith across different divides that have not just prayed for this program, they are also going to be full supporters of the program. What we want to create for 40 days, Nigeria, Africa and the rest of the world will not recover from what will happen in the Father’s house because we are bringing content that has not been seen before. We are not going to sell nudity, we are not going to sell profanity, we are not going to sell vulgar languages; no we cannot do that. But we are bringing inspiration, innovation, creativity that can keep the whole family glued to the television almost 24 hours a day,” he added

John Cooper, lead-singer/bassist for the 12x-platinum and GRAMMY-nominated rock band SKILLET, will join FOX & Friends this Sunday, April 24, for a special broadcast live from the Talladega Super Speedway during NASCAR’s GEICO 500 Race. Now a best-selling author and podcaster as well, Cooper will also lead the Motor Racing Outreach (MRO) Chapel Service for drivers that afternoon before the race begins.

“This is my first-ever NASCAR race, and I’m so pumped!,” he says. “It will be so awesome to see Pete [Hegseth], Will [Cain] and Rachel [Campos-Duffy] in person finally as well, and not on zoom! Can’t wait!”

Skillet recently wrapped a headline run for Winter Jam 2022 across the U.S., and after post-poning twice due to COVID, will finally return to Europe for a summer trek of eight countries, including Austria, France, Italy, Switzerland and the UK. Unfortunately, previously scheduled dates in both the Ukraine and Russia had to be cancelled. The band recently posted a video on their socials showing their support for Ukraine with footage from previous tour dates in the country.  Skillet has amassed a rabid international fanbase throughout their career, selling out arenas in 26 countries and four continents. For all Skillet tour info, visit Skillet.com.

Skillet’s latest, DOMINION, is out now, and boasts the active rock single “Surviving the Game” as well as the current Christian radio track, “Refuge.”  DOMINION released on the heels of celebrating the RIAA triple-platinum status of their landmark album Awake, while three of its hit tracks recevied new certs as well: “Awake & Alive,” 2x-platinum; “Hero,” 3x-platinum, and “Monster,” already one of the most-streamed rock songs in history with over 4 billion global audio streams, hit 4x-platinum status.

Cooper’s debut, best-selling book, Awake & Alive to Truth, has had over 10 printings and won the Book Impact Award at the 2021 K-LOVE FAN AWARDS. Available at www.johnlcooper.com/awake,  the Kindle and physical editions are also available on Amazon. His podcast, Cooperstuff, continues to grow rapidly as well with an average weekly audience of more than 100,000 weekly listeners and over 2.5 million downloads.

SiriusXM announced the launch of Holy Culture Radio, a new spiritually-inspired talk and music channel beginning today.

Holy Culture Radio is the home for everything Christian Hip-Hop and Rhythm & Praise. Its programming will focus on themes of Faith, Art, Vocation, and Education, unifying three foundational things listeners are looking for: connection to popular culture, connection to their faith, and success in their careers.

The range of shows on the channel will include The Christ Revolution Music, hosted by Bryant Tabb, which focuses on Christian Hip-Hop and features interviews with artists, producers and DJs. Old School Sounds, hosted by DJ D-Lite, takes listeners back to the genre’s beginnings. Holy Culture Radio will also include Straight Ministry Heat Mix, where host DJ I Rock Jesus introduces people to The Gospel of Jesus Christ, and The Underground Gospel Hip-Hop Show, where Jay Williams helps to launch indie faith-based artists, personifying the notion of having a great time while inspiring listeners with meaningful messages. Also featured is The DJ Wade-O Radio Show which marks the return of DJ Wade-O to the radio world. DJ Wade-O is best known for his spinning skills and insightful interviews with artists, pastors, and leaders within the Christian Hip-Hop community.

Music mix shows will help provide the soundtrack for various times in listeners’ days with music specially curated for those moments, including The Get-Up Morning Mix of songs and messages to inspire and start mornings off right, Sunday Morning Mix designed to help get praise and worship on and Prime MT Mix with a wide variety of music combined with empowering conversations, curated and presented by James Rosseau and other tastemakers.

Talk shows will include K.I.N.G Talks, with open discussions on life with the intent of creating an environment of effective communication and an atmosphere of compassion and understanding, Da Fixx Radio Show, which features real talk topics referencing everything from theological dialogue to trending topics, and Church on the Block, where Pastor Phil Jackson engages in all-encompassing discussions and theological breakdowns of hip-hop and street culture and how the church can deliver hope.

Holy Culture Radio is owned and operated by The Corelink Solution, a non-profit organization whose mission statement is to deliver a curriculum designed to help people develop their passion and purpose, create an informed plan, use tools to help them succeed and establish accountability and ownership.

“I am beyond excited about this union between Holy Culture and SiriusXM!” said James Rosseau, founder of The Corelink Solution and on-air personality on Holy Culture Radio. “Introducing the platform’s first Christian Hip-Hop channel with music and talk allows us to extend our ‘head and heart’ community revitalization mission through systems of learning and cultural enrichment, focusing on African-Americans. Having struggled to gain self-confidence in my youth, I understand the need for culturally relevant support systems. As we launch this new channel, we are expanding our programming with a host of shows that deliver a life-changing experience through progressive music and empowering conversations.”

Holy Culture Radio will be available to listeners nationwide on the SXM App and on select SiriusXM radios (channel 154) beginning today, April 21.

SiriusXM carries Holy Culture Radio as part of its Qualified Entity program, which focuses on selecting programming representing diverse viewpoints and/or diverse entertainment content; improved service to historically underserved audiences; original content of a type not otherwise available to SiriusXM subscribers; and access to new sources of content and new entrants to mass media.