Norman Lee Schaffer, who has shared the stage with country music superstars such as Johnny Cash, George Jones, Kenny Rogers, Loretta Lynn, and Willie Nelson, is releasing a new single today titled “Come and Hold Me.”

The song, written by the pastor, singer/songwriter, and veteran entertainer, goes for adds to Christian AC and Inspirational-formatted radio outlets.

“My new single,” Schaffer explains, “is a cry out to the Father, ‘Lord, I need a hug!’ And because we have been shown compassion, mercy, and love, we, too, as followers of Jesus, are to show love to the rest of the world. Brothers and sisters, find somebody to hug today.

It’s time to change the world with ‘Operation Hug Somebody, Come and Hold Me” is from Schaffer’s 10th studio album, “That’s My King.” The single was produced by Schaffer, Tracy Collins, and Ronny Cates.

Schaffer has spent most of his life as an entertainer and has appeared on local and national television with his music receiving national airplay.

Schaffer and his family, including his wife, four children, and one grandson, live in Florida where they planted and have served The Garden Worship Center for the past 13 years.

As the pastor of The Garden Worship Center, Schaffer is known for bringing theatrics and performance-based presentations to his congregation.

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In celebration of Friday’s release of Psalms, Hymns, and Spiritual Songs (Live), renowned worship trailblazers Shane & Shane will host a livestream this Thursday, March 16 at 7:00 pm CT to premier the video of the complete live recording. Streaming on the duo’s YouTube and Facebook channels, the free watch party will include a special message from Shane & Shane.

Releasing March 17, Psalms, Hymns, and Spiritual Songs (Live) was recorded at Liberty University in Lynchburg, Virginia, and captures a powerful night of worship with students. The 10-song set was produced by Bryan Fowler (TobyMac, Chris Tomlin) along with Shane Barnard, who also co-wrote each track.

Among the project’s highlights are two newly penned songs: debut single “You’ve Already Won,” a victorious proclamation of the finished work of Christ written by Shane Barnard and Bryan Fowler; and “All Sufficient Merit,” penned by Bethany Barnard, Shane Barnard and Bryan Fowler in praise of Jesus’ ultimate sacrifice.

Shane Barnard and Shane Everett have been internationally acclaimed worship leaders and preeminent songwriters of the genre for more than two decades. With a mission to write and record music that is biblically based, lyrically rich and sonically engaging, Shane & Shane have released 40 albums; garnered more than 613 million streams; over 100 million YouTube views; and two million combined monthly listeners on Spotify and Apple Music to date.

Their signature songs include “You’re Beautiful,” “Psalm 23 (Surely Goodness, Surely Mercy)” and “You’re Worthy of It All,” among countless others. Shane & Shane are also founders and leaders of Dallas-based The Worship Initiative. The equipping ministry offers a library of hundreds of popular worship songs; more than 30 original albums; team training materials; instrument tutorials; and song-based devotionals, along with many other resources.

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.

Renowned, Macon, GA-based Radiate Music songwriter and powerhouse vocalist JJ Weeks returns after more than a two-year hiatus from releasing new music with the first single, “Graveyard,” from his upcoming full-length debut solo album.

“Graveyard” was co-written by Weeks, GRAMMY-nominated, two-time Dove Award-winning “Producer of the Year” Ian Eskelin (who also produced the track), five-time Dove Award winner Tony Wood and Dove Award-winning and GRAMMY-nominated Michael Farren.

Delivering a passionate vocal performance, Weeks is joined by a chorus of voices on the single, emphasizing Christians’ hope for the here and now and beyond.

“The greatest victory that ever happened in humankind’s history happened in a graveyard,” says Weeks. “That is where our God, Jesus Christ, stood up and defeated death, hell and the grave.

“I’ve noticed in my own life that there have been moments where it seems like everything is falling apart,” continues Weeks. “It’s at those moments when all seems hopeless and desperate that I’ve seen God show up and do amazing things in my life.

That’s what this song is all about. You may be facing a situation where you don’t understand what in the world is going on, but hang in there because the greatest victories happen in a graveyard.”

Graveyard – JJ Weeks

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The new single follows Weeks’ acclaimed The Sound Of Freedom EP that features the radio single and CCM Magazine-premiered title track along with “Choices” and the hopeful anthem, “Days Like These.”

Singing his new music and fan favorites while on tour, Weeks is currently on his My Porch Tour featuring special guest and labelmate Justin Warren. 

BEC Recordings announces the release from worship collective KingsPorch, God Is In This House, available today. KingsPorch is birthed from the house church movement in Austin, TX. Click here to listen to God Is In This House.

“It is exciting for us to release these songs that we’ve been singing at our house churches into the hands of worship leaders – we’ve seen God take a song from our living room around the world before, and we’re simply placing this record in His hands in the same way,” shares KingsPorch founder and songwriter Jesse Reeves.

Produced by Steve Fee, KingsPorch’s newest project aims to record the songs as they are sung in their living rooms with the fewest instruments and tracks possible – very opposite of most modern worship albums. The goal is to equip local worship leaders with songs that can be sung at their church whether it be in a house, a Bible study, or a mega church. The title track is a perfect example as it was actually written with Drew Bodine, the worship leader of Central Live in Las Vegas, a very large congregation, but it also resonates at KingsPorch gatherings with a living room full of families.

KingsPorch was planted by Jesse Reeves and his wife in Austin after they were also part of planting the Austin Stone Church in 2002  and Passion City Church in 2008. Reeves is a prolific songwriter in the worship realm as he spent 17 years leading worship and touring with Chris Tomlin and penning many songs that are sung each week internationally. He co-write “How Great Is Our God,” “Our God,” “Lord, I Need You,” and most recently the powerful anthem and Dove-nominated song, “I Speak Jesus,” which was the No. 2 song at Multi-Tracks for 2022 and is gaining traction on the CCLI chart. “I Speak Jesus” has been covered by Charity Gayle (version nominated for “Worship Song of the Year,” GMA Dove Awards), Here Be Lions, Darlene Zschech, Newsboys, and Passion to name a few.

“It seems like I get an email or text daily of videos of ‘I Speak Jesus’ from all over the world,” Reeves shares. “Most recently, it was sent to me several times from the outpouring at Asbury. I just watched it and wept. Only God could take a song from a writing retreat in Montana to a house church in Austin, TX, and blow it like the wind all over the world.”

Produced by Steve Fee, KingsPorch’s newest project aims to record the songs as they are sung in their living rooms with the fewest instruments and tracks possible – very opposite of most modern worship albums. The goal is to equip local worship leaders with songs that can be sung at their church whether it be in a house, a Bible study, or a mega church. The title track is a perfect example as it was actually written with Drew Bodine, the worship leader of Central Live in Las Vegas, a very large congregation, but it also resonates at KingsPorch gatherings with a living room full of families.

KingsPorch is comprised of Britton and Carrie Hardcastle, Taylor DeLange, Justin Cofield, Marla Bernard, Alex Howard, Jesse Reeves (bass guitar), and features Steve Fee (piano, acoustic guitar), Matt Butler (cello), Nathan Jennings (drums and percussion).

Curb | Word Entertainment’s We Are Messengers captures the essence of home on a fresh EP, Hills Of Tyrone, which dropped last month — listen HERE.

Hills Of Tyrone is especially close to the heart of front man Darren Mulligan, who holds songwriting credit on each of the collection’s deeply personal tracks. The intimate and sparsely produced project, on which Kyle Williams (TobyMac, Brandon Heath) helms production with additional help from Ben Shive (Ellie Holcomb, MercyMe), brings the warmth of Mulligan’s native Ireland to life with seven original songs honoring family, legacy and a place he will always belong.

With introspective lyrics that find the lead singer reflecting on his roots, the EP boasts tender love songs dedicated to his wife, wisdom for his young children and stories about his lineage woven into a musical tapestry that transports listeners to the Emerald Isle.

The official music video for the title track debuted today and can be seen below.

Hills Of Tyrone – We Are Messengers

Nigerian born Eccentric singer and Jazz artist, Rita Meroh has released a new single titled “Bestie”.

The song talks about the Holy spirit and the awesome friendship God has with man. According to Rita, what inspired her to do this song was God; “I got to a point in my life where I felt the need to pursue stronger relationship with God”, Rita said.

“Bestie” is a smooth, pretty, soulful and warm Jazz music which will put you in a relax mood and remind of God’s amazing relationship with Man.

This is My commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one’s life for his friends. You are My friends if you do whatever I command you. No longer do I call you servants, for a servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all things that I heard from My Father I have made known to you. You did not choose Me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit, and that your fruit should remain, that whatever you ask the Father in My name He may give you. These things I command you, that you love one another. – John 15:12-17

Rita Meroh is a songwriter and an eccentric singer. She is drawn to rich sounds and her versatility cuts across many genres, although she is more focused on Jazz music. She is a wife and a Mum.

Rita Meroh – Bestie

Watch “Bestie” Music Video Below;

Globally celebrated worship music icon, Don Moen, has released Worship Today with Don Moen. This latest project is available now on all major digital streaming platforms.

“Worship Today with Don Moen” features Don’s interpretations of some of the most popular praise and worship songs, including “10,000 Reasons (Bless the Lord),” “What A Beautiful Name,” “In Christ Alone,” “How Great Is Our God,” and many more. With a worldwide audience, Don is excited about taking these beloved songs to an even broader audience.

Reflecting on the project, Don shared, “During my time at Integrity Music, a big part of my job was to pick great songs. Over the years, I learned that simple melodies and lyrics with a Gospel message can transcend generations, denominations, and cultures. These songs resonate with the listener and eventually reach the church all over the world. Worship Today with Don Moen features songs that have become modern anthems in our churches along with a new generation of songs that I believe will be sung for years to come.”

Worship Today with Don Moen is now available on all major digital streaming platforms.

Worship Today – Don Moen

ABOUT DON MOEN: 

Don Moen, a pioneer of the modern Praise and Worship movement, has spent his career as a worship leader, producer, songwriter, and music executive. Moen has sold over 5 MILLION records during his career. While a student at Oral Roberts University in the early 70s, Moen began touring with the musical group Living Sound and evangelist Terry Law. By 1986, Moen had recorded “Give Thanks” for the Hosanna Music! praise and worship series at Integrity Music, where he would serve as creative director, executive producer, and eventually, president of the label. During his tenure there, he sold more than 5 million units and signed worship leaders and songwriters, such as Paul Baloche, Ron Kenoly, Darlene Zschech, and many more. Today, Moen lives in Nashville, Tenn., with his wife, Laura, where he is president of Don Moen Productions and oversees his international nonprofit ministry, Worship in Action.

CONNECT WITH DON MOEN:

www.DonMoen.com

facebook.com/DonMoenMusic

instagram.com/DonMoen

twitter.com/DonMoen

Anointed gospel music minister and producer, Evans Ogboi offers up a brand new song and video titled “Holy Spirit Come.”

As captured in the scriptures, “But when the Comforter is come, whom I will send unto you from the Father, even the Spirit of truth, which proceedeth from the Father, he shall testify of me.” – John 15:26 (KJV).

The songwriter par excellence, shares this declarative song of surrender to the Holy Spirit and opens up on the need for total surrender to the Holy Spirit.

The song was produced by Evans Ogboi for Simplicity records.

Holy Spirit Come – Evans Ogboi

Watch Video Below: