Marvin Sapp has a new radio single, and it is a song that he just debuted on TV ONE’S Urban One Honors.

Written by Sapp along with Jarmone Davis, Christopher Leach and Aaron Lindsey, “You Kept Me” is the follow-up to “All in Your Hands,” which reached #1 at Gospel radio and earned a nomination for the 54^th NAACP Image Awards in the Outstanding Gospel/Christian Song category.

“You Kept Me” shines as a gorgeous ballad, offering a thank-you to God for keeping us through the highs and lows of life. “One of the emotions in this season of emerging from the COVID-19 pandemic is thankfulness and gratitude to God simply for keeping us in tact – health wise, emotionally, financially, all of it. Many people did not come out on the other side of this, we did because God kept us. You Kept Me reflects our gratitude for that,” says Sapp.

You Kept Me – Marvin Sapp

“When I first heard ‘You Kept Me,’ I knew Marvin Sapp’s iconic voice would be perfect for the song. As the producer, co-writer and musician on the song, I knew that our charge was to help explain the faithfulness of God and allow listeners to feel encouraged and blessed by the message of the lyrics,” says Lindsey. “I hope that people feel this message, even within the song’s craftsmanship. Every detail that we added – every inversion, every inflection, every arrangement, every choice – was to communicate that no matter where you are in your life, God is right there with you and will never leave you nor forsake you.”

“You Kept Me” is the second single from Sapp’s 14th album, Substance (Elev8/ThirtyTigers), which is available now everywhere digital music is sold.

It’s beginning to look a lot like award show season, and Marvin Sapp has landed his 7^th Soul Train Music Award nomination just weeks after celebrating his single “All In Your Hands” reaching the #1 position on Billboard’s Gospel Airplay Chart. He is nominated in the Best Gospel/Inspirational category.

6Marvin Sapp is a two-time Soul Train Music Award winner, and remains excited anytime his name is announced as a nominee. “I love that the Soul Train Music Awards continue the great tradition of celebrating Black joy through song,” says Sapp. “It is an honor and a privilege to be among those considered to have released music this year that made people smile and gave people a sense of hope.”

2022 has marked numerous firsts for Sapp, including the first album released on his own record label, the TVONE premiere of the biopic Never Would Have Made It: The Marvin Sapp Story, and being officially crowned a “Billion Spinner” on Pandora. Still, the “preacher who happens to sing” has remained a consistent, in-person presence at The Chosen Vessel Cathedral where he is Senior Pastor. Currently celebrating three years at the Fort Worth, Texas based church, Sapp and his pastoral team recently oversaw a mass baptism of more than 100 people.

“I began pastoring at a new church in a new city just months before the height of the COVID19 pandemic. We had virtual services for almost two years, so this year has been one of renewed focus and revitalization at the Chosen Vessel Cathedral. The mass baptism was a time of refreshing for all of us.”

Sapp is nominated for his 15^th album, Substance. The album debuted #1 when it was released, making it the singer’s seventh consecutive number one Gospel album debut. It also debuted #3 on the Top Christian/Gospel Albums sales chart. 

Substance is available now everywhere digital music is sold.

This week, TV One hosted the official red-carpet premiere for its highly anticipated and long-awaited biopic “Never Would Have Made It: The Marvin Sapp Story” based on the life of gospel legend Marvin Sapp. The film premieres Sunday, August 21 at 9 P.M. ET/8C only on TV One. Held at the Regal Atlantic Station in Atlanta, the event was packed with star power including the icon himself, Marvin Sapp alongside film stars Chaz Lamar Shepherd, Ambre Anderson, Stormy Merriweather, Zoe Greene and Jayden Griffin. Other notable attendees included director, Russ Parr, Executive Producers Phil Thornton and Keith Neal and President of TV One Michelle Rice.

In the days leading up to the premiere of the film, Sapp has much to celebrate. He was surprised by the Pandora team with the Billionaire Award celebrating more than one billion streams on the platform on Thursday at the National Museum of African American Music. There is also a re-release of his classic hit “Never Would Have Made It” out today. The impassioned unplugged version of the song continues to bring people to their feet 16 years after it was first released. The song is available for purchase and on all streaming platforms now.

Buzz has reached a fever pitch since the world premiere of the trailer exclusively within the Stellar Awards last month. Fans and industry insiders alike have been waiting to see the retelling of this legendary journey told through the lens of the man who lived it. From an intimate screening in his home state of Michigan to a prestigious showing during the Martha’s Vineyard African American Film Festival and a special premiere at his home church The Chosen Vessel Cathedral in Fort Worth, Texas, “Never Would Have Made It” has resonated with audiences through its powerful storytelling and dynamic cast. In Nashville this week, the film will wrap up its movie premiere run with a special screening at the National Museum of African American Music in Nashville.

Marvin Sapp’s biopic chronicles the prominent gospel music artist and preacher’s Michigan upbringing, battle against teenage alcohol abuse, love for his wife MaLinda Prince, rise in the music industry and growth in his faith. Sapp came into prominence more than 30 years ago as a member of the iconic gospel group Commissioned and is widely known for his award-winning, chart-topping crossover hit “Never Would Have Made It.” Currently, he is an author, radio show host and senior pastor of The Chosen Vessel Cathedral in Fort Worth, Texas and pastor emeritus of Lighthouse Full Life Center in Grand Rapids, Michigan – the church he founded with his late wife, MaLinda Prince Sapp.

The film is directed by Russ Parr and produced for TV One by Swirl Films, with Eric F. Tomosunas, James Seppelfrick and Keith Neal serving as Executive Producers. Additionally, Marvin Sapp and Phil Thornton are Executive Producers. For TV One, Jason Ryan is the Executive Producer in Charge of Production, Donyell Kennedy-McCullough is Senior Director of Talent & Casting and Susan Henry is Senior Director of Original Programming and Production.

Marvin Sapp’s 15^th album release debuts at #1 on Billboard’s Current Gospel Albums chart, making it Sapp’s seventh consecutive #1 Gospel album debut. The album also lands at #3 on the Top Christian/Gospel Albums Sales chart. This is an especially notable achievement for the artist, also a newly minted label owner, who released the album on his Elev8 Music & Entertainment imprint distributed through ThirtyTigers. 

Substance offers a contemporary yet timeless Marvin Sapp sound, which is consistent without being predictable, and brilliantly written with biblically-centered lyrics. The lead single, “All In Your Hands,” has earned Sapp a nomination for the 2022 Dr. Bobby Jones Best Gospel/Inspirational BET Award . Sapp recently performed the luminous song on ABCs “Sound of Freedom” Juneteenth special currently streaming on Hulu.  

“All In Your Hands” is one of 11 reflective and refreshing tracks on Substance that are intended to provide listeners with a renewed sense of hope, uplift and faith.  

Substance, the new album from Marvin Sapp, is available now everywhere digital music is sold.

TV One announced today that filming for its Marvin Sapp biopic is underway. Chaz Lamar Shepherd (“Marvel’s Luke Cage” “The Game”) will take on the lead role as Marvin Sapp. Joining Shepherd is Ambre Anderson (“Power Book II” “Manifest Evil”) who is cast as Sapp’s wife, MaLinda Prince Sapp. The film is scheduled for an August 21 release on TV One.

“It is an honor to tell Marvin Sapp’s life story,” said TV One’s Executive Producer, Jason Ryan. “His vast contributions to gospel and American music are undeniable. We know this film will resonate with our viewers.”

The Marvin Sapp biopic chronicles the prominent gospel music artist and preacher’s Michigan upbringing, battle against teenage alcohol abuse, love for MaLinda Prince, rise in the music industry and growth in his faith. Sapp came into prominence more than 30 years ago as a member of Commissioned and is widely known for his award-winning, chart-topping crossover hit “Never Would Have Made It.” Currently, he is an author, radio show host and senior pastor of The Chosen Vessel Cathedral in Fort Worth, Texas and pastor emeritus of Lighthouse Full Life Center in Grand Rapids, Michigan – the church he founded with his late wife.

The film is directed by Russ Parr and produced for TV One by Swirl Films, with Eric F. Tomosunas, James Seppelfrick and Keith Neal serving as Executive Producers. Additionally, Marvin Sapp and Phil Thornton are Executive Producers. For TV One, Jason Ryan is the Executive Producer in Charge of Production, Donyell Kennedy-McCullough is Senior Director of Talent & Casting and Susan Henry is Senior Director of Original Programming and Production.

For more information about TV One’s upcoming programming, including original movies, visit the network’s companion website at http://www.tvone.tv. TV One viewers can also join the conversation by connecting via social media on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.

Marvin Sapp is an artist of vast repertoire and style, and he is a singer with an undeniable musical signature. There is a certain way that Sapp punctuates songs with unbridled, deeply felt emotion that beckons from a place of someone who knows what they are singing about. It is the place where tested faith resides – a place where most people have been, are or will be going. Demonstrating through song that there is victory in that faith-tested place is Marvin Sapp’s signature, and it shows up in stunning fashion on his new single “All In Your Hands,” which is available today everywhere digital music is sold.

Written by Sapp and frequent collaborator Stan Jones, “All In Your Hands” is a befitting song for today’s unimaginably unstable times. It is a melodious reminder to relinquish worry, anxiety, fear and doubt to the ever-knowing God who has an answer before the question is even asked. Produced by Aaron Lindsey, the track is spare, luminous and sublime. Vocally, Sapp simply shines. Described by the New York Times as an “exuberant, nimble and impassioned singer” – Sapp holds absolutely nothing back on this beautiful song.

“If there is one thing that I know it is that God is sovereign,” says Sapp. “When I first heard this song, I actually had already selected a debut single, but I knew this is what we needed to lead with. Whatever we are going through individually, and everything that the world is going through collectively, it is absolutely ALL in God’s hands. I’m honored to be able to bring this song to life to remind us of just that.”

“All In Your Hands” is available now everywhere digital music is sold. Marvin Sapp’s 14^th album, Substance, will be released June 10^th on Elev8 Media & Entertainment/Thirty Tigers.

The indefatigable gospel singer Marvin Sapp is up for two 2021 Dove Awards. His 13^th album, Chosen Vessel, is nominated for Traditional Gospel Album of the Year, while the album’s lead single – “Thank You For It All” – received a Song of the Year nod.

Written by Sapp, with Aaron Lindsey, Christopher Thomas Leach and Jamone Davis, “Thank You For It All” marked the fourth time Sapp had a #1 position on the Hot Gospel Songs chart, a trend that began with his seminal “Never Would Have Made It” in 2007. “Thank You For It All” also ascended to #1 on Billboard’s Gospel Digital Songs and Gospel National Airplay charts.

“I’m grateful to the Gospel Music Association and everyone involved with the Dove Award nominations this year. It is a blessing to have my music ministry acknowledged alongside so many great Christian creators,” says Sapp. “We do this because we are called to, but a little celebrating is okay too! Congratulations to all of the nominees. I’m looking forward to the big night!”

Marvin Sapp is a three-time Dove Award winner.

Provident Entertainment celebrates 23 nominations for the 36th Annual Stellar Gospel Music Awards, with 10 artists nominated in 17 categories, including the major categories of Artist of the Year, Song of the Year, Male Artist of the Year, Albertina Walker Female Artist of the Year, Duo/Chorus Group of the Year, New Artist of the Year, and Album of the Year. 

Releases from Kierra Sheard, Mali Music, Marvin Sapp, Donnie McClurkin, All Nations Music, Travis Greene, Le’Andria Johnson, Koryn Hawthorne, Melvin Crispell, III, and KB all garnered nominations for the upcoming awards, covering the range of Contemporary and Traditional Gospel, as well as Urban/Inspirational, and Rap Hip Hop categories. 

With a dominating eight nominations for her hit album KIERRA, chart-topper Kierra Sheard celebrates nominations in the major categories of Artist of the Year, Song of the Year for the hit single “Something Has to Break (Live) ft. Tasha Cobbs Leonard,” Albertina Walker Female Artist of the Year, and Album of the Year, along with four other categories. 

Also honored with multiple nominations are Mali Music, a co-performer and writer for the Song of the Year-nominated Jonathan McReynolds & Mali Music duet “Movin’ On” (RCA Inspiration/eOne) and his latest album THE BOOK OF MALI, Marvin Sapp’s latest acclaimed album CHOSEN VESSEL, Donnie McClurkin’s album A DIFFERENT SONG, and the hit debut album COME ALIVE from the group All Nations Music.    

Le’Andria Johnson, who’s nominated for “Hold On,” has two nominations for Traditional Female Artist of the Year. Separately, she received the second nomination for Traditional Female Artist of the Year, for her appearance on PJ Morton’s album. 

Phil Thornton, SVP and General Manager of RCA Inspiration/Provident Entertainment says,“Congratulations to all of the artists for the amazing creativity and powerful inspiration that they share with the world in their music, to impact others and bring a message of hope, love, healing and strength that remains much needed in these difficult times. Thank you to the Stellars for the recognition and continuing to honor gospel music!”  

The 36th Annual Stellar Awards will be July 10, 2021 in Nashville, TN.

Provident Entertainment’s 2021 Stellar Awards Nominations (listed by artist):

Kierra Sheard (Karew Entertainment/RCA Inspiration)

Artist of the Year

Song of the Year (“Something Has to Break (Live) ft. Tasha Cobbs Leonard”)

Albertina Walker Female Artist of the Year

Album of the Year (KIERRA)

Contemporary Female Artist of the Year

Contemporary Album of the Year (KIERRA)

Urban/Inspirational Single or Performance of the Year (“It Keeps Happening (Live)”)

Music Video of the Year (“Something Has to Break (Live)”)

Mali Music (K Approved Enterprises/RCA Inspiration)

Song of the Year (“Movin’ On ft. Mali Music”)

Urban/Inspirational Single or Performance of the Year (“Movin’ On ft. Mali Music”)

Rap Hip Hop Gospel Album of the Year (THE BOOK OF MALI)

Marvin Sapp (Verity Records)

Male Artist of the Year (CHOSEN VESSEL)

Contemporary Male Artist of the Year

Donnie McClurkin (CamDon Music/RCA Inspiration)

Traditional Male Artist of the Year

Traditional Album of the Year (A DIFFERENT SONG)

All Nations Music (All Nations/RCA Inspiration)  

Duo/Chorus Group of the Year (COME ALIVE)

Contemporary Duo/Chorus Group of the Year

Music Video of the Year (“Bless Your Name”)

Travis Greene (RCA Inspiration)  

Contemporary Male Artist of the Year (BROKEN RECORD)

Le’Andria Johnson (RCA Inspiration)

Traditional Female Artist of the Year (“Hold On”)

Traditional Female Artist of the Year (Gospel According to PJ-*not a Provident release)  

Koryn Hawthorne (RCA Inspiration)

Contemporary Female Artist of the Year (I AM)

Melvin Crispell, III (BET/RCA Inspiration)

New Artist of the Year (I’VE GOT A TESTIMONY)

KB (HGA Music/Essential Sound)

Rap Hip Hop Gospel Album of the Year (HIS GLORY ALONE)

Capitol Christian Music Group (CCMG) is celebrating 14 nominations for the 2021 Billboard Music Awards (BBMA), encompassing nods across all divisions of the company, including Capitol Christian Label Group, Motown Gospel, Publishing and Commercial Partnerships. BBMA finalists are determined based on key fan interactions with music, including album and digital song sales, streaming, radio airplay and social engagement, as tracked by Billboard, the go-to chart guide for music since 1940. This year’s finalists are based on the chart period between March 21, 2020 and April 3, 2021. Hosted by Nick Jonas, the 2021 Billboard Music Awards will air live from the Microsoft Theater in Los Angeles on Sunday, May 23 at 8 p.m. ET / 5 p.m. PT on NBC.

“Congratulations to all our writers, artists, labels and partners on their nominations for the Billboard Music Awards,” says CCMG Co-President Hudson Plachy. “We are grateful to partner with these nominees and are thrilled to see them recognized.”

“We are very proud of the incredible roster of artists and writers we represent at Capitol CMG and excited to see them recognized for their efforts,” adds CCMG Co-President Brad O’Donnell. “We join with Billboard in celebrating each of them and their nominations.”

A full list of Capitol Christian Music Group’s BBMA finalists is below.

2021 Capitol Christian Music Group Billboard Music Award Finalists

Top Gospel Artist

Kirk Franklin (Publishing)

Tasha Cobbs Leonard (Label Group & Publishing)

Top Christian Album

We The Kingdom, Holy Water (Label Group & Publishing)

Top Gospel Album

Tasha Cobbs Leonard, Royalty: Live at the Ryman (Label Group & Publishing)

Top Christian Song

Kari Jobe, Cody Carnes & Elevation Worship, “The Blessing (Live)” (Label Group & Publishing)

Tauren Wells feat. Jenn Johnson, “Famous For (I Believe)” (Publishing)

Top Gospel Song

Marvin Sapp, “Thank You For It All” (Publishing)

Tye Tribbett, “We Gon’ Be Alright” (Label Group

Marvin Sapp’s seasons continue to change. Today, he announces Elev8 Media & Entertainment – a new multimedia company that will be the hub for upcoming film, television and music projects.

“Elev8 has been many years in the making. I have studied the inner workings of the entertainment business as the impact of my own music ministry expanded into new territories and new opportunities. As an entrepreneur, developing my own entertainment company was a bucket list item that I am excited about finally becoming a reality,” says Sapp.

Elev8 enters the market as the newest label on the Thirty Tigers roster, and already has a slate of releases lined up: Jamar Prince (Marvin L. Sapp, Jr.), The Chosen Vessel Cathedral Music + Arts, #Elev8 (a worship compilation comprised of winners of a national talent competition), and the next solo album from Marvin Sapp.

Thirty Tigers Co-founder and President David Macias says: “Marvin Sapp is a legend in the music business, and it’s beyond exciting for Thirty Tigers to be entrusted to serve him in the launch of Elev8 Media & Entertainment. We were attracted to his vision about how he wanted to start and operate his company, as well as being obviously excited about getting to work with a 13-time Grammy nominee whose music we’re fans of.”

Jamar Prince says: “I’m really proud of my Dad. I respect him for everything that he does and for everything that he has accomplished. This label is something that he has talked about for a long time, and it is going to be cool to work with him creatively and as a businessperson. Even though I sing R&B music, he has done nothing but support and respect me as an artist, and that foundation is what will make this artist/label relationship successful.”

Myron Williams, Minister of Music, The Chosen Vessel Cathedral says: “The way this has happened is nothing but God,” says Myron Williams. “For this label to develop after Bishop Marvin Sapp assumes leadership of The Chosen Vessel Cathedral, where our music department has been waiting for a moment and an opportunity to really showcase our unique giftings to the world, is proof that God is the ultimate dealmaker and divine orchestrator. It is a privilege to serve Bishop Marvin Sapp and we are honored to be able to record with him professionally.”

“We are ready to get to work,” says Sapp. “I am building a studio and, being in the Dallas Metroplex, I am surrounded by creativity and talent to really drive the musical process. I am particularly honored and elated to be able to provide a label home for my son, who has already created his own lane as an up-and-coming R&B artist. It is also a joy to release music from the music and arts department at The Chosen Vessel Cathedral, who I love doing ministry with.  Due to the pandemic, I was able to work with these talented singers and musicians on various virtual promotional opportunities for my latest album. This showed me how much talent exists in my own church. Elev8 is committed to quality entertainment that elevates voices and creative gifts that need to be heard.”