NASHVILLE, TENN. (OCTOBER 29, 2021) Multi-GRAMMY nominated artist Matthew West rings in the holidays with his new full-length album, We Need Christmas, available today. In addition to his new album, West will be celebrating the season in December with his “We Need Christmas” tour. This project marks West’s third Christmas album, and it is comprised of classics reimagined in his own style as well as original songs such as the title track and the Thanksgiving 2020 overnight sensation “Gobble Gobble.” Celebrating today’s release and beginning the holiday season early, he is premiering the music video for “We Need Christmas” on YouTube today at 11 am CST below.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gTyRlDuqSZ8&list=PLGlDiX8r2rRnd6ePrpnYMzqzS40-HHbqk&index=2

“These past couple of years have felt like peace is in short supply, hope has been hard to find, and love and joy have been lost for so many,” shares Matthew West about the inspiration for his new project. “Christmas is a time when our hearts can be powerfully reminded that the peace, hope, love, and joy we all need can still be found in a savior. We Need Christmas combines my love of the classics like ‘I’ll Be Home for Christmas,’ with my love for writing and composing songs I hope will be new classics for years to come. Holiday albums give me a chance to be eclectic in musical styling, and hey, it was even fun to get dressed up in a tuxedo! My wife said I clean up good. So this Christmas album is already a win for me!”

Along with his tour, West’s non-profit PopWE will be partnering up for some unique holiday giving back campaigns throughout the next two months. During the Thanksgiving season, PopWE is joining forces with Samaritan’s Purse to help provide meals for the hungry around the world. Into the Christmas season, they will be searching for families and individuals who need Christmas and will surprise them with a financial gift to help during the season. In addition, you will be able to find a special devotional series called “We Need Christmas” below.

https://popwe.org/

West continues to impact his fans with his songwriting as he was recently awarded ASCAP’s Christian Songwriter of the Year for the fourth time in his career. West was also nominated for four 2021 GMA Dove Awards: Song of the Year (“Truth Be Told”), Songwriter of the Year (Artist), Inspirational Song of the Year (co-writing “There Is A God” for Phillips, Craig & Dean), and for Short Form Video of the Year (“Truth Be Told”). And his current single “What If” is climbing to the top of the charts coming in this week at No. 2 on the Billboard Christian Airplay chart, and he currently has six songs he has co-written in the Top 30 the same chart. Fans can also hear incredible stories told during his own Matthew West Podcast, where he celebrated more than 1 million downloads in its first year. Weekly he helps others tell their stories to help make an impact in people’s lives. Check his podcast out below on the Annie F. Downs’ That Sounds Fun Podcast Network.

https://www.matthewwest.com/podcast

ABOUT MATTHEW WEST: Matthew West is a five-time GRAMMY nominee, a four-time ASCAP Christian Music Songwriter/Artist of the Year winner, and a 2018 GMA Dove Award Songwriter of the Year (Artist) recipient and has two RIAA® Gold-certified and an RIAA Platinum-certified singles. He has received an American Music Award, a Billboard Music Award, a K-LOVE Fan Award, and named Billboard’s Hot Christian Songwriter of the Year. West also received a Primetime Emmy® Award nomination for Original Music & Lyrics for the title track for the feature film “The Heart of Christmas.”

In early 2020, West released his studio album, Brand New, which has produced two back-to-back No. 1 singles, “The God Who Stays” and “Truth Be Told.” During the pandemic, West individually released songs like “Take Heart,” “Quarantine Life,” “Gobble, Gobble,” and two duets for “Truth Be Told” one with CMA Awards® winner and three-time ACM® Awards nominee Carly Pearce and another version with multi-genre artist Lathan Warlick.

In addition to his own recording career, he has more than 130 songwriting credits to his name, including cuts by Rascal Flatts, Scotty McCreery, Michael W. Smith, Amy Grant, Mandisa, Danny Gokey, and others, along with back-to-back No. 1 songs by Casting Crowns including their single, “Nobody,” which features West. He was also nominated for a GRAMMY Award in 2019 for Casting Crowns’ song, “Only Jesus,” as a songwriter. West also co-wrote Jeremy Camp’s multi-week No. 1 song, “Keep Me In The Moment.” In August 2020 he launched his official podcast, “The Matthew West Podcast,” on the Annie Downs’ That Sounds Fun Network.

West has written five books to date: Give This Christmas Away, The Story Of Your Life, Forgiveness, Today Is Day One and Hello, My Name Is. He is also passionate about providing hope and healing through the power of prayer and story. Along with his father, Pastor Joe West, they founded POPWE, a non-profit ministry helping others to craft, share, and live a more meaningful life. Please visit popwe.org for more information. For all things, Matthew, visit his site at MatthewWest.com.

22 October 2021 – NASHVILLE, TN – The Provident Entertainment family of artists, labels, songwriters, and publishers are pleased to announce they received an astounding 25 GMA Dove Awards during the 52nd Annual awards show held earlier this week in Nashville, TN. With a theme of “Stronger Together,” the recognized winners, including the top award for Song Of The Year (“The Blessing”), are across all Provident Entertainment entities – Provident Label Group, RCA Inspiration, Distribution, and Essential Music Publishing.

Top accolades include multiple wins for Elevation Worship, Chris Brown, Steven Furtick, and Jason Ingram, and Koryn Hawthorne, KB, Marvin Sapp, Matt Maher, Jacob Sooter, Tauren Wells, Alexis Slifer, and Chuck Butler each received one. Provident Entertainment went into the awards with multiple nominations in 23 categories.
Performances during the evening were given by KB (joined by Matt Redman), Zach Williams, CAIN, Koryn Hawthorne, Mali Music (performing with co-host Jonathan McReynolds), Kelontae Gavin (with Dante Bowe), and Elevation Worship closed out the show.

Terry Hemmings, Provident Entertainment CEO, shares, “From the awards and nominee recognitions to the stellar performances that were given, all of us at Provident Entertainment are so proud of our artists, songwriters, and partners for an amazing night celebrating life-changing music. We are honored to represent such a diverse array of talent and are so grateful to the Gospel Music Association for their tireless work on behalf of our industry.”
The awards are voted on by the GMA Professional Membership and include a wide range of creativity and artistic integrity in both artist and non-artist categories.

Below is a complete list of all Provident Entertainment winners.

SONG OF THE YEAR

“The Blessing” – (Writers) Chris Brown, Cody Carnes, Kari Jobe, Steven Furtick; (Publishers) Capitol CMG Paragon, Kari Jobe Carnes Music, Music by Elevation Worship Publishing, Worship Together Music, Writer’s Roof Publishing 
—

SONGWRITER OF THE YEAR (NON-ARTIST)

Jason Ingram
—

RAP/HIP HOP ALBUM OF THE YEAR

His Glory Alone – KB; (Producers) Kevin Elijah Burgess, Quinten Coblentz, Wes Writer, Jacob Cardec, Mashell Leroy, DJ Pez, Tee-Wyla Swoope  
—

WORSHIP ALBUM OF THE YEAR

Old Church Basement – Elevation Worship / Maverick City Music; (Producers) Chris Brown, Tony Brown, Steven Furtick, Jason Ingram, Jonathan Jay
 —

POP/CONTEMPORARY RECORDED SONG OF THE YEAR

“Famous For (I Believe)” – Tauren Wells; (Writers) Chuck Butler, Krissy Nordoff, Jordan Sapp, Alexis Slifer, Tauren Wells
—

CONTEMPORARY GOSPEL ALBUM OF THE YEAR

I AM – Koryn Hawthorne – (Producers) Troy Taylor, Johntá Austin, Jeremy “TryBishop” Hicks, Camper , KJ Scriven, Greg Cox , Anthony “Kid Class” Wyley, Connor Little, Jason Ingram, Matt Maher, Jacob Sooter
—

TRADITIONAL GOSPEL ALBUM OF THE YEAR

Chosen Vessel – Marvin Sapp;(Producer) Aaron Lindsey
—

WORSHIP RECORDED SONG OF THE YEAR

“Graves Into Gardens” – Elevation Worship feat. Brandon Lake; (Writers) Chris Brown, Steven Furtick, Tiffany Hudson, Brandon Lake 
—

SPANISH LANGUAGE RECORDED SONG OF THE YEAR

“Donde Está El Espíritu De Dios” – Christine D’Clario; (Writers)Christine D’Clario, Ben Fielding, Jason Ingram, Seth Mosley, Chris Tomlin
 —

RECORDED MUSIC PACKAGING OF THE YEAR

Graves Into Gardens – Elevation Worship

[All bolded titles/names are affiliated with Provident Entertainment and its entities]

Ten-Song Project Recorded At Legendary FAME Studios In Muscle Shoals, AL;Don’t Miss Zach’s Favorite Things Giveaway Contest And Christmas Tour!

22 October 2021 – Nashville, TN – Zach Williams’ first-ever full-length Christmas album, I Don’t Want Christmas To End, releases today (Provident Label Group/Sony Music). Featuring his penned title track and classics “Christmas Time Is Here” and “This Christmas,” Williams goes all out with his southern rock mastery with songs such as “Merry Christmas Baby’ and “Run Run Rudolph.” The ten-track project, produced by Jonathan Smith, was recorded at the legendary FAME Studios in Muscle Shoals, Alabama.

From the start, this two-time GRAMMY®-winning hitmaker knew he needed the right sound and vibe to celebrate the season year after year. I Don’t Want Christmas To End goes beyond that – it’s a holly-jolly-party-turned-jam-session worthy of its title, and according to Williams, that’s due to recording at FAME.

“We knew we wanted it to have a rock and roll edge, a southern rock feel. That’s when we got the idea to go down to Muscle Shoals.” FAME, where artists from The Gregg Allman Band, Aretha Franklin, and Little Richard have recorded, is preserved in all its 1960’s rock glory and a key component in capturing the sound for I Don’t Want Christmas To End. “We got down there and all the original gear is still there from the Sixties,” Williams says, “the original rooms, the original console. Recording there really made the songs come alive even more than I thought it was going to.”

Recorded in the round, Williams and his band played their holiday favorites how they’d want to hear them. “White Christmas” became an Elvis “Blue Christmas” tribute, updated to Williams’ Arkansas and Tennessee roots. “Merry Christmas Baby” was reimagined as a Van Morrison classic. “Run Run Rudolph” became a Ray Charles-inspired piano rocker. “Mary Did You Know” became an entirely new song with its “Mustang Sally” vibe, as if it was recorded in the Sixties. Every song, while instantly familiar, surprises with unexpected twists that still feel vintage.

With I Don’t Want Christmas To End, Zach Williams has created a holiday album that rocks around the Christmas tree while staying true to his artistry. Equal parts fun and nostalgic with a dash of prayerful hope, this classic-inspired album is easily a new Christmas favorite, for now, and for years to come.

Williams cannot wait to take these holiday songs live on the road on his “I Don’t Want Christmas To End” Tour. Featuring special guest Anne Wilson, the 11-city tour running through December will be an evening filled with music and fun celebrating the reason for the season. Visit his tour page to find a city near you and for tickets, which are on sale now.

Read more about the making of I Don’t Want Christmas To End at the link below:

https://www.dropbox.com/s/ygd1cu7jwg7z28p/Zach%20Williams_about%20I%20Don%27t%20Want%20Christmas%20To%20End%20bio.pdf?dl=0

Click on the video below for a behind-the-scenes look at the recording process:

I Don’t Want Christmas To End tracklisting:
Christmas Time Is Here
Merry Christmas Baby
Mary Did You Know
White Christmas
Go Tell It On The Mountain
The Spirit Of Christmas
Silent Night
This Christmas
Run, Run, Rudolph
I Don’t Want Christmas To End

Fans can kick off their holiday season by getting a chance to win Zach Williams’ favorite things! Included in this special giveaway is a Fender Jack Rack, professional in-ear monitors, signed merchandise, and so much more. Click below for more information:

https://forms.sonymusicfans.com/campaign/zach-williams-favorite-things-giveaway/

And until the Christmas tour kicks off, don’t miss Williams’ 40+ city “The Rescue Story Tour” with CAIN and We The Kingdom through this fall. The tour wraps November 28 when Williams, along with CAIN, performs a special hometown show at Nashville’s historic Ryman Auditorium. While many dates are already selling out, be sure to click below for the latest ticket information.

https://zachwilliams.squarespace.com/rescue-story-tour

ABOUT ZACH WILLIAMS: Williams is a husband, father, recording artist, and songwriter, and a two-time GRAMMY® winner (Chain Breaker, 2018; “There Was Jesus,” 2021). Along with an additional five GRAMMY nominations, Williams is also a multi-GMA Dove Awards and K-LOVE Fan Awards winner and nominee.
He made history with two consecutive radio No. 1 hits for 35 weeks as a debut artist (“Chain Breaker,” “Old Church Choir”), and “There Was Jesus,” his duet with Dolly Parton, topped the charts for multiple weeks. Most of all, Williams’ music comes from a place of humility and honesty as his songs are a direct reflection of God’s redemption in his life.

“Chain Breaker,” his record-breaking and RIAA®-certified Platinum single from the album Chain Breaker (RIAA-certified Gold), has impacted millions of people around the world, earning Williams his first GRAMMY nomination in 2017 for Best Contemporary Christian Music Performance/Song, two Billboard Music Award nominations (Top Christian Song, Top Christian Album) and a 2018 American Music Award nomination for Favorite Artist – Contemporary Inspirational. He also received another GRAMMY nod in 2019 for Best Contemporary Christian Music Album, Survivor: Live from Harding Prison, and in 2020 for “Rescue Story” (Best Contemporary Christian Music Performance/Song). “Old Church Choir” and “Fear Is a Liar” are both RIAA-certified Gold.

Williams performed his RIAA-certified Gold single “There Was Jesus” live with Parton on the 53rd Annual CMA Awards. The song also made the Pandora Top Spins chart for twelve consecutive weeks and named one of Pandora’s top 100 songs across all genres. Additionally, “There Was Jesus” was WAY-FM’s top song of 2020.

He has won six GMA Dove Awards (Artist of the Year; New Artist of the Year; Pop/Contemporary Recorded Song of the Year, “Chain Breaker;” Pop/Contemporary Song, “Old Church Choir;” Songwriter of the Year/Artist; Recorded Music Packaging, Rescue Story). He was also named Billboard’s 2017 Top Christian Male Vocalist and New Artist of the Year and CCM Fan Awards’ Favorite New Artist Of The Year. Apple Music chose him as Artist of the Week (2016), while “Chain Breaker” was the top track of 2016 on iTunes’ Christian Songs chart. Williams has also been awarded by BMI with four Citation of Achievement awards for his singles “Chain Breaker,” “Old Church Choir,” and “Fear Is a Liar,” recognizing the songs for their national popularity and reach.

For more information, visit ZachWilliamsMusic.com

NASHVILLE, TENN. (OCTOBER 22, 2021) – GRAMMY® Award-winning and multi-RIAA Platinum-selling group Casting Crowns released a new song, “The Power of the Cross,” available now. The powerful anthem about the freedom found in a life with Christ was co-written by Brooke and Scott Ligertwood from Hillsong Worship and Kristian Stanfill and Brett Younker from Passion Music. This marks the second single released from the forthcoming 2022 album. See below for the official lyric video for “The Power of the Cross.”

This song follows the summer release of “Scars in Heaven,” which broke the global first-day streaming record for a Christian song debut on Amazon Music. This current Top 10 song on Christian radio has more than 24M streams life to date. “Scars in Heaven” received top playlist positioning at all major digital service providers and was featured on the Digital Billboard on West End Avenue in Nashville.

Casting Crowns is currently on their “Only Jesus” Tour with special guest Matthew West. They will celebrate the holidays this year on the KLOVE Christmas Tour with Mac Powell, CAIN, and more. Check out castingcrowns.com for the complete list of tour dates and ticket information.

ABOUT CASTING CROWNS: The prolific and chart-topping CCM group Casting Crowns have achieved sales milestones with more than 12 million albums sold. Additionally, they have received numerous RIAA certifications: one RIAA 2x multi-Platinum® album, five RIAA Platinum albums, two RIAA Platinum DVDs, seven RIAA Gold® albums, four Gold DVDs, five RIAA Platinum singles, and 12 RIAA Gold digital singles.

Casting Crowns has also been honored with four American Music Awards (out of seven total nominations), a GRAMMY Award® for their 2005 album Lifesong, and eight additional GRAMMY Award nominations. In addition, the group has garnered 18 GMA Dove Awards, two Billboard Music Awards, and 13 total Billboard Music Award nominations. Casting Crowns’ seven band members all remain active in student ministry and tour according to their local church commitments.

The band’s 2018 release, Only Jesus, was met with astonishing success and response. Casting Crowns received their newest RIAA Gold Certifications for their No. 1 songs “Only Jesus” and “Nobody.” This album also produced two No. 1 radio singles, including the group’s 15th career No. 1 radio single, a GRAMMY nomination, a 2019 Dove Award, two 2020 Dove Award nominations, and two Billboard Music Awards nominations for “Top Christian Album” and “Top Christian Song” (“Nobody” ft. Matthew West). The impact of this album almost three years later includes more than 290 million streams life to date.

For more information, visit CastingCrowns.com.

Will Join Labelmate Rhett Walker On Tour This Fall

24 Sept 2021 – Nashville, TN – Powerhouse vocalist, songwriter, and “The Voice” season 9 winner Jordan Smith announces today’s release of Be Still & Know (Provident Label Group/Reunion Records). As the top-selling artist ever to emerge from “The Voice,” this is Smith’s first project with the label since signing with them in 2020. His debut album, 2016’s Something Beautiful, entered the Billboard 200 at No. 2 and has since released two additional albums prior to Be Still & Know.

The new EP’s first track, “Battles,” dropped last month accompanied by a live performance video and offers the message of confidence, one of the key themes running throughout the seven-song project. Smith shares, “It’s at the heart of the song – not in who we are or what we can do – but in the faithfulness and power that God has shown throughout each of our stories.” Other performance videos to release are “Great You Are,” “Don’t Quit,” and “So Many Reasons,” while the EP’s title track can be viewed below. Also included are two never-before-heard tracks “Love Lives On” and “One Kiss From Heaven.”

“This project represents so much of who I am as an artist and a believer,” he explains. “Each song is like a page taken out of my journal, and I’m excited for the world to have them and experience them in the same personal, beautiful way I did.” Smith adds, “Music is meant to connect us to each other and to heaven, and I hope this project will be a bridge for anyone feeling separated or alone.”

Jordan Smith has a voice that needs no introduction and with faith that needs no explanation. From the moment the Kentucky native was first introduced to America through “The Voice,” it was evident that his faith was part of his DNA. His beliefs take center stage as he has stepped into the next natural chapter of his career with new music and live shows, which he will embark on this fall when he joins labelmate Rhett Walker on the road. Smith also works for his home church in Kentucky along with his wife, Kristen.

Be Still & Know tracklisting:
Battles
Great You Are
Be Still & Know
So Many Reasons
Love Lives On
Don’t Quit
One Kiss From Heaven

ABOUT JORDAN SMITH: Jordan Smith has a powerhouse delivery and expansive range that remains instantly identifiable and inimitable. As the highest-selling artist to ever emerge from NBC’s Emmy-winning series, “The Voice,” Smith shot three performance singles to the top of the charts while competing on the show: “Great Is Thy Faithfulness,” which he performed as a tribute to the lives lost during the Paris bombing in 2015; a Christmas single, “Mary Did You Know?”; and a powerful cover of Leonard Cohen’s “Hallelujah.” His full-length debut, Something Beautiful, entered the Billboard 200 at No. 2 and made history with the biggest first-week sales ever from a winner of “The Voice.” His popular Christmas album, ’Tis The Season, followed, as well as his second acclaimed studio LP, Only Love, on which Smith unveiled his talent as a songwriter, co-penning six of the project’s dozen tracks.

As a writer signed to Universal Music Publishing Group, he’s co-written with Glen Ballard, Steve Booker, Sam Ellis, Blair Daly, Jordan Reynolds, Jonas Myrin, MoZella, Dave Barnes, and Bernie Herms, among other esteemed lyricists. He’s also written songs and toured extensively with Michael W. Smith. In addition, Smith holds co-writing credit on “Ashes,” the theme song for “Deadpool 2” recorded by Celine Dion. He’s performed “Feel Good,” the theme song for ABC’s “GMA Day,” and received an invitation to perform at a “Celebrity Fight Night” event at the home of revered vocalist Andrea Bocelli.

Be sure to visit TheRealJordanSmith.com

Walker Readies To Headline His “Gospel Song & Tailgatin’ Tour” This Fall; New Episodes Of Front Porch Gospel Podcast Out Now

27 August 2021 – Franklin, TN – Gospel Song, the new EP from Rhett Walker, drops today courtesy of Provident Label Group/Sony Music. The latest project from the GRAMMY® and multi-GMA Dove Awards® nominated southern rocker and songwriter features five songs – the title track joined by “Revival,” “Let’s Go Down,” “All Joy No Stress,” which was co-written with Matthew West, and “Alright” featuring country star Jimmie Allen, who also co-wrote the tune with Walker.

“Gospel Song,” which has been hugely successful at radio, and its accompanying music video were released earlier this year. An infectious song that celebrates the spirit-filled message of the Gospel, is, as Walker shares, “…a reminder that God is still in the business of redeeming stories and changing lives. It’s easy to lose our focus and be surrounded with negativity, so I wrote this song to help refocus each day and look to the Gospel and its good news.”
Along with “Gospel Song,” the rest of the project is filled with more joyful and uplifting songs, encouraging listeners to fill their hearts with faith instead of fear and to always look for the positive in all situations.

Rhett Walker will be headlining the “Gospel Song & Tailgatin’ Tour” this fall where he’ll share his new songs along with many of his previously released hits. He will be joined by labelmate and “The Voice” season 9 winner Jordan Smith along with Todd Tilghman (winner of “The Voice” season 18), and Peabod. Stay up to date on the tour by visiting his tour page.

Also, don’t miss an episode of Walker’s Front Porch Gospel podcast through K-LOVE Podcast Network’s AccessMore. With new shows posting weekly, along with special guests Walker talks about faith, family, and freedom, creating a much-needed space for families and friends to glean advice and encouragement.

ABOUT RHETT WALKER: In his career, Rhett Walker has released three albums, 2012’s Come To The River, Here’s To The Ones in 2014, and 2020’s Good To Me. Walker received a GRAMMY nomination for the single “When Mercy Found Me,” and is a three-time GMA Dove Awards nominees (New Artist of the Year, Rock/Contemporary Album of the Year and Rock/Contemporary Song of the Year).

His latest single “Gospel Song” follows the release of “Believer,” Walker’s most successful career radio single to date spending 25 weeks in the top ten at Christian radio. He’s toured with many of the biggest names in Christian music, such as MercyMe and Newsboys, and has appeared multiple times on the Grand Ole Opry.

Well-known for his hilarious stories accompanied by his southern drawl, listeners have been able to hear more from Rhett Walker when he kicked off his new podcast last year. “Front Porch Gospel” is available via K-LOVE Podcast Network’s AccessMore.com platform and everywhere podcasts are available.

For more information, visit RhettWalker.com.

“Better View” Available Today Ahead Of The New Switch EP By The Same Name

27 August 2021 — NASHVILLE, TN — In a time when much of the world is facing significant challenges, Life.Church’s Switch is reminding people where to turn with its new single, “Better View” (Sony Music/ Provident’s Essential Worship). Available today, this hope-filled song was written for anyone who has trouble choosing to trust God when they face hardships.

“It can be scary to keep moving forward when we can’t see where we’re going, but we can trust that God will reveal exactly what we need to see to take our next step,” said Cassidy Estevez, Switch member and Ministry Leader of Worship Arts at Life.Church. “Walking with God doesn’t mean we’ll see everything perfectly, but with His help, we’ll have a better view.”

The track was produced by Louis Biancaniello and Michael Biancaniello and was written by Life.Church’s Cassidy Estevez, Rob Estevez, Luke Guevara, and Dameon Aranda. Alongside a second single called “Good Friend” that releases on Sept 10, “Better View” will be included on an upcoming EP titled Better View, Part I that drops Sept. 24.
“We are so excited for the world to hear Better View, the first release from Life.Church’s Switch with Essential Worship,” says Holly Zabka, SVP Essential Music Publishing and Head of Creative, PLG. “What an opportunity this song has to provide hope and direction to people searching for God.”

Listen to the new single “Better View” here https://switch.lnk.to/BetterView!pr and learn more about Switch at http://life.church/switchmusic

About Switch: Switch is a collective of worship pastors from Life.Church focused on creating modern music that helps listeners connect with and engage in a relationship with Jesus. Following the success of its first EP, Symphony, Switch was named Billboard’s 2019 Top New Christian Artist, and the title track “Symphony” earned Hot CHR Chart’s No. 1 Song of the Year in 2019. The group released its debut full-length album, Symphony, in February 2020. To learn more about Switch, visit life.church/switchmusic

Check Out Their Version of West’s Hit Song Out Now Accompanied By A Lyric Video;West Receives Four GMA Dove Award Nominations

13 August 2021 – Nashville, TN – Matthew West, a multi-award-winning songwriter and artist, has just dropped a new version of his hit single “What If” as a duet with multi-genre artist Lathan Warlick. A lyric video was also released and can be viewed below.

I’ve become such a fan of Lathan!” West shares. “His talent is as unique as his story and I was blown away by what he brought to ‘What If.’ I can’t wait for the world to hear this new version!”

Quickly becoming friends, West also welcomes Warlick as his latest guest on The Matthew West Podcast, now in its second year. Set to air next week as the second episode, the podcast is celebrating its one-year anniversary as well as an astounding one million downloads.

The original version of “What If,” found on West’s latest release Brand New, is currently rising at radio and has been its top-testing song for the past six weeks. West has also co-written three additional songs currently in the top 20: Casting Crowns’ “Scars In Heaven,” “My Jesus” from Anne Wilson, and “Look What You’ve Done” by Tasha Layton.
Just announced this week, West has been nominated for four GMA Dove Awards: Song of the Year (“Truth Be Told”), Songwriter of the Year (Artist), Inspirational Song of the Year (co-writing “There Is A God” for Phillips, Craig & Dean), and for Short Form Video of the Year (“Truth Be Told”). The 52nd Annual GMA Dove Awards will be held Tuesday, October 19 in Nashville at Lipscomb University’s Allen Arena and air Friday, Oct. 22 on TBN/Trinity Broadcast Network.

ABOUT MATTHEW WEST: Matthew West is a five-time GRAMMY nominee, a multiple ASCAP Christian Music Songwriter/Artist of the Year winner, and a 2018 GMA Dove Award Songwriter of the Year (Artist) recipient and has two RIAA® Gold-certified and a RIAA Platinum-certified singles. He has received an American Music Award, a Billboard Music Award, a K-LOVE Fan Award, and named Billboard’s Hot Christian Songwriter of the Year. West also received a Primetime Emmy® Award nomination for Original Music & Lyrics for the title track for the feature film “The Heart of Christmas.”

It was last month when the five-time GRAMMY® nominated singer, songwriter, and artist announced the release of his Brand New Deluxe Edition (Story House Collective/Provident Label Group). Encompassing 32 tracks, which includes live and acoustic versions along with the originals from the Brand New album, the deluxe version also offers West’s individually released songs from the past year, “Take Heart,” “Quarantine Life,” and his duet with CMA Awards® winner and three-time ACM® Awards nominee Carly Pearce for “Truth Be Told.” An exclusive Brand New Deluxe Edition through Apple Music also dropped last month, a specialized version including an additional 20 videos along with the 32 audio, live, and acoustic tracks. Brand New, which originally released last year, has already produced two back-to-back No. 1 radio singles, “The God Who Stays” and “Truth Be Told.”

In addition to his own recording career, he has more than 130 songwriting credits to his name, including cuts by Rascal Flatts, Scotty McCreery, Michael W. Smith, Amy Grant, Mandisa, Danny Gokey, and others, along with back-to-back No. 1 songs by Casting Crowns including their single, “Nobody,” which features West. He was also nominated for a GRAMMY Award in 2019 for Casting Crowns’ song, “Only Jesus,” as a songwriter. West also co-wrote Jeremy Camp’s multi-week No. 1 song, “Keep Me In The Moment.” In February 2020, he released his new studio album, Brand New, which produced the multiple-week No. 1 single, “The God Who Stays,” and his most recent No. 1 single, “Truth Be Told.” In August 2020 he launched his official podcast, “The Matthew West Podcast,” on the Annie Downs’ That Sounds Fun Network.

Adding author to his list of accolades, West has written five books to date: Give This Christmas Away, The Story Of Your Life, Forgiveness, Today Is Day One and Hello, My Name Is. He is also passionate about providing hope and healing through the power of prayer and story. Along with his father, Pastor Joe West, they founded POPWE, a non-profit ministry helping others to craft, share, and live a more meaningful life. Please visit popwe.org for more information. For all things Matthew, visit his site at MatthewWest.com.

Watch “We Win” Music Video Here!

July 28, 2021 (NEW YORK, NY) – Today, Lil Baby + Kirk Franklin unveil the official music video to their #1 hit “We Win (Space Jam: A New Legacy)” from Space Jam: A New Legacy Official Soundtrack.

Watch the official music video for “We Win (Space Jam: A New Legacy)” above!

“We Win (Space Jam: A New Legacy)” is the first-ever collaboration between Lil Baby & Kirk Franklin. Showcasing scenes from Space Jam: A New Legacy, the video (directed by Cam Robert) features Lil Baby & Kirk Franklin with the gospel singers who performed on the record. We Win (Space Jam: A New Legacy)” recently soared to #1 on the Billboard Hot Gospel Songs Chart. In addition, it has gathered over 10 million streams and counting. The two recently performed the track for the first time at the BET Awards where they opened up the show with a full choir- see the full performance below!

“Yes He Can” Hits The Top This Week At Radio Following Their Debut Chart-Topper “Rise Up (Lazarus)”

28 July 2021 – Franklin, Tenn – On the heels of winning the K-LOVE Fan Award for their debut No. 1 “Rise Up (Lazarus)” (Top Breakout Single), sibling trio CAIN has achieved their second career No. 1 with “Yes He Can.” The back-to-back top singles are included on CAIN’s first full-length album, Rise Up (Provident Label Group/Sony Music), which just released this past spring.

Astounded at hitting the top spot for the second time, the band collectively shares, “Wow! We’re truly at a loss for words. How could we ever be grateful enough? A young woman shared how this song was her anthem as she prayed for her dad in the hospital. We’ve gotten to see videos of congregations in Hong Kong and Kenya singing it and praising God. Moms have sent us videos of their kids singing it in the car. What a privilege. THANK YOU GOD for letting us be part of that!” 

“Yes He Can,” “Rise Up (Lazarus),” and many more of their songs can be heard live as CAIN – comprised of Logan Cain, Madison Cain Johnson, and Taylor Cain Matz – tours around the U.S. this summer at numerous festivals and special events, including next week’s tour stop at Red Rocks Amphitheater in Denver, CO. The trio will then embark on the road this fall with labelmate Zach Williams on his Rescue Story Tour, followed by the K-LOVE Christmas tour, headlined by Casting Crowns, throughout December. For all of the latest tour dates, be sure to visit their tour page here. 

Also, don’t miss CAIN’s fun music video for “Yes He Can” below, which shares many touching stories, all of which show support from Logan, Madison, and Taylor and are backed by a decked-out choir. From learning how to shoot a basket to being on a first date, the group even included their dad in one of the video’s stories to share his experience recovering from knee surgery.
 
“What we wanted to show in the video is how God uses the people around you to help make those miracles come to pass,” says Taylor. Madison adds, “We hope that when the listener hears the song, they hear us cheering them on and that we’re with them!” 

ABOUT CAIN: The music of CAIN quickly became a mainstay at radio since their debut single “Rise Up (Lazarus)” was released in early 2020. Raised in Hartselle, Alabama as pastor’s kids and now residing in Nashville, CAIN – Madison Cain Johnson, Taylor Cain Matz, and Logan Cain – got their first break opening for Dave Barnes and Andrew Ripp at a show in 2012. A decade later they’ve hit No. 1 back-to-back at radio with their first two singles, released their first full-length album, and won a K-LOVE Fan Award for Top Breakout Single (“Rise Up (Lazarus).” 

It has been said that you spend five minutes with the members of CAIN and you’ll feel like you’ve spent the afternoon in the sunshine. Their joy spills over onto each person they meet, their bright smiles as contagious as their stunning harmonies. Pouring their joy into their debut album Rise Up, CAIN has discovered what it’s like to live their calling while doing their favorite thing – singing about Jesus. Be sure to visit their website at CAINTheBand.com.