NASHVILLE, TENN. (FEBRUARY 12, 2021) Provident Label Group/Essential Worship’s SEU Worship releases the second installment of their mixtape projects, Clouds Are Clearing: Mixtape 1B today, click here to check it out. Also last week the group debuted the music video for the song “Pieces ft. KB” from Mixtape 1A, that released in November 2020. Click below to watch this music video. The mixtape collection follows the group’s label debut, A Thousand Generations.
Typically releasing live albums, SEU Worship still delivers their signature pop music infused worship sound with the mixtape projects.
“Taking the live element out of the equation never felt unnatural,” shares SEU Worship’s Dan Rivera. “It was almost like these songs knew they belonged on a project like this, and we just needed to wise up to it. It helped that we started this process of planning and making right before COVID-19 became a global pandemic. We were well-suited to deal with the fact that we would not be able to record a live record in 2020.”
Both mixtape albums feature special guests artists such as Hollyn and Alexander Pappas of Hillsong Young & Free on today’s release and KB, Elle Limebear and Marty from Social Club Misfits on Mixtape 1A. Collaboration with others is a staple of SEU Worship as their team is a combination of students, staff and faculty from Southeastern University in Lakeland, FL coming together to worship and seek the Spirit of God in a creative environment.
“Right now worship music ought to feel like the most innovative and inclusive space for creativity,” explains Rivera about SEU Worship’s creative process. “We should borrow influences, sounds, and ideas from every genre and culture we can as we collaborate. If God’s image and nature is hidden in the created order, let’s utilize all the parts in it as we create music.”

Pharrell Williams Joins Franklin for First Episode, Available Now

Trailblazing Artist Leads Important Conversations with Chance the Rapper, Chris Paul, Glennon Doyle, H.E.R, Kelly Rowland and More

New York – February 9, 2021 – Sixteen-time GRAMMY-winning artist, songwriter and producer Kirk Franklin and Sony Music Entertainment today announced the launch of “Good Words with Kirk Franklin,” a new podcast series that welcomes people from every cross section of life who seek inspiration and empowerment. Through intimate conversations exploring faith, redemption, and the realities of today’s world, Franklin invites listeners into shared moments with some of the biggest names across entertainment, beginning with Pharrell Williams. The first episode is available now.
In a deeply personal and introspective conversation that explores shared common experiences, Franklin provides listeners with fascinating insight as Pharrell discusses his approach to life and his relationship with God. Pharrell explains the lasting impact of Gospel music and the Pentecostal Church on his formative years, and his discovery of “purpose” and how it informs his life. The wide-ranging, candid conversation spans discussion around the COVID-19 pandemic to lighter moments that touch upon Pharrell’s well-known skincare regimen and his new series, Voices of Fire, that recently launched on Netflix.
Throughout the season, Franklin will lead thought-provoking conversations with some of the most impactful thought leaders, artists and activists, including Chance the Rapper, Chris Paul, Glennon Doyle, H.E.R, Kelly Rowland, and more. Together, they engage and explore their thoughts around race, religion, politics, music and self-expression. The conversations will make space for laughter, joy and lighter moments and Franklin will offer original music penned for the series.
Franklin said, “Good Words is a podcast where culture meets faith, and a place where my guest can be real and open like you have never heard before.”
“Good Words with Kirk Franklin” is produced in partnership with Spoke Media. The executive producer is Keisha “TK” Dutes.
Listeners can subscribe to “Good Words with Kirk Franklin” on all major podcast platforms, including Apple Podcasts, Spotify and Stitcher. For more information on other Sony podcasts, follow @SonyPodcasts on Twitter and Instagram.

NASHVILLE, TENN. (JANUARY 29, 2021) – GRAMMY-Award winning and multi-RIAA Platinum-selling group Casting Crowns have partnered with chart-topping hip-hop artist KB to create an anthem-like version of the group’s single, “Start Right Here.” The creative take on the song is available today here.

“I feel united with Casting Crowns as co-conspirators for the Gospel,” shares KB. “It was an honor to be invited to contribute to this powerful appeal to the Church’s greatest purpose – reflecting the glory of God over all things!”
The song can be originally heard on the group’s hit 2018 album, Only Jesus. The album version is the current radio single and is already a Top 10 single and has more than 11.5 million streams to date. The lyrics are impactful and this new version showcases the message in a new light.

“I have been a KB fan for years,” says Mark Hall frontman of Casting Crowns. “He loves Jesus, he loves people, and he loves God‘s word. It’s an honor to join with him and speak the truth in love to the church. Change that lasts has to start with God’s people!”

ABOUT CASTING CROWNS: The prolific and chart-topping CCM group Casting Crowns, who hold the position as Billboard’s top-selling act in Christian music since 2007, 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.
For more information, visit CastingCrowns.com.

ABOUT KB: KB, born Kevin Burgess, is an award-winning hip-hop artist & businessman from St. Petersburg, FL. Since his debut in 2012, KB has seen continuous success on Billboard’s Top 200 Album Chart and has reached top 5 on Billboard’s Top Rap Albums Chart on numerous occasions. Given his commanding presence and consistent output, KB has naturally stepped into the role of creative visionary for his clothing business – Native Supply – and as host and co-producer for the spiritual podcast Southside Rabbi.
For more information, visit whoiskb.com.

Nashville, TN (February 2, 2021) – RCA Inspiration celebrates five nominations for the 52nd NAACP Image Awards®, dominating the category of Outstanding Gospel/Christian Album with nods for Marvin Sapp, Kierra Sheard, and Koryn Hawthorne this year, along with two nods for Sheard and Kirk Franklin in the category of Outstanding Gospel/Christian Song.

The powerhouse Gospel hit makers are nominated for Outstanding Gospel/Christian Album for their most recent albums released in 2020, and for Outstanding Gospel/Christian Song for their latest hit singles. Marvin Sapp released his chart-topping thirteenth solo album CHOSEN VESSEL, Kierra Sheard released her chart-topping sixth studio album KIERRA (Karew Entertainment/RCA Inspiration), and Koryn Hawthorne released her chart-topping sophomore album I AM. Off her album, Kierra Sheard is nominated for her chart-topping song “Something Has To Break” (feat. Tasha Cobbs Leonard), and Kirk Franklin (Fo Yo Soul/RCA) is nominated for his latest chart-topping song “Strong God.”

Separately, RCA Inspiration artist Donald Lawrence was nominated as a producer, for Outstanding Soundtrack/Compilation Album and Outstanding Producer of the Year (The First Ladies of Gospel: The Clark Sisters Biopic Soundtrack). Also, Netflix received a nomination for Outstanding Reality Program, Reality Competition or Game Show (Series) for “Voices of Fire,” which chronicles the formation of the choir of the same name. RCA Inspiration in partnership with Pharrell Williams’ company i am OTHER, will be releasing new music from the Voices of Fire choir soon.

Phil Thornton, SVP and General Manager of RCA Inspiration says, “Congratulations to all our artists on their nominations! It is an honor to recognize their incredible music and creative projects that continue to inspire us. Thank you to the NAACP Image Awards for the honors, and look forward to the show this year.”

Voting is open now in select categories. The 52nd NAACP Image Awards will air on BET on Saturday, March 27th, 2021 at 8 pm ET. The virtual ceremonies will live stream the non-televised award categories over five nights, from March 22nd-March 26th.

For more information on RCA Inspiration, visit:
Website: http://rcainspiration.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/RCAInspiration
Instagram: @RCAInspiration
Twitter : @RCAInspiration

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MEDIA CONTACT:
W&W Public Relations, Inc.
Aliya Crawford / [email protected]
Jacinda Chen / [email protected]

ABOUT CASTING CROWNS: The prolific and chart-topping CCM group Casting Crowns, who hold the position as Billboard’s top-selling act in Christian music since 2007, 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.
For more information, visit CastingCrowns.com.

ABOUT KB: KB, born Kevin Burgess, is an award-winning hip-hop artist & businessman from St. Petersburg, FL. Since his debut in 2012, KB has seen continuous success on Billboard’s Top 200 Album Chart and has reached top 5 on Billboard’s Top Rap Albums Chart on numerous occasions. Given his commanding presence and consistent output, KB has naturally stepped into the role of creative visionary for his clothing business – Native Supply – and as host and co-producer for the spiritual podcast Southside Rabbi.

Nashville, TN (December 8, 2020) – RCA Inspiration dominates two Gospel song charts, with top honors for two Gospel icons on the latest radio charts out this week. Celebrating their latest #1 hits – the Kirk Franklin (Fo Yo Soul/RCA) single “Strong God” is #1 on Billboard’s Gospel Airplay Chart – and the Marvin Sapp single “Thank You For It All” is #1 on the Mediabase Gospel Chart.

The two acclaimed Gospel superstars continue to deliver empowering anthems to inspire and bring us closer together in fellowship with God during these times. “Strong God” marks Kirk Franklin’s third single off his #1 hit album LONG LIVE LOVE, released in May 2019, which featured the previous two #1 singles “Love Theory” and “Just For Me.” Franklin also sets a new record with most #1’s as the leader on Gospel Airplay, with “Strong God” marking his eighth #1 on Billboard’s Gospel Airplay Chart. It’s also his thirteenth Top 10 on the chart. “Thank You For It All” is Marvin Sapp’s lead single off his #1 hit album CHOSEN VESSEL, released in October 2020, and is his fifth #1 at Gospel radio.

Check out the videos for Kirk Franklin and Marvin Sapp’s songs below.

Kirk Franklin: “Strong God” (Official Music Video)

Marvin Sapp: “Thank You For It All” (2020 Stellar Awards performance)

For more information on RCA Inspiration, visit:

Website:       http://rcainspiration.com/ 

Facebook:     https://www.facebook.com/RCAInspiration 

Instagram:    @RCAInspiration

Twitter          :         @RCAInspiration

CONTACTS:                                                            

W&W Public Relations

Jacinda Chen / [email protected]

Aliya Crawford / [email protected]

NASHVILLE, TENN. (OCTOBER 16, 2020) Provident Label Group releases four new Christmas songs in time for the upcoming holiday season. Grammy-award winning artist Zach Williams is releasing his own style on the classic “Go Tell It On the Mountain.” Multi-Grammy nominated artist Matthew West has written a new original song, “The Hope of Christmas.” NBC’s The Voice winner Jordan Smith takes a traditional hymn and adds his own style on the song, “Angels We Have Heard (Glory Be).” Label newcomers and sibling trio CAIN share their take on the song, “Celebrate Me Home.” 
“Go tell it on the mountain, that Jesus Christ was born – I can’t think of a more needed message right now,” Zach Williams states on his revised classic. “2020 has shaken many of us to the core, and as this year comes to a close, I want THIS to be the message that ends our year. No matter your struggles, Jesus Christ was born to set you free. I checked another box on my bucket list – recording at FAME studios in Muscle Shoals Alabama, and this rendition is filled with a mix of the soul of that legendary studio, the camaraderie of my bandmates, and the message of hope that Jesus was born to save us all.”

“I had the idea for ‘The Hope of Christmas’ pretty early in 2020,” shares Matthew West on his new holiday song. “It’s felt like we could use a little Christmas right now! I find myself looking back at the Christmases of my youth, life seemed so much simpler then. There’s a line in the song that says, ‘these days peace on earth is hard to find, and I need you to remind me one more time.’ I guess that pretty much sums up how I’ve been feeling this year, and I have a feeling I’m not the only one. I see a world reeling from the turmoil of a pandemic, political divides, and racial tension. I’ve always felt that my calling as a songwriter is to extract that hope even from situations where it seems all hope is lost. Writing this song helped me remember the reason why we can always have hope. Hope has a name. His name is Jesus, the Hope of Christmas.”
“This new version of a classic Christmas hymn is my prayer this holiday season – that all hearts will be filled with peace, light, mercy, justice, truth, and love,” Jordan Smith shares. “When the angels appeared before the shepherds on the night of Christ’s birth, they brought with them Heaven’s best regards, saying ‘Glory to God in the highest, and on Earth peace, goodwill toward men.’ My version continues their song, as we pray for peace, light, mercy, justice, truth, and love in all hearts.”
“Christmas is going to look different for a lot of you this year,” states Taylor with CAIN. “Traveling to see family and loved ones may not be a possibility for some. We hope that when you hear ‘Celebrate Me Home,’ you are able to close your eyes and picture your favorite friends and family cheering you in through the front door, handing you a gift from under the Christmas tree and hugging you tightly by the fireplace as you celebrate Jesus’ birth. We pray that sweet memories would carry you through until you can be with the ones you love again. For those who can’t make it home, may you still have something to celebrate this year.”

CASTING CROWNS NOMINATED FOR TWO BILLBOARD MUSIC AWARDS

NASHVILLE, TENN. (SEPTEMBER 25, 2020) – GRAMMY-Award® winning and multi-RIAA Platinum®-selling group Casting Crowns releases a deluxe edition of their 2018 popular album, Only Jesus. The special edition of the album includes the 12 original songs plus three alternate versions of the songs, “Only Jesus,” “Nobody” and “Start Right Here.” The Deluxe Bundle on Apple will contain an astounding 31 pieces of content: 15 audio versions of the tracks plus 16 videos. Click here to check out the special deluxe edition of Only Jesus.

Only Jesus was released in 2018 and has 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 most recently this week two Billboard Music Awards’ nominations for “Top Christian Album” and “Top Christian Song” (“Nobody” ft. Matthew West). The impact of this album nearly two years later include more than 280 million streams life to date. The videos for the title track and “Nobody” each have more than 30 million views.

When the group released the album in November 2018, Casting Crowns’ frontman Mark Hall asked the question: “What does it look like when Jesus is our only answer?” The thoughtful question still applies today especially amongst a global pandemic and social unrest.

“The theme that continued to come up while working on these new songs was that I am not the point – it is not about me, it is about pointing to Him,” shares Hall about Only Jesus. “God is already at work in our lives, and He has a plan that He places us in so that others can know Him. We are here to show the way to God by how we live, how we react to difficult situations, how we handle trials and troubled relationships. Our hope is that through these songs, you can see what it looks like when Jesus is our only source, our only solution and we are pointing to only Jesus.”

Casting Crowns is currently wrapping up their 50-city Drive-In Theater Tour with Awakening Events. They have been able to bring music and entertainment to families and fans who need encouragement and uplifting music during this season. Casting Crowns ranks the highest among all Christian artists and tours, grossing more in ticket sales than any other Christian acts over the last three years.

ABOUT CASTING CROWNS: The prolific and chart-topping CCM group Casting Crowns, who hold the position as Billboard’s top-selling act in Christian music since 2007, 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 five 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.

For more information, visit CastingCrowns.com.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

His Song “Just For Me” Hits #1 at Gospel Radio

New York, NY (June 1, 2020)– Today, 16-time GRAMMY^® winning artist, songwriter and producer Kirk Franklin unveiled the powerful video for his song “Strong God”. The song is the latest single from Franklin’s GRAMMY^®-winning, critically acclaimed album LONG LIVE LOVE, which was released in 2019.

The video was directed by Joey Papa and shines a light on some of the most serious issues that the world is facing including, poverty, racism, drug addiction, domestic violence and the covid-19 pandemic. Portions of the thought-provoking video were inspired by a recent trip to the Dominican Republic that Franklin took with the non-profit organization, *Compassion International*. He serves as a music artist ambassador for the charity, which provides holistic child development to children and families in impoverished communities all over the world through local churches. Franklin is using this song as an opportunity to raise funds for the charity’s Covid-19 Disaster Relief. The “Strong God” video premiered on Franklin’s YouTube / Vevo channel and BET Soul.

Additionally, “Just For Me,” another track from LONG LIVE LOVE, reached #1 at Gospel radio this week. And on Sunday, May 31^st Franklin joined fellow Gospel artist Fred Hammond and Bishop T.D. Jakes for Verzuz – The Healing, a special edition of the extremely popular Instagram live series produced by Swizz Beatz and Timbaland. With so much pain and devastation being experienced in the United States and across the globe right now, Franklin and Hammond came together to provide inspiration and encouragement through Gospel music. The two welcomed fellow gospel artists Tamela Mann and Marvin Sapp who blessed the live audience, which reached as many as 275,000 people, with surprise performances. They also took time during the event to acknowledge victims of police violence and racially motivated murder including Ahmaud Arbery, George Floyd and Trayvon Martin and to offer their support to Arbery’s mother Wanda Cooper-Jones via phone.

Watch the “Strong God” Video:
https://KirkFranklin.lnk.to/StrongGodVideoSt

To connect with Kirk Franklin, also visit:

Website: www.kirkfranklin.com

Facebook: Kirk Franklin

Instagram/Twitter: @KirkFranklin

To connect with *Compassion International*, also visit:

Website: http://compassion.com/werisewithkirk

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MEDIA CONTACTS:   

W&W Public Relations

Aliya Crawford / [email protected]

Brittany Godwin / [email protected]

RCA Records

Theola Borden / [email protected]