Casting Crowns achieves an extraordinary milestone with the RIAA Platinum certification of its sophomore album Lifesong. This certification, signifying U.S. album shipments exceeding 1 million units, comes only sixteen months after the Aug. 30, 2005, release of the GRAMMY Award-winning album, making Casting Crowns the fastest Contemporary Christian music artist in its career to have its first two albums certified Platinum, and only the second in RIAA history ever to achieve it (the other is Jars of Clay, also a Provident Label Group artist, with its self-titled debut in 1996 and Much Afraid in 2000).
Lifesong debuted at No. 9 on Billboard’s Top 200 album chart with the highest first-week sales at the time for a Christian act since Nov. 2003. In its three-year career, all four Casting Crowns projects have received RIAA honors, including its Platinum self-titled debut album (2003), its Platinum DVD Live From Atlanta (2004) and its Gold DVD Lifesong Live (2006).
Terry Hemmings, Provident Music Group President and CEO, notes, “Our company is so grateful to be a part of Casting Crowns’ incredible music and ministry.” He adds, “We are also thankful for the support we have received from radio, retail and the millions of Casting Crowns fans. The impact this group of people has had on all of us will be felt for many years to come.”
The band remains a Christian radio-playlist staple across the country, with Lifesong delivering three No. 1 songs: the anthemic hit “Praise You in this Storm,” the album’s title track “Lifesong,” and the latest chart-topper “Does Anybody Hear Her,” currently No. 1 on five charts.
Over its three-year career, Casting Crowns has been honored with a GRAMMY Award, two American Music Award nods and 10 Gospel Music Awards including Group of the Year for the second consecutive year in 2006. Casting Crowns has been the most played artist on all Christian radio formats combined, with six consecutive No.1 radio hits, and the group has sold more than 2.3 million albums to date. Lead singer and songwriter Mark Hall has been a student pastor for 16 years and currently serves on staff at Eagle’s Landing First Baptist Church in Atlanta.
Sorry this is a little late, but we wanted to make sure to post this for everyone who's been asking about when they can see us in concert. Dates/cities coming soon!
CASTING CROWNS UNVEILS MAJOR FALL TOUR PLANS
Leading Christian Music Act Hits the Road with Dynamic Lineup
Featuring Leeland and John Waller
(Nashville, Tenn.) March 9, 2007 — Multi-Platinum, GRAMMY and multiple Dove Award-winning band Casting Crowns announces plans for headlining yet another major-market tour in Fall 2007 and Spring 2008. Joining Casting Crowns on the fall leg will be one of the most critically-acclaimed new acts to emerge on the scene in years, GRAMMY-nominated, Leeland, and one of Billboard magazine's "Faces To Watch" for 2007, new artist John Waller. The tour will hit 36 cities between Sept. 27 and Dec. 2. (Dates to follow)
Casting Crowns with Leeland
Jeff Roberts, President of Jeff Roberts & Associates, and booking agent for the tour, stated, "After polling the major promoters, we've been told that the package of Casting Crowns, Leeland and John Waller will be the biggest tour this fall. This lineup is already generating tremendous excitement for them. My staff has never been more excited!"
The fall dates kick off in San Antonio, Texas and will travel through most of the U.S., hitting markets such as Atlanta, Birmingham, Houston, Portland, Seattle, Phoenix, Los Angeles and Sacramento. Casting Crowns previously headlined the tremendously successful "Lifesong Tour," which hit 84 markets and connected with more than 357,000 fans, placing the show near the top of Pollstar's Top 100 tours of the 2005/2006 season.
As Casting Crowns leads at Christian radio and retail, its sixth radio smash, "Does Anybody Hear Her," remains at No. 1 for a seventh week. The band recently achieved RIAA history with the Platinum certification of its sophomore album Lifesong, making Casting Crowns the fastest contemporary Christian music artist in its career to have its first two albums certified Platinum, and only the second in RIAA history ever to achieve it. In addition, the band is again up for several Dove Awards, including Artist of the Year and Song of the Year for "Praise You In This Storm," written by lead singer Mark Hall, and one of the biggest songs at Christian radio this past year, having spent an incredible 43 weeks on the AC Monitored chart. Over its three-year career, Casting Crowns has been honored with a GRAMMY Award, two American Music Awards nods and 10 Gospel Music Awards. To date, the band has sold more than 2.5 million albums.
Leeland frontman Leeland Mooring, shares, "It is an honor to be a part of the upcoming Casting Crowns tour. We love what this band is about and admire their vision for ministry. It is such a blessing to have the opportunity to work with such an incredible group of people. All of us in Leeland are grateful and can't wait to see what God is going to do." Since the August 2006 release of the band's debut album Sound of Melodies, Leeland has garnered a GRAMMY nod, four Dove nods, and has opened multiple dates for Third Day.
John Waller, who attended the Denver show of Casting Crowns' "Lifesong Tour" last spring, said, "I am blown away by this amazing opportunity. To think that just a year ago I was in the audience watching Casting Crowns, and now having the chance to travel with the band is simply amazing and quite humbling. This is more than I could have ever dreamed. God is so good." Singer/songwriter and worship pastor, John Waller is the former frontman for Christian indie band According To John. His debut album, The Blessing, released this week, and the title track and first radio single is No. 23 at Christian AC. Waller is one of only ten artists chosen across all genres of music this year by Billboard magazine cited as "hot talent awaiting discovery as 2007 begins."
For more information, please visit CastingCrowns.com, LeelandOnline.com, and JohnWallerMusic.com.
DES MOINES, IA -- (MARKET WIRE) -- March 28, 2007 -- Grammy award-winning Casting Crowns is the first of several bands to be announced for the Iowa State Fair Grandstand line-up. Tickets for the band's August 16 performance will go on-sale to the public on Saturday, April 14, at 10 a.m.
Casting Crowns vaulted to popularity in 2003 following their hits "If We Are the Body" and "Who Am I." The talented Atlanta-based group has received numerous accolades including thirteen GMA Music Award nominations, seven GMA Awards and one coveted Grammy Award for Best Pop/Contemporary Gospel Album, "Lifesong." Today, the soft rock band is one of the best selling artists in Christian music with career sales exceeding one million records.
Tree63 will open the August 16 show at 8:00 p.m. The South African band known for its uunreservedly rock n' roll style with a spiritual message, made its American debut in 2000 and has followed with three more albums.
Tickets for this show only go on sale at 10 a.m. on Saturday, April 14, at all Ticketmaster outlets, charge-by-phone numbers and on-line at www.ticketmaster.com. No tickets will be available at the Fair's box office until it opens July 5 (assuming tickets remain). All concert events are reserved seating; track events are general admission. Beginning July 5, the Fair's Ticket Office will be open 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Mondays - Fridays and 9 a.m. to Noon on Saturdays for walk-up orders only (no mail, phone or fax orders). Convenience charges will apply to all tickets.
The 2007 Iowa State Fair "Sounds Like Fun" August 9-19. For more information call 800/545-FAIR or visit www.iowastatefair.org.
