hearitfirst.com News

EMI CMG Songs Now DRM-Free, Better Quality @ iTunes Plus

The digital music revolution continues this week EMI's premium DRM-free, higher-quality download offering available with our first retail partner, Apple iTunes. This week, Apple launched its iTunes Plus option, featuring music from EMI artists --

EMI Christian Music Group Takes Home 13 Doves

EMI Christian Music Group took home 13 Dove Awards at the Gospel Music Association's annual award show last Wednesday. The evening started off with a bang with the show opening performance of "Lose My Soul" by TobyMac featuring Kirk Franklin

New Mandisa Interview on “Idol Radio Show”

Mandisa, an unforgettable Top Ten finalist on season five of American Idol, will release her debut album via Sparrow Records in May. In a new hour-long interview with "Idol Radio Show," she talks about the American Idol experience, the following

New tobyMac/Portable Sounds Ringtunes and Ringer

Talk about a hookup for Cellular South/Realtone Jukebox users! tobyMac is a featured artist in the Realtone Jukebox BREW application, which means you can buy new Ring tones from the new album Portable Sounds! Get ringers for the hit single "Made

TobyMac’s PORTABLE SOUNDS at #10 on Billboard Top 200

TobyMac registered the highest single artist, non-compilation album debut in the United States this week with PORTABLE SOUNDS, entering the Billboard Top 200 chart at #10 up in the mix near Justin Timberlake and Corinne Bailey Rae among others. The set

Family Force 5 Nabs Dove Award Nomination for Rock Album

As the Family Force 5 “crunk-rock” phenomenon continues to build, the band has been recognized yet again, this time with a Dove Award nomination for “Rock Album of the Year” for their debut release Business Up Front, Party In The

Ayiesha Woods Gears Up for Exciting 2007 with Dove Award Nomination

The spotlight continues to shine brightly on singer-songwriter Ayiesha Woods with her most recent recognition coming in the form of a Dove Award nomination for “New Artist of the Year” for the upcoming 38th annual GMA Dove Awards. Since unveiling

Chris Tomlin Leads 38th Annual Dove Award Nominations

Chris Tomlin , the Gospel Music Association's 2006 Artist and Male Vocalist of the Year, is once again the leader in this year's 38 th Annual GMA Dove Awards nominations. The awards ceremony will be held April 25, 2007, at the Grand Ole Opry House

Are You Freaky Enough to win an iPod Nano from tobyMac?

HearItFirst.com , the coolest free subscription-based site in all of Christian music, is your source for everything related to the new tobyMac album, PORTABLE SOUNDS, in stores February 20. A new "Freak of the Week" contest is giving fans a

TobyMac Brings the Party on PORTABLE SOUNDS

TobyMac talks with ChristianMusicToday.com this week about his new album, PORTABLE SOUNDS, in stores everywhere February 20 via ForeFront/EMI. Describing his latest mix of feel-good rock, rap, and pop faith jams, Toby says, "If there's anything we're short of in Christian music, it's a party."

Fans know TobyMac will also offer a strong dose of spiritual depth on PORTABLE SOUNDS just as he did on his gold-selling predecessors MOMENTUM and WELCOME TO DIVERSE CITY.

"The biggest fight we have as musicians is to wake up in the morning and go to the studio or your piano or your guitar and truly believe that God can move something through you that moves people-connects with them, challenges them, causing them to dialog about who God is," he says. "I really believe that can still happen . . . that's how I believe we'll stay relevant."

Read TobyMac's complete interview with ChristianMusicToday.com here.

Pre-order PORTABLE SOUNDS via iTunes and get immediate access to the #1 single "Made to Love."

Pre-order PORTABLE SOUNDS at PortableSounds.tv and receive a cool TobyMac wristband.

In related news, HearItFirst.com users are receiving a free TobyMac song download this week.

 

Get a Move On with TobyMac’s PORTABLE SOUNDS e-card

"We've got portable sounds to lift you up; portable sounds to take you higher." Get the full scoop on TobyMac's new PORTABLE SOUNDS album, in stores February 20, at http://www.portablesounds.tv/.

There you'll launch a new e-card that includes a pop-up player with multiple skins, a MySpace theme generator, and nine behind-the-scenes videos Toby filmed especially for PORTABLE SOUNDS. There's also a stylin' pre-order deal that includes a free wristband.

Following up his gold albums MOMENTUM and WELCOME TO DIVERSE CITY, PORTABLE SOUNDS is sure to excite listeners. In addition to the island and urban flavors of the #1 single "Made to Love," the set features bombastic funk and hip-rock on "Boomin'," the soulful throwback of "One World," and a pop/worship anthem in "Lose My Soul" featuring Kirk Franklin and American Idol finalist Mandisa.

The Portable Sounds Tour kicks off March 15. Check out the concert dates at http://www.tobymac.com/.

 

"Worship Not Just About Songs" Says Matt Redman

From "The Heart of Worship" to "Blessed Be Your Name," Matt Redman has written some of today's most popular worship hits. But in an interview with ChristianMusicToday.com, while discussing his acclaimed new album, BEAUTIFUL NEWS, the British musician says that what he does is about more than a song.

"When we lift up the name of Jesus in worship, it overflows into evangelism. My hope is this new album might do that," he tells the site. "With a song like ‘Beautiful News' where Christians can celebrate the gospel, I hope it might also speak truth to those who don't know Christ. But remember, worship is not just about songs. It's our lives, so one of the main ways our worship to God can shine in this world is through lives lived out in service and devotion."
 
Back in December, ChristianMusicToday.com compared the sound of BEAUTIFUL NEWS to acts including Coldplay and Tree63 and gave the project a near-perfect rating of 4.5 stars, declaring:

"It's not often that a worship album provides a consistent theme through most all of the songs, but BEAUTIFUL NEWS delivers a stirring message of hope for a troubled world, revitalizing Matt Redman's sound and songwriting in the process-his best original album in years."

BEAUTIFUL NEWS was produced by Doubledutch (TobyMac, Mat Kearney). The set features collaborations with Delirious? frontman Martin Smith ("Take It to the Streets," "All Over the World") and the popular first radio single "You Never Let Go." Learn more and spread the news with this e-card.

 

TobyMac #1 @ iTunes; PORTABLE SOUNDS in Stores Feb. 20

Following two gold certified albums (MOMENTUM and WELCOME TO DIVERSE CITY), TobyMac is back on February 20 with his third solo set, PORTABLE SOUNDS. First single "Made to Love" is currently the #1 song at Christian Hit Radio stations and the top downloaded Christian track at iTunes.

If you pre-order PORTABLE SOUNDS right now through iTunes, you'll get immediate access to "Made to Love," followed by the full album download on street date, plus a bonus acoustic song, a behind-the-scenes video, and other cool extras.

PORTABLE SOUNDS is sure to delight and surprise listeners. TobyMac said, "Passion for my art drives me so long as I feel the Most High breathing new songs through me. I committed on this project that when writing and recording I will never rely on what has worked in the past and never fear what hasn't. The canvas is blank and the colors are endless."

In addition to the island and urban flavors of "Made to Love," PORTABLE SOUNDS features the bombastic funk and hip-rock of "Boomin'," the soulful throwback of "One World," and a pop/worship anthem in "Lose My Soul" featuring Kirk Franklin and American Idol finalist Mandisa.

TobyMac will launch the Portable Sounds Tour on March 15 with special guests Thousand Foot Krutch, Building 429, and Family Force 5. Check the concert dates and developing information about PORTABLE SOUNDS at http://www.tobymac.com/.