Clevershoppers.com

05/22/2007
TODD AGNEW ASKS BETTER QUESTIONS WITH HIS FOURTH STUDIO PROJECT
Beloved by Christian Music fans and friends alike, Ardent Records in coordination with INO Records, announces the release of singer/songwriter Todd Agnew’s fourth studio project, Better Questions.

The release is set for July 17 and the first single is a duet featuring Rebecca St. James titled “Our Great God” which will be going for radio adds May 25.

Better Questions, co-produced by Agnew and John Hampton, is a 16-song selection (including prelude) that has a bit of everything with powerful ballads, worshipful church anthems, humorous lyrics, and solid rock moments.

“I’m finding more and more people who aren’t fooled by the ‘everything’s fine’ version of Christianity,” says Agnew. “I’m trying to just get some of those questions out there, with questions people are afraid to ask in church, but also to get them asked sincerely and not with anger.” Such questions bring Agnew to this place in time and art, using his platform and talent to get to the core of who we are as humans, to get to that moment where we’re able to ask the Better Questions.

Before the July album release, a new community feature will be added to toddagnew.com, tentatively titled Friends of Todd Agnew. This will act as a direct link to Agnew’s blogs, photos, videos, and more.

He will also launch the release with a promotional tour starting in mid-July and all events open to the public will be posted on toddagnew.com. Nation-wide youth camps and festivals will keep Todd Agnew traveling this summer, and in the fall Agnew will be headlining a tour with newcomers Rush Of Fools and including new Ardent signing, Joy Whitlock, who will release an album in early 2008.

For more information on Todd Agnew’s latest project or touring information, log onto www.toddagnew.com.

05/22/2007
CAEDMON’S CALL ANNOUNCES BIG YEAR
INO Records’ announces the signing of award-winning Christian group, folk-pop sensation Caedmon’s Call. The group will be releasing their 15th project Overdressed on Aug. 28, and features former member-turned-solo singer/songwriter Derek Webb on the project and upcoming tour.

“It was definitely a no-brainer to record with Derek again, especially when we [Caedmon's Call] joined INO, which has been Webb’s label for years,” says Cliff Young. “We all sat down one day and thought ‘I wonder what it would be like to make an album together’.” “We have all grown so much over the past six years, and I know for me [and I'm sure the others] it was a natural process to switch to INO and then have Derek re-join us for this project and upcoming tour.

Overdressed is a 12 song cd collection unlike any other Caedmon’s Call record, organically acoustic with emphasis on rhythm while maintaining cleverly-written lyrics. All songs were co-wrote between Andrew Osenga, Randall Goodgame, Derek Webb and Webb’s wife, musician Sandra McCracken.

“The title Overdressed comes from lyrics in the song ‘Trouble,’” says Derek Webb. “It talks about how, if I’m honest, all my best attempts at being good are a real mess. Just like the Garden of Eden, I try to cover myself with so many different things. So, when I’m with Him, I feel so overdressed.”

Formerly with Essential Records, Caedmon’s Call joined the INO roster of artists in 2007. “I have long been an admirer of Caedmon’s Call rich musical legacy,” says president of INO Records Jeff Moseley. “Now with the addition of Derek Webb for this record, it just feels like a natural fit. I am thrilled they are a part of the INO family and that we can share in the future of Caedmon’s Call.”

Caedmon’s Call will head out on a promotional tour in late summer before headlining a Spring tour. These dates will be announced at a later time.

To check on all of Caedmon’s Call news, go to www.caedmonscall.com or their fan run site www.caedmonscall.net.

05/21/2007
Universal Pictures/Evan Almighty Sponsors SKILLET Club Tour
As Atlantic/Lava/Ardent/SRE rockers SKILLET pack out clubs across the U.S., Universal Pictures and their upcoming film “Evan Almighty” is sponsoring the dates to promote the June 22nd nationwide release of the film starring actors Steve Carell and Morgan Freeman (http://www.evanalmighty.com/). Skillet is previewing the trailer, mentioning the film from stage and running an internet campaign through their website (skillet.com), myspace (myspace.com/skilletmusic) and street team.

With each tour date being sponsored by a local mainstream rock and/or hot ac station (and also featuring label mates Decyfer Down), Skillet is winning over Program Director’s (PDs) across the country and drawing large crowds, packing the clubs each night. Here are just a couple of comments coming from PDs:

“The band was GREAT at the station. The acoustic performance was flawless and the fans that showed up were thrilled at how personable and accommodating the band was… they really were the nicest bunch of people we’ve had in our studio…EVER. The show was FANTASTIC! I don’t know when the last time was that they played this market but we definitely need to do this again… everyone was REALLY into it. Their phenomenal performance and positive message left a lasting impression on all who were there. I can definitely see this band building a huge following in this market. “ -Big Rog, Assistant Program Director / Music Director / Afternoons, KHTB-FM / 94.9 The Blaze, Salt Lake City, UT

“Skillet did it again for us….they’ve out sold major national acts consistently time and time again. We’ve played three singles so far…two of which are now library songs and my guess is the third one will be too” - Aaron “Buck” Burnett, Music Director/Morning Dude, KTEG 104.7 FM The Edge, Albuquerque

In follow up to their seven-week reign at No.1 on Christian Rock with their single “Rebirthing,” Skillet’s second Christian single, “The Last Night,” was recently added to the AIR-1 radio network, WAYfm Denver and KAFC/Anchorage. The single also nabbed the top spot at Rock and is No. 3 CHR on CRW this week, while moving up to No. 1 on R&R’s Christian CHR chart following a No. 1 at Rock hit there as well. WAYfm Nashville is one of the top CHR stations supporting Skillet and this single in a big way, with Network MD Stace Whitmire commenting, “Skillet’s ‘The Last Night Night’ has connected with our audience from the get go. It’s been one of the fastest rising songs, and continues to be a WAY-FM audience favorite.”

As COMATOSE continues to be a top-seller, 32 weeks after it’s release, Skillet continues the club tour into June and will hit all major summer festivals and mainstream radio shows throughout the summer. For more details, go to http://www.skillet.com or http://www.myspace.com/skilletmusic.