Clevershoppers.com

07/27/2007
TODD AGNEW’S BETTER QUESTIONS ENTERS BILLBOARD’S CHRISTIAN RETAIL SOUNDSCAN AT NO.1
Ardent/INO Records’ five-time Dove Award nominee Todd Agnew enters Billboard’s Contemporary Christian Retail Soundscan Overall Chart at No. 1 with his latest project Better Questions as he announces plans to partner with World Vision for his headline tour this fall. Newcomers Rush Of Fools and Ardent Records’ singer/songwriter Joy Whitlock will join Agnew on the 30+city tour starting September and running through November.

“We are going to be out digging into some of the concepts of the Better Questions record, sharing some of the new songs,” says Agnew regarding the fall tour. “We will also be digging into this idea of questioning God and bring our deepest and hardest questions to the Lord so that we don’t ignore them.”

Agnew’s partnership with World Vision kicked off with a recent trip to Zimbabwe. A limited edition dvd featuring behind-the-scenes of the trip and more, is available with the purchase of Better Questions exclusively at Christian retail stores and select online retailers.

Agnew’s fourth studio project Better Questions released on July 17. The project’s first single, “Our Great God,” is connecting with listeners and gaining momentum. AC stations on the song include Milwaukee’s WFZH/the Fish; Greensboro, NC’s WBFJ; WCSG in Grand Rapids, MI; Fayetteville, NC’s WCLN; Brunswick, GA’s WAYR; WJIE in Louisville, KY and WDJC in Birmingham, AL. Williamsport, PA’s WGRC reports the song No.1 on their weekly top ten list during Better Questions release week. WGRC’s program director Larry Weidman says, regarding Agnew’s single, “A song that is needed to communicate the profound truth that the God of Christianity is not the same as the god or gods of other religions. And it doesn’t hurt that Todd Agnew has been blessed with a voice that resonates with our female audience. A must play.”

On the Inspo charts reaching Top 20, “Our Great God” continues to climb with stations such as; WMBI (Moody Broadcasting) in Chicago, IL; WGNV in Wausau-Stevens Point, WI; KCFB in St. Cloud, MN and American Family Network.

Along with radio stations playing “Our Great God,” Agnew and James’ MySpace blogs have received unprecedented response from fans worldwide.

In support of his release, Agnew recently finished a promotional tour stopping at; KSBJ for a Brown Bag performance, K-LOVE radio network where he and duet partner Rebecca St. James performed his latest single on the Jon and Sherry Rivers morning show, and KXOJ’s “Riverwalk Festival” with music director Dave Gordon commenting, “Tulsa can’t get enough of Todd Agnew. An estimated 3,000 KXOJ listeners enjoyed his Monday night concert at Riverwalk Crossing launching the release of his new CD.”

Better Questions Tour
9/6/2007 Little Rock, AR
9/8/2007 Oklahoma City, OK
9/13/2007 Albuquerque, NM
9/14/2007 Tempe, AZ
9/15/2007 Tucson, AZ
9/19/2007 Merced, CA
9/20/2007 Redding, CA
9/21/2007 Bend, OR
9/23/2007 Spokane, WA
9/25/2007 Wenatchee, WA
9/26/2007 Missoula, MT
9/27/2007 Kalispell, MT
9/28/2007 Pasco, WA
9/29/2007 College Place, WA
9/30/2007 Layton, UT
10/3/2007 Castle Rock, CO
10/6/2007 Mt. Sterling, KY
10/9/2007 Cumming, GA
10/11/2007 Iowa City, IA
10/13/2007 Minneapolis, MN
10/19/2007 Charlotte, NC
10/20/2007 Dunn, NC
10/26/2007 Greenwood, IN
10/28/2007 Louisville, KY
11/3/2007 Brooksville, FL
11/11/2007 Houghton, NY
11/17/2007 Clinton, MS
11/18/2007 Memphis, TN

07/23/2007
33MILES - ONE OF CHRISTIAN MUSIC’S BEST-SELLING NEW ARTISTS IN 2007.
One of the most successful and best-selling new Christian artists in 2007, INO Records’ 33Miles, crossed the U.S. on a jam-packed promotional tour filled with television appearances, radio station visits, concerts, festivals and more. Now in follow-up to their smash top-10 debut single “What Could Be Better” 33Miles has released “There Is A God” to radio on July 20.

Reflecting on “There Is A God” lead singer Jason Barton says, “In a world full of unbelief and confusion, this song offers an anthem for Christians to sing aloud the undeniable evidence that we did not just appear from nowhere, that we are wonderfully made by the Creator of the universe and that He calls us ‘friend.’”

Since their self-titled album released on April 10, 33Miles has logged over 33,000 miles touring the country in a whirl-wind of press, taping the video countdown show “Hot List” with The Gospel Music Channel, appearing on LeSea Broadcasting’s “The Daily Harvest Show” in June and on Father’s Day performing during the “Hour Of Power” broadcast at The Crystal Cathedral.

Earlier this month, 33Miles performed at both of Christian music’s largest annual listener appreciation concerts: KLTY/Dallas’ “Celebrate Freedom” with more than 100,000 fans in attendance and KXOJ/Tulsa’s “Freedom Live” festival. According to KXOJ’s Bob Thorton, “20,000+ came out to see 33Miles!”

33Miles most recent radio concert appearances include, WCVO/The River in Columbus, OH and The Fish in Nashville, Sacramento and Cleveland. Upcoming appearances will be KSBJ “Summer Of Love” concert series in Houston, TX, K-LOVE regional market concerts and WCIC in Peoria, IL.

07/20/2007
INO RECORDS ANNOUNCES FALL RELEASE SCHEDULE
INO Records has announced a busy fall schedule with new cd releases from MercyMe, The Afters, Phil Wickham, Sara Groves and Mark Harris. New signings Connersvine and Fee are also set to release debut projects this fall.

Following five bestselling projects, nine consecutive No. 1 Christian singles and four back-to-back mainstream radio hits, the multi platinum and Grammy-nominated band MercyMe returns with their next batch of hook-filled and emotionally grabbing songs on “All That Is Within Me” due November 20th. Produced by Brown Bannister and recorded at Cider Mountain studio and ranch in Idaho (with strings recorded at London’s famed Abbey Road Studio), the band offers an album of songs “straight from scripture” says lead singer/songwriter Bart Millard. The record features worshipful moments like “God With Us,” “You Reign,” and “Sanctified” alongside very personal songs like “Finally Home.” “Finally Home” captures Millard’s thoughts about what he’ll tell his earthly father (who died from cancer several years ago) about his life and how he’ll greet his heavenly Father. Full of energetic moments, this record nonetheless touches the heart of the church in a very real emotional and personal way.

Following his smash debut project, “The Line Between The Two”, Mark Harris is set to release “Windows and Walls” on September 25. Produced by Pete Kipley and Nathan Nockels, this Dove Award-winning artist, once again delivers songs for the soundtrack of life wrapped in up-tempo, powerful melodic moments. Winner of a dove award for his song “Find Your Wings” on his last album Harris once again delivers radio ready music including the title track, “Windows and Walls” which addresses the integrity of living out our faith with our families.

The Afters are slated to release their highly-anticipated sophomore project on December 26 with “Never Going Back to Ok.” The former Starbucks baristas turned GMA new artists of the year are recording again with producer Dan Muckala (TobyMac, MercyMe, Nick Lachey). With their debut project, The Afters received top attention from their fans and media outlets. The Afters’ music appeared as a theme song for a MTV reality show along with being heard on mtvU, ABC Family, and E! News as well as on HOT AC and VH-1 radio along with outlets such as Billboard, BOP and Popstar. They also received a MTVU woody award and their song beautiful love was the most downloaded song of CCM in 2006.

Sara Groves’ latest project, “Tell Me What You Know,” due out November 6 is produced by Brown Bannister (who also produced her critically-acclaimed CD “Add to the Beauty”). Groves is hoping that when listening to this record, people will be moved by the joy of getting to be involved in God’s kingdom and will think critically about their relationship to their neighbors and to the world. In addition to many songs Groves penned herself, she also co-wrote several, including one with Charlie Peacock called “In the Girl” and a closing song with Gordon Kennedy called “You Are Wonderful.”

Phil Wickham is releasing his sophomore project, “Cannons”, on October 2. With Wickham’s loyal and dedicated following, this project, produced by Pete Kipley, is poised to propel him to the forefront of Christian music. The combination of up-tempo pop, powerful worship and poignant lyrics are promising to take the church and fans alike to the next step up from his wildly-acclaimed debut self-titled project. Phil kicks off the release of the record with a 25+ city tour with David Crowder.

Earlier this year, INO added acoustic, pop-rock duo Connersvine to its roster. Indianapolis Colt’s {2007 Super-bowl Champs} punter Hunter Smith and singer/songwriter Chris Wilson make up this dynamic duo. Both come from a strong musical background and both lead worship at the Every Nation Church in Indianapolis. Their self-titled debut project will release October 23. Based firmly in the church, this acoustic pop rock release’s first single “Live For You” will be impacting Christian AC and Inspo radio on August 31.

INO’s newest signing, Fee, is no newcomer to the music scene but rather is an established modern worship group from Atlanta who contributed to Passion ‘07, Catalyst and other recent worship gatherings. Fee’s debut INO project, “We Shine,” will release September 25, featuring 13 tracks of cutting-edge rock worship—many of which are already gaining momentum in church worship worldwide. Produced by Steve Fee and Jason Hoard. Fee’s debut AC/Inspo radio single, “Glorious One” will be going for adds on August 3.