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Check out the latest buzz in all things music…

James Fortune & FIYA’s New CD “Encore” In Stores January 26, 2010

James Fortune & FIYA will release their third CD offering, Encore in stores on January 26, 2010. The first single and title track, “Encore,” co-written by Fortune and produced by Terence Vaughn was released to both gospel and urban mainstream radio simultaneously last month.

The CD features 12 songs and features five duets with Fortune and other special guest artists including Kierra “KiKi’ Sheard on “The Greatest;” “I Need Your Glory” with William Murphy; “I Want To Praise You” with Men of Standard’s Isaac Caree; “Can’t Stop” with Nikki Ross; “Draw Me” with Anaysha Figueroa; along with a trio performance of “You Are Here” with Fortune, Men of Standard’s Lowell Pye and Zacardi Cortez. Both the CD and DVD will include a live version of the hit song, “I Trust You” from Fortune’s current and ground-breaking sophomore album The Transformation.

“The Power of One Fan” Israel and New Breed Contest

Enter “The Power of One Fan” Contest for your chance at winning $500 and an autographed copy of Israel Houghton’s entire catalog just in time for the holidays.

Simply answer 10 questions about Israel’s past works to win. A new question will be posted every weekday starting Monday, December 7th 2009 through December 17th 2009. The first person to correctly answer all 10 questions wins, and 5 runners up will also win copies of Israel’s entire catalog. All answers should be submitted after all 10 questions have been posted. The submission email address will be provided on December 17th, 2009.

To view contest rules visit: http://www.columbiarecords.com/artist/israelhoughton/facebook/rules.html.

Visit the Israel and New Breed contest page to see the trivia questions: http://www.facebook.com/IsraelHoughton

Leah Smith Fan Contest

Express yourself creatively and enter the “Feels Like I’m Running” contest presented by singer Leah Smith. Fresh off the success of her debut EP, Beautifully Made, Leah Smith is offering a way for her fans to get involved with her creative process. The “Feels Like I’m Running Contest” allows fans to interpret Smith’s latest single, Monster, for themselves.

The contest requests fans to upload 30 second video segments of their best interpretations of Monster. Smith kicks off the contest with her own homemade creative video for Monster featuring her 1-year-old niece. The best videos submitted will be selected to be shown in portions of her music video. See her video announcing the contest below:

Along with the chance to be featured in Smith’s video, the winner of the “Feels Like I’m Running” contest will receive an autographed copy of Beautifully Made EP, a framed lyric sheet of Monster with exclusive artwork from Smith’s graphic designer, and an iPod shuffle.

Each video submission must include a name and email address to be officially entered into the contest. Videos should be no longer than 30 seconds and can be uploaded to http://bit.ly/leahsmithmonster. All submissions must be received by Monday, December 21 at 11:59 p.m.

Don’t wait, submit your video today. Be sure to pick up your copy of Leah Smith’s debut EP entitled, Beautifully Made available in select stores and online via CD Baby, digstation, and iTunes. For more information on Smith’s touring schedule, visit her website at www.leahsmithmusic.com

Download “Love Like This” from Ayiesha Woods

Click here to download the Gospel Music Channel’s Free mp3 Download of the Week, “Love Like This” from Ayiesha Woods, a fresh, rock and soul infused declaration of one’s love to God:

I want to stay in Your presence all day / And I don’t care if the time slips away / There’s no place I’d rather be / When You’re here surrounding me with Your love / I’m finding out that nothing compares / With these endless moments we share / Now I have peace of mind / Fulfillment of a great kind when I’m with You / And I? I’ve never known love like this before / My heart is Yours / I… I’ve never known love like this before / You take my breath away / Lord I can’t imagine not having You here / And I find it so amazing / What I feel when You’re near / When it’s just me and You / There’s nothing that I can’t do / So take me away / I never want this to end / I am surrounded by Your love – it’s everywhere / And all that I am is Yours forever

– “Love Like This” from Ayiesha Woods’ album of the same title

Buzz From Around the Web:

Marvin Winans Jr. & Ruben Studdard Star in Musical Christmas Play

1800Gospel recently posted that Marvin Winans Jr. of the legendary Winans gospel music family and American Idol champion Ruben Studdard will be presenting an original production at Pastor Paula White’s Without Walls International Church on December 18. Find more details at 1800Gospel.com.

Clark Sisters’ Family Christmas

Don’t Miss Grammy Award Winners “The Clark Sisters” Perform Christmas Holiday Songs from their Latest CD “Clark Sisters’ Family Christmas” Tonight, Wednesday, December 16th @ 9:00pm (PST) on TBN. (From EMI Gospel)

Recent Album Release Picks

Three Songs For Christmas – Rachael Lampa

Artist Website: www.rachaellampa.com
Release Date: December 2009

Rachael Lampa’s Christmas EP “Three Songs For Christmas” is now available through an exclusive Paypal promotional offer on her website.

The EP includes such favorites as “Oh Holy Night”, and “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas,” and features a beautiful new song written by Rachael Lampa and Brendan McCarthy titled “God is With Us”. The first 500 copies will be personally signed by Rachael. Order your copy at www.rachaellampa.com.

Rachael’s EP Human is also scheduled to be released on December 22nd; visit her website and follow her on Twitter @rachael_lampa for more updates.

Until The Whole World Hears – Casting Crowns

Release Date: November 17, 2009
Artist Website: http://castingcrowns.com
Click here to order on Amazon

Amid nearly 4.5 million career album sales, numerous awards and consistent chart topping radio success in an unprecedented six year span, Casting Crowns’ lead singer and songwriter Mark Hall has never strayed from the group’s main purpose: ‘Present disciple-ship through music’. The result with each new song collection is a fresh, relevant perspective on our life journey. It’s this unwavering pursuit that has inspired Casting Crowns’ latest release, Until the Whole World Hears, an offering of encouragement, challenge, hope and truth to a world in need.

Listen to clips from the album below:

Heaven & Earth – Phil Wickham

Artist’s Webite: http://philwickham.com
Release Date: November 17, 2009

Since the release of his critically acclaimed sophomore album Cannons, distinguished singer/songwriter Phil Wickham finds his voice on his third studio album Heaven and Earth. Wickham feels that he has a story to tell: he wants to remind the Church for what and who we are created for.

The lyrics of the first single “Safe,” featuring MercyMe frontman Bart Millard, serve to encourage, strengthen and remind listeners that they are not alone as they say, “You will be safe in His arms, You will be safe in His arms, the hands that hold the world are holding Your heart, this is the promise He made He will be with You always, when everything is falling apart you will be safe in His arms.”

“If we are Christians, we know God is great and we know what Jesus did on the cross,” says Wickham. “We know all the stories, but to be reminded of and to be compelled to move by those stories, I feel, is in a way a large part of what my goal in music is – to remind the Church of the reality of the Gospel, the importance of the cross, of the excitement and hope that we have in Heaven.”

– Quotes Courtesy of The Media Collective

Listen to clips from the album below:

Descriptions courtesy of Amazon.com and labels