When Chris Tomlin released his highly-anticipated new studio album, Burning Lights (sixstepsrecords), January 8, he made Christian music history when the album debuted at the top of the Billboard 200, scanning more than 72,000 units. The feat marked the award-winning songwriter’s first trip to the top of the Billboard 200 chart and only the fourth time in history that a Christian music album has entered the chart at No. 1.
The exciting news is that this is the second time in less than a year that a Christian album has topped the all-genre Billboard chart. In late August, TobyMac took the coveted top spot with 69,000 sales of his album Eye On It (ForeFront/EMI). Prior to that, Christian music hasn’t visited No. 1 since LeAnn Rimes made it there in 1997.
Rimes’ You Light Up My Life: Inspirational Songs–which featured mainly inspirational faire but was categorized under “Christian/Gospel” and included covers of “Amazing Grace,” “Bridge Over Troubled Waters” and even “The Star Spangled Banner”–was only the second Christian album in history to top the Billboard 200, following Bob Carlisle’s Butterfly Kisses (Shades of Grace), thanks to the success of the mega title track. Personally, after researching this info, I found it odd that the success of “I Can Only Imagine” never propelled MercyMe into the top spot.
Tomlin and TobyMac weren’t the only faith-based musicians holding their own among their secular counterparts within the past year. In 2012, new albums from Tenth Avenue North and Lecrae started inside the Top 10 as well. In 2011, industry insiders predicted Casting Crowns‘ Come to the Well (Beach Street/Reunion) would land at No. 1, but the band just narrowly missed the top spot as Adele ended up claiming No. 1 that week.
I don’t know about you, but this news fires me up! Landing on top of the all-genre charts puts Christian music in the spotlight, and people (other artists included) are beginning to take notice. The achievement opened media doors for Toby and seems to be doing the same for Tomlin with his recent appearance on ”Fox and Friends” last week. There are very few artists in Christian music with the momentum it takes to land at No. 1 on the Billboard 200. So what’s the secret? Though not all-inclusive, here are my thoughts behind how Tomlin and Toby landed at the top…
1. Relentless Touring
Chris Tomlin and TobyMac are two of the hardest-working acts in Christian music. They are on the road constantly, and staying in front of people is one of the most powerful tools artists have in their arsenal. And these two keep it large and high-profile. Tomlin kicked off the year performing in front of over 60,000 college students at Passion 2013 for four days. His Burning Lights tour with Kari Jobe and Louie Giglio begins next month and runs through the beginning of May, hitting large churches and mid-size venues across the country. Meanwhile, Toby not only did a string of Eye On It headlining dates soon after the album released last year, but he created the “Hits Deep Tour” that took him to arenas alongside an A-list line-up, not to mention that he’s currently headlining Winter Jam 2013.
2. Powerful Press
In addition to Christian outlets, both artists have received a considerable amount of high-profile coverage in the secular media, and their debuts at No. 1 only fuel that heightened coverage. Press breeds additional press, and high-profile outlets like “Fox & Friends,” The L.A. Times, The New York Times, USA Today and Billboard magazine are taking notice, exposing both artists to a wider, more diverse audience.
3. Radio Play
In preparation for their album releases, both Tomlin and Toby saw their singles rise at radio. Choosing the right first single from a new album to send to radio is key. It can determine the fate of an album. Fortunately, Toby’s “Me Without You” became an instant hit, while Tomlin’s anthem “Whom Shall I Fear? (God of Angel Armies)” is already in the Top 10 on three different charts and poised to land at the top spot. Long known for crafting radio-friendly songs, both artists have a solid history at radio that has laid a great foundation for them.
4. Timing is Everything
As with anything, this is perhaps the most important theory to keep in mind. Everything boils down to release week. It’s all a numbers game. Often, it’s hard to predict when other big albums will be releasing the same week, but it often bodes well for a Christian album if artists can release on weeks secular artists like Taylor Swift aren’t bowing new albums. It’s all about the competition and the buzz that’s been generated for the album prior to release. In Tomlin’s case, the largest Passion gathering in history had taken place the week before, where attendees could purchase the album for only $7 prior to release. It was a brilliant marketing move that likely propelled the success of the album.
Tomlin and Toby’s achievements simply prove that consumers dollars do count. Every Christian album legally purchased is a step in the right direction. 2013 holds a long list of new releases slated to bow. However, few artists already have the ingredients brewing to make it to the top of the Billboard 200. Perhaps Skillet‘s highly-anticipated project releasing this spring has the greatest potential to join their ranks? Only time will tell.
Why do you think these artists landed on top? What new albums slated to release in 2013 do you think have a chance at topping the Billboard 200 chart?
Tags: billboard 200, bob carlisle, burning lights, casting crowns, chris tomlin, eye on it, leann rimes, Lecrae, no. 1, Tenth Avenue North, TobyMac
At the end of Passion 2013, Louie Giglio announced that dates were still being finalized for Passion 2014. The 268 Generation team hit a slight roadblock when they were told the Georgia Dome would not be available during the usual first-of-the-year timeframe in 2014, during which Passion generally takes place, due to NFL playoff games. Today, it was announced that Passion 2014 will take place in a condensed two-day format in two different cities:
Debra Akins
Martha Fry
DeWayne Hamby
Jackie A. Chapman
leanncallaway
Lindsay Williams
markgeil
mattconner180
prfblack
6 Brand-New Songs You Have to Hear
6 FebThere are a plethora of new singles going for adds at Christian radio right now, and several of them have piqued my interest. I’ve discovered some of them by way of the countless pre-releases that come across my desk. Some I’ve learned about in my Facebook feed; while others I’ve simply heard when I turn on my local Christian radio station. Kudos to all of the stations already spinning these gems. If you haven’t heard them yet, here are six brand-new songs you have to hear:
The Afters are currently in the studio putting the finishing touches on their brand-new project. With the release of feature-film October Baby, last year fans were treated to a tease of a new song when “Life As Beautiful” provided the soundtrack to the ending credits. Now, the first official single from their forthcoming album, “Every Good Thing,” is officially at radio pointing listeners to the Source of all the good things we enjoy in life. The fun and infectious chorus will have you hitting “repeat” on this song in no time.
*”Every Good Thing” is so new it’s not even available for download at iTunes yet! Watch a live acoustic performance of the song here.
Although it will be a while before we get a new studio album from Franny, she’s tiding fans over with a deluxe edition of Hundred More Years releasing March 12. The album will feature five new songs, including the single currently popping up on radio, “Strangely Dim.” The singer-songwriter and young mom points out that the most important things in life come into focus when we fix our eyes on Jesus.
Lead singer Mike Donehey says he wrote this song after his wife told him she was worn out. The young parents hadn’t slept in months since the birth of their second daughter, and he poured the weariness he and his wife felt at the time into “Worn,” found on the band’s current album, The Struggle (Reunion). But you don’t have to experience the depth of a parent’s exhaustion to relate to the prolific lyrics of this song. If you find yourself in a restless, tired season, feeling like you have no fight left, this song is for you.
This is hands-down my favorite song from Chris August’s sophomore album, The Upside of Down (Word). August beautifully captures the miraculous healing that comes to a marriage when the broken pieces are surrendered to the Lord. Ironically, August has never been married, yet this song perfectly encapsulates all that Christ can bring to a marriage in desperate need of healing and redemption.
“Words” is the first single from Hawk Nelson since Jon Steingard took the lead after Jason Dunn’s departure. If the single is any indication, look for the upcoming album to be a more mature effort. “Words” is surprisingly grown-up and as accessible and poignant as anything else at radio right now. Now signed to Fairtrade Services, their labelmate Bart Millard (MercyMe) joins them on the song, propelling this tune into “top of the chart” territory. Expect it to head that way.
6. “One Drop” from Plumb
Plumb’s brand-new studio album drops later this month, and she’s already on her second single. “One Drop” is the follow-up to the powerful “Need You Now.” Don’t be fooled by the song’s colorful musicality and sunny delivery. The song was written out of a place of despair, yet remains eternally hopeful. The songstress found herself at the end of her rope, needing only one drop of hope to save her crumbling marriage. The song takes on a whole new meaning as Plumb recently partnered with Blood:Water Mission for a creative viral video for “One Drop.”
Tags: chris august restore, christian radio singles, every good thing the afters, new music, one drop plumb, songs going for adds, strangely dim francesca battistelli, words hawk nelson, worn tenth avenue north