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Renowned songwriter, artist, and worship leader Benjamin William Hastings is set to release his highly anticipated sophomore album, Sold Out, Sincerely, on October 4th. Fans can now preorder the album, which includes the powerful new single, "If It Wasn't For Jesus."

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"'If It Wasn't For Jesus' is a reflection on how my life has been shaped by divine encounters with God," shares Hastings. "It's a journey of recognizing where I might be without those moments of grace and arriving at a place of deep gratitude for God's intervention."

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This new album follows Hastings' acclaimed 2022 self-titled debut, a 25-song collection that made waves in the worship music scene. As a songwriter, Hastings has significantly impacted Christian worship with songs like Hillsong UNITED's RIAA Certified Platinum single "So Will I (100 Billion X)" and Brandon Lake's chart-topping RIAA Platinum hit "Gratitude." Hastings’ work has been a cornerstone for artists such as Cory Asbury, Hillsong Worship, Hillsong UNITED, Rend Collective, Mack Brock, and many more.

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To date, his music has garnered more than 1.2 billion streams worldwide, with over 95 million solo career streams. His upcoming album, Sold Out, Sincerely, will feature 12 new songs and collaborations with notable Christian artists Brandon Lake, Aodhan King, and Matt Crocker.

In addition to releasing new music, Hastings has been touring extensively. After sharing the stage with Phil Wickham earlier this year, he will join Brandon Lake on tour this fall and headline three shows in New York City, Nashville, and Los Angeles. For a full list of tour dates, visit his official website.

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Get ready for Sold Out, Sincerely—an album that promises to inspire and uplift as it continues Hastings’ legacy of shaping modern worship music.

In the first half of 2024, Contemporary Christian Music (CCM) and Gospel made an unexpected rise in the music industry, placing in the top five fastest-growing genres, according to Luminate. The genre saw an 8.9% growth in consumption, which includes track-equivalent albums, stream-equivalent albums, and on-demand audio—more than double the overall industry growth rate of 3.9% from 2023.

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On platforms like Spotify, CCM and Gospel are seeing even more impressive gains. According to Spotify’s senior editor for Christian and Gospel, Maritza "Ritz" McCain, the genre has grown 30% in the U.S. and over 30% globally in the last year. Over the past five years, Christian music has expanded by 50% in the U.S. and 60% globally. McCain highlights global growth in countries such as Brazil, Mexico, South Africa, the Philippines, and even emerging markets like India, Indonesia, and Germany.

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Among the top CCM and Gospel acts of 2024 are Elevation Worship, Lauren Daigle, Phil Wickham, Hillsong Worship, and Brandon Lake. Elevation Worship's song "Praise," featuring Lake, Chris Brown (not the pop singer), and Chandler Moore, has been the biggest hit of the year, spending 24 weeks at the top of Billboard's Hot Christian Songs chart.

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Cole Flynn, head of marketing at Elevation Worship Records, attributes the genre's rise to factors such as the influence of social media-savvy younger audiences who are discovering Christian music through platforms like Spotify and Apple Music. According to Luminate Insights, millennials and younger listeners now make up 45% of the genre’s audience, up from 39% in 2022.

“The barriers have been broken,” says Leigh Holt of Hsquared Management. “There are more people who can say, ‘This is how I want to express my faith.’”

At a recent concert at Hersheypark Stadium in Hershey, Pennsylvania, Brad Arnold, the lead singer of the mainstream rock band 3 Doors Down, boldly shared his faith in Jesus and led the audience in prayer. Known for hits like "Kryptonite," "Here Without You," and "When I’m Gone," Arnold took a moment during the performance to speak from the heart about the struggles many people face in today’s world.

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“This world surrounds us with the message that we’ll never be good enough, strong enough, beautiful enough, or rich enough," Arnold told the crowd. "Social media bombards us with these messages daily. It’s driven down our throats that we’ll never be enough and that nobody truly loves us."

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Arnold then challenged those negative messages with a powerful statement: “My friends, I just want to take a second to tell you—that’s an absolute lie. You are loved. You are enough, and you will win. Not only can you win, but you will win. You’ll always be enough for one reason: Jesus Christ loves you.”

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The rock star continued by affirming the crowd, saying, “Jesus Christ loves you so much that He made you just the way you are, just the way you’re standing there right now.”

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Arnold's heartfelt words struck a chord with the audience, offering a message of hope and faith in a setting where such moments are rare in the mainstream music scene. 3 Doors Down first rose to fame in 2000 with their debut single "Kryptonite" and have since become known for their emotionally charged rock anthems. Arnold's public profession of faith has added another layer to his influence, as he uses his platform to share a message of love and grace.

LiveCo, a leading live entertainment company that has delivered over 3,000 shows globally in just two years, is significantly expanding its presence in the Christian music space with the creation of TPR. This new venture combines three top Christian promoters—Transparent Productions, Premier Productions, and Rush Concerts—to increase the company’s reach in both the U.S. and international faith markets.

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The Christian and Gospel music scene is one of the fastest-growing in the U.S., with Luminate Data reporting it as the fourth-fastest-growing genre. Major artists like Brandon Lake, Elevation Worship, Hillsong Worship, and Phil Wickham, all of whom topped Spotify airplay charts in early 2024, are part of TPR’s roster. The venture also represents many other leading artists, including Anne Wilson, Cece Winans, Chris Tomlin, MercyMe, Tauren Wells, and We the Kingdom, positioning TPR as a powerhouse in the faith-based live event space.

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LiveCo’s President and CEO, Chuck Steedman, said the formation of TPR allows the company to capitalize on the rapidly expanding Christian entertainment market. “This move positions our company to better deliver on the increasing demand for faith-based live experiences,” Steedman said.

Jared Gibo, named CEO of TPR, highlighted that this merger solidifies their standing as the top Christian promoter and propels them into the top 10 global promoters overall. TPR is set to produce over 1,000 events worldwide in 2025, providing unmatched resources for artists and audiences alike.

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In addition to TPR’s creation, Transparent Productions’ Tim Taber has been promoted to Chief Strategy Officer at LiveCo, while Premier Productions’ Michael Pugh becomes Chief Operating Officer. Both bring decades of experience in live entertainment, with a focus on driving growth, sponsorship, and innovation.

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With TPR’s launch, LiveCo strengthens its leadership in Christian live events, setting the stage for continued growth and influence in the faith-based entertainment industry.

Two-time GRAMMY Award-winning artist Lauren Daigle recently made her debut appearance on America’s Got Talent, captivating the audience with two powerful performances. Daigle performed her latest Gold-certified single, “Thank God I Do,” as well as her six-time Platinum-certified hit “You Say.” She was joined by vocal sensation Loren Allred, best known as the original voice behind “Never Enough” from The Greatest Showman. The performances aired on NBC and showcased Daigle's signature blend of heartfelt lyricism and vocal brilliance.

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Earlier this month, Daigle unveiled her highly anticipated first live album, Sessions. This intimate 8-track release features Daigle’s stunning rendition of Joe Cocker’s “You Are So Beautiful,” alongside two new versions of her hit “Thank God I Do,” her current radio single “Be Okay,” and a newly recorded version of her iconic smash, “You Say.” Recorded in front of a small, select audience, Sessions captures the raw vocal purity that has endeared Daigle to fans worldwide, while highlighting the depth and authenticity of her songwriting.

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In addition to her album release, Daigle is currently wrapping up the U.S. leg of her critically acclaimed Kaleidoscope Nights tour, which has taken her across the U.S. and Europe. The tour will continue in Australia and New Zealand this November, concluding with a final show in Perth on November 17th. Tickets for the upcoming performances are available now at www.laurendaigle.com/tour.

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Daigle’s soaring career continues to break barriers, with each new release and performance solidifying her place as one of Christian music’s most beloved and successful artists.

As Switchfoot’s iconic album The Beautiful Letdown turns 20, the band is celebrating the milestone in a big way by collaborating with artists they’ve inspired over the years to create a fresh version of the beloved record. The Beautiful Letdown [Deluxe Edition], released on September 15, 2023, is a 25-track reimagining of their breakout album, featuring covers by some of today’s biggest names, including the Jonas Brothers, Twenty One Pilots, and Jon Bellion.

Released on February 25, 2003,

 

The Beautiful Letdown was a turning point for Switchfoot. It marked their first release on a mainstream label, Columbia Records, after three albums under Universal Music Group’s Christian imprints Re and Sparrow Records. Despite the shift to a broader audience, lead singer Jon Foreman reflected on how spiritually driven the project was, making the move to Columbia an “interesting” decision. The album wasn’t an instant commercial success, debuting at No. 85 on the Billboard 200, but it quickly gained momentum, thanks to hits like “Meant to Live” and “Dare You to Move.”

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These singles catapulted Switchfoot into the mainstream, defying the odds for a Christian rock band at a time when pop icons like 50 Cent and Beyoncé dominated the charts. The album’s introspective lyrics and anthemic sound resonated with listeners across genres, earning it a lasting legacy.

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Twenty years later, the impact of The Beautiful Letdown is clear, as the artists who covered the album on the deluxe edition share their own stories of how Switchfoot influenced their careers. From the Jonas Brothers to Twenty One Pilots, these hitmakers pay tribute to a record that helped shape their musical journeys, breathing new life into the songs that defined Switchfoot’s career and left an indelible mark on Christian rock and mainstream music alike.

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With The Beautiful Letdown, Switchfoot not only celebrates the past but also reintroduces a timeless message to a new generation of listeners.