[Mickey]

(NASHVILLE, TN) May 15, 2002-Award-winning Sparrow Records’ band Newsboys continue to dominate the Christian radio charts and break records. Since the release of their first single from Thrive, ‘It Is You’, Newsboys have held the No. 1 position for 12 consecutive weeks on the CHR (Christian Hit Radio) chart. Never before in the history of Christian music has a single dominated the No. 1 position for such an extended amount of time.

Originally writing ‘It Is You’ for another band, Newsboys frontman Peter Furler played the demo for his wife. “When she heard the song,” laughs Furler, “she said ‘you can’t give that song away!’ Being the submissive husband that I am, I obeyed.” As soon as the master version of the single was received by Sparrow Records, the promotion was underway.

The song was launched as part of a carefully tailored marketing plan last fall that included promo tours, “Live and By Request” events, album signings, and market specific radio events. “The extensive set-up last fall for ‘It Is You’ has paid off with 12 weeks at No. 1 making it the longest running No. 1 song in Christian music,” states Grant Hubbard, Sparrow Records VP of National Promotions.

“This song has obviously struck a chord within the Christian music community,” states Rick Welke of R&R Magazine. “Peter and the gang have written a worshipful song that everyone can relate to. Congrats to the Newsboys!”

Continuing to drive the momentum behind Thrive, Newsboys will release the Thrive At the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame DVD on June 18th. The performance was directed and produced by Michael Drumm (Sting, Jewel, Nelly Furtado, Ringo Starr) and aired in April to over 60 million homes via PAX TV. This performance was the first Prime Time concert special for a Christian rock band on a national network of this size. This DVD features performances of the band’s new release as well as past favorites and includes exclusive bonus interview and behind-the-scenes footage previously unreleased.

With sales exceeding 3 million units spanning multiple gold-certified recordings, 19 No. 1 hits and following their groundbreaking and most successful tour to date, Festival Con Dios, Newsboys continue to drive the popularity of Christian music to new heights. The retail and radio success of the group’s first “best of” album, Shine...The Hits, along with the impact of their tours, sets the stage for the release of Thrive to become the most successful release in Newsboys career. Newsboys summer plans include headlining all the major Christian music festivals as well as gearing up for their fall arena tour.

For more information on Newsboys, visit their website at www.newsboys.com or www.sparrowrecords.com.


Brentwood, Tennessee-based EMI CMG was founded in 1994. It is the world’s largest Christian music company, operating the Sparrow, ForeFront, Worship Together and EMI Gospel labels in addition to EMI CMG Publishing and Chordant Distribution Group.

EMI CMG is a unit of EMI Music, the third largest recorded music company in the world.

For much more on The Newsboys, click here