[Mickey]

Nashville, TN…6/19/02….INO Recording artist and multiple Dove Award-winning group MercyMe celebrated the RIAA Gold Certification of their INO Record’s debut, Almost There, with industry leaders and family last night at Nashville’s ASCAP offices. Almost There is the fastest new artist project to go Gold in the history of the contemporary Christian music industry.

“This year has just been pretty unbelievable for us, “ said MercyMe lead singer Bart Millard. “All of it is such a huge blessing, and this Gold record is just one more blessing. The most amazing thing is knowing that there are so many people out there listening to our music, and it’s our prayer that as they do, they are brought closer to God. We are so thankful for the many people in the industry who have supported us as well – it’s so appreciated and overwhelming!”

Closing out 2001 as the best and fastest selling new artist of the year in Christian music, having sold more units within the first 17 weeks of release than any other new artist last year, the Dallas-based MercyMe broke into 2002 with a number one song for four consecutive weeks on AC, INSP and CHR radio charts with the hit single “I Can Only Imagine.” Almost There hit the Billboard Heatseekers chart’s #1 slot in early 2002 following the song’s charting success. Since then, the project has held steady on the Billboard Top 200 Album chart, scanning an average of 14,500 units per week since January of this year.

“MercyMe is a group that has had more success in a shorter amount of time than any artist I’ve ever worked with,” said M2.0 Communications/INO Records president and 20-year industry veteran Jeff Moseley. “ At the same time, they have continued to remain true to their calling as men who strive to serve God and bring Him glory through their music, their ministry, and their lives. It is truly an honor and blessing to know them and work with them.”

In April, MercyMe took home Dove Awards for three out of the three categories they were nominated for at the 2002 Dove Awards Show, aired live for the first time on PAX-TV. The band won both Song of the Year and Pop/Contemporary Song of the Year for “I Can Only Imagine,” receiving a standing ovation from audience members as well as a round of applause from the media room backstage as they accepted their awards. Millard also won the prestigious Dove award for Songwriter of the Year.

“We have been associated with MercyMe for nearly seven years,” commented the band’s manager, Scott Brickell of BrickHouse Entertainment, “and it’s amazing to me to see God’s timing in all of this. In an industry where it's sometimes hard to differentiate between deadlines, quotas and God’s plan, it’s been incredible to see what He can do –and has done- with MercyMe. Their perseverance and commitment to their calling is very encouraging.”

Currently in the studio recording their next album, Spoken For, due out October 1, MercyMe can also be seen this fall headlining on the Festival Con Dios tour, and on the October cover of CCM magazine. For more information about the band, please log onto www.mercyme.org or www.inotof.com.


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PHOTO CAPTION (Photo By Tony Phipps) (LtoR): Jeff Moseley, president, INO Records; Robby Shaffer, MercyMe; Bart Millard, MercyMe; Mike Scheuchzer, ASCAP; Nathan Cochran, MercyMe; Mark Funderburg, president, Word Distribution; Jim Bryson, MercyMe; Scott Brickell, BrickHouse Entertainment.