[Mickey]

(NASHVILLE, Tenn.) December 4, 2002-Acoustic-pop band Caedmon> '> s Call heads toward the Feb. 4 release of its fifth label project, Back Home, with the support of a multi-faceted marketing effort. The Essential Records campaign includes premier billing on a major-market tour with labelmate Jars of Clay, kicking off in February, media and radio exposure as well as favorable positioning at Christian retail.

Caedmon's Call joins Essential/Silvertone artist Jars of Clay for a college-market tour visiting more than 40 cities nationwide. Already being referred to by promoters as the "thinking man's pop tour," the tour launches Feb.12 in Grand Rapids, Mich., and will run through mid-April. Fans can expect an evening of acoustic music, showcasing both bands' signature guitars, warm harmonies and thought-provoking lyrics.

Anticipating the tour, music from Back Home will be impacting airwaves via radio play on Christian stations across the country. "Only Hope," the first single from Back Home, is slated to release to Adult Contemporary radio Dec. 13. In addition, media are responding with requests for future print and online coverage. Internet promotion is planned through select partners and grassroots efforts will be carried out via 300+ street team representatives and an estimated 1500 Internet representatives.

CBA retail will be affected by efforts to promote Back Home as well. Essential Records plans to secure catalog advertising in spring pieces for all major chains and regional stores. Back Home will be a main focus of Provident Viewscan and In-Store Play Loops beginning in February. Merchandising opportunities for Back Home--including cross-promotions with Jars of Clay's Furthermore - From The Studio: From The Stage--will consist of a joint endcap kit comprising headers, flats and shelftalkers. An exclusive, joint CD sampler featuring favorite songs from both Caedmon's Call and Jars of Clay will also be made available to consumers free with the purchase of Back Home or Furthermore - From The Studio: From The Stage.

One of Christian music's premier artists, Caedmon's Call's first national, self-titled release set a record for the most units sold in its first week out by a debut contemporary Christian artist and was ranked No. 1 on the Billboard Heatseekers Album Chart. Since then, the band has amassed a stream of accolades, including an Album of the Year Dove Award, a Billboard Music Video Award nomination, six No. 1 radio singles, and sales approaching one million units. In The Company of Angels, the group's last album and debut worship project, garnered a 2002 Dove Award nomination for Praise and Worship Album of the Year, as well as a nod for best Recorded Music Packaging. Caedmon's Call is a regular contributor to the celebrated Dove Award-winning City On A Hill series.

For more information on Caedmon's Call and Back Home, visit www.caedmons-call.com or www.essentialrecords.com.

Nashville-based Essential Records was founded in 1992 to provide relevant music from a God-centered perspective. In addition to Caedmon's Call, the label's artist roster includes Jars of Clay, Third Day, Bebo Norman, FFH, Paul Colman Trio, Sarah Sadler and True Vibe. Essential Records, and its affiliated label, Watershed Records, is distributed through Provident Music Distribution and through partnerships with parent company Zomba Music.

For much more on Caedmon's Call, click here