[Mickey]

Nashville, TN - December 6, 2002 - Reunion Records band NewSong can officially claim a successful phenomenon with their song "The Christmas Shoes," co-written by NewSong member Eddie Carswell. It started two years ago when the song was released and hit #1 on the Billboard AC charts. One year later, author Donna VanLiere, wrote a book based on the song that has ventured onto the New York Times best-selling list for two years in a row. The Christmas Shoes book was also #1 on Ingram's hardcover fiction bestseller list last week. It beat out John Grisham, Michael Crichton, Jan Karon and David Baldacci, among others. It will be #17 on the December 15th New York Times Extended bestseller list. On December 1st of this year, CBS aired a movie starring Rob Lowe and Kimberly Williams inspired by the book and song. The movie was seen by roughly 17 million viewers making it the most watched and highest rated original movie of the season. According to Nielsen it was rated #3 among all network broadcasts for the week; out-rating Monday night football (ABC), 60 Minutes (CBS), Law & Order (NBC) and The Sopranos (HBO).

Dean Diehl, General Manager of Reunion Records states, "The incredible success of this movie proves once again the universal appeal of this story. It has worked as a song, a book and now as a hit movie. The simple themes of love, hope and giving so perfectly capture what Christmas means to so many of us. Christmas Shoes is a timeless classic in the making!"

NewSong's adventure is just beginning as they are headlining a Christmas tour supported by Dove nominated artist Mark Schultz, Dove Award winner Ginny Owens, popular trio Brother's Keeper and Latin sensation Freddie Colloca. The Christmas Shoes tour kicked off on December 1st in NewSong's hometown of Atlanta, GA drawing a packed house of roughly 3,000 people. They will continue their 10-city tour to Meridian, MS (12/6); Plano, TX (12/8); Virginia Beach, VA (12/12); Myrtle Beach, SC (12/13); Lakeland, FL (12/14 & 12/15); Kingwood, WV (12/19); Abingdon, VA (12/20); Nashville, TN (12/21); and concluding in Charlotte, NC (12/22).

In between dates, NewSong and author Donna VanLiere will be kept busy doing press. On December 5th, NewSong will be performing their #1 song "The Christmas Shoes" and VanLiere will be discussing the success of her book on Nashville's mid-day CBS-TV program "Talk of the Town." This airs live in Nashville at 12:30pm C.S.T. The following week, NewSong will be in Los Angeles taping an episode on the popular Wayne Brady Show airing December 16th on FOX stations nationwide. While that is airing on December 16th, NewSong will be back home in Atlanta where they will be performing "The Christmas Shoes" on CNN Headline News and VanLiere will also interview. This will air several times between 6pm-6am E.S.T. on December 21st and again on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. After this appearance, they will travel to Nashville for a radio interview and one hour pre-game performance at the December 16th Tennessee Titans vs. New England Patriots Monday night football game airing on ABC nationwide.

NewSong will have no time to breathe at the end of the month, as they will host and perform in front of 25,000 kids at their Winter Xtreme Youth Conferences between Christmas and New Years, and will return to touring in January with Plus One, Carman, Tait, Natalie Grant and Daily Planet on their renowned Winter JAM Tour. During the span of their career, NewSong has released 16 albums and scored 17 No. 1 songs. Among other accolades for the band, NewSong has garnered six Gospel Music Association Dove Award nominations throughout its tenure.

For more information on The Christmas Shoes tour visit www.christmasshoes.com and information for future tour dates, etc. visit www.newsongonline.com or www.reunionrecords.com.

Photo Caption: Kicking off their first date in Woodstock, Ga., the artists of "The Christmas Shoes" take a break all together. First Row: Clay Cross, Ginny Owens, Mark Schultz, Second Row: Billy Goodwin, Scott Carpenter, Freddie Colloca, Ben Cordonero, Sam Macadam, Scotty Wilbanks, Third Row: Matt Goodwin, Eddie Carswell, Michael O'Brien, Mark Clay, Jack Pumphrey, Phil Enzor, John Sanders, Esteban Lopez.

Nashville based Reunion Records, celebrating its 20th Anniversary this year, is distributed through Provident Music Distribution and through partnerships with mainstream parent company, Zomba Music. In addition to NewSong, Reunion Records is home to Michael W. Smith, Kathy Troccoli, Joy Williams LaRue and Daily Planet.

For much more on Newsong, click here