[WhiteRob]

Casting Crowns, the Atlanta based-band whose unprecedented impact has industry gatekeepers calling it the “breakout artist of the year,” recently celebrated a No. 1 debut on the Christian SoundScan sales chart and reached another major milestone this week. Its first radio single “If We Are The Body,” claimed the No. 1 spot on the Radio & Records Christian Adult Contemporary chart and climbed to No. 5 on the same publications Christian Hit Radio chart after just 15 weeks.

“If We Are The Body” makes Casting Crowns the first artist in more than two years to claim the No. 1 spot with a debut single. Rick Welke, Christian Radio advisor for R&R comments on this amazing accomplishment, “It’s truly an historical achievement to see Casting Crowns vault to the top of the Christian AC chart. Debut artists barely make a dent in the top 10 normally, so you can realize the distinctive accomplishment that Mark and the gang have attained. Christian music has found another artist that connects hardcore with its target audience.”

“I’m thrilled to hear that Casting Crowns is the first artist in such a long time to go No. 1 with its debut single,” comments Norman Miller, Proper Management. “What’s even more thrilling is that when we called Mark Hall to tell him the news, his whole conversation centered around reaching the young people of our country with the ‘Good News.’”

“Since ‘If We are the Body’ began playing on radio stations across the country, we have received countless e-mails about what God is doing in the life of the church,” comments Mark Hall, Casting Crowns lead singer. “We’re told the song is being used in youth group dramas, special music and sermons. Casting Crowns isn’t saying anything new, we’re simply pouring water on seeds that pastors, missionaries and Sunday School teachers have already planted. We, as music artists, are just a small part of what God is already doing in the local church and we’re honored to be a part of it.”

Across the country radio programmers are being flooded with requests for the song. Brian Nelson, music director for WJQK/Grand Rapids notes, “Casting Crowns’ ‘If We Are The Body’ was a song we knew we had to add out of the box. We did, and it's been a smash hit ever since...scoring in the top 5 with women 25 to 49, and translating into hundreds of Casting Crowns CD's sold here! Amazing how people love a spiritual kick in the teeth every now and then.”

The song has created quite a stir at radio since its release July 25. Jon Hull, program director for KSBJ/Houston says, “I was working on a sharathon last week at Star 99.1 in New York City and Johnny Stone, one of the stations on-air personalities, told the listeners he was going to keep playing ‘If We Are The Body’ over and over until a certain goal was met. I’ve got to be honest with you, I wasn’t the only one who was sad that we’d made the goal because every time it played I remembered just how timeless a message it presented.”

Dean Diehl, sr vp of marketing for Provident Label Group adds, “I want to thank radio for championing ‘If We Are the Body.’ This song has a message that we all need and I’m glad it has been given the chance to be heard by so many people.”

Casting Crowns, formed during frontman Mark Hall’s tenure as a youth minister in Daytona Beach, Fla. four years ago, developed its unique sound while leading Wednesday night worship for its youth group. Accepting a similar post in Atlanta, Hall and other band members relocated in order to continue and grow their music ministry. In addition, stemming from his passion for youth, Hall launched a curriculum called “Jumpstart Resources” designed to assist smaller churches with their youth programs.

For more information on Casting Crowns, visit or .

Beach Street Records, an imprint of Reunion Records, was recently launched by Mark Miller, founder and frontman of the multi-platinum country music phenomenon Sawyer Brown. Casting Crowns, the label’s flagship artist, releases to Christian retail through partnerships with Provident Label Group and Provident Music Distribution.