[WhiteRob]

GRAMMY and Dove Award nominated group NewSong kicked off its 8th annual Winter Jam tour with record numbers over the weekend. In three stops the tour played to over 11,000 fans despite cold weather and snow in Southern cities. The tour began on Jan. 8 in Augusta, Ga. and will stop in more than 20 cities before wrapping Feb. 28 in Lakeland, Fla. Joining NewSong on this year’s tour include Audio Adrenaline, Relient K, Todd Agnew, Jadyn Maria and illusionist Brock Gill.

“Last weekend was so much more than we expected,” commented Michel O’Brien. “We were blown away not only by the number of people at the show but more importantly by how many people came forward to accept Jesus into their lives. To God be the glory!”

In addition, other record numbers were set as the CBS made-for-TV-movie, “The Christmas Shoes” won its timeslot on Dec. 21, reaching over 13 million viewers. Numbers for “The Christmas Shoes” were impressive since this is was a repeat broadcast for the movie. The movie was the top-rated and most-watched broadcast in its 9-11PM slot defeating NBC’s airing of “Titanic.”

Along with amazing numbers from television, the sequel to The Christmas Shoes novel, The Christmas Blessing by Donna VanLiere, reached the No. 15 spot on the New York Times Hardback Fiction list. The No. 1 Billboard AC single “The Christmas Shoes” was the second most downloaded Christmas song of the season, according to the Dec. 28 Tennessean.

Before gearing up for its Winter Jam concert, NewSong held its winter Xtreme conference in Gatlinburg, Tenn. Over the three-day conference the band performed before sell-out crowds totaling more than 18,000 young people.

The GRAMMY nominated group claimed the No. 10 position on Billboard’s Contemporary Christian SoundScan chart its first week out with More Life, which released Sept. 9. The album more than tripled first-week scans of its previous studio album, Sheltering Tree, released in 2000. More Life was No. 2 on the Top Christian Albums charts and the band’s highest debut for first week sales in its career.

NewSong founded and has hosted the popular multi-artist Summer and Winter Jams for the past eight years featuring artists like Rebecca St. James, Newsboys and Audio Adrenaline among others, in major venues nationwide. Last year’s Winter and Summer Jams drew more than 150,000 people overall.

In addition to the Jams, NewSong founded and hosts the winter and summer Xtreme Youth Conference. Each year, the group sings in the new-year with three, three-day Xtreme events in Gatlinburg, Tenn., as well as a winter Xtreme event in Branson, Mo.

During the span of their career, NewSong has released 15 albums and scored 17 No. 1 songs. Among numerous other accolades for the band, NewSong has garnered a GRAMMY nomination and six Gospel Music Association Dove Award nominations throughout its tenure. NewSong was recently featured in a Christian music special on NBC’s “The Today Show.”

For more information on NewSong or the Winter Jam tour, go to www.newsongonline.com or www.reunionrecords.com.

Reunion Records was founded in 1982 and operates as a unit of Provident Music Group’s community of labels, Provident Label Group. Reunion recording artists are distributed through Provident Music Distribution and to the general market through BMG Distribution. Reunion Records is home to Michael W. Smith, NewSong, Casting Crowns, Joy Williams and Jill Paquette.

[Jonular]

I just went to the show in Chattanooga, TN. It was ok, but the lineup pretty much sucks.

~Jon

[Brent]

I was at the first show on the tour in Augusta. Todd Agnew, Audio Adrenaline and Relient K all rock, but all three should get AT LEAST 30 minutes each because Newsong does the SAME SONGS every single time they play. I love Newsong and Scotty Willbanks is a friend of mine, but they need to cut down their stuff and give the people everyone came to see some real time on stage instead of little 4-song medleys. The "commercials" during the over-one-hour "intermission" were a bit much, too.

[victor]

I went to the show in augusta also. It was good but I wish relient-k and audio-A could have played longer. your right brent newsong does need to sing some new songs.
Cory

[hockey_chick19]

undefined i saw audio a at tupelo last weekend! they were awesome (duh!!!) newsong should cut down on their time.it got kinda boring.(it wasn't my thing) tyler burkum and will mcginnes are awesome!!!!!

[God's Jedi]

I caught the show here in Jackson, the last one before RK left for Australia. I did a full review for the Guitar Players Club newsletter. In short, I gave Newsong a cumulitive score of -10 out of 5. I gave them a 4 because of their musical talent, but -7s for each Audio A and RK only getting 5 minutes on stage.