[WhiteRob]

Casting Crowns, the “fastest-selling new artist of 2003,” is continuing to make its mark in the Christian music industry as its self-titled debut, releasing only seven months ago, remains the No. 1 album on the Nielsen SoundScan Top Christian Album chart. This marks the fourth consecutive week the album has held this position and the 11th time since its release Sept. 30. Casting Crowns is currently No. 79 on Billboard’s Top 100 Albums chart and has scanned over 250,000 units to date.

In addition to the momentum at retail, Casting Crowns is having an unprecedented impression at radio for a debut artist. The band’s second single “Who Am I” is impacting nearly 10 million listeners between Christian Adult Contemporary, Christian Hit Radio and Inspirational radio stations. The song is quickly moving up both Radio & Records and Christian Radio & Retail Weekly charts, expecting to claim the No. 1 position soon.

Recently honored with four Dove Award nods, the band was recognized by the Gospel Music Association in the “New Artist of the Year” and “Pop/Contemporary Album of the Year” categories while the No. 1 hit single, “If We Are The Body” was nominated for “Pop/Contemporary Song of the Year.” In addition, lead singer Mark Hall received a nod as songwriter for the prestigious “Song of the Year” category. The Dove Awards will be presented later this month in Nashville, Tenn.

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 Wed. 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.

Beach Street Records, an imprint of Reunion Records and Provident Label Group, was launched by Mark Miller, founder and frontman of the multi-platinum country music phenomenon Sawyer Brown. Casting Crowns, the imprint’s flagship artist, is distributed to Christian retail through Provident Distribution and to the general market through BMG.