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Birdwing Records
Sparrow Records is a Christian music record label and a division of Universal Music Group. History Sparrow Records was founded in 1976 by Billy Ray Hearn, then artists and repertoire (A&R) director at Myrrh Records. Purchased by Thorn EMI in 1992, Sparrow's parent underwent a demerger four years later to become the EMI Group, and the label is now part of the Capitol Christian Music Group. Sparrow Records rose to prominence with the signing of singer, songwriter, Contemporary Christian musician and minister Keith Green. Within a year of his 1976 signing by Sparrow, Green was the top selling Christian artist in America. As of 2009, Sparrow's artists include Britt Nicole, Chris Tomlin, Mandisa, Matt Redman, Matthew West, Steven Curtis Chapman and Switchfoot. Since 1996, a popular production of Sparrow Records has been the annual '' WOW Hits'' contemporary Christian music series. In 1998, the WOW franchise then added the annual ''WOW Gospel'' series of albums. The ''WOW Wors ...
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Universal Music Group
Universal Music Group N.V. (often abbreviated as UMG and referred to as just Universal Music) is a Dutch– American multinational music corporation under Dutch law. UMG's corporate headquarters are located in Hilversum, Netherlands and its operational headquarters are located in Santa Monica, California. The biggest music company in the world, it is one of the " Big Three" record labels, along with Sony Music and Warner Music Group. Tencent acquired ten percent of Universal Music Group in March 2020 for €3 billion and acquired an additional ten percent stake in January 2021. Pershing Square Holdings later acquired ten percent of UMG prior to its IPO on the Euronext Amsterdam stock exchange. The company went public on September 21, 2021, at a valuation of €46 billion. In 2019, ''Fast Company'' named Universal Music Group the most innovative music company and listed UMG among the Top 50 most innovative companies in the world and "amid the music industry's digital tran ...
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Mandisa
Mandisa Lynn Hundley (born October 2, 1976), known professionally as Mandisa, is an American gospel and contemporary Christian recording artist. Her career began as a contestant in the fifth season of ''American Idol'', in which she finished in ninth place. She is the fifth ''American Idol'' alumna to win a Grammy Award, for her album '' Overcomer'' in the Best Contemporary Christian Music Album category. Early life Mandisa Hundley was born and raised in Citrus Heights, California. After graduating from El Camino Fundamental High School, she attended American River College in Sacramento where she studied Vocal Jazz. Then she studied at Fisk University in Tennessee and graduated with a Bachelor of Music degree with a concentration in vocal performance. ''American Idol'' Mandisa auditioned for the United States talent competition show ''American Idol'' in Chicago, in 2005. She referred to herself as "just Mandisa," thus was billed simply as Mandisa on the show. She stated t ...
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19 Recordings
19 Recordings Inc. (registered in the United Kingdom as 19 Recordings Ltd.) is a New York-based record label owned by 19 Entertainment. Founded in London by British entrepreneur Simon Fuller in 1999 as the music division of 19 Entertainment, the label is one of the top record imprints as compiled by ''Billboard'' in 2012. 19 Recordings has the exclusive rights to sign contestants of the television series '' Idols''. Since 2005, it shifted its main operations to the United States following CKX, Inc.'s (Industrial Media) acquisition of 19 Entertainment. From 1999 to 2000, EMI has distributed its recordings. From 2001 to 2004, releases by most of the artists signed to 19 Recordings were distributed by Bertelsmann Music Group (BMG). Following BMG's merger with Sony Music Entertainment to form Sony BMG, RCA Music Group has distributed releases by 19 Recordings from 2005 to 2010. From 2011 to 2016, 19 Recordings partnered with Universal Music Group for distribution through Interscope G ...
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Colton Dixon
Michael Colton Dixon (born October 19, 1991) is an American singer-songwriter and musician from Murfreesboro, Tennessee. He placed seventh on the eleventh season of ''American Idol''. Early life Colton Dixon was born Michael Colton Dixon on October 19, 1991, to parents Michael and Teresa Dixon. He was born and raised in a middle-class family in Murfreesboro, Tennessee, along with younger sister, Schyler. His father runs a face painting/air brush company, and his family has a Jack Russell dog named Ozzy, and a cat named Chloe. Besides being a choir member throughout high school, In 2008, he was an extra during the filming of " Hannah Montana: The Movie". He graduated from Middle Tennessee Christian School in 2010. He is a devout Christian, and has sung at several worship services including at Saddleback Church. He and Schyler are part of a Christian rock band called Messenger. He released his debut album ''A Messenger'' with EMI-CMG/Sparrow Records on January 29, 2013. His musical ...
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Kristene DiMarco
Kristene DiMarco (born January 28, 1985, as Kristene Elizabeth Mueller), is an American Christian musician. Her first album, ''Those Who Dream'', was released by Jesus Culture Music in 2008, along with a re-release of the same album in 2010 by Kingsway Music. She released, ''Safe Place'', in 2012 with Kingsway Music. Her next album '' Mighty'' was released July 31, 2015 by Jesus Culture Music alongside Sparrow Records.http://www.jesusfreakhideout.com/releases/default.asp Early life DiMarco was born on January 28, 1985, in Niagara Falls, New York, as Kristene Elizabeth Mueller, whose father is Douglas Edward Mueller and mother is Dianne B. Mueller (''née'', Mielke), and she has three sisters. Her parents are born-again Christians. Music career Kristene grew up in Niagara Falls, NY and attended Destiny Christian Church with her family. In 2002, when Kristene was 16 years old, a new worship leader came on staff at the church. After being asked to join the worship team she beg ...
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Crowder (musician)
David Wallace Crowder (born November 29, 1971), known professionally by his mononymous stage name Crowder since 2012, is an American contemporary Christian music singer, songwriter, multi-instrumentalist and author. He was the lead singer in the now defunct David Crowder Band, before he started his solo career in 2012 on sixstepsrecords and Sparrow Records labels. He released his first solo album. '' Neon Steeple'', on May 27, 2014. Crowder released his first solo single off the album, "I Am", on November 25, 2013, which rose to the No. 3 position on the Christian Songs chart. ''American Prodigal'', Crowder's second solo album, was released on September 23, 2016 and his third, ''I Know a Ghost'', on November 9, 2018. His fourth solo album, '' Milk & Honey'', released on June 11, 2021. Background He was born David Wallace Crowder, on November 29, 1971, in Texarkana, Texas. He went to college at Baylor University in Waco, Texas. Crowder was the lead vocalist of the David Cr ...
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Jimi Cravity
Maurice Eugene Willis (born December 4, 1984), who goes by the stage name Jimi Cravity, is an American Christian musician, who primarily plays a style contemporary christian music, Christian pop, Christian electronic dance music, EDM, Christian R&B, R&B, and Christian hip hop, hip hop music. He has released two musical works, both being extended plays, and ''Maverick'' (2012) and ''Heaven'' (2017) with Sparrow Records and sixstepsrecords, Six Steps Records. The ''Heaven'' EP charted on two Billboard (magazine), ''Billboard'' magazine charts. Early life and background Maurice Eugene Willis was born on December 4, 1984, in Atlanta, Georgia. Music career His music recording career started in 2012, with the extended play, ''Maverick'', while it was released on May 20, 2012, independently. He released, ''Heaven'', another extended play, on January 6, 2017, with Sparrow Records and sixstepsrecords, Six Steps Records. This extended play charted on two Billboard (magazine), ''Billboard' ...
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Riley Clemmons
Riley Elizabeth Clemmons BETTER FOR IT Work ID No.894268039 IPI No.779748265 (CLEMMONS RILEY ELIZABETH) is an American Christian musician, who plays Christian pop style contemporary worship music. She is known for her Christian radio hits, " Broken Prayers" and "Better for It". She released her debut self-titled album via American music distributor Capitol CMG on August 3, 2018. Early and personal life Riley Clemmons was "discovered" at a school pageant in Nashville by manager, Mitchell Solarek. She would begin writing songs at the age of 13 and played shows around her hometown. She has worked on her musical craft for several years, including eight years of vocal lessons and a decade of dance lessons. She is currently signed to Capitol CMG. Music career In 2015, Clemmons signed to the independent label, Maxx Recordings. Her lyrics are inspired by the struggles of her relationships and faith. She wants to use the power of music and words to wake up and encourage the generation sh ...
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Contemporary Worship Music
Contemporary worship music (CWM), also known as praise and worship music, is a defined genre of Christian music used in contemporary worship. It has developed over the past 60 years and is stylistically similar to pop music. The songs are frequently referred to as "praise songs" or "worship songs" and are typically led by a "worship band" or "praise team", with either a guitarist or pianist leading. It has become a common genre of music sung in many churches, particularly in charismatic or non-denominational Protestant churches with some Roman Catholic congregations incorporating it into their mass as well. History and development In the early 1950s, the Taizé Community in France started to attract youths from several religious denominations with worship hymns based on modern melodies. In the mid-20th century, Christian Unions in university environments hosted evangelistic talks and provided biblical teaching for their members, Christian cafés opened with evangelistic ai ...
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Contemporary Christian Music
Contemporary Christian music, also known as CCM, Christian pop, and occasionally inspirational music is a genre of modern popular music, and an aspect of Christian media, which is lyrically focused on matters related to the Christian faith and stylistically rooted in Christian music. It was formed by those affected by the 1960s Jesus movement revival who began to express themselves in other styles of popular music, beyond the church music of hymns, gospel and Southern gospel music that was prevalent in the church at the time. Initially referred to as Jesus music, today, the term is typically used to refer to pop, but also includes rock, alternative rock, hip hop, metal, contemporary worship, punk, hardcore punk, latin, EDM, R&B-influenced gospel and country styles. It has representation on several music charts including '' Billboard''s Christian Albums, Christian Songs, Hot Christian AC (Adult Contemporary), Christian CHR, Soft AC/Inspirational and Christian Digital Songs as ...
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WOW Series
"WOW" is a series of annual compilation albums featuring contemporary Christian music dating from 1995. Comprising songs submitted by each partner label, the annual ''WOW Hits'' releases are usually double CD sets. The series was officially cancelled in 2019. Throughout its run, the WOW franchise evolved into one of the most successful collections of Christian music. Background The birth of the WOW record project can be traced to Grant Cunningham, A&R Director at Sparrow Records. In November 1994, Cunningham made a business trip to EMI Limited in London, which at the time was the parent company of Sparrow Records. There, he noticed that several British record labels were issuing an annual CD of top-rated songs, known as the ''NOW'' series, containing collections of pop songs. Cunningham brought the idea back to Sparrow. Sparrow executives suggested a similar project be developed for Christian pop music and he was assigned the task of getting the project off the ground. Released ...
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Switchfoot
Switchfoot is an American rock band from San Diego, California. The band's members are Jon Foreman (lead vocals, guitar), Tim Foreman (bass guitar, backing vocals), Chad Butler (drums, percussion), and Jerome Fontamillas (guitar, keyboards, backing vocals). After early successes in the Christian rock scene, Switchfoot first gained mainstream recognition with the inclusion of four of their songs in the 2002 movie ''A Walk to Remember''. This recognition led to their major label debut, ''The Beautiful Letdown'', which was released in 2003 and featured the hits "Meant to Live" and "Dare You to Move". The album sold over 2.6 million copies. They have since been noted for their energetic live shows, and their seventh studio album ''Hello Hurricane'' received a Grammy award in 2011 for Best Rock or Rap Gospel Album. According to Jon Foreman, the name " Switchfoot" comes from a surfing term. "We all love to surf and have been surfing all our lives so to us, the name made sense. ...
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