Music Superstore

home : blog : category - biz buzz

Archive for the ‘Biz Buzz’ Category

Crossroads Artists receive five Dove Award nominations

Posted on: February 23rd, 2011 by 1 Comment

The Gospel Music Association (GMA) has honored Crossroads Entertainment & Marketing artists with five Dove® Award nominations.

Doyle Lawson & Quicksilver received a nomination for Bluegrass Album of the Year, for Light on my Feet, Ready to Fly (Horizon / Crossroads).

Ryan Seaton, whose The Stage is Bare project is distributed to retail and digital outlets by Crossroads Distribution, was nominated for Inspirational Album of the Year and Inspirational Song of the Year (for “I Feel a Song Coming On.”)

Two Vine Records artists, whose projects are also distributed through Crossroads Distribution, were received nominations. Janet Paschal was nominated for Female Vocalist of the Year, and Lizzy Long & Little Roy Lewis’s song “Mountaintop,” from the album Straight From the Heart of Dixie, was nominated for Bluegrass Recorded Song of the Year.

The nominations were announced in a February 16th press conference at the Fox Theatre in Atlanta, Georgia. The 42nd Annual GMA Dove Awards Ceremony will be at the same venue, on April 20th. GMC will televise the show at 8:00 P.M. EST on April 24th, Resurrection Sunday.

Mountain Faith signs with Mountain Home Music

Posted on: February 9th, 2011 by No Comments

Mountain Faith. Bottom Row: L-R: Jeff Collins, Sam McMahan. Top Row L-R: Paul Harrigill, Summer Brooke McMahan, Brayden McMahan, John Morgan. Mountain Faith has just joined Mountain Home Music, a division of Crossroads Entertainment & Marketing. Mountain Faith is a young Bluegrass Gospel family from Sylva, a town in the mountains of Western North Carolina. This area has been a hotbed of Bluegrass talent including fellow Mountain Home artists Balsam Range. Mountain Faith is made up of Sam McMahan on bass, his daughter Summer Brooke McMahan on vocals and fiddle, and his son Brandon McMahan on banjo, and vocals. Joining the McMahans are John Morgan on guitar and vocals and Paul Harrigill on mandolin. All but Sam are young players still in their teens. This year celebrates the groups tenth year performing together.


Tim Surrett (Kingsmen, Isaacs, Balsam Range) will be producing their Mountain Home debut. He offers: “I have known and watched the family grow musically over the last few years and am so impressed by their talents as musicians and individuals. They are a great group of folks and I am so excited about being part of this project.”

Grammy® Award-winning banjo player Marc Pruett adds: “Mountain Faith presents sincere Christian music in the best of acoustic formats. They bring joy to their listeners through their youthful approach and skilled technique. It is a blessing to have Mountain Faith in our music community.”

“After meeting with these great people and listening to their wonderful music,” shares Crossroads Production Manager Jeff Collins, “I was ready to get them on board to our Mountain Home label family. Go ahead and make a note of it—you will be hearing great things from Mountain Faith! With Tim Surrett producing, and with their inspiring song writing, Mountain Faith is poised to become a gospel bluegrass heavy hitter!”

Their Mountain Home debut project will release in May 2011.

Photo, bottom Row: L-R: Jeff Collins, Sam McMahan. Top Row L-R: Paul Harrigill, Summer Brooke McMahan, Brayden McMahan, John Morgan.

Mark Bishop Signs Publishing Agreement

Posted on: February 2nd, 2011 by 1 Comment


L to R: Greg Bentley, Jeff Collins, Mark Bishop

Singer / songwriter Mark Bishop has just signed a publishing agreement with Chris White Music and Asheville Music Publishing. This publishing agreement will begin with his May 2011 Sonlite Records release I Still Need Him.


During his years singing lead with The Bishops, Mark wrote numerous radio hits. His songs have continued to reach the top of the charts since he launched a solo career as a Sonlite Records artist in 2002.

Crossroads Production Manager Jeff Collins stated, “Mark is more a part of the family than he is one of our artists, and now to be able to bring him in as a writer just makes the relationship stronger.”

Greg Bentley, Director of Publishing for Chris White Music and Asheville Music Publishing, stated, “This is something I have been anticipating for a few years now. I’ve always enjoyed working with Mark on his projects to this point. Now to work with him on the publishing side is going to be exciting. Mark has a way of telling a story in song like no one else can. He can put a whole life story into four minutes, and it still makes sense! We look forward to working with Mark on getting his songs out to other artists and to the choral music world.”

Photo, Left to right: Greg Bentley, Jeff Collins, Mark Bishop

Classic Corner: Still Small Voice (Won By One)

Posted on: November 10th, 2010 by No Comments

Won by One - Still Small Voice - Greg Shockley, Clayton Inman, David JenkinsTake a look at one of Southern Gospel’s most popular lead singers, Clayton Inman, twelve years ago:

Still Small Voice starts off with an energetic, convention-style-number, “Dead Man Walking,” featuring lead singer Clayton Inman, who had sung with the Singing Americans and the Kingdom Heirs, and would go on to perform with Triumphant Quartet. With the second song, “Only Through the Cross,” Inman paints a vivid picture both of the differences and of the common thread uniting all who stand before the throne of Christ.  . . .

For the remainder of the newly posted Album summary, and sound clips, check out the Still Small Voice album page.

Here Come The Boxcars!

Posted on: September 8th, 2010 by No Comments

September 09, 2010 – Arden, NC Mountain Home Music brings you the debut, self-titled release from the year’s most “buzzed” new artists. The Boxcars bring together some of the finest musicians, singers and writers to form a powerhouse band. The album includes 13 songs, 9 of which are originals written by band members Keith Garrett and Ron Stewart. The album will be available in stores and digital outlets October 19th. To get a taste of what is coming, here’s a link where you can listen / download the 1st cut from the album. Free.

Click link to download http://crossroadsmusic.com/listen/

The Boxcars are Adam Steffey, Keith Garrett, Ron Stewart, Harold Nixon, and John Bowman and will be performing the new release all week at IBMA:

Tuesday 10:20 pm – IBMA Official Showcase

Tuesday 11:35 pm – Mast Farm Inn Showcase NCC #213-214

Wednesday 6:00 pm – CD Release Party (invitation only) Suite #2204

Wednesday 11:45-12:15 – Class Act Showcase – Suite #2204

Friday 4:00 pm–4:30pm Jam w/ members of The Boxcars – 3rd floor

Friday 7:20 pm – FAN FEST

You Are Invited To A Live Concert And DVD Recording

Posted on: September 1st, 2010 by No Comments
Sunday, October 31, 2010  join Pinnacle recording artist Michael Jason Frost and VIne recording artists HisSong in an evening of worship at The Miracle Theatre in Pigeon Forge, TN hosted by Church of the Way. The concert begins at 6 pm. A love offering will be taken. No advance tickets are required. For more information call 865-978-0300 or email info@churchoftheway.com

Ryan Seaton signs with Crossroads

Posted on: August 31st, 2010 by 1 Comment

August 31, 2010 – Arden, NC Southern Gospel soloist Ryan Seaton recently signed a radio and distribution agreement with Crossroads Entertainment & Marketing. Crossroads will be distributing his debut solo release, The Stage is Bare, to retail, and promoting his singles to Southern Gospel radio. Crossroads executive Chris White states, “We are excited to see how we can help in this new venture with Ryan. He is a great talent and we will do our best to service radio and the consumer with this initial project.”

Before launching his solo career, Seaton sang with the Melody Boys Quartet and Ernie Haase & Signature Sound. During his six years with Signature Sound, they received a Grammy® nomination, two Dove Awards®, and made numerous appearances on Gaither Homecoming Videos and at Homecoming concerts.

Ryan Seaton commented, “We are looking for every possible outlet to get this music into the hands of the fans.  We are excited about the opportunities presented by Crossroads.”

Seaton’s solo career is managed by Innovative Management & Consulting, LLC. IMC owner Landon Beene stated, “IMC Records is pleased and excited to partner with Crossroads for distribution and radio support for Ryan. They are great at what they do. Crossroads has always been a trusted resource for distribution and radio. I wouldn’t have looked anywhere else!”

The Stage is Bare is available at Christian bookstores across the country, and online at http://crossroadsmusic.com/.

The Stage Is BareThe Stage Is Bare

Crossroads/Mountain Home signs The Boxcars

Posted on: August 4th, 2010 by 1 Comment

ARDEN, NC., Aug. 4 – Crossroads/Mountain Home today announces the signing of an exclusive agreement with the recently formed powerhouse group, The Boxcars. The first album, self-titled The Boxcars, is scheduled to be released on October 19th 2010.

“We at Crossroads are humbled and thrilled to be working with The Boxcars and Mike Drudge of Class Act Entertainment to move this stellar act forward”, says Mickey Gamble of Crossroads.

Click below to watch the signing between Mickey Gamble of Crossroads/Mountain Home and Boxcars members Adam Steffey, Ron Stewart, John Bowman , Keith Garrett and Harold Nixon.

Mountain Home Signs The Boxcars

The Akins Receive 3 ICMA Nominations

Posted on: July 29th, 2010 by No Comments

Crossroads Records recording artists The Akins, have just received word that they have been nominated for Entertainer of the Year, Vocal Group of the Year, and Christian Country Song of the Year (“I Want My Stage To Be An Altar”) for the 2010 Inspirational Country Music Awards. Congratulations Nick, Eli, Dave and David!

On August 15, 2010, The Akins will be filming their first Live DVD. The filming will take place at Harps Crossing Baptist Church in Fayetteville, Georgia at 6:30 PM (Doors open at 5:30 PM).
The DVD is scheduled for release in the first quarter of 2011 through Crossroads.

For more information contact:
Harp’s Crossing Baptist Church
1183 Hwy. 92 South
Fayetteville, GA 30215
(770) 461-5318 www.harpscrossing.com or www.theakinsonline.com

Crist Family completes mix for Oasis

Posted on: July 9th, 2010 by No Comments

The Crist Family has completed tracks, vocals, and mix for their next project, Oasis. From tender ballads to majestic anthems to a track with an African Men’s chorus, Oasis has something for everyone.

This is the first Crist Family release with live orchestration. “It makes a huge difference,” lead singer Rich Crist said. “We’re thrilled with what Jason Webb has done on this project. His arrangements are fantastic!”

Two members of the seven-person family ensemble, altos Breana and Lisa Crist, have their first feature songs on a Crist Family project. The title track, “My Oasis,” features Breana, while Lisa takes the lead on “Until He Comes.”

The project’s most unique track is “Rhythm of Grace.” “I had a concept,” Rich Crist shares, “to take an African Men’s chorus and interpret ‘Move to the Rhythm of Grace’ in Swahili, in and around our group in different segments of the song—and singing the actual English lyric as well. It was a real risk, it’s a real step out of what is comfortable, but sometimes you never know until you take a risk.

“I would not say that it would be a traditional Southern Gospel song—but the Crist family has always had a very wide style. That’s kind of who we are. Of course, we would never in a million years want to abandon some of the traditional stuff. We love it just as well! But we have members that are forty years apart in age. This song is one that I believe everybody’s gonna love, even though it is so different.”

Oasis is set to release on September 21.