If last week’s GRAMMY Award nominations are any indication for gospel music, it seems like gospel is gonna be just fine! Though the list featured some very familiar names, their albums and songs are every bit of deserving of the GRAMMY nod. If you’ve stayed up at night wondering about the future of gospel music, worry no more!
Millennials take the blame for so much these days. But according to the Recording Academy, they’re also due some credit for the success of gospel music, this year! The youngest nominee in the gospel category is 20 and the oldest is 47. Koryn Hawthorne is 20 (her birthday is December 26th, Jekalyn Carr is 21, Tori Kelly is 25, The Walls Group ages range from 21-28 and Jonathan McReynolds is 29. At 47 and 48 respectively, Brian Courtney Wilson and Kirk Franklin are the only non-Millenial/Generation Z artists nominated this year!
Jonathan McReynolds, Jekalyn Carr, Tori Kelly, Koryn Hawthorne and Brian Courtney Wilson populate this year’s field for Gospel Song of the Year. On the Album side, the list has one addition, The Walls Group. Millenials, dominate the gospel GRAMMY noms, y’all…!
The sound is reflective of their respective generations, too! Ask any child who Tori Kelly is and they may not know who you’re talking about until you start singing “Don’t You Worry Bout a Thing“. Earlier this year, Kelly shocked her fans when she announced her plans to release a gospel album. If you’re coming to gospel music, who better to hold the door open for you than Kirk Franklin?Kelly teamed up with Kirk Franklin who dug deep into his mixed bag of previously unrecorded hits to help finalize Kelly’s album that grew from its initial single: “Help Us to Love” ft. The Hamiltones. Their collaboration “Never Alone” and Kelly’s Christian/Gospel album “Hiding Place” is up for Best Gospel Song and Album. Kelly features Jonathan McReynolds on “Just As Sure” and Lecrae on “Masterpiece” but really shines on the soulful “Sunday” and “Psalm 42” a song I wouldn’t be surprised if it made an impact on the Christian (CCM) charts and radio.
Jonathan McReynolds’ “Cycles” and album “Make Room” are nominated in respective categories. McReynolds’ album is replete with songs for believers in what many consider the “tweener” stages of spiritual maturity. No one can truly put an age on spiritual maturity but, you know the stage in your spiritual life he’s singing about.
The devil, he learns from your mistakes-even if you don’t!
The eruption you hear from the crowd when McReynold’s sings that line is the collective revelation of the next line: “that’s how he keeps you in cycles…” A whole sermon in 15 seconds! Teaming with Doe Jones of Forever Jones, the two sermonized a life lesson set to life music as only McReynolds can. Songs like “Better“, “Graduate” and “Make Room” make you want to be a better believer! In fact, they play like a spiritual report card, if nothing else! In Dallas earlier this year, McReynolds intimated that he discovered his need for more grace in the process of writing this album! Whether you need grace or a jaunt toward spiritual maturity, “Make Room” challenges believers to do just that in their spiritual life, earning the album and single “Cycles” a GRAMMY nom this year.
She draws almost an immediate comparison to Pastor Shirley Caesar, but this past year, Evangelist Jekalyn Carr has turned the comparisons into mere recollections. She has come into her own as an artist, author and entrepreneur. She hasn’t even begun to evolve and though she’s been in the conversation for the better part of the last five years, she just recently turned 21. Also making a huge turn with her maturation and evolution is her musical output!
If you made it through Jekalyn Carr’s “It’s Yours” without at least tapping your foot, snapping your fingers or clapping your hands, you probably need a wellness check. Jekalyn Carr has delivered possibly her best album yet with “One Nation Under God”. Considering the current political climate, some listeners weren’t quite sure what to expect from Carr. Once the album dropped, all speculation went out the window!
“You Will Win” preceded her book release by the same name, “Stay With Me” and “It’s Yours” were sent to radio and inspired listeners everywhere. Though the radio singles performed well, the complete project is stellar and a step above “The Life Project” which netted a GRAMMY nomination for “You’re Bigger” (Gospel Performance/Song). Because recorded music now exists in a singles driven industry, many listeners are oblivious to the greatness on this album. “In This Atmosphere” features Donald Lawrence, “On the Cross” features Pastor Steve Hare of REACH Radio, “Never Alone” not only features a deep groove, it features Cachet Morganfield and Nariah Smith returns on “Gonna Be Great“. The Life Project featured a combined choir and they return on this album for: “We Are One“. Top to bottom, this album is a winner (see what I did, there?) so it’ll come as no surprise to see Carr win this award season!
Sometimes I watch too much television. Other times, I don’t even have the television on. My favorite drama on now is “Greenleaf“. A few seasons ago, I watched a performance of a song that I didn’t even remember until I met an artist who recorded the song! In an interview with Koryn Hawthorne, I immediately remembered hearing the song on the show! In an interview with Angela Jollivette, she spoke to us about the decision to insert “Won’t He Do It” and other gospel songs and artists into the season. The song burst onto the airwaves and has ridden the wave of popularity all the way to a performance on the Soul Train Music Awards and a 2018 GRAMMY nomination! Congratulations to Koryn, and her wonderful team at RCA Inspiration!
One unforgettable note about Koryn Hawthorne: when asked about her decision to sing gospel music following her time on “The Voice“, she made a decision to honor God with her voice if she was ever able to reach this stage of her music career! A decision worth celebrating!
You’re probably wondering how The Walls Group ended up in the 2018 GRAMMY Awards Best Gospel Album category, you’re not alone. You also probably haven’t listened to “The Other Side“. Don’t feel bad though, the group has been rather quiet since last November’s release. Rhea got married and had a baby, big bro Darrell is singing and writing all over the industry, the little brother and sister are growing (way) up and wait, there’s more Walls’???
The Other Side featured a variety of genres, brought together by the brilliant minds of the Walls’ and super-producer Warryn Campbell. The first single from the album: “My Life” was a straightforward anthem letting everybody know that the kids on the couch in the living were all grown up, now! Their song selection also changed. If you were expecting more fun, innocuous music from the Walls’, you ended up on the ‘other side’ of their intended audience. It’s fair to surmise that their new content has in a way displaced them from their initial dedication as a “novelty” group. The Walls Group is a group comprised of young adults, now! Songs like: “And You Don’t Stop” “Word” and “The Other Side“(a song about Heaven) show us just how mature this young group is. Listening to this album is the aural equivalent of growing pains. With growth comes maturity and with their vocal and maturity in life, The Walls Group has earned their latest GRAMMY nomination!
Alas…what more can be said about Brian Courtney Wilson’s “A Great Work“? His album is so good, that it inspired an entire ongoing series here at SMG: The Gospel Music Series. It changed the way I listen to gospel music and helped me understand that not all gospel music is for Sunday morning nor should it be judged by its Sunday morning-worthiness! The name says it all…it’s a great body of work! From the first track to the last, the album is his best to date! For those of you familiar with Wilson, you remember his last album was also GRAMMY nominated. He’s no stranger to GRAMMY nominations but this should be his year to win! Brian Courtney Wilson is a world class singer! For some reason this is overlooked in gospel music, today. Flat foot singing, he doesn’t have fireworks going off in the background, no dancers on the side of the stage, but he does dress well and sing in pure, sincere excellence!
In R&B, we’d call him a crooner! His smooth voice rarely ventures into a squall and his spiritual conviction mirrors his musical approach. “A Great Work” is an album for believers who as the Apostle Paul ‘know whom they have believed’ (2 Timothy 1:12). Wilson hasn’t shied away from addressing social ills, either. “Heal” was the first single from the album and confronts the current condition of our blood that ‘runs in the street‘. The song bemoans the state of our union and hopes that all generations can find a way to not only heal the current ills, but to live together in harmony.
As a settled soul, a song like “Noise” is the cure for life’s many questions. You may not have experienced it yet, but at a certain point in life, you will! When those questions come, they’ll challenge your conviction to the which you’ll need the confidence that God is doing ‘a great work’ in you. When all else fails, sing the scripture! That’s exactly what Wilson does and it’s phenomenal, as the second single and title track from the album, I’m certain you’ve the GRAMMY nominated song (Best Gospel Performance/Song). Wilson teamed up with Bishop Marvin Winans on “My Witness Is In Heaven“- doesn’t get much smoother in gospel than that…and not one to be behind the times, don’t miss the trap choir on “Increase My Faith“.
Perhaps my favorite song from Wilson’s album is: “Our Father Is Kind” a song he says was inspired by a conversation with Kirk Franklin. “Our father is kind” was Franklin’s answer to Wilson’s query for the success the artist, producer, composer and de facto face of gospel music. Franklin has remained busy since that conversation.
Last year, Franklin celebrated Wilson, Pastor Travis Greene and Jonathan McReynolds as the future of men gospel music. Franklin will once again face off with Wilson for GRAMMY consideration as producer, co-writer and featured artist with Tori Kelly and label executive (Fo Yo Soul) with The Walls Group. Kirk Franklin is again in the mix at GRAMMY time, but as suggested by the 2018 GRAMMY gospel categories, the kids are alright and the future of gospel music will be just fine!
I’ve been wrestling with this for a few years and I want some of you in the music industry to try and help me out, here. Maybe this isn’t the forum and direct to whichever/wherever it happens to be…Roots Gospel music is banjos and fiddles?!? The Recording Academy created the Roots Gospel category to: “provide a category for traditional Southern gospel and other “roots” gospel albums as both a protector of the heritage of this music and an acknowledgement of the growing interest and support of these genres.”
The parameters for nomination consideration are straight forward which easily explains why black traditional gospel artists have almost never been considered: For albums containing at least 51% playing time of newly recorded, vocal, traditional/roots gospel music, including country, Southern gospel, bluegrass, and Americana recordings.
The rub seems to be access to the music. If traditional black gospel music isn’t on the airwaves, most people don’t even know it’s available. But what about black quartets that travel and sell hard copies of their cd’s each weekend? Is it an accounting issue? Does the gospel community seem interested in helping artists thrive? Should artists expect more from GMWA and SAGMA or are they on their own?
Since its inception in 2015, past winners include: The Fairfield Four (a legendary black quartet), Joey + Rory and Reba McEntire. The gospel music community seems disinterested in the preservation of its roots in its quest to increase its foothold in the mainstream marketplace. Meanwhile, traditional artists not named Pastor Shirley Caesar or Bishop Rance Allen (two artists beloved artists) sometimes struggle to remain visible in this new industry. The sound of the church choir has also been replaced by smaller ensembles and “praise and worship” artists who sometimes change their sound and group composition in hopes of recording deals and radio airplay.
I’m not sure how the gospel community solves this problem. I can’t even guarantee that as a whole, the industry is concerned with engaging The Recording Academy about it or increasing awareness within the gospel community. In the meantime and for another year, the Roots Gospel Category is not reflective of its roots.
This year’s nominees in the Roots Gospel Category are:
• Unexpected Jason Crabb
• Clear Skies Ernie Haase & Signature Sound
• Favorites: Revisited By Request The Isaacs
• Still Standing The Martins
• Love Love Love Gordon Mote
Exactly which ‘roots’ are we talking about, here?!? I mean because Thomas A. Dorsey was a blues musician before he changed his tune to what is now known as gospel so, I have three questions:
1) Why is roots gospel being defined as roots, Americana and Southern Gospel which are not a form of gospel music. Those genres closely resemble country music. 2) Why don’t we see any black quartet/traditional gospel groups in the category? 3) Are the Blind Boys of Alabama the only black gospel quartet the Academy considers in this category? What are we missing?
It needs to be said, the GRAMMY Awards and the Recording Academy are not the Stellar Awards or SAGMA. They have very different criteria, respectively. However, are we at an impasse when we seek to define what roots gospel music is? Apparently, Roots gospel music is not traditional gospel music or “Quartet” music.
Isn’t “Roots Gospel Music” the kind of music, Melvin Williams has been recording the last few years and two albums?!? He’s got a whole documentary about it. But the banjos and fiddles are at it again in the ROOTS Gospel Category. Don’t use the excuse about “it’s on the artist and their team.” It is, but this is where the gospel industry continuously comes up short! Another instance of suburban sprawl…while the industry went chasing a ‘mainstream’ sound and discounted a real connection with listeners in the church, we don’t even have consideration in the most basic category, AGAIN!
GRAMMY season is officially upon us with the announcement of the 2018 nominees. This year’s category features some surprises and some well deserved recognition. The gospel category seems to always leave the category open to questioning for some, but for others a sobering reminder of the gulf that exists between the GRAMMYs, Billboard Awards and the Stellar Awards, respectively.
Gospel music is in the middle of an evolution. The doors are wide open as one sound is ushered out and another welcomed ‘home’. Gospel artists are making music that sounds like and appeals to church, once again. The 2018 GRAMMY gospel category is somewhat reflective of that with this year’s nominees. Here are this year’s nominees:
Best Gospel Performance/Song:
You Will Win-Jekalyn Carr
Won’t He Do It- Koryn Hawthorne
Never Alone- Tori Kelly ft. Kirk Franklin
Cycles- Jonathan McReynolds
A Great Work- Brian Courtney Wilson
Best Gospel Album
One Nation Under God- Jekalyn Carr
Hiding Place- Tori Kelly
Make Room- Jonathan McReynolds
The Other Side- The Walls Group
A Great Work- Brian Courtney Wilson
The Recording Academy can’t go wrong with either artist chosen as a winner. These artists and their work is phenomenal and have each connected with their fans and overall listeners on such a level, that has driven gospel music back to alerting heights!
Koryn Hawthorne didn’t win on “The Voice” but she made a promise to God that if she was able to return to that level of exposure, she would only use her voice for Him. Isn’t it amazing to see how richly God rewards those that honor Him? Many people first heard “Won’t He Do It” on the groundbreaking series “Greenleaf” on OWN. Since initially airing on the weekly drama, the song has taken on a life of its own, landing on this year’s GRAMMY nominations list!
Remember Jonathan McReynolds‘ “Cycles” challenge that had everybody trying that ridiculously difficult ad-lib at the beginning of the song? Everybody ‘tried it’, but few came close! Jekalyn Carr released a book by the same title as her anthem “You Will Win” and people all over the world declared themselves ‘winners’ right along with her! Carr celebrated her first Dove Award win earlier this year. A GRAMMY win would be great for the young singer who has found herself in the same categories with legends and current contemporary leaders in Billboard, Stellar and GRAMMY award consideration!
Tori Kelly surprised everyone with a gospel album, but she made it clear that this album is genuine and from her heart. She celebrates both a “Best Song” and “Album of the Year” nomination, this year! The Walls Group has somewhat quietly become industry stalwarts. In short order, they’ve reached ‘the other side’ of their young career, their parents, college graduates, and seeing life through their own lens now. Their content reflects their maturation. No longer just ‘kids who can sing’, The Walls Group is here to make a statement! They can still sing anything and as a group harmonize better than any assemblage, to date. Well, let’s just say their vocal prowess is reminiscent of what we love in the Winans and The Clark Sisters! Their nomination is well deserved and truly earned!
What can I say about Brian Courtney Wilson??? One listen to his album and I was inspired to write! Literally…I had an epiphany as I listened to his album and it was this: his music is for grown up believers. Not by age, but in spiritual maturity! Ruminate on that for a moment. So much music is made and it lives on the surface of Christianity, but his music and especially “A Great Work” exists on such a higher plane that the listener is both changed and challenged! Something listeners have clamored for, for years!
His nomination in both categories is a ‘tip of the cap’ in regard to the great work of his latest album, “A Great Work“. As stated earlier, the Recording Academy has quite the job on their hands this year, and I couldn’t be more glad!
To see a full list of all the nominees, visit the GRAMMY website.
MAXIMUM ARTIST MANAGEMENT & LONE OAK ENTERTAINMENT SIGN GRAMMY®-NOMINATED ARTIST
TODD DULANEY TO EXCLUSIVE AGREEMENT
“Victory Belongs to Jesus” Grabs Over 14 Million YouTube Views, Earns GMA DoveAward Nomination
New single “Your Great Name” Impacts Radio & all digital outlets on Sept. 8th, 2017
Grammy®, Dove, and 5x Stellar award-nominated recording artist, Todd Dulaney, has signed an exclusive management agreement with Nashville-based Maximum Artist Management. The announcement was made by the firm’s founder and president, Mitchell Solarek. In two short years, Dulaney has become one of the most in-demand performing artists in the country since he stormed Gospel radio with his 2015 hit single, “The Anthem.” The meteoric success of that track along with his sophomore project, A Worshippers Heart(2016 Light Records/eOne Entertainment) — which debuted #1 on Billboard’s Top Gospel Album’s charts — has led Dulaney from being “one to watch” to “one that’s here to stay.”
It was Dulaney’s extensive high-profile concert appearances, multiple award nominations, and fast-growing fan base that brought him to the attention of Maximum Artist Management, a top-tier firm whose eclectic client roster spans m multiple genres. “Todd is a unique talent with a unique gifting for connecting with audiences from all walks of life,” states Solarek. “What he’s been able to achieve in just the past 24 to 30 months is awe-inspiring, but it’s just scratching the surface, we believe. He is an artist and a communicator who will impact culture for decades to come.”
Maximum Artist Management guides the careers of chart-topping artists including: 5-time Gospel Music Association Female Vocalist of the Year and 6-time Grammy® nominee, Natalie Grant; Grammy® award winning producer/songwriter, Bernie Herms ; American Idol alum and DoveAward winner, Danny Gokey; Grammy® and Stellar® award-winning artist/producer, Donald Lawrence; The Voice finalist, Koryn Hawthorne, among others.
Another tangible result of Dulaney’s ever-growing popularity is the exploding demand for him to appear in concert. Practically having been on the road full-time touring the world for the past several years, he has also now signed an exclusive concert booking agreement with Lone Oak Entertainment which was founded in 1993 by entertainment veteran, Jody Mainello. For over two decades, Lone Oak has consistently been one of the top booking agencies in Gospel music. The agency represents many of the biggest names in that genre, including platinum selling vocalist, Marvin Sapp, “Nobody Greater” acclaimed singer, VaShawn Mitchell, comedian/actor, Jonathan Slocumb, Hip-Hop rapper, Da’ T.R.U.T.H, Grammy nominated singer/songwriter, Jonathan Butler, and others. Says Mainello, “We’re extremely excited about having this bright, young, artist on our roster. Todd brings a multifaceted dynamic to his music which is what makes him so vital and necessary to the industry today. We look forward to expanding his ministry beyond what he has already been able to achieve in such a relatively short time. Working with Mitchell Solarek’s team we’re setting the bar high with where we want to take him and it is going to be enjoyable experience seeing where this journey takes him.”
Dulaney’s most recent hit song, “Victory Belongs to Jesus,” has accumulated over 14 million YouTube views to date and was nominated just last week for a GMA DoveAward for Urban Worship Recorded Song of the Year. The former professional baseball player is also finishing up his third album for Light Records/eOne Entertainment. The still untitled full-length recording is set for a January 2018 release. Todd’s brand new single “Your Great Name” will be serviced to radio and available for download on all digital outlets September 8th, 2017. The lead single was written by Dulaney and Dontaniel “Jamel” Kimbrough.
Historic 45th Anniversary Concert–Recorded July 3, 2016–Includes First-Ever Live Performance of Tapestry in its Entirety + Artist/Fan Favorites from the Carole King Songbook
“Carole King: Tapestry – Captured Live at Hyde Park London,” a One Night Cinema Event, Presented by Fathom Events and AEG at Select Theaters Nationwide on July 11
Special Broadcast Edition of Carole King – Tapestry: Live at Hyde Park Airing on American Public Television Beginning in September
Legacy Recordings, a division of Sony Music Entertainment, and Rockingale Records will release Carole King – Tapestry: Live at Hyde Park (CD/DVD or digital) on Friday, September 1.
Photo Credit: Brian Rasic (PRNewsfoto/Legacy Recordings)
Recorded on July 3, 2016, in front of a rapturous audience of more than 65,000 fans, Tapestry: Live at Hyde Park celebrates the 45th anniversary of a zeitgeist-shifting touchstone album that established Carole King as the quintessential singer-songwriter, a “Natural Woman” who gave voice to the emotions and experiences of millions of listeners around the world. With songs that are literally woven into the fabric of pop culture, Tapestry struck a universal chord, topping the Billboard 200 for 15 weeks and staying on the chart for six years. King took home four Grammy Awards for the album, including Album, Record and Song of the Year. And the songs, including “So Far Away,” “It’s Too Late,” “I Feel The Earth Move,” “You’ve Got a Friend” and others remain timeless standards and radio staples.
The artist’s largest concert since her legendary 1973 show in Central Park, Carole King’s historic Hyde Park performance marked her first British concert since 1989 and the first time she’d performed Tapestry on stage in its entirety. The album showcases Carole leading a full band (including guitarist Danny “Kootch” Kortchmar, who played on the original Tapestry album) through the album with the bonus addition of some of her personal favorite compositions from her formidable songbook. Guest performers include her daughter, Louise Goffin, who joins Carole on several tracks including “Where You Lead” (which the duo re-recorded as the theme song to the popular television series “Gilmore Girls”) plus the Laurence Olivier Award-winning West End cast of “Beautiful: The Carole King Musical.”
Originally released in 1971, Tapestry established Carole King–already a noted songwriter of smash hits for Aretha Franklin, The Everly Brothers, The Monkees, The Drifters and many others–as an extraordinary performer who defines the singer-songwriter genre from the 1970s onward.
The Carole King – Tapestry: Live at Hyde Park package includes the full concert on CD/DVD and is rounded out with insightful recollections from Carole about the making of Tapestry.
Leading up to the home release of the CD/DVD, “Carole King: Tapestry – Captured Live at Hyde Park London” will be broadcast to U.S. movie theaters on Tuesday, July 11 at 7:00 p.m. (local time). In addition to the full-length concert, this special one-night cinema event includes an interview with King herself, special introduction by the iconic WCBS-FM radio host Scott Shannon, star-studded appearances from Tom Hanks, Elton John, Graham Nash, Lou Adler, Danny “Kootch” Kortchmar, James Taylor, David Crosby, Barry Mann and Cynthia Weil, and includes several timeless Goffin/King compositions. Tickets and more information available at FathomEvents.com
A special television broadcast edition of Carole King – Tapestry: Live at Hyde Park, distributed by American Public Television, will begin airing on public television stations in September 2017.
Additional performances on Live at Hyde Park include a Gerry Goffin/Carole King medley featuring “Take Good Care of My Baby,” “It Might As Well Rain Until September,” “Go Away Little Girl,” “I’m Into Something Good,” “One Fine Day” and more.
Carole King – Tapestry: Live at Hyde Park(CD/DVD/Digital)
CD 1. I Feel The Earth Move
2. So Far Away
3. It’s Too Late
4. Home Again
5. Beautiful
6. Way Over Yonder
7. You’ve Got A Friend
8. Where You Lead
9. Will You Love Me Tomorrow?
10. Smackwater Jack
11. Tapestry
12. (You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman
13. Medley Intro
14. Goffin/King Medley:
Take Good Care Of My Baby
It Might As Well Rain Until September
Go Away Little Girl
I’m Into Something Good
One Fine Day
15. Hey Girl
16. Chains
17. Jazzman
18. Up On The Roof
19. Locomotion
20 I Feel the Earth Move (Reprise)
21. You’ve Got A Friend (reprise)
DVD 1.Opening/Testimonials (Instrumental Music Bed: It’s Too Late, Will You Love Me
Tomorrow?, So Far Away, (You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman)
2. I Feel The Earth Move
3. So Far Away
4. It’s Too Late
5. Home Again
6. Beautiful
7. Way Over Yonder
8. You’ve Got a Friend
9. Where You Lead (with Louise Goffin)
10. Will You Love Me Tomorrow? (with Louise Goffin)
11. Smackwater Jack
12. Tapestry
13. (You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman
14. Take Good Care Of My Baby
15. It Might As Well Rain Until September
16. Go Away Little Girl
17. I’m Into Something Good
18. One Fine Day
19. Hey Girl
20. Chains
21. Jazzman
22. Up On The Roof
23. Locomotion
24. I Feel The Earth Move (with cast of Carole King the Musical)
25. You’ve Got A Friend (reprise)
About Legacy Recordings Legacy Recordings, the catalog division of Sony Music Entertainment, is home to the world’s foremost library of historically significant commercial recordings, a peerless collection of works by the most significant musical artists of the 19th, 20th and 21st centuries. Across a variety of platforms, the label has revolutionized the catalog market, offering contemporary music fans access to thousands of meticulously restored and remastered archival titles representing virtually every musical genre including popular, rock, jazz, blues, R&B, folk, country, gospel, Broadway musicals, movie soundtracks, rap/hip-hop, world music, classical, comedy and more.
Founded in 1990 by CBS Records (rebranded Sony Music in 1991), Legacy has expanded on its original mission (preserving and reissuing back catalogs of Columbia Records, Epic Records and associated CBS labels) to provide new and innovative avenues for artist and repertoire exposure including Grammy winning curated retrospectives, social media campaigns, Oscar winning soundtracks, new talent signings and groundbreaking campaigns for established artists and catalog projects.
About Fathom Events Fathom Events is recognized as the leading domestic distributor of event cinema with participating affiliate theaters in all 100 of the top Designated Market Areas®, and ranks as one of the largest overall distributors of content to movie theaters. Owned by AMC Entertainment Inc., Cinemark Holdings, Inc. and Regal Entertainment Group (known collectively as AC JV, LLC), Fathom Events offers a variety of one-of-a-kind entertainment events such as live, high-definition performances of the Metropolitan Opera, dance and theatre productions like the Bolshoi Ballet and National Theatre Live, sporting events like “Canelo Álvarez vs. Julio César Chávez, Jr.,” concerts with artists like Michael Bublé, Rush and Mötley Crüe, the yearlong TCM Big Screen Classics film series, inspirational events such as To Joey With Love and Facing Darkness, and anime titles such as Princess Mononoke and Spirited Away. Fathom Events takes audiences behind the scenes and offers unique extras including audience Q&As, backstage footage and interviews with cast and crew, creating the ultimate VIP experience. Fathom Events’ live digital broadcast network (“DBN”) is the largest cinema broadcast network in North America, bringing live and pre-recorded events to 897 locations and 1,387 screens in 181 DMAs. For more information, visit www.fathomevents.com.
About American Public Television American Public Television (APT) is the leading syndicator of high-quality, top-rated programming to the nation’s public television stations. For more than 10 years, APT has annually distributed one-third or more of the top 100 highest-rated public television titles in the U.S. Founded in 1961, APT distributes 250 new titles per year. These programs, considered some of the most popular on public television, include prominent documentaries, performance specials (featuring current, popular talent like Carole King, Alabama Shakes and Steven Tyler; classical performers like tenor Jonas Kaufman; and, old favorites like Frank Sinatra), news and current affairs programs, dramas, how-to programs, children’s series and classic movies. APT licenses programs internationally through its APT Worldwide service. APT distributes Create®TV — featuring the best of public television’s lifestyle programming for 12 years, and WORLD™, public television’s premier news, science and documentary channel.
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