Sixstepsrecords/Sparrow Records lead-worshiper and GMA Artist and Male Vocalist of the Year, Chris Tomlin, is featured in this week’s issue of the leading news magazine TIME, which boasts a readership of 19.5 million people weekly.
In the article, “Hip Hymns Are Him,” TIME says Tomlin “thinks of himself less as a musician and more as a worship leader. Tomlin is the chief American practitioner of the pop-sounding ‘praise and worship’ music that has replaced traditional hymns in congregations looking for a younger crowd.” (www.time.com)
Tomlin’s first feature in the magazine, he also became the first Christian artist to eclipse 20 million impressions in one week at radio for the Christian format (Oct. 23), according to Christian Radio & Retail Weekly (CRW). This week Tomlin’s “Made To Worship,” from his Sept. 26 release and No. 1 selling album, See The Morning, gathered 20,693,300 impressions, while capturing more than 218 million total impressions since August 28.
As Tomlin’s fourth No. 1 radio hit, “Made To Worship,” strongly holds the top position even after ten full weeks there, his former No. 1 song “How Great Is Our God,” from Arriving, continues to receive more than two million impressions at radio after being released over a year ago. As one of the fasting rising songs on the CCLI charts, “How Great Is Our God” moved to No. 1 on the Song Select Advanced chart, becoming the most downloaded of any digital products offered by CCLI to the 51,000 participating churches.
Previous hits from his first RIAA-certified gold record, Arriving, made radio history in 2005 by producing three songs in the R&R AC Top 30 simultaneously (two of those in the Top 10): “Indescribable,” Holy Is The Lord” and “The Way I Was Made.”
Following the success of his 2004 release, Arriving, and the new album, See The Morning, which debuted at No. 1 on multiple retail charts and landed at No. 15 on the Billboard Top 200, Chris Tomlin will see the re-issue of his first two studio efforts as a combined two-disc, budget priced set. Entitled The Early Years, the project releases tomorrow (November 21).
The Early Years features the original recordings, artwork and liner notes from Tomlin’s 2001 debut, The Noise We Make, and its breakthrough 2002 follow-up, Not To Us. The release gives those just discovering Tomlin’s music an easy and affordable way to “catch up” with the first works from the Gospel Music Association’s 2006 top award winning artist-worshiper. Among the favorite, CCLI charting songs included are: “Forever,” “The Wonderful Cross,” “Famous One,” “Enough,” “Be Glorified,” and “Wonderful Maker.”
Millions of people around the world are singing the songs of Chris Tomlin every week at collegiate gatherings, worship services and concert settings. With 17 top-charting CCLI songs, Tomlin is also featured in the popular, college-focused Passion Conferences. More information on Chris Tomlin, including upcoming tour dates, can be found at www.ChrisTomlin.com, www.sixstepsrecords.com and www.emicmg.com.