Third Day's Offerings II debuts at #1 Christian albums, #18 overall

Essential rock band Third Day has scored the biggest Christian music debut so far for 2003 with their latest album, Offerings II: All I Have To Give, selling 53,360 units last week, placing it at the top of Billboard’s Top Christian Albums chart and at an impressive #18 on the overall Nielsen SoundScan’sTop 200 Albums chart.

The first week sales more than doubled the initial sales of the first Offerings project, which has since been certified gold by the RIAA. Offerings II was also the highest debut in the Billboard Top 200 for Third Day. Come Together previously debuted at #31on the chart.

Don Noes, senior vice president for Provident Music Distribution noted, “Third Day’s debut-week numbers reflect the tremendous drive of this band and the strong partnerships they have forged over their 10-year career. Premiere corporate campaigns with partners including Regal Cinema, Chevrolet, and others have only enlarged their sphere of impact. Paired with strong retail relationships, this band has demonstrated impressive sell-through and we celebrate this achievement with them.”

“Offerings II - All I Have To Give posted the largest street week sales of any music release in our chain's history. The theater event with Regal Cinemas for the street date party in Atlanta was a success, drawing over 1,400 people to the theater and to the post-event at our store,” said Darrell Hodges, music buyer for LifeWay.

“Sales at mainstream retail were among the best Third Day has ever seen,” commented Jimmy Wheeler, senior director of national Christian sales, Zomba Label Group. “We’re extremely happy with the first week’s scans through mainstream retail. With total mainstream scans on Offerings II up 20%, compared to Come Together, and the overall market share rising 6%, it’s evident that this genre is continuing to grow in popularity in the secular market.”