Casting Crowns goes platinum again

(NASHVILLE, Tenn.) February 19, 2007 – Casting Crowns achieves an extraordinary milestone with the RIAA Platinum certification of its sophomore album Lifesong. This certification, signifying U.S. album shipments exceeding 1 million units, comes only sixteen months after the Aug. 30, 2005, release of the GRAMMY Award-winning album, making Casting Crowns the fastest Contemporary Christian music artist in its career to have its first two albums certified Platinum, and only the second in RIAA history ever to achieve it (the other is Jars of Clay, also a Provident Label Group artist, with its self-titled debut in 1996 and Much Afraid in 2000).

Lifesong debuted at No. 9 on Billboard’s Top 200 album chart with the highest first-week sales at the time for a Christian act since Nov. 2003. In its three-year career, all four Casting Crowns projects have received RIAA honors, including its Platinum self-titled debut album (2003), its Platinum DVD Live From Atlanta (2004) and its Gold DVD Lifesong Live (2006).

Terry Hemmings, Provident Music Group President and CEO, notes, “Our company is so grateful to be a part of Casting Crowns’ incredible music and ministry.” He adds, “We are also thankful for the support we have received from radio, retail and the millions of Casting Crowns fans. The impact this group of people has had on all of us will be felt for many years to come.”

The band remains a Christian radio-playlist staple across the country, with Lifesong delivering three No. 1 songs: the anthemic hit “Praise You in this Storm,” the album’s title track “Lifesong,” and the latest chart-topper “Does Anybody Hear Her,” currently No. 1 on five charts.

Over its three-year career, Casting Crowns has been honored with a GRAMMY Award, two American Music Award nods and 10 Gospel Music Awards including Group of the Year for the second consecutive year in 2006. Casting Crowns has been the most played artist on all Christian radio formats combined, with six consecutive No.1 radio hits, and the group has sold more than 2.3 million albums to date. Lead singer and songwriter Mark Hall has been a student pastor for 16 years and currently serves on staff at Eagle’s Landing First Baptist Church in Atlanta.

For more information, please visit www.CastingCrowns.com or www.reunionrecords.com.