(NASHVILLE, Tenn.) June 5, 2013 — Provident Music Group, which includes Provident Label Group and Provident Films, received top honors at the first ever K-LOVE Fan Awards, held Saturday evening at Nashville’s famed Ryman Auditorium. Multi-Platinum-selling group Casting Crowns and Sherwood Pictures film “Courageous” took home awards in the categories of Group/Duo of the Year and Movie Impact, respectively.
Recognized with 13 nominations across seven categories, as well as nine live performances at the awards show, PMG was well represented this year and in good company alongside the top contenders in Christian entertainment today.
“It is a privilege for Provident to be in partnership with such talented artists and to have songs and messages produced that translate and encourage peoples’ lives on a daily basis,” says Provident Label Group’s Vice President of Marketing, Bryan Ward. “For K-LOVE to provide this first-ever experience for fans to express their voice in the selection process, and to be nominated and receive wins for these awards, it is truly an honor for all of us at Provident Music Group.”
This latest acclaim rounds out a landmark year for Casting Crowns, touting a list of accolades which include its three GRAMMY nominations, RIAA 2x multi-Platinum and RIAA Gold certifications, along with some of the most successful touring of its career and in Christian music overall. The group’s 2011-2012 “Come To The Well” tour saw 40 arena sellouts and exceeded 370,000 in total attendance. Most recently, in support of Casting Crowns latest album, Acoustic Sessions: Volume 1, its 2013 spring acoustic tour sold out 12 of the 18 cities. In response to the overwhelming success of the “Acoustic Sessions” live tour, Casting Crowns has added a fall 2013 leg. Casting Crowns also made its feature film debut in the Provident Films release of “Ring The Bell,” available now on DVD.
The Movie Impact trophy for “Courageous” adds to the film’s continued critical and commercial acclaim. Brothers Stephen and Alex Kendrick co-wrote the Sherwood Pictures movie, which opened Sept. 30, 2011, with Alex directing and acting as well. The movie hit No. 4 at the box office taking in $34 million, while its DVD release debuted at No. 1 over such big-budget films as “Moneyball” and “Abduction” in January 2012.
The K-LOVE Fan Awards is the first ever fan-voted award show in Christian music history. Nominees were determined by K-LOVE, with consideration given to airplay, spins, impact and overall performance, in categories celebrating artists, athletes, authors as well as entertainers who with excellence engage and impact popular culture for Jesus Christ. Winners were solely determined by fan vote online.
About Casting Crowns:
Prolific CCM band Casting Crowns has achieved major sales milestones including one RIAA 2x multi-Platinum album, three RIAA Platinum albums, two RIAA Platinum DVDs, six RIAA Gold albums, four Gold DVDs and four RIAA Gold certified digital singles. The band currently holds the position as Billboard’s top-selling act in Christian music since 2007. The group has also been honored with two American Music Awards (out of six total nominations), a GRAMMY Award for its 2005 album Lifesong, and has received six GRAMMY nominations including three received on Dec. 5, 2012. The band has garnered 17 GMA Dove Awards and two 2012 Billboard Music Awards from six total Billboard Music Award nominations.
Casting Crowns’ seven band members all remain active in student ministry in the Atlanta area and tour according to their local church commitments. Serving his 18th year in youth ministry, lead singer/songwriter Mark Hall maintains his role as the student pastor at Eagle’s Landing First Baptist Church in Atlanta.
Casting Crowns concluded its 84-city “Come to the Well” tour on May 5, 2012, in Houston to an audience of more than 16,000. Across the Fall 2011 and Spring 2012 legs, the tour saw 40 arena sellouts, and exceeded 370,000 in total attendance. Most recently, in support of Casting Crowns’ latest album Acoustic Sessions: Volume 1 (Jan. 22, 2013), its 2013 spring acoustic tour sold out 12 of the 18 cities.
During Casting Crowns’ career, the band has helped with more than 68,500 child sponsorships through the group’s partnership with Christian humanitarian organization, World Vision.
For more information on Casting Crowns visit: www.castingcrowns.com, www.facebook.com/castingcrowns, www.twitter.com/castingcrowns or follow Mark Hall’s Twitter at twitter.com/markhallCC.
About “Courageous”:
Four men, one calling: To serve and protect. As law enforcement officers, they are confident and focused, standing up to the worst the streets have to offer. Yet at the end of the day, they face a challenge that none of them are truly prepared to tackle: fatherhood. When tragedy strikes home, these men are left wrestling with their hopes, fears, faith, and fathering. Can a newfound urgency help these dads draw closer to God … and to their children? Protecting the streets is second nature. Raising their children in a God-honoring way? That’s courageous. For more, visit: www.CourageousTheMovie.com or www.facebook.com/courageousthemovie.
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