"Exalting Him…National Christian Talent Search Airs Tonight"

HENDERSONVILLE, Tenn—Kelly Clarkson and Ruben Studdard captured America's hearts on American Idol. Buddy Jewell rocked the country music scene with his traditional country sounds. The Christian music scene now takes center stage with a nation-wide talent search to find and showcase unsigned artists.



Exalting Him 2003, a national Christian search sponsored by Daywind Soundtracks, Family Christian Stores, Trinity Broadcasting Network and Salem Music Networks, drew over 1,400 entries from across the US. With regional competitions held in Los Angeles, Denver, Dallas, Orlando, Nashville, Winston Salem, Canton OH and Atlanta, sixteen finalists emerged. These regional finalists met at the Trinity Broadcasting Network studio in Nashville for the finals competition, hosted by comedian Mark Lowry and scheduled to be televised on TBN the week of November 17-21, reaching over 100 million households. Check your local listings or visit www.tbn.org for channels and times.



The stellar panel of judges included Deborah Evans Price - Country and Christian Music Editor for Billboard Magazine, John Mays - A&R Director for Creative Trust, Norman Holland – Vice President of Daywind Music, Steve Crawford of the gospel group Anointed, Cedric Dent of Take 6, Hee Haw television personality LuLu Roman and Curb recording artist Michael English.



A compilation recording of the eight finalists will be released by Vital Communications on January 27, 2004. New Day Christian Distributors, Word Entertainment and WEA will distribute the project. The Exalting Him winner will have a record releasing early in 2004.



About Daywind Soundtracks
On April 18, 1985, Dottie Leonard Miller founded Daywind Soundtracks. Built upon the foundation of New Day Christian Distributors, which was established on February 18, 1982, Daywind offered a soundtrack line whereby people who wanted to perform their favorite songs could have the best background music possible. With its line primarily consisting of the most popular Southern Gospel selections, Daywind began to provide customers with soundtracks for the top charting hits using many of the best-known studio musicians and vocalists in Nashville. And customers responded to top quality--so much so that the line has now grown to over 2500 titles including today's top Contemporary Christian, praise & worship, southern gospel and black gospel titles, along with kids favorites, wedding songs and seasonal offerings. Brand names include Soulful Sounds (black gospel), Kidz Tracks and the upcoming Karaoke Style line. Karaoke Style will feature 6 titles per CD and includes karaoke graphics.



About Salem Radio Network
Salem Music Network, Inc. is a Nashville-based division of Salem Communications Corporation, the leading U.S. radio broadcaster focused on religious and family friendly programming. The Salem Music Network division provides via satellite three 24-hour Christian music radio formats to over 200 radio stations throughout the country. Additionally, it operates two contemporary Christian music stations and two southern gospel stations in the Nashville, TN market. Upon the close of all announced transactions, the parent company, headquartered in Camarillo, California, will own and operate 89 radio stations, including 55 stations in the top 25 markets. In addition to its radio properties, Salem owns the Salem Radio Network, which syndicates talk, news and music programming to over 1,600 affiliated radio stations; Salem Radio Representatives, a national sales force; Salem Web Network, the leading Internet provider of Christian content and online streaming; and Salem Publishing, a leading publisher of contemporary Christian music trade and consumer magazines.



About Family Christian Stores
Family Christian Stores® is America's leading specialty retailer with over 325 locations and over 5,000 employees in 39 states dedicated solely to the $4.3 billion Christian retailing market. Family Christian Stores® sells Christian products and church supplies through its chain of stores and via the Internet. Merchandising categories include Bibles, Books, Music, Children's product, Gifts, Apparel, Software, Cards, Church Supplies and DVD/VHS.



About Trinity Broadcasting Network
TBN is the world's largest Christian television network. Across America and around the world TBN is carried by TV stations and cable systems to millions of homes. TBN is seen on over 4900 television stations, 30 satellites, the Internet and thousands of cable systems around the world. And the number continues to grow. Programs are translated into numerous foreign languages at TBN's state-of-the-art facilities at the International Production Center in Irving, Texas. People from all walks of life including astronauts, singers and entertainers, television and movie actors, political leaders and ministers frequently appear on "Praise the Lord," TBN's flagship production, to share their faith in God. TBN is a recognized leader in the production of major Christian movies. TBN's cinematic achievements include "China Cry", "The Revolutionary (The Life of Jesus)", "The Revolutionary II", "The Emissary (The Life of Paul)", and "The Omega Code" and "The Heart Of a Champion," starring Carman. Their latest releases include "Megiddo" and "Time Changer."








This article courtesy of http://www.christianmusicportal.com.
You may freely reprint this article on your website or in
your newsletter provided this courtesy notice and the author
name and URL remain intact.

Submit Your Article