Welcome to 20: The Countdown Magazine, the weekly program that plays the greatest hits in Christian Music every weekend on hundreds of radio stations across America and around the world!

This week's Jon's Future Favorite: Mercy Me - All Of Creation listen | shop How do you like it? Love it! It's OK Not so much

Exclusives!

	We've got an exclusive in-studio performance of American Idol finalist Chris Sligh performing his hit song "Empty Me"! Click here to listen...
	Check out a great live version of Natalie Grant singing "In Better Hands" with her husband, Bernie, playing the piano, here.
	Brandon Heath stopped by the ranch and performed this live version of "I'm Not Who I Was". Check it out by clicking here.
	Download a special edition of Third Day's "Top 20 Songs From Chronology Volumes 1 & 2" countdown, with extended band interviews! Hour 1 Hour 2
	Listen to 2 great Third Day songs performed live at the ranch! Tunnel I've Always Loved You
	Steven Curtis Chapman sang "Cinderella" from his upcoming album "This Moment". Click here to check it out!

Matthew West's "The Motions" Most Played Christian Song of 2009
Acclaimed singer/songwriter Matthew West’s GRAMMY Award nominated song “The Motions” topped the 2009 Billboard Hot Christian Song and Hot Christian Adult Contemporary Song charts. The song also ranked No. 4 on the Billboard decade-end chart for Christian Songs, having only been introduced to radio earlier this year.

Such coveted positioning is an appropriate end to a banner year for West, whose song “The Motions” was No. 1 on Radio & Records’ Christian AC Monitored chart and the Billboard Christian chart for 14 weeks as well as the most downloaded Christian digital track 15 weeks running, according to SoundScan. Additionally “The Motions” earned West his first GRAMMY Award nomination in the category of Best Gospel Song. West has now claimed the Most Played Christian Song of the Year title three times, following “You Are Everything” in 2008 and “More” in 2003.

Along with the success of “The Motions,” 2009 marked West’s busiest year to date, headlining two national tours, traveling overseas as spokesperson for Operation Christmas Child, writing his first book: 101 Ways to Give This Christmas Away, and penning the theme song “Give This Christmas Away” for VeggieTales’ new Christmas movie, Saint Nicholas – A Story Of Joyful Giving.



http://markschultzmusic.com/category/blog/
Today, the blockbuster fourth studio album, Until The Whole World Hears from GRAMMY, AMA and five-time Dove Award-winning “Group of the Year,” Casting Crowns (Beach Street/Reunion Records), reaches RIAA Gold status, only four weeks after the Nov. 17 release. This certification, signifying U.S. album shipments exceeding 500,000 units, marks the fastest-selling Casting Crowns album in its unparalleled six-year career.

With its sales continuing to demonstrate an upward trend, Casting Crowns is again named Billboard’s Top Christian Album Artist for 2009, for a third consecutive year. The repeated placement at No.1 on the year-end Christian/Gospel chart (12/31/09) solidifies Casting Crowns as the top-selling act in Christian music since 2007.

Selling 167,000 first-week copies, the historical debut of Until The Whole World Hears set a sales record for the group as the highest debuting Christian Music artist in SoundScan history (week ending 11/22/09). The album released as the third strongest album debut in the country on Billboard’s Top 200 chart behind John Mayer and Norah Jones. With 44, 845 units sold this week, Until The Whole World Hears is No.1 for a fourth week on Nielsen SoundScan Current Contemporary Christian Album chart. At radio, the title track claimed a third week at No. 1 on Billboard’s AC-Monitored chart, marking a ninth career chart-topping song for Casting Crowns.



Phil Wickham Receives Career High Chart Placement
INO Records’ singer/songwriter Phil Wickham received the highest chart placement of his career as his third studio album Heaven and Earth, debuted at No. 5 on the Christian music chart selling nearly 14k albums landing the No. 50 spot on Billboard’s Top 200 chart. Wickham also dominated the iTunes ® Christian chart hitting the No. 1 spot during the week.

The critically acclaimed artist’s current single “Safe,” which features MercyMe’s Bart Millard, continues its sprint to the top of the chart currently placing in the Top 20 AC and Top 10 Soft AC/Inspo radio formats after 8 short weeks. (video story about “Safe” by Wickham http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EDk7zoCJfFk )

“The first week’s sales, radio’s embracement of the single, and the media’s high acclaim over the album is very rewarding, says INO’s SVP Marketing and Promotions Dan Michaels. “Wickham, along with his producer Pete Kipley, created a remarkable album. The team behind Phil has remained committed and has done an amazing job setting up Heaven And Earth,“ Michaels adds.

Wickham is currently on the “Glory In The Highest Acoustic Tour” with Shane and Shane and Bethany Dillon. For more information on the tour and Phil Wickham please visit www.philwickham.com .




"My Savior My God" Hits Half-Million
Brash Music has announced that more than 500,000 people have purchased Aaron Shust’s smash hit, “My Savior My God,” either in physical or digital format. The song helped garner Shust three Dove Awards including “Song of the Year,” “Songwriter of the Year,” and “New Artist of the Year.” Additionally, “My Savior My God” was a #1 radio hit and ended 2006 as the most played song at Christian radio.

“The fact that more than a half-million copies of ‘My Savior My God’ have been purchased in the current retail environment is a huge testament to the impact it’s had on so many people. I believe that this song will continue to encourage congregations and radio listeners for years to come,” said Steve Jones, president of Brash Music.

The milestone comes as Shust recently wrapped a headline tour with former American Idol Chris Sligh and worship artist Meredith Andrews. The tour hit more than 20 cities throughout the fall and included several sold-out shows. The tour supported Shust’s new project, Take Over, which released in August to rave reviews.

Along with Take Over, Shust recently announced the release of his first Christmas EP. The digital project, Shust’s first for the holidays, is available exclusively at major online retailers including iTunes and Amazon.com. The Christmas EP’s three songs include “God Has Come To Earth” and “Silent Night.” The third, “O Come, O Come Emmanuel,” is already a Top 5 radio hit that has become a staple of Christian radio airplay during the Christmas season.




Jimmy Needham in the Studio for April 2010 Release
Jimmy Needham and band gather at Ronnie's Place Studio in Nashville, Tenn. to begin work on his third Inpop Records studio release. Produced by Calvin Turner (Marc Broussard, Dave Barnes, Matt Wertz), the album is due out in April. Pictured (l-r) are Court Clement (guitar), Dan Needham (drums), Jamie Kenney (keys), Calvin Turner, Jimmy Needham and Gary Burnette (guitar).