Kingsway North America Launched
New David C. Cook music division developed (Niagara-on-the-Lake, ON) Publisher and distributor David C. Cook has recently made a significant investment into the world of worship music in acquiring Kingsway Music.
Online, February 10, 2010 (Newswire.com) - While the UK division will remain in Eastbourne, England, the newly established North American office will be opening in Colorado Springs, CO in March. Steve Nicolle, Director of Music & Media at David C. Cook Distribution Canada will be heading up this new Kingsway division
Kingsway North America has been developed to more effectively serve the North American church with music. "Bringing worship music into our publishing mix fits very well with David C. Cook's corporate vision of equipping the church worldwide. It enables us to incorporate excellent music to our already-strong curriculum lines, and bring a whole new dimension of resources to the church" says Nicolle.
For more than thirty years, Kingsway UK has produced excellent worship music from well-known artists like Delirious?, Tim Hughes and Matt Redman. While these artists received a warm welcome in Canada and the USA, some of the best worship songwriters from the Kingsway Music list went largely unknown.
As a prime example, Brenton Brown may be the most popular worship leader that you've never heard of. With five of his songs in the CCLI top 100, millions of people sing his songs in churches across the continent every week. Brenton's work includes "Lord Reign in Me," "Your Love is Amazing," "Hosanna (Praise is Rising)" and "Everlasting God," which was honoured by ASCAP as one of the most performed songs in the USA in 2007 across all genres, marking the first time that a worship song has been recognized with such an honour.
Nicolle elaborates, "While many of our songwriters have not toured North America, their songs have traveled. Outside of North America, people know these songwriters by name. Here, their songs were recorded by other well-known recording artists. Directly overseeing and investing in our work in North America means that we can bring these top-notch songwriters themselves to the forefront so that both the songwriters and their songs are recognizable in churches. We need to help North Americans catch up on who the writers of the songs are, connecting them with their stories."
In addition to bringing exposure to their already established artists, Kingsway North America is investing in developing home-grown talent. Canadian Ben Cantelon (from Christian Life Assembly, Langley, BC) will have his new album, Running After You, launch on March 23rd. Nashville-based artists Chris McClarney, Kelly Minter and Miriam Webster all have albums releasing in 2010.
Kingsway North America will release twenty-five to thirty new albums yearly. Canadian distribution is through David C. Cook Distribution Canada. American distribution is through EMI Christian Music Group.
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For interviews, album review copies or further information, please contact Ellen Graf-Martin, Graf-Martin Communications
More information on Kingsway Music is available at: www.kingsway.co.uk or www.yourmusiczone.com
Kingsway artist press shots & cover art are available at: www.kingswaypresskit.com
More information on David C. Cook Distribution Canada is available at: www.davidccook.ca