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Artist News Day

Surprise Parties and Surprise Hits!

Katy Nichole and We Are Messengers are in the news! Both of them have had huge surprises come their way in completely different ways.

We Are Messengers celebrated their first #1 single at Christian radio with “Come What May” with a commemorative plaque presentation on the Grand Ole Opry stage during Casting Crowns’ “The Healer Tour”.

The band’s label, Curb Records surprised the group after their opener for Casting Crowns and this is what they had to share about the experience. “[We are] so very thankful for the kindness of God in our lives, His spirit working through these songs and the incredible team that has worked tirelessly with us for many years. What. A. Night!!”

We Are Messengers are set to embark on their Wholehearted Tour starting Thursday, April 7th. The tour takes the band through 19 sites all the way until May 7th.

New music star Katy Nichole has hit hits No. 1 on Billboard’s Hot Christian Songs Chart with her song “In Jesus Name (God of Possible)”. Her viral debut single has also topped the iTunes Christian & Gospel Songs chart for eight consecutive weeks so far, never leaving No. 1 since it released Jan. 26.

As the song continues to resonate with people of all backgrounds across the world, Nichole is also receiving numerous invitations to sing the song live. Going from 0 to 50 concerts on her schedule so far, upcoming events include “Good Friday Nashville” with Chris Tomlin at Bridgestone Arena April 15th. She also recently sang “God Bless America” at the NASCAR WISE Power 400 live held at Auto Club Speedway, joined Big Daddy Weave for four concerts and sang “In Jesus Name (God of Possible)” last week during Jason Gray’s SiriusXM The Message Acoustic Story Time event.

She created this song from words in her prayer journal that were written in the midst of a global health crisis and in response to her own story of suffering, hope and healing. She suffered for years with scoliosis before a new doctor took out the metal rods that had been placed in her back, which miraculously went straight, no longer giving her pain. 

People worldwide are hearing Nichole’s song and telling their own heart-warming, and many times heart-breaking, stories. Each story branches out into a series of new shares that continues branching virally. More than 7,200 examples of this can be seen now on TikTok. 

You picked up your share of scars along the way
But now you’re standing in the sun, you’ve fought your fight and your race is run
The pain is all a million miles away

This, of course, comes from Casting Crowns with their top song “Scars in Heaven”!

Congratulations to Janell of Mount Vernon for correctly guessing this week’s song poetry. She wins a Voice of the Cougars drawstring backpack!

Thanks for listening!

Jonathon & Dylan

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FOR King & Country…FOR Free!!

As we prepare for Lifeline 2022, we still have time to share some of your favorite artists who are in the news this week!

FOR KING & COUNTRY will host “What Are We Waiting For? The Worldwide Special”, a FREE livestream on their YouTube page to celebrate the release of the new album. Believe it or not, this event will be held LIVE FROM THE MOJAVE DESERT!!!

The Australian duo is partnering with Convoy of Hope for the livestream in order to support our brothers and sisters through Christ in Ukraine.

Make sure to tune in THIS THURSDAY, March 24th, at 8:00pm ET on FOR KING & COUNTRY’s YouTube page.

Also, congratulations to FOR KING & COUNTRY for hitting #2 on the Billboard Album Chart for ALL GENRES with “What Are We Waiting For?”. God is moving through their music and it has been great to see!

Dan Bremnes announced last week that he is releasing a new album titled Into The Wild on June 17th. You can listen to one of the featured songs titled “Lover Of My Soul.”

His album invites listeners to leave fear behind and allow God to guide. Produced by Mike Wise, Andrew Bergthold, Benjamin Backus, Mark Campbell and Abe Parker, Bremnes’ second full-length project with Curb | Word Entertainment grafts pieces of his global expeditions into a sonic landscape that’s both diverse and accessible. This album describes many emotions including being full of gratitude for the present, adoration for his wife, and hope amidst uncertainty. The album features it’s lead single titled “Hold You Tight” as well as other previously released songs, “Run Away With Me” and Wouldn’t Change A Thing.”

“Lover Of My Soul” marvels at the mystery of a God who stays when we give Him every reason to walk away. Loaded with urgent strings and a high church choir, the heartfelt chorus transitions into a final bridge of total surrender. The album also features Carter Frodge along with former Tenth Avenue North frontman Mike Donehey, who also co-wrote seven of the album’s 10 tracks.

For more information, visit www.danbremnes.com.

We gotta stay awake ’cause nobody knows the day or time,
The trumpet’s gonna blow and the skies are gonna open wide

The song was Jesus is Coming Back from Jordan Feliz!

Congratulations to Brenda of Fredericktown for correctly guessing this week’s trivia and winning a Voice of the Cougars drawstring backpack along with an On the Road with Big Blue t-shirt!

Thanks for listening,

Jonathon & Dylan

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Concerts and Albums

It’s Artist News Day today on the show. I talked about how Lifeline 2022 is coming up. I also shared some artist news about artists related to the station.

Here are both of the stories that I used:

Last week, Maverick City Music and Kirk Franklin announced that they are going to tour together. The tour is called the Kingdom Tour which will feature special guests Jonathan McReynolds and Housefires. The tour kicks off June 1st at the FTX Arena in Miami, FL and wraps up in Denver, CO at Ball Arena on July 31st.

They will be in Cleveland on Friday, June 17th at the Blossom Music Center.

They’ll also make an appearance in Columbus on Wednesday, June 22nd at the Schottenstein Center.

Tickets go on sale starting this Friday, March 18th at 10am on Ticketmaster.

This past Friday, Jordan Feliz released his Say It (Deluxe) album. It has 18 tracks in it and it is his third full length album ever. One song that is in it is a song that we play here on WNZR titled “Jesus Is Coming Back” featuring both Mandisa and Jonathon Traylor. “Jesus Is Coming Back” is quickly rising up the charts. As of last week, it was number seven on the Billboard NCA Monitored chart and number four on the AC Indicator Chart.

Here is what Jordan had to say on the song. “‘Jesus Is Coming Back’ is one of my favorite songs…and being able to have Jonathan Traylor and Mandisa sing on this has been massive,” he said. “I’ve known Mandisa for four or five years…she’s just the sweetest human. And I’ve been a fan of Jonathan’s ever since hearing him sing. They are two incredible people and singers, and they brought so much to this song.”

Some other songs in the album include; Glorify, Stained Glass, Next To Me, and many more! There are 18 songs in the album.

We gotta stay awake ’cause nobody knows the day or time, no
The trumpet’s gonna blow and the skies are gonna open wide
Ooh, yeah. He’s coming for us (Yeah, yeah) just like He told us (Yeah, yeah)
It’s been a long wait (Yeah, yeah) but there’s a new day (Yeah, yeah)
And we’re gonna sing Hallelujah when the King arrives (Yeah, yeah, yeah)
Oh, you know you gotta

We had a stumper this week! Make sure to tune in next week for a chance to win TWO 2021 Voice of The Cougars drawstring backpacks!

Thanks for listening!

-Dylan

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Award Shows and New Singles!

Well, this may be the busiest Artist Newsday we have had in quite a while! Dylan and I brought you up to date on some of WNZR’s favorite artists who hit the news this past week.

Last Friday, Matt Maher released his new single titled “Leaning” featuring Lizzie Morgan. You can find the single on any digital platform that you listen to music on. He explains this song as an honest yet poignant look at life’s toughest seasons and how Jesus tells us that we’re not alone. Here is what the chorus of the song reads. 

“What a fellowship, what a joy divine what a priceless gift 
God I’m yours and You are mine, Let my restless soul be still and know I am leaning on your everlasting arms.” 

Here is what Maher and a couple of his co-workers had to say on the song. “There are times in life where on either side of a difficult season you’re either asking, ‘How am I going to get through this?’ or, you’re on the other side looking back in amazement saying, ‘How did I get through this?’ That’s where I find that the most sincere, real, authentic prayers get prayed,” he shares. “You’re praying out of desperation or gratitude and you find out what your support structure looks like – friends, family, loved ones who come around you hold you up. They become real signposts for the face of Jesus. But what about those who have no one? What does Jesus have to say to them? He says, ‘I no longer call you strangers, I call you friends. This is what I find so compelling about the friendship of God and the message of Christianity. Life is not a stacked tower of personal achievement, pride, egos, success, or vanity…it’s extending to others what Jesus says in the scriptures. ‘In this world, you will have trouble. But you are not alone. You can put your weight on me.'”  

This isn’t the only song that Maher is planning on releasing this year. He will be on the road quite a bit this year with plans to travel to Europe to tour with Rend Collective, along with visiting numerous summer and fall festivals. You can visit his website for more information regarding tour dates and upcoming events. 

K-LOVE recently announced via live-stream that reigning Christian Songwriter of the Year Matthew West and ten-time GRAMMY nominee Tauren Wells will co-host the 9th annual K-LOVE Fan Awards taking place on May 29 at Nashville’s iconic Grand Ole Opry House.

Both artists are excited to host, releasing statements soon after the announcement from K-LOVE.

“I’m looking forward to hosting the K-LOVE Fan Awards again this year, and excited to be joined by my buddy Tauren Wells,” remarked West. “This fan voted awards show is always a special event where we get to gather together and celebrate how God is working through the hope-filled messages of Christian music. This will be a night to remember.”

“The K-LOVE Fan Awards is always a highlight of my year. Getting to reunite with all the artists I love and respect in our genre, developing deeper connections with fans, and celebrating the God who has given us something to sing about is something truly special,” said Wells, who released his new single “Fake It” last week. Adding, “This year, I will experience the awards from a different vantage point as a host alongside K-LOVE Fan Awards veteran, Matthew West. He has done such an incredible job and I can’t wait to team up!”

The 2022 K-LOVE Fan Awards are open to the public, providing an experience for fans that is impossible to match anywhere else. Tickets are on sale with travel packages still available at www.klovefanawards.com.

Huge thanks to Jesus Freak Hideout for covering these amazing artists with amazing articles that we use for all of our shows!

In the waiting, in the searching
In the healing and the hurting
Like a blessing buried in the broken pieces

Congratulations to Julie of Frazeysburg for correctly guessing that the lyrics for today are from Zach Williams’ hit song “There Was Jesus”, sung alongside Dolly Parton! Julie wins the Voice of the Cougars drawstring backpack!

Thanks for listening!

Jonathon and Dylan

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Brandon Heath is back!

Today we shared the news about Brandon Heath‘s new single, which we started playing a couple weeks ago, “See Me Through It.” The album, “Enough Already,” drops on April 22nd. Read more from New Release Today by clicking here!

Danny Gokey – The Comeback
Congratulations to Kathy of Mount Vernon, who guessed correctly and wins the devotional book, ‘A Word from the Weaver.’

Thanks for listening!
– Joe

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Gotta Love These New Songs!!

Both Unspoken and FOR KING + COUNTRY are in the news this week for Artist Newsday for their new songs centered around God’s love. Check them out on any digital platform!

FOR KING + COUNTRY are in the news again with another new single leading up to the release of their new album that is due March 11th. Out today with an accompanying music video, “Love Me Like I Am” is available on all digital platforms.

Written by Joel and Luke Smallbone, the song features confessional lyrics that address personal insecurities and shortcomings, paired with raw vulnerability in the presence of a grace that gives without condition.

Here is what Joel Smallbone had to say about the release. “I was sleeping and the phrase ‘Love me Like I Am’ captured me. The following day, we went into a writing session and our producer Josh Kerr added…It’s amazing that you can, Love me like I am. It’s a beautiful story to us – the fact that God can love humanity the way He does, and we can love each other the way we do with unconditional love.”

In conjunction with their upcoming album release, the duo’s What Are We Waiting For TOUR will also launch this spring. For information on where FOR KING + COUNTRY will be headed this spring, visit www.forkingandcountry.com.

Unspoken recently released their first single of the year titled “Love Is Everything We Need” to radio as well as digital retail and streaming outlets everywhere. This is the band’s lead song for their upcoming album that is slated to release in July. This is the band’s first full length album in three years! 

Here is what lead vocalist Chad Mattson had to say about the release. “These last couple years, we, as believers, have had to have some really strong conversations because in our culture, we find it hard to disagree on certain things, and still love and be kind to each other,” He said. “There is this polarization of beliefs, yet Jesus reveals to us in John chapter 13 that it’s love that identifies us with being his kids. 

“We can disagree, but we can all agree on the fact that we need to love and respect each other, even when we are at different places in our lives politically, socially, even religiously,” continues Mattson. “‘Love Is Everything We Need’ is a song of encouragement for believers, to find ways to love each other even when we don’t see eye to eye on everything. Our love is one of the biggest testimonies we have.”

Thanks to Jesus Freak Hideout for their excellent coverage of WNZR’s favorite Christian artists!

Thanks for listening!

Jonathon & Dylan

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Albums and EPs On the Way!

This week, we highlighted some new albums from two artists that are either already here or on the way!

Jordan St. Cyr has been a busy man to start the year. He is set to release his first full length album on March 4th. He is also celebrating his single “Weary Traveler” which is currently No. 1 on radio’s AC Indicator Chart for the second week in a row! Jordan St. Cyr began the year being named the No. 2 Top New Christian Artist of 2021, according to Billboard. His hit “Weary Traveler” continues to be added on radio stations across the country. It is also in the top ten on the Christian Airplay and AC Monitored charts. 

Here is what he had to say on the release of his upcoming album. “My prayer for this album is that these songs would bring comfort and joy to those who hear them. It is also my prayer that listeners would be more hopeful and open to the depths of God’s love for them knowing that their circumstances are not a reflection of how God feels about them, rather that their circumstances would reveal the closeness and nearness of the Holy Spirit.”  

He recently wrapped up his tour with Anne Wilson and is now gearing up for Jeremy Camp’s “I Still Believe Tour,” which kicks off next month. 

Maverick City Music continue to release brand new music with their first album of 2022! The EP entitled “Breathe” was released to celebrate Black History Month and features Joe L Barnes, Maryanne George, Naomi Raine, Chandler Moore and Dante Bowe backed by the Mav City Gospel Choir. The EP features live and studio versions of standout songs lifted from 2021’s Jubilee: Juneteenth album, including “Breathe,” “Joy of the Lord,” and “Make it Right,” plus three all-new original recordings. The Breathe EP serves as a reminder to all who listen to take a moment to breathe and celebrate life and the legacy of black gospel music.

Also, don’t forget that Steven Curtis Chapman will be in Mansfield this March! The Christian musician will bring his tour to Crossroads Church Thursday, March 24th starting at 7:00pm thanks to Rise FM.

For more information on the show, visit https://www.etix.com/ticket/p/6632687/an-evening-with-steven-curtis-chapman-mansfield-crossroads-church-mansfieldoh

I’ve been thinking ’bout time
And where does it go
How can I stop my life from passing me by, I don’t know

Congratulations to Kaleb of Fredericktown for correctly guessing that today’s song was Keep Me In the Moment by Jeremy Camp! Kaleb wins a Voice of the Cougars drawstring backpack!

Thanks for listening!

Jonathon and Dylan

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“My Life Has Always Been In Your Hands”

Although today’s show was shortened due to MVNU men’s basketball tonight, we were still able to share some amazing stories from some of your favorite artists.

Perhaps one of our favorite stories ever came today from We Are Messengers. Darren Mulligan, the band’s lead singer, walked away without a scratch from a brutal car accident Friday morning. He shared the experience in detail through the band’s Instagram in this statement:

“I’m okay. I promise. In fact, I’m on an airplane going to our first show of the year in Greeley, Colorado. A couple of hours ago I hit some ice on a bridge on 840 traveling to the airport. My truck lost all traction, slid across both lanes, down through the verge separating east and west highways and began sliding towards another vehicle on the opposite side of the road. I couldn’t bare the thought of someone being hurt so I did everything I could to flip my vehicle off the road and that’s what I did. It is a miracle that I’m alive, I’m a little sore but I walked out of that vehicle without a scratch. 10 seconds before the accident I had been talking with Jesus and I said out loud “my life has always been in your hands and it still is”. I guess God put that to the test and He has once again proved Himself unbelievably Kind. As I scrambled to find my backpack, guitar and phone which had flown out of the vehicle I heard a voice. It was a young man called Efrain who was on his way to work. His was the car that was coming the opposite direction. Efrain was so kind to me, his only thought was to make sure I was ok. He drove me to the airport so I could go about the work God has called this band to. Greeley, Colorado, we are on our way. Expecting big things from the Lord tonight. I am a very grateful man, more than ever and I’m convinced this too is the goodness of God in my life. #ComeWhatMay Darren”

Also in the news, Steven Curtis Chapman will be in Mansfield this! The Christian musician will bring his tour to Crossroads Church Thursday, March 24th starting at 7:00pm thanks to Rise FM.

For more information on the show, visit https://www.etix.com/ticket/p/6632687/an-evening-with-steven-curtis-chapman-mansfield-crossroads-church-mansfieldoh

We also continued our WNZR Spread the Love Giveaway!

Congratulations to Brad of Bellville and Pam of Fredericktown for answering our Valentine’s trivia and earning a chance at our Spread the Love Grand Prizes: An overnight stay at the Mount Vernon Grand Hotel OR 4 hours of housecleaning from Carefree Cleaning Company!

Thanks for listening,

Jonathon and Dylan

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Tuesday Tours!

Some big names are headed on tour soon to start 2022! Dylan and I talked about both For King and Country and Newsboys on the show today.

Over the weekend, For King and Country partnered with internationally renowned DJ R3HAB to release a remix of their hit song “Relate”, currently sitting at #1 on WNZR’s NZ Top Ten! The new version of the song is available on all streaming services now!

Relate has since hit #1 on Billboard’s Christian Airplay chart, as well as Mediabase’s Christian AC Airplay chart, marking the 10th career #1 for the duo from Australia.

To celebrate the original song’s success, For King and Country will embark on their “What Are We Waiting For” Tour, taking them through 34 cities with special guest artist Dante Bowe! For ticket information, make sure to visit www.forkingandcountry.com.

Newsboys is starting off 2022 with their latest release, Stand, featuring longtime friend and former band member, TobyMac. The single and lyric video is available now on your streaming platforms. The group’s swiftly selling “STAND TOGETHER” tour with special guests Danny Gokey and Mac Powell launched in mid-January. 

The song “Stand” proclaims the faith of a believer through the trials and victories facing us today. Member Michael Tait says, “We tried to write a song that speaks to the very purpose and mission of every human, we finished the song and were like ‘this feels like an album theme’. Let’s face it, I am a man of color, and people are trying to tell us black and white can’t get along. So, when people ask you ‘where do you stand?’ we hopefully say that it lies within. To also have our longtime friend and brother Toby join us on the single is such a blessing. It feels like such an anthem for today and we hope it affects the listener as we intended.” 

The “Stand Together” tour is making two trips to Ohio this month. They will be in the closet one being in Circleville, OH at Heritage Nazarene Church.

WNZR has 10 NEW DJs and we are spotlighting each of them EVERY Monday up until April! Go listen to Marcy’s first conversation with Colin Ashworth from yesterday’s “Meet the Staff Monday”.

There’s a name that can silence every fear
There’s a love that embraces
The heartache, the pain and the tears

Congratulations to Holly of Laurelville for correctly guessing the song: Be Alright from Evan Craft, Danny Gokey, and Redimi2! Holly wins a Voice of the Cougars drawstring backpack for her correct answer!

Thanks for listening,

Jonathon and Dylan

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