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Driving Notes

The Official Blog of WNZR's Afternoon Drive

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Game Time Tuesday

Christmas Music and Casting Crowns!

We are celebrating Christmas in full swing here at WNZR with the Holly Jolly 25, which means 25 days packed full of holiday tunes!

One of the new Christmas songs added to our playlist this year is We The Kingdom’s “Christmas in Hawaii,” which Abby shared the story behind for today’s artist news. Although the group had no plans to release this song initially, the tragic fires occurring in Maui this year changed that plan. Now, a portion of all proceeds for this song will go to a nonprofit organization dedicated to education for children living on the island of Maui. Read more here.

The music video for this track has just been released, featuring a stop-motion animation style and a fun Santa story set in Hawaii!

In other news, Mike talked about the recently announced extension to the Casting Crowns 20th Anniversary Tour: A Live Anniversary Experience. They will be adding a spring leg to this tour, a celebration of the band’s 20 years together with a live orchestra. To read more about the live show as well as Casting Crown’s new feature film, click here!

Chains shall he break, for the slave is our brother

And in His name all oppression shall cease

Sweet hymns of joy in grateful chorus raise we

Let all within us praise His holy name

Congratulations to Chris for guessing it! Today’s song was O Holy Night, and Chris will be receiving TWO gift cards to Watt’s Restaurant after last week’s stumper.

Thanks for listening!

-Mike and Abby

A Thanksgiving Performance and Charity of the Year

For Artist Newsday, Mike talked about what Caleb & John have been up to over the holidays. The duo just performed their debut hit “Hallelujah Feeling”– which has become the highest charting debut single by a new artist this year– in Houston’s H-E-B Thanksgiving Day Parade! Click here for more about them.

Abby shared that Natalie Grant’s outreach organization, Hope For Justice, was named Charity of the Year at the 5th Annual .ORG Awards. Hope for Justice aims to fight human trafficking and all those affected– and they will receive a donation of $60,000 from the Public Interest Registry along with the award. Natalie Grant has shared that her passion for this cause began after an eye-opening trip to India, which inspired her to become co-founder of Hope for Justice. If you want to read more about this outreach, click here.

But I picked myself back up and I started telling me

No, my God’s not done making me a masterpiece

He’s still working on me

We did not have a winner for today’s Song Poetry…so that means next week will be worth TWO gift cards to Watt’s Restaurant.

Thanks for listening!

-Mike and Abby

GRAMMY Nominations and Tour Announcements for 2024!

The GRAMMY nominations have just been announced! Artists who have been nominated for 2024 include Blessing Offor, Cody Carnes, Lauren Daigle, Lecrae and Phil Wickham. View the full list!

Abby shared about Phil Wickham’s announcement of his “I Believe” tour– heading to 15 cities across the country (including Dayton) in 2024! You can purchase tickets here.

MercyMe will also be touring next year! Mike talked about their upcoming “Always Only Jesus Tour,” which will be joined by Newsboys and David Leonard next spring. You can check out those tour dates here.

It your thoughts are like a storm and you can’t stop the rain

If you’re carrying your past like it’s a ball and chain

If you feel like it won’t get better

There’s hope, don’t you dare say never

A big shout out to Sarah for correctly guessing today’s Song Poetry– it was Say Goodbye (Say Hello) by The Afters!

Congratulations to Kristi for being the 5th caller– she now has a chance to win a turkey from Smithhisler Meats!

Thanks for listening!

-Mike and Abby

A New Song PLUS Another Addition to Our Playlist

Today Abby shared about a new release from Phil Wickham– a song dedicated to his wife Mallory to celebrate 15 years of their marriage! The track is called “Just Too Good,” and you can read about it here.

We also have a new song added to our WNZR playlist, God is With Us by The Afters! Mike shared a little bit about the impact that song has had on listeners everywhere since its release with its encouraging message– God is always with us, even in the moments when we struggle to feel Him.

Your voice is a burning bush

Your voice is a million things

Your voice is the sound of thundering hooves

Your voice is hummingbird’s wings

And the answer is … I Don’t Want to Miss ItEllie Holcomb! Congratulations to Janell for guessing the song and winning a gift card to Watt’s Restaurant!

Also shoutout to Pat from Mount Vernon for catching the first turkey gobble, and to Donna from Mount Vernon for calling in during the second hour!

They are now entered into the drawing for the Totally Tasty Tom Turkey hunt, with a chance at winning a Thanksgiving turkey from Smithhislers Meats.

As always, thanks for listening!

– Mike and Abby

Anniversary Celebration!

Congratulations to Casting Crowns for celebrating 20 years as a band! Abby shared about their new album– a re-release of Lifesongs, featuring some awesome collaborations (like MercyMe, Matthew West, Katy Nichole, and Big Daddy Weave, to name a few). They are also releasing a movie called Home by Sunday, which will be hitting select theaters on November 30th!

In other news, TobyMac has just released a new music video for his song “Faithfully,” from his most recent album LIFE AFTER DEATH. He is also currently on tour with MercyMe and Zach Williams, and this unforgettable trio will be in Columbus this month! See ticket information here.

Who am I that the King of the world

Would give one single thought about my broken heart?

Who am I that the God of all grace

Wipes the tears from my face and says “Come as you are?”

This week was a stumper! That means you can tune in next time for a chance at double the prize… TWO gift cards to Watt’s Restaurant.

Thanks for listening!

-Mike and Abby

Dove Awards Winners Share Their Comments!

Brandon Lake swept the night, taking home 4 awards! In accepting Artist of the Year, he shared a little about what this experience has meant to him–

“I’m so grateful to be a part of this community. During COVID, what was really beautiful is, the song ‘Gratitude’ says, ‘You’ve got a lion inside your lungs.’ Thousands of people were sending me messages of people that were in the hospital and the world would say, you’ve got death in your lungs, and they would say, no, you’ve got the Lion of the tribe of Judah in your lungs. Get up and praise the Lord!”

Blessing Offor took home “Pop/Contemporary Recorded Song of the Year” for his hit “Brighter Days.” Here are his comments about the meaning behind that song–

“Brighter days aren’t here yet, but they are going to be. There are going to be brighter days. It’s a waiting song; I always want to emphasize that to people. It’s not a song about things being perfect. It’s a song about holding out hope and believing that they will get better. That is the best truth you can ever share with anybody. They don’t have to be perfect now for you to know that it’s coming.”

To read comments from other artists and see the full list of winners, click here!

This is where oceans have to part

This is where light cuts through the dark

This is where I see who you are

Nothing’s impossible

Shout out to Maude for calling in with the answer for Stand In Faith by Danny Gokey and winning TWO gift cards to Watt’s Restaurant!

Thanks for listening!

-Mike and Abby

“Jesus Music” and Jason Drama

It is the last day of fall break for MVNU and Jonathon Langdon joined Mike Basko for a special edition of Artist Newsday!

Today, Mike talked about a new album released by CAIN! Read more here

Also, Jonathon shared a crazy story involving Jason Gray that went down last week! To summarize, a PSA: Always have a way to track your valuables! Read more here

This is where oceans have to part
This is where light cuts through the dark
This is where I see who You are
Nothing’s impossible

These lyrics were a stumper this week, but make sure to listen in next week as we double our prize with TWO $5 gift cards to Watt’s Restaurant in Utica!

Thanks for listening,

Mike & Jonathon

New Music Video and New Seasons

Abby shared about Tasha Layton’s new music video for a special version of her current hit “Never!” The remix and video feature a choir and string section, while also incorporating some of her fan favorite songs. You can watch the video below, and read a little more about it here!

It’s definitely an exciting season for Natalie Grant! Mike shared about the release of her new album Seasons, which includes 10 tracks and collaborations with Mary Mary and Tasha Cobbs Leonard– as well as a rendition of Bob Dylan’s “Make You Feel My Love” with her own mother and daughters! Click here to see all the news from Grant.

Let every dark assignment bow down at Jesus’ feet

Let every curse be broken, let every storm be tamed

And all that come against us be bound in Jesus’ name

Looks like week’s game was a stumper… that means you can call in next week for a chance at winning TWO gift cards to Watt’s Restaurant in Utica!

Thanks for listening!

-Mike and Abby

Movie Screenings and Multilingual Music!

Mike shares that the deluxe version of Blanca’s album The Heartbreak and the Healing has just dropped! This tracklist includes two brand new originals, along with some remixes, collabs, and multilingual versions of “The Healing.” That means we can listen to her acclaimed single in both Spanish and Portuguese! You can read more about this exciting release here.

Abby talked about Casting Crowns and their anniversary celebration! They are releasing the album Lifesongs: A Celebration of the First 20 Years, which will come out next month.

In more cinematic news, the movie “Home by Sunday” will dive into the 20 years that Casting Crowns has spent as a band, and the legacy they have had on Christian music. This film will explore the unique beginnings of the group, the inspiration behind one of their most beloved songs, and the near-life-ending diagnosis that impacted their journey.

“Home By Sunday” will be exclusively in theaters on Thursday, November 30. You can watch the trailer below!

No more searching

Heaven’s healing’s gonna find where all the hurt is

When Jesus calls, we’ll lay down all our heavy burdens

Carry on

And the song is… Weary Traveler by Jordan St. Cyr– Congratulations to Robin for calling in with the right answer! She wins TWO gift cards to Watts Restaurant since this was a stumper from last week.

Thanks for listening!

–Mike and Abby

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