The latest installment of the WOW Gospel compilation series debuts at #3 on Billboard’s Gospel Albums chart this week, followed directly by Worship, the newest project from Myron Butler.

James Fortune & FIYA retain the #1 spot on the charts with their purchase-worthy Identity.

Here’s the full Top 10…

1 | James Fortune & FIYA – Identity
2 | Various Artists – Joyful Noise Sountrack
3 | WOW Gospel 2012
4 | Myron Butler – Worship
5 | William McDowell – Arise
6 | Le’Andria Johnson – The Awakening of Le’Andria Johnson…
7 | Kirk Franklin – Hello Fear
8 | Isaac Carree – Uncommon Me
9 | Lecrae – Rehab
10 | Marvin Sapp – Playlist: The Very Best of…

Next week, expect Top 10 showings from Fred Hammond for his latest project, God, Love & Romance. Got it yet? Check out snippets and my review… and grab it!

I can’t lie– I’m super proud of James Fortune as I type this!

James Fortune & FIYA’s new album, Identity, has debuted at #1 on Billboard’s Gospel Albums chart and Independent Albums chart. He has also debuted at #7 on the Billboard 200! It represents the first #1 debut of his career, a great feat for the first album on his own label. Kudos!

Here’s the rest of the Top 10 this week…

1 | James Fortune & FIYA – Identity
2 | Various Artists – Joyful Noise Sountrack
3 | Le’Andria Johnson – The Awakening of Le’Andria Johnson…
4 | William McDowell – Arise
5 | Kirk Franklin – Hello Fear
6 | Marvin Sapp – Playlist: The Very Best of…
7 | Lecrae – Rehab
8 | Shirley Caesar – The Ultimate Collection
9 | Charlie Haden & Hank Jones – Come Sunday
10 | Isaac Carree – Uncommon Me

Next week, we should see entries on the chart from Myron Butler and WOW Gospel 2012.

You have James Fortune’s new project yet???

Stylist J. Bolin recently launched Denim Magazine, a digital fashion mag featuring incredible features and styling. He recently featured one of gospel’s favorite couples– James and Cheryl Fortune.

Check out photos from the spread below and visit Denim Magazine to see more!

The soundtrack for the recently released major motion picture, Joyful Noise, has debuted at #1 this week on Billboard’s Gospel Albums chart. The project, produced by Mervyn Warren, features some pop-music-made-gospel by co-stars Queen Latifah, Dolly Parton and KeKe Palmer, as well as an original tune from Kirk Franklin.

I should also point out that the South African all-male a cappella group Ladysmith Black Mambazo debuted at #4 with their Ladysmith Black Mambazo & Friends project. And Come Sunday, a special gospel project from jazz bassist Charlie Haden and the late Hank Jones, an acclaimed jazz pianist, debuted at #6. That’s a good project.

I have something to say about all three of these projects impacting the gospel charts the way they have… I think I’ll save it for an editorial in GospelPundit Weekly. If you’re not subscribed, do so HERE– it comes out every Thursday evening and you don’t wanna miss it!

In the meantime, check out the full top 10…

1 | Various Artists – Joyful Noise Sountrack
2 | William McDowell – Arise
3 | Le’Andria Johnson – The Awakening of Le’Andria Johnson…
4 | Ladysmith Black Mambazo - Ladysmith Black Mambazo & Friends
5 | Kirk Franklin – Hello Fear
6 | Charlie Haden & Hank Jones – Come Sunday
7 | Lecrae – Rehab
8 | Marvin Sapp – Playlist: The Very Best of…
9 | Jessica Reedy – From the Heart
10 | Shirley Caesar – The Ultimate Collection

WOW Gospel 2011 fell out of the Top 10, perhaps for the first time since its release last January. No matter– WOW Gospel 2012 hits stores this coming Tuesday… it’ll be back!

Next week, expect to see James Fortune & FIYA’s new album, Identity, at the top of the charts. I’m curious to see if it will outsell the mainstream-promoted Joyful Noise soundtrack, but it’s definitely going to clobber sales in the gospel market. And it should– check out my review here.

The 27th Annual Stellar Awards were held on Saturday, January 14, 2012 in Nashville, TN at the Grand Ole Opry House.

And here are this year’s winners (winners in bold and blue)!

Artist of the Year
Earnest Pugh
Kirk Franklin
Mary Mary
VaShawn Mitchell

Song of the Year
“Nobody Greater” | Darius Paulk
“Well Done” | Deitrick Haddon
“I Smile” | Kirk Franklin
“I Choose To Worship” | Wess Morgan

Male Vocalist of the Year
Earnest Pugh
Israel Houghton
Smokie Norful
VaShawn Mitchell

Female Vocalist of the Year
Beverly Crawford
Kim Burrell
Martha Munizzi
Yolanda Adams

Group/Duo of the Year
James Fortune & FIYA
Mary Mary
Rance Allen Group
Trin-i-tee 5:7

New Artist of the Year
Greater Mt. Calvary Church Choir
Preashea Hilliard
Todd Dulaney
Y’Anna

CD of the Year
James Fortune & FIYA – I Believe
Kirk Franklin – I Smile
Mary Mary – Something Big
VaShawn Mitchell – Triumphant

Choir of the Year
Chicago Mass Choir
Mississippi Mass Choir
Ricky Dillard
Shekinah Glory Ministry

Producer of the Year
Aaron Lindsey, Tommy Sims & Israel Houghton for Love God. Love People.
Kirk Franklin for Hello Fear
VaShawn Mitchell, Daniel Weatherspoon & Rick Robinson for Triumphant
Warryn Campbell/Mary Mary for Something Big

Contemporary Group/Duo of the Year
James Fortune & FIYA
Mary Mary
Trin-i-tee 5:7

Traditional Group/Duo of the Year
Keith Wonderboy Johnson & Spiritual Voices
Rance Allen Group
The Soul Seekers

Contemporary Male of the Year
Deitrick Haddon
Earnest Pugh
Israel Houghton
VaShawn Mitchell

Traditional Male of the Year
Keith Wonderboy Johnson
John P Kee
Rance Allen
Smokie Norful

Contemporary Female of the Year
Kim Burrell
Preashea Hilliard
Y’Anna
Yolanda Adams

Traditional Female of the Year
Beverly Crawford
Evelyn Turrentine-Agee
LaShun Pace
Twinkie Clark

Contemporary CD of the Year
Deitrick Haddon | Church on the Moon
Kirk Franklin | Hello Fear
Mary Mary | Something Big
VaShawn Mitchell | Triumphant

Traditional CD of the Year
John P Kee | The Legacy Project
Mississippi Mass Choir | Then Sings My Soul
Ricky Dillard | Keep Living
Smokie Norful | How I Got Over…

Urban Inspirational Performance of the Year
Deitrick Haddon | “Well Done”
Kirk Franklin | “I Smile”
Mary Mary | “Walking”
VaShawn Mitchell | “Nobody Greater”

Music Video of the Year – Short Form
Martha Munizzi | “Excellent” (Martha Munizzi)
Christian Heuer | “Walking” (Mary Mary)
Canton Jones | “God” (Canton Jones)
VaShawn Mitchell | “Nobody Greater” (VaShawn Mitchell)

Music Video of the Year – Long Form
Deitrick Haddon | Church on the Moon
Jerry Parries | Bishop Morton Celebrates…
Mississippi Mass Choir | Then Sings My Soul
Ricky Dillard | Keep Living

Traditional Choir of the Year
Chicago Mass Choir
Greater Mt. Calvary Church Choir
Mississippi Mass Choir
Ricky Dillard

Contemporary Choir of the Year
Lonnie Hunter & Structure
Shekinah Glory Ministry

Instrumental Gospel CD of the Year
Harold Rayford | I Am the Instrument
Moses Tyson Jr | Music Remastered & Sacred Organ
Todd Ledbetter | Meditations: Hymsn in the Key of Jazz
Winston Stewart | Season

Special Event CD of the Year
Bishop Paul Morton | Still
John P Kee | The Legacy Project
Shekinah Glory Ministry | Refreshed By Fire
VaShawn Mitchell | My Songbook

Rap, Hip Hop Gospel CD of the Year
Flame | Captured
Lecrae | Rehab
Lecrae | Rehab: The Overdose
Viktory | Birth of a Legacy

Children’s Project of the Year
Teen Pure N Heart | Pure N Heart Live
Santiago & Claude Deuce | My Destiny Place – My Imagination
The Velasquez Singers | Ten
T-Rep The Young Prayzr | Let’s Go

Quartet of the Year
Keith Wonderboy Johnson & Spiritual Voices
Rance Allen Group
The Soul Seekers

Recorded Music Packaging of the Year
Christina Jones for Dominionaire (Canton Jones)
Denise Trotman & Greg Gilligan for Hello Fear (Kirk Franklin)
Martha Munizzi for Make It Loud (Martha Munizzi)
Tanner Gary for Triumphant (VaShawn Mitchell)

Praise and Worship CD of the Year
Earnest Pugh | Earnestly Yours
Israel Houghton | Love God. Love People.
Shekinah Glory Ministry | Refreshed By Fire
VaShawn Mitchell | Triumphant

Spoken Word CD of the Year
Marco the Poet | Marco the Poet EP
Michael Diallo McLendon | The Diallo Experience
Selah | Look At You Loving Me
Trupoetry | Trupoetry

Radio Station of the Year Finalists:

Major Market (3M+)
WPZE 102.5 FM (Atlanta, GA)
WPRS 104.1 FM (Washington, DC)
KJLH 102.3 FM (Los Angeles, CA)
WGRB 1390 AM (Chicago, IL)
[list courtesy of GospelPundit.com]

Large Market (1-3M)
WHAL 95.7 FM/1460 AM (Memphis, TN)
WFMI 100.9 FM (VA-Norfolk-Newport, VA)
KCAO 600 AM (Baltimore, MD)
WMBM 1490 AM (Miami, FL)

Medium Market (500,000-1M)
WLOU 1350 AM (Louisville, KY)
WPRF 94.9 FM (New Orleans, LA)
WENO 760 AM (Nashville, TN)
[list courtesy of GospelPundit.com]
WPZK 102.5 (Little Rock, AR)

Small Market (under 500,000)
WDJL 1000 AM (Huntsville, AL)
WJNI 106.3 FM (Charleston, SC)
KOKA 980 AM (Shreveport, LA)
WIMG 1300 AM (Trenton, NJ)

The show was hosted by Marvin Sapp and Dorinda Clark Cole, and will begin airing in local markets on January 21, 2012 (visit the Stellar Awards website for Local Airdates). The program will also be broadcast on gmc on February 11, 2012 at 8pm ET.

James Fortune has made quite a name for himself over the past several years. With significant radio airplay and increased television appearances, he’s risen from “just another ensemble frontman” to one of the leading artists of the next generation in gospel music.

With his new project, Identity, James Fortune further solidifies his position and offers one of his best projects to date.

Backed by his group, FIYA, James Fortune presents a high-energy, but often heartfelt, collection of music that will appeal to a broad audience.

What stands out most for me on this 18-track album is the songwriting and lead vocals. Not only does Fortune feature numerous industry peers, from Fred Hammond and Kim Burrell to Le’Andria Johnson and Monica, he does so on songs with heightened musicality and authenticity. To be sure, some of the tunes follow a formula, but the bulk of the project is by far more experimental (and successfully so) than his previous work.

Stand-out cuts include the piano-guided title track, “Identity,” the churchy banger “Could Be Worse” (featuring Le’Andria Johnson and Zacardi Cortez on lead) and “What If,” a true-to-the-Gospel tune set to an absolutely beautiful melody. Pay special attention to “Curse Is Broken,” “Make A Sound,” featuring the incomparable vocal acrobatics of Nikki Ross, and the passionate “With You,” led by Kim Burrell.

My personal favorite on the album, however, is “Hold On,” an old school soul-vibed song of encouragement featuring awesome vocals from Monica and Fred Hammond. It’s just one of those feel-good tunes that doesn’t get old for me.

For fans of James Fortune & FIYA, this project will take your “fanship” to the next level. For naysayers or skeptics, take an open listen to it– you will be thoroughly impressed. If the rest of the new releases in 2012 follow James Fortune’s lead, we’ll be in pretty good musical hands.

Listen to snippets and pre-order right here.

Hot off the press… well, videos just kinda get uploaded these days, so HOT OFF THE… UPLOAD!

James Fortune has released the new concept video for his hit single, “Still Able.” It’s VERY straightforward– no frills or super duper effects, but it matches the simplicity and straightforwardness of the song’s message.

“Still Able” is the lead single from James Fortune’s new album, Identity, which hits stores on January 17th (but, which you can pre-order right here, right now cuz it’s really good).

Check it out and tell me what you think!

William McDowell’s Arise is back at #1 on Billboard this week, followed by Kirk Franklin and Le’Andria Johnson at #2 and #3, respectively.

Shirley Caesar has a compilation album, The Ultimate Collection, which came out about a year ago and re-entered the charts at #4… dunno what’s up with that, but “whoo hoo” for ya!

Check out the full top 10…

1 | William McDowell – Arise
2 | Kirk Franklin – Hello Fear
3 | Le’Andria Johnson – The Awakening of Le’Andria Johnson…
4 | Shirley Caesar – The Ultimate Collection
5 | Lecrae – Rehab
6 | Amber Bullock – Thank You
7 | Isaac Carree – Uncommon Me
8 | Marvin Sapp – Playlist: The Very Best of…
9 | Jessica Reedy – From the Heart
10 | WOW Gospel 2011

New music is coming from James Fortune in less than two weeks– he’ll dominate the charts when he gets here. Until then, the soundtrack for the motion picture Joyful Noise stands to make a little splash when it’s released this coming Tuesday, January 10th.

I may or may not have gotten my ears on Identity, the new album from James Fortune & FIYA, which hits stores in just two weeks, on January 17th.

And I may or may not love it. Okay, I do. Lol

I’ve already got my favorites, which I’ll chat about in my full review, but I’ll say this for now– the guest appearances will blow you away. From Le’Andria to Monica to Fred Hammond to Nikki Ross and MORE… unreal.

I can’t share the full project with you yet, but take a listen to the snippets below and pre-order it NOW.

Billboard has released its annual year-end charts for 2011, based on chart performance in sales and radio.

Leading the packs are Kirk Franklin and VaShawn Mitchell, for the top album and top song of the  year, respectively.

Check out the Top 10 Best Albums and Songs in gospel music below!

Best Gospel Albums:

1 | Kirk Franklin – Hello Fear
2 | WOW Gospel 2011
3 | Mary Mary – Something Big
4 | Lecrae – Rehab
5 | VaShawn Mitchell – Triumphant
6 | Deitrick Haddon – Church on the Moon
7 | Le’Andria Johnson – The Awakening of…
8 | William McDowell – As We Worship: Live
9 | Lecrae – Rehab: Overdose
10 | Marvin Sapp – Playlist: The Very Best of…

Best Gospel Songs:

1 | VaShawn Mitchell – “Nobody Greater”
2 | Kirk Franklin – “I Smile”
3 | William McDowell – “I Give Myself Away”
4 | James Fortune & FIYA – “I Believe”
5 | Marvin Sapp – “He Has His Hands On You”
6 | Deitrick Haddon – “Well Done”
7 | Troy Sneed – “My Heart Says Yes”
8 | Mary Mary – “Walking”
9 | Trin-i-tee 5:7 – “Over & Over”
10 | Earnest Pugh – “I Need Your Glory”

Click here to check out all of the year-end charts!