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???

The chart-topping, vocal-clobbering Le’Andria Johnson releases her second project, The Evolution of Le’Andria Johnson, on February 14, 2012.

It’s another EP– 7 tracks including “Leap Into My Destiny.” Production credits go to Grammy-winning Raphael Saadiq and Eric Dawkins. Check out the album cover and track listing below!

And pre-order right here, right now.

1. It’s Gonna Be Alright
2. He Was There
3. Let It Go
4. Sooner Or Later
5. He First Loved Me feat. Michael Johnson
6. I Shall Leap
7. Overtaken

You grabbin’ it???

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.

On Friday, January 13, 2012, BMI held its annual Trailblazers of Gospel Music awards luncheon at Nashville’s Rocketown. The invite-only industry gathering has become the hottest ticket in town.

This year, BMI saluted the music and ministry of Bishop Hezekiah Walker and Kirk Franklin.

A virtual who’s-who was in attendance… Kim Burrell, Israel Houghton, Fred Hammond, Isaac Carree, Trin-i-tee 5:7, Jason Nelson, Jonathan Nelson, Jessica Reedy, Virtue, Asaph Ward, Ricky Dillard, Yolanda Adams, Donnie McClurkin, BeBe Winans, DJ Rogers, David & Tamela Mann, Dayna Caddell, Brian Courtney Wilson, Dorinda Clark Cole, Marvin Sapp… my fingers are tired, but just think of EVERYONE in gospel music.

Check out these photos from the event!

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.

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.

Sunday Best winner Amber Bullock, hangs in there at #1 this week with her debut album, Thank You.

William McDowell’s Arise rises back to #2… I thought that was clever play on words, but maybe it’s just early.

Anyway, the top 10 features the same folks, with minor switches of positions…

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

Like I said last week, I’m expecting this line-up, or some variation of it, to hold for a while.

Anyone buyin’ music right now???

Congrats to Sunday Best winner Amber Bullock, whose debut EP, Thank You, debuts at #1 on Billboard’s Gospel Albums chart this week!

Labelmate Le’Andria Johnson follows at #2 with William McDowell landing at #3 from his #1 spot for the past four weeks.

Here’s the full top 10:

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

That’s juuuuust about all we’re getting in terms of new releases until the new year, so I’m expecting this line-up, or some variation of it, to hold for a while.