Leandria Johnson | GospelPundit.com

WOW Gospel 2012 Remains At #1 Sales Spot

This year’s installment of the ever-popular compilation project, WOW Gospel, remains at #1 for the second week at Billboard.

We also see Le’Andria Johnson’s latest effort experience a sales rise, from its #4 debut last week to the #2 position.

Here’s the rest of Billboard’s Top 10 in Gospel:

Again, we probably won’t see much by way of major changes until after the debut project from Andrea Helms hits stores on March 6th, along with a compilation from Israel Houghton.

Posted on

March 1, 2012 in

The Charts by

EJ •

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• Tagged With brian courtney wilson, fiya, fred hammond, james fortune, kirk franklin, leandria johnson, marvin sapp, william mcdowell, wow gospel

Three Albums In Six Months… Good Thing? Bad Thing?

Let’s face it– the Music World Gospel-Le’Andria Johnson partnership is winning in a BIG way.

Aside from recently winning a Grammy the first time out the gate, Le’Andria’s albums have debuted high on the charts, and she continues to sell well. She remains in our faces, on our websites, and on our music players.

A huge reason for this is because… well, she’s just a pretty incredible vocalist. She delivers powerhouse vocals with unparalleled chops each time– her range is incredible, her agility is remarkable, her confidence and presence is captivating. She’s a great artist.

The other key to her commercial success is Music World’s business model, which is noteworthy, if nothing else.

The facts:

Le’Andria’s first album was released on September 6, 2011
Le’Andria’s second album (a Christmas project) was released on December 6, 2011
Le’Andria’s third album was released on February 14, 2012
Each of Le’Andria’s albums consists of only 7 tracks

That’s three albums in less than six months. The liner notes are simple and basic– just credits, really. The artwork is minimal. We’re not seeing the music biz bells and whistles that other labels often employ. Costs are low. Revenues are high. That spells a successful business.

But a bunch of questions flood my mind–

Is it good or bad for an artist’s career, long-term?
Is it good or bad for a label’s brand?
Is it good or bad for the gospel music industry, as a whole?
Should gospel labels even have a responsibility to do business with the rest of the gospel industry in mind?
Are other artists/labels about to follow suit and release that many albums in such a short time?

My biggest concern– over-saturation. Like adding too much salt to a pot of greens, this could get really nasty, really quickly.

The music business, as a whole, is already dealing with (I’d say “suffering from”) an influx of music with very few barriers to enter the marketplace. There was a time, very recently, when an artist released an album once every two or three years. To think that artists will begin releasing new albums once every two months is… a lot. But it’s already happening.

Maybe it’s just one label. Maybe it’s just one artist. Maybe there’s nothing to discuss. But maybe there is.

What do you think???

Posted on

February 23, 2012 in

Editorials by

EJ •

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• Tagged With grammy, leandria johnson, music world gospel

Le’Andria Johnson Debuts At #4 On Billboard With Sophomore Album

Congrats to Le’Andria Johnson, whose sophomore album, The Evolution of Le’Andria Johnson, debuted at #4 on Billboard’s Gospel Albums chart this week. It’s cuddled-up next to her debut release, The Awakening of Le’Andria Johnson, which sits at #5 this week.

The rest of Billboard’s Top 10 in Gospel is:

It appears that there’s been a tiny bit of a sales slump and we won’t really see any major new releases until March 6th, with the release of Andrea Helms’ debut project, Moving Forward.

Posted on

February 23, 2012 in

The Charts by

EJ •

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• Tagged With billboard, brian courtney wilson, fiya, fred hammond, james fortune, kirk franklin, leandria johnson, lecrae, william mcdowell, wow gospel

Listen Here: Martha Munizzi’s New Single — “Make It Loud”

On the heels of a riveting Stellar Awards performance with Kim Burrell, Le’Andria Johnson and Jessica Reedy, Martha Munizzi releases her ne single, the title track from her Stellar Award-nominated album, Make It Loud.

Wanna hear it? I know you do.

Check it out on the Pundit Player by clicking here!!!

Posted on

February 21, 2012 in

Streaming Audio by

EJ •

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• Tagged With jessica reedy, kim burrell, leandria johnson, martha munizzi, stellar awards

Brian Courtney Wilson Makes Us All ‘Proud’ With #1 Billboard Debut

In my humble opinion, Brian Courtney Wilson is an artist who has still not quite received his due in the gospel industry. In addition to topping both radio and sales charts with his debut album, Just Love, he’s a super kind and genuine dude with a great voice and wonderful passion for ministry.

Soooo, I’m a bit excited to write that his newest project, So Proud, has debuted at #1 on Billboard’s Gospel Albums chart this week. If you don’t have it yet, check out my review on GospelPundit.com AND my review for gmc’s website. Then buy it here.

The rest of Billboard’s Top 10 in Gospel is:

The new project from Le’Andria Johnson hit stores yesterday, and should debut very high next week. That will be a pretty good look for the new Grammy winner, as both her freshman and sophomore albums (not counting the Christmas project) will be in the Top 10.

Posted on

February 16, 2012 in

The Charts by

EJ •

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• Tagged With billboard, brian courtney wilson, fred hammond, gmc, grammy, kirk franklin, leandria johnson, lecrae, marvin sapp, william mcdowell, wow gospel

In Stores: The Evolution of Le’Andria Johnson

On the heels of winning her first Grammy Award this Sunday, gospel powerhouse vocalist Le’Andria Johnson releases her sophomore album, The Evolution of Le’Andria Johnson today.

The 7-track disc is a follow-up to her chart-topping debut, The Awakening of Le’Andria Johnson, and features new tunes, including “I Shall Leap,” which Le’Andria performed after being crowned the winner of Sunday Best.

Listen to snippets of the new album and buy it right here–

Posted on

February 14, 2012 in

News by

EJ •

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• Tagged With grammy, leandria johnson

Just In: List of 2012 Grammy Winners In Gospel Categories!

JUST IN!!!

Here are the winners in the gospel categories at this year’s 54th Annual GRAMMY Awards!!!

Winners highlighted below in blue.

Best Gospel/CCM Performance
“Do Everything”
Steven Curtis Chapman
Track from: re:Creation
[Sparrow Records]

“Alive (Mary Magdalene)”
Natalie Grant
Track from: Music Inspired By The Story
[WOW Joint Venture/EMI CMG]

“Your Love”
Brandon Heath
Track from: Leaving Eden
[Reunion Records]

“Jesus”
Le’Andria Johnson
Track from: The Awakening Of Le’Andria Johnson
[Music World Gospel]

“I Lift My Hands”
Chris Tomlin
Track from: And If Our God Is For Us…
[Sparrow Records / sixstepsrecords]

Best Gospel Song
“Hello Fear”
Kirk Franklin, songwriter (Kirk Franklin)
Track from: Hello Fear
[Verity Gospel Music Group/Fo Yo Soul Ent.; Publisher: Aunt Gertrude Music]

“Sitting With Me”
Erica Campbell, Tina Campbell, Gerald Haddon & Tammi Haddon, songwriters (Mary Mary)
Track from: Something Big
[Columbia Records; Publishers: Precious Baby Music/T Bella Music/EMI April Music, It's Tea Tyme, That's Plum Song]

“Spiritual”
Donald Lawrence, songwriter (Donald Lawrence & Co. Featuring Blanche McAllister-Dykes)
Track from: YRM (Your Righteous Mind)
[Verity Gospel Music Group; Publisher: Quiet Water Entertainment]

“Trust Me”
Richard Smallwood, songwriter (Richard Smallwood & Vision)
Track from: Promises
[Verity Gospel Music Group; Publishers: Universal-Z Tunes/T.Autumn Music]

“Window”
Canton Jones, songwriter (Canton Jones)
Track from: Dominionaire
[Cajo Records; Publisher: CAJO Music]

Best Gospel Album
The Love Album
Kim Burrell
[Shanachie Entertainment]

The Journey
Andraé Crouch
[Riverphlo Entertainment]

Hello Fear
Kirk Franklin
[Verity Gospel Music Group/ Fo Yo Soul Ent.]

Something Big
Mary Mary
[Columbia Records]

Angel & Chanelle Deluxe Edition
Trin-I-Tee 5:7
[Music World Gospel]

Best CCM Song
“Blessings”
Laura Story, songwriter (Laura Story)
Track from: Blessings
[Fair Trade Services; Publishers: New Spring/Gleaning Publishing]

“Hold Me”
Jamie Grace Harper, Toby McKeehan & Christopher Stevens, songwriters (Jamie Grace Featuring Tobymac)
[Gotee Records; Publishers: Universal Music, Brentwood Benson Tunes, Songs of Third Base/Chriscendo Music, Meaux Mercy/Achtober Songs]

“I Lift My Hands”
Louie Giglio, Matt Maher & Chris Tomlin, songwriters (Chris Tomlin)
Track from: And If Our God Is For Us…
[Sparrow Records/sixstepsrecords; Publishers: sixsteps Music/worshiptogether.com Songs/Vamos Publishing/Thankyou Music/spiritandsong.com Publishing]

“Strong Enough”
Matthew West, songwriter (Matthew West)
Track from: The Story Of Your Life
[Sparrow Records; Publishers: External Combustion Music/Songs For Delaney/Songs of Southside Independent Music]

“Your Love”
Brandon Heath & Jason Ingram, songwriters (Brandon Heath)
Track from: Leaving Eden
[Reunion Records; Publishers: Sony/ATV Cross Keys Publishing/Big Skwawka Music, Sony/ATV Timber Publishing/Windsor Hill Music]

Best CCM Album
Ghosts Upon The Earth
Gungor
[Brash Music]

Leaving Eden
Brandon Heath
[Reunion Records]

The Great Awakening
Leeland
[Essential Records]

What If We Were Real
Mandisa
[Sparrow Records]

Black & White
Royal Tailor
[Essential Records]

And If Our God Is For Us…
Chris Tomlin
[Sparrow Records / sixstepsrecords]

Posted on

February 12, 2012 in

News by

EJ •

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• Tagged With andraé crouch, brandon heath, cajo records, canton jones, cbs, chris tomlin, donald lawrence, erica campbell, gerald haddon, grammy, gungor, jamie grace, jason ingram, kim burrell, kirk franklin, laura story, leandria johnson, leeland, mandisa, mary mary, matthew west, music world gospel, naras, natalie grant, richard smallwood, royal tailor, steven curtis chapman, tammi haddon, tina campbell, tobymac, trin-i-tee 5:7, verity gospel music group, warryn campbell

Don’t Forget To Watch The Grammys This Sunday!

Just a quick reminder to watch the Grammys this weekend!

The awards show airs live on CBS this Sunday, February 12, 2012 at 8pm ET. The gospel categories are awarded during the pre-show, which will be streamed live at Grammy.com beginning at 4pm ET.

In case you need a reminder, the nominees are…