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 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.

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.

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.

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!

C’mon, William McDowell! Show ‘em! Lol

He’s still #1 on Billboard’s Gospel Albums chart, for the fourth week in a row, and he’s been there since the debut of his newest project, Arise.

Here’s the full top 10:

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

Shout-out to Le’Andria, with two albums in the Top 10. Her Christmas project had a limited release last week, so she made a pretty strong showing and I expect it will rise with the full release this week.

Also, looking to see how Amber Bullock fares this week with her debut EP, Thank You. I reckon she might hit #1…

William McDowell remains at #1 on Billboard’s Gospel Albums chart for the third consecutive week, with his newest project, Arise. Le’Andria Johnson follows at #2, with a Marvin Sapp compilation from Verity rocketing from #10 to #3.

Also, indie artist Genita Pugh debuts at #9 with her latest album, My Purpose.

Check out the full top 10:

1 | William McDowell – Arise
2 | Le’Andria Johnson – The Awakening of Le’Andria Johnson…
3 | Marvin Sapp – Playlist: The Very Best of…
4 | Kirk Franklin – Hello Fear
5 | Isaac Carree – Uncommon Me
6 | Lecrae – Rehab
7 | WOW Gospel 2011
8 | Jessica Reedy – From the Heart
9 | Genita Pugh – My Purpose
10 | Kierra Sheard – Free

I don’t have Genita Pugh’s project, but I took a listen at Amazon.com and it ain’t half shabby. Check it out–

Kudos to worship artist William McDowell, whose latest project, Arise, just debuted at #1 on Billboard’s Gospel Albums chart! The live set is a follow-up to As We Worship: Live, which features the radio hit “I Give Myself Away.”

Maurette Brown Clark’s The Sound of Victory also debuts in the top 10 this week, landing at #7.

Here’s a full snapshot of the top 10:

1 | William McDowell – Arise
2 | Le’Andria Johnson – The Awakening of Le’Andria Johnson…
3 | Isaac Carree – Uncommon Me
4 | Kirk Franklin – Hello Fear
5 | Jessica Reedy – From the Heart
6 | Kierra Sheard – Free
7 | Maurette Brown Clark – The Sound of Victory
8 | WOW Gospel 2011
9 | Lecrae – Rehab
10 | Nevels Sisters – It’s My Time

Which of these are you still planning to purchase?