There’s actually not too much new stuff to report in the area of Billboard chart positions this week– a couple of folks swapped spots, and we saw sales jumps from Lecrae and Isaac Carree, but with no major new debuts last week, all is settled… for now.

Here’s a glance at the Top 10 in Gospel:

1 | WOW Gospel 2012
2 | Le’Andria Johnson – The Evolution of Le’Andria Johnson
3 | Fred Hammond – God, Love & Romance
4 | James Fortune & FIYA – Identity
5 | William McDowell – Arise
6 | Le’Andria Johnson – The Awakening of Le’Andria Johnson…
7 | Lecrae – Rehab
8 | Kirk Franklin – Hello Fear
9 | Various Artists – Joyful Noise Sountrack
10 | Isaac Carree – Uncommon Me

Next week, expect to see strong entries from Andrea Helms and Israel Houghton!

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:

1 | WOW Gospel 2012
2 | Le’Andria Johnson – The Evolution of Le’Andria Johnson
3 | James Fortune & FIYA – Identity
4 | Fred Hammond – God, Love & Romance
5 | Le’Andria Johnson – The Awakening of Le’Andria Johnson…
6 | William McDowell – Arise
7 | Brian Courtney Wilson – So Proud
8 | Marvin Sapp – Playlist: The Very Best Of…
9 | Kirk Franklin – Hello Fear
10 | Various Artists – Joyful Noise Sountrack

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.

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:

1 | WOW Gospel 2012
2 | James Fortune & FIYA – Identity
3 | Fred Hammond – God, Love & Romance
4 | Le’Andria Johnson – The Evolution of Le’Andria Johnson
5 | Le’Andria Johnson – The Awakening of Le’Andria Johnson…
6 | Various Artists – Joyful Noise Sountrack
7 | William McDowell – Arise
8 | Brian Courtney Wilson – So Proud
9 | Kirk Franklin – Hello Fear
10 | Lecrae – Rehab

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.

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:

1 | Brian Courtney Wilson – So Proud
2 | WOW Gospel 2012
3 | Fred Hammond – God, Love & Romance
4 | James Fortune & FIYA – Identity
5 | Various Artists – Joyful Noise Sountrack
6 | William McDowell – Arise
7 | Le’Andria Johnson – The Awakening of Le’Andria Johnson…
8 | Kirk Franklin – Hello Fear
9 | Lecrae – Rehab
10 | Marvin Sapp – Playlist: The Very Best of…

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.

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.