Wolves Unleashed: The 2019 Platinum Vinyl Awards 4th Qtr - Adult Contemporary/Inspirational

From now on all of our genres exceed the final bar of 7 entries. Adult Contemporary and its sister genre Inspirational accounted for 8 entries.

Adult Contemporary/Inspirational

• Danny Gokey - Wanted EP 
• Jason Gray - Order EP
• Paul and Hannah McClure - The Way Home (Deluxe)
• Allan Scott - The Story
• Greg Sykes - No Greater Love
• Lauren Talley - Glorious God: Songs of Worship 
• Lauren Talley - Loudest Praise: Hymns of Mercy, Love and Grace
• Big Daddy Weave - When The Light Comes

Don't get to nervous, the Talley albums are not Southern Gospel. Definitely inspo material here. I wouldn't do that to you or me. Another tie awaits and we begin with Pop. Until then, I am Awaiting Your Reply.

The Reckoning: The 2019 Platinum Vinyl Awards 2nd Qtr - Adult Contemporary

Adult Contemporary (and its Sibling Inspirational Music) is up next. Folk Music may be a catch all genre here at Night Beat HQ, but Inspirational seems to be a catch all industry wide. The short answer is it' not spiritual enough to be worship and it's too spiritual to be regular CCM. A lot of stuff gets dumped into Inspirational Music. 

Adult Contemporary/Inspirational

• Becca Bradley - Heaven Come Down
• The Cashmans - City of God
• Amanda Lindsey Cook - House on a Hill
• Chad Graham - First
• Rick Lee James - Thunder
• Robbie Seay Band - O Great Love (A Best of Collection)
• Shane and Shane - Hymns:Live

Chad Graham is part of Anthem Lights. It is a mashup cover album, and Amanda Cook is a crossover from Bethel. The second part of our tie, is Rock. Until then, I am Awaiting Your Reply.

Phoenix Rising: The 2019 Platinum Vinyl Awards 1st Qtr - Adult Contemporary

We come to our last tie. Four ties in a month (one was folded into a megapost, so we are merciful). This time we tie at 9 and Adult Contemporary and Live Recorded Album both met the bar. Adult Contemporary (and Inspirational) is the first alphabetically.

Adult Contemporary/Inspirational

• Anthem Lights - Worship
• Casting Crowns - Only Jesus
• Michael Farren - Fighting For Us
• High Street Hymns - High Street Hymns
• Selah - You Raise Me Up: Greatest Hits
• Russ Taff - Believe
• Unspoken - Just Give Me Jesus
• Victoria - Victoria EP
• Josh White & Josh Garrels - Josh White & Josh Garrels

I nice mix of new and old (and at least for one, some might say ancient). I was quite pleased to know that Russ Taff still has a bit of rock left in him. Live album is next. Until Then I am Awaiting Your Reply.

The Musical Industrial Complex: The 2018 Platinum Vinyl Awards 2nd Qtr (Jan - Mar 2018) - Adult Contemporary

We are continuing our rollout of the 2nd Quarter of 2018. Our next genre is Elevator Music. No, seriously, it is adult contemporary, but I dare you to separate the two.

Adult Contemporary/Inspirational

• Corey Asbury - Reckless Love
• Audrey Assad - Evergreen
• Brad and Rebekah - Sound of Heaven
• Tommy Faulk - Come What May
• Heather Schnoor - All In EP
• I Am They - Trial and Triumph

There was a tie this quarter, and it was between Pop and Rap. Both genres had 9 entries this quarter, and we shall get to Pop Music next. Until then, I am Awaiting Your Reply.

Copernicus Rocks: The 2017 Platinum Vinyl Awards 2nd Quarter - Inspirational

Next up is one of the biggies. Adult Contemporary, and its sister genre Inspirational, racked up a whopping 10 entrants into the pool this quarter. Rather than waste time with explanations, let us get to it.

Adult Contemporary/Inspirational

• Jason Bare - Fearless
• Bethany (Dillon) Barnard - A Better Word
• Dante Bowe - Son of a Father
• The Brilliance - All Is Not Lost
• Daniel Doss - Praise The King
• Selah - Unbreakable
• Aaron Shust - Love Made A Way
• Laura Story - Open Hands
• Greg Sykes - Reverse EP
• Jaci Velasquez - Trust

That does it for this grouping. A Brief glitch at the start may have allowed a blank post to go out. Apologies. This is what was supposed to happen. Until next time, I am Awaiting Your Reply.

MVM Special Edition: AC Video Pool

Welcome to a Very Special Edition of Music Video Monday. We are taking a break from the usual, due to a dearth of New Music Videos. We have to reload. Not to worry, there is still videos to share.

What we are going to do is share the Video Pool for the various genres in the Platinum Vinyl Awards. This is not the final nominees. This is the pool from which the nominees will be taken. We begin with Adult Contemporary/Inspirational. Currently there are 13 Videos in the pool, and we are always searching for additional videos. Either way, we will be voting on these to narrow them to 5. Here is the playlist for your enjoyment.

Watch, Listen, and vote. Yes, Vote. You can help us here at The Night Beat by commenting on which videos are your favorites. It will have weight as we narrow thing down. Until next time, I am Awaiting Your Reply.

Siberian Siren: The 2017 Platinum Vinyl Awards 1st Qtr - Adult Contemporary

This is it. The grand finale. The announcement of the First Quarter Results for the 2017 Platinum Vinyl Awards Entrants are completed. (Just to fill people in: We have an October 1-September 30 Eligibility Year instead of a calendar year schedule). Anyway, our big winner, which had to share the honors with Heavy Metal, is Adult Contemporary. Now that's two genres you shouldn't find in the same room together. (Short of a summer festival, but that's another story). Let's get this quarter finished.

Adult Contemporary/Inspirational

• Audrey Assad - Inheritance Deluxe Edition
• Sommer Floyd - Ray of Light
• Keith and Kristyn Getty - Facing A Task Unfinished
• Maria Gilpin - Giving It All
• Philip Hamrick - Getting Stronger
• The Museum - Reclaimed EP 
• The Rock Music - Awakened By Hope
• Carissa Vann - Changing Still
• Jean Watson - Wonder

That does it for Adult Contemporary, and that does it for the First Quarter as well. Jean Watson scored 5 Perfect Emeralds, but that was it for the genre. The second quarter awaits. Until next time, I am Awaiting Your Reply.

A Perfect Scale: The 2016 Platinum Vinyl Awards 4th Quarter - Adult Contemporary/Inspirational

We are back. Our final group of ties. This two way group is with 7 entrants each. Once this is done only the big winner remains. Let's get to it.

Adult Contemporary/Inspirational

• Bread of Stone - Hold The Light
• Casting Crowns - The Very Next Thing
• Hannah Kerr - Overflow
• Katy Kinard - God of Fireflies
• Andrew Marcus - Constant
• Geoff Moore - The Next Thing
• Selah - Gratest Hymns, Volume 2

We are back under way, only two more posts remain. Rock is next. Until next time, I am Awaiting Your Reply.

Dove Wrap: 2016 Edition - Album Results

Well, this is one of those delayed posts I was talking about. I will progress through the results as I covered them. So that will be Album, Song and The General Field. I will link the prediction posts to save room here, and I hope that I can finish this in one post.

We start with the Album of The Year Awards. Like I said in that post, an album is more important than a song in that it is more difficult to make. We begin with Adult Contemporary/Inspirational Album of The Year. I shocked all of my regular readers when I picked Hillsong Open Heaven/River Wild. You see, I am a regular critic of the Church as it has spawned such a crop of copycats that it has almost wrecked the Modern Worship genre. Plus the fact that for the past few years the releases have had a "mailed in" quality, lacking fire. But I liked this one. It was the best Hillsong release in years. However the Dove Awards liked Amanda Cook and Brave New World better. (Score: 0/1)

Next up was Worship Album of The Year. I went with Let It Echo by Jesus Culture. The Doves went with Hillsong. Hillsong United and Empires. I panned the album for #PlatVnyl6 and it Missed The Mark. (Score: 0/2).

Moving On to Contemporary Gospel/Urban Album. I felt that the best album of the available choices by far was Kirk Franklin Losing My Religion and to my surprise so did the Doves. (Score: 1/3). I guess even a broken clock is correct twice a day.

The final Album Award that I made a pick for was Pop/Contemporary Album of The Year. They had a full slate of albums for this one, and it was difficult for me to pick. Of course they had Hillsong United here as well (a Miss The Mark for the PVA's) as well as This Is Not A Test by Toby Mac, an excellent album, though not particularly Pop. Perhaps Dance, Perhaps Rock, and Perhaps Rap, but not Pop. I went with Big Daddy Weave and Beautiful Offering. Well I may have felt that Toby Mac was miscast here, but not the GMA. They said This Is Not A Test. I guess I failed here. (Score: 1/4) 0.250 after the album portion of my predictions. 

Remember when I said I wanted this to be done in one post. Yeah, me neither. Wishful thinking. The Song Award recap will be next. Until then, I am Awaiting Your Reply.

The Seven Soundtrack: The 2016 Platinum Vinyl Awards 3rd Quarter -Inspirational Electronic Metal

The Final of our multi-genre posts is here. After this point there will be six more posts in the wrap, all of them single genres with 5 or more entrants, in ascending order. Of course all the pool entrants are linked with Amazon Purchase Links where they exist. Be a dear and buy through the links, you will support The Night Beat at the same time. On to the releases.

Adult Contemporary/Inspirational

• Jason Fowler - I Fall In
• Meredith Kinleigh - Beautiful Mess
• Jeremy Vanderloop - No Death
• Phil Wickham - Children of God

Electronic-Industrial

• Hammock - Everything and Nothing
• The Quiet Science - The Rekindling of The Stars
• Rivers and Robots - The Eternal Son
• Urban Rescue - Wild Heart

 Hard Rock/Heavy Metal

• Darkness Divided - Darkness Divided
• My Epic - Viscera
• Everything In Slow Motion - Laid Low
• Forfeit Thee Untrue - Cremationem Jesus Lacrimam

We begin our single genre posting next time with Alternative. Until then, I am Awaiting Your Reply.

The 2016 2nd Quarter - Adult Contemporary/Inspirational

We continue with our announcement of the 2nd Quarter pool entrants for #PlatVnyl7. Our next genre in ascending order is Adult Contemporary and Inspirational. There were a full 7 entrants for this one. After this you definitely need to edit to make the finals. Let us get to it.

Adult Contemporary/Inspirational

• Audrey Assad - Inheritance
• Charles Billingsley - Right Here
• Citizen Way - 2.0 
• Green River Ordinance - Fifteen
• Zach Loomis - Captivate
• Jonathan Ogden - By The Streams
• Sanctus Real - This Is Love

That does it for AC. Next up is Pop. Until then, I am Awaiting Your Reply.

Misteltunes: The 2016 1st Quarter - Adult Contemporary

We are down to the final three posts. Going from least to the grand winner. The least in this case is Adult Contemporary with 10 entrants in the pool. Let's get to it.

Adult Contemporary/Inspirational

• Consumed By Fire - Lean On Me - EP
• Phillip LaRue - You
• Kevin Max - Starry Eyes Surprise
• Michael O'Brien - Psalms Hymns and Spiritual Songs
• Phillips, Craig and Dean - 20th Century Masters - The Millennium Collection: The Best Of Phillips, Craig & Dean
• Sanctus Real - Best Of
• Stu G - Have You Heard: 20th Year Anniversary (Remixed and Re-Mastered)
• John Tibbs - Dead Man Walking - EP
• Tim Timmons - Awake Our Souls
• Jean Watson - Steady My Gaze

Of the ten entrants, it is quite stacked with veterans. Phillip LaRue was part of LaRue back in the turn of the century backing up Rebecca St. James, Sanctus Real is a mainstay in the genre, as is PCD. Stu G might not be a household name, but he should be. He was the Backing Vocalist and main guitarist for Delirious? from 1994-2009. That's saying a lot. The newbies have got a high bar to reach. Until next time, I am Awaiting Your Reply.

Shemita Songs: The 2015 Platinum Vinyl Awards 4th Qtr - Adult Contemporary

I usually make fun of Adult Contemporary. I like to call it Air Conditioning Music. You know, it keeps you comfortable. Well the air conditioner is blowing pretty well, despite it now being November. Just Joking. These were the releases for the Summer Months, so AC is just fine then.

Adult Contemporary/Inspirational

• The City Harmonic - We Are
• Noah Cleveland - Church With No Walls
• Colton Dixon - Calm EP
• Julie Elias - Unbroken
• Laura Kaczor - Restore Me
• Cheri Keaggy - No Longer My Own
• The Neverclaim - The Joy  
• Natasha Owens - No One But You
• For A Season - I Will Wait
• Amber Nelon Thompson - Just Sing
• Big Daddy Weave - Beautiful Offerings

The City Harmonic roared back on top this quarter with a Perfect Entry. I was beginning to worry about them. The big surprise of the quarter, however, came from Amber Nelon Thompson. With Southern Gospel history I was expecting a test to my gag reflexes. Good thing the youth generation decides to rebel. It leaves hope for the music world. Until next time, I am Awaiting Your Reply.

Bad Moon Rising: The 2014 Platinum Vinyl Award 4th Qtr - Adult Contemporary

We begin with the single genre posts as we announce the 4th Quarter Pool of Entries for #PlatVnyl5. The Plan is to announce the winners sometime in Winter or Spring of 2015. We shall see how that pans out.

Tied for the lowest is Adult Contemporary, which had 7 entries along with Heavy Metal. That's just how the entries fell out. I know that they are on opposite ends of the spectrum. Anyway, without further ado.

Adult Contemporary/Inspirational

• About A Mile - About A Mile
• Cody Collier - Breaking Free
• Julie Elias - Love Rain Down
• Lara Landon - There is Grace
• Crystal Lewis - 25 
• Lindsay McCaul - One More Step
• Jenny Simmons - To Be Well

The front-runners here have to be McCaul and Landon, but anything can happen in the final vote. Heavy Metal is next. Until then, I am Awaiting Your Reply.

Polar Vortex Polka: The 2014 2nd Quarter - Adult Contemporary

We begin the single genre posts as we continue with our 2nd Quarter of 2014 wrap up. For those new to the Night Beat, I am counting from October 1-September 30, a Platinum Vinyl Award Eligibility Year, not a calendar year. 

Adult Contemporary had 6 entries this quarter. Without further ado.

Adult Contemporary/Inspirational

• Audrey Assad - O Happy Fault
• Dave Barnes - Golden Days
• Dave Barnes - Love Songs
• Jason Gray - Love Will Have The Final Word
• City Harbor - City Harbor
• Red Roots - Triplicity

Of all the entries, the fact that I liked Red Roots is my only sign of concern. They are obviously country, but they have a radio presence that is not to country, and it was enjoyable, so I have put them into the AC category. Gospel is next. Until then, I am Awaiting Your Reply.

Swing Season: The 2014 1rst Quarter - Inspirational Electronic Children

We Have Come to the first turn, or something like that. I never did spend enough time watching racing to get the lingo down pat. Suffice it to say that we have come to the end of the first quarter of 2014. I know, I know, it's only January, how can that be. It's all due to the fact that 2014 began in October of 2013 for purposes of the Platinum Vinyl Awards.

As always, we begin with consolidating some of the lesser represented genres. This time around it is Children's Music, Adult Contemporary/Inspirational, and Electronic/Industrial. We do this to cut down on the number of posts that we devote to this quarterly wrap. As always, we will try to have everything linked so that you can click through to Amazon and support The Night Beat.

Children's Music has one entry to represent it this quarter. Nothing is Impossible Featuring Planetshakers Kids by Shout Praises Kids. While it's nice to get this genre off and running at the start, I'm not expecting to be inundated with releases this year.

Adult Contemporary/Inspirational also started off the year on a snails pace. Three entries made the cut, and it was the veterans who came up big early.

• The Glorious Unfolding, Steven Curtis Chapman
• God Of Every Story , Laura Story
• Stand in Awe , Jon Thurlow

And finally, we also had three entries from Electronic/Industrial. There were two perfect 5 in this list, one from an album that was heading up the vaporware charts. 

• Journeys , Salt of The Sound
• Water & Guns , Aaron Sprinkle
• The Wind & the Waves , All The Bright Lights

That kicks off the First Quarter reveal. Stay with us. One way you can is by following me on Google + at +The WENC Night Beat . I intend to make this a bigger part of the Platinum Vinyl Awards this year as Facebook and its Pay To View system is a real downer. Until next time, I am Awaiting Your Reply.

Spring Songs: The 2013 Third Quarter - Adult Contemporary

Adult Contemporary and its sibling, Inspirational Music, have been a well represented genre since it's introduction in the Second Year. This quarter was no different, as ten albums made the cut. The usual suspects made the mix, plus a surprising entrance by a veteran of the scene, though not usually in this category.

Adult Contemporary/Inspirational

• All Things New - All Things New
• Building 429 - We Won't Be Shaken
• Citizen Way - Citizen Way 
• Finding Favour - Finding Favour
• Amy Grant - How Mercy Looks From Here
• Nathan Jess - Love Stands Forever
• Matt Maher - All The People Said Amen
• Shane and Shane - Bring Your Nothing
• Tim Timmons - Cast My Cares
• Josh Wilson - Carry Me

Those of you who have been with me from the start may be surprised to see an entry from Amy Grant. Yes, I have supposed that the CCM industry lazily picks anything from "Our Amy" as they say, as an award winner. That being said, this entry brings me back to the Father's eyes glory days. She even sounds like the Amy of the 80's at some points.

That does it for AC. Don't forget to enter the giveaway while you're here. Until next time, I am Awaiting Your Reply.

The Groundhog Blues: Winter 2013 Releases - Adult Contemporary

Sometimes housecleaning turns up a few treasures. It did this time. I thought I had things under control. I was up to date with the new releases, the Platinum Vinyl Awards was posted, and I was happy. Then I discovered among my notes some of the Winter Quarter Releases I hadn't posted. For newbies that is Jan-March of this year. The Spring Releases are almost all in. I had neglected Adult Contemporary, Modern Worship, and Heavy Metal.

Adult Contemporary/Inspirational

• The Advice - The Advice
• Meredith Andrews - Worth It All
• Jeremy Camp - Reckless
• Casting Crowns - The Acoustic Sessions: Volume One [+digital booklet]
• Steven Curtis Chapman - # 1's Vol. 2 
• Larnelle Harris - Live in Nashville
• Shawn McDonald - The Analog Sessions
• Newsong - Swallow the Ocean (Deluxe Edition)
• Glenn Packiam - The Mystery Of Faith
• Sanctus Real - Run (Deluxe Edition)
• Jenny Simmons - The Becoming
• Various Artists - Love Never Fails
• JJ Weeks Band - All Over the World

As you can see there were a lot. Over a full years category if they all made it in. Jenny Simmons is starting a shower of former Addison Road Members releasing albums. This month another member, Brandy Allison, also has a release. 

That does it for Adult Contemporary. Two more to go. Until next time, I am Awaiting Your Reply.

Warm Tones: The 2012 4th Quarter - Inspirational Folk

The Fourth Quarter of 2012 is now completed, at least as the Platinum Vinyl Awards are concerned. We are now beginning the eligibility period for the 4th Platinum Vinyl Awards, and already there are some promising entries. More on that later. For now, we will concern ourselves with the late entries for this years awards.

The Fourth Quarter is always a bittersweet period. While I begin the year saying that entries with a 4 Emerald Rating will be considered for a Platinum Vinyl Award, by the 2nd quarter it is effectively a 4.5 Emerald Rating which is the minimum bar, and by the end of the third to the end in all reality you need a 4.75 Emerald Rating to make it to the judging. I know that seems unfair, but such is the case. We are trying to get the best in the awards, and sometimes we need to make adjustments on the fly.

Now, on to the fourth quarter. There were no new entrants this time around from Children's Music. The field for this award is set at three entrants, to be revealed at a later time.

There was one entry for the Folk/Folk Rock category, and that was Light for the Lost Boy by Andrew Peterson. That brings the total entrants for this category at four. I will also reveal these entrants at a later time.

That brings us to the only genre which had a couple of entrants worth speaking of. That would be Adult Contemporary and Inspirational. Three entries made the cut this quarter, at least initially.

• Heather Headley - Only One in the World
• Cheri Keaggy - So I Can Tell
• Matthew West - Into the Light

The Fourth Quarter rollout begins. There are plenty more to announce, and yet only a few of these pool entries will make it to the final round. Stay with us here at the Night Beat as the 3rd Annual Platinum Vinyl Awards begins to pick up steam. Until our next post, I am Awaiting Your Reply.

Sonic Awakening: 3rd Qtr Nominees - AC/Inspirational

Continuing our revelation of the nominees to the initial pool of Platinum Vinyl Award contenders for the Third Quarter of 2012. Yes that was torturous, but it's the truth. All this does is admit you to contention. You still have to survive initial voting to get to the Seven Final Nominees (the only exception to the rule is if you get a Perfect 5 rating. Those go straight through to the final seven).

This time we go with a new and growing category. Adult Contemporary/Inspirational started last year as simply Inspirational, and it seems a nice home for those albums that aren't pop or rock enough, as well as those that aren't exactly worship either. This category did very well this quarter.

Adult Contemporary/Inspirational

• Fike -The Moment We've Been Waiting For
• Amy Grant - Rock of Ages: Hymns of Faith
• Lara Landon - Overcome
• Natalie LaRue - Even Now
• Dan Macaulay - From You For You
• Moriah Peters - I Choose Jesus
• BeBe Winans - America America

There are a few caveats to this list that may prevent them from going on. Amy Grant is a reissue of an album, not a current album. There are a bunch of them this year and I'm not sure how to treat them yet. BeBe Winans is definitely inspiring, but it is also a special 4th of July Music album, and since I don't award Christmas Music, I'm wondering how to treat this one. Feel free to chime in by commenting. Until next time, I am Awaiting Your Reply.