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NASHVILLE, TENN. -- Following the
release of Christafari's first children's album Reggae Sunday
School, Lion of Zion Entertainment has launched a groundbreaking
interactive website at www.ReggaeSundaySchool.com. Set in the
mythical Caribbean island of "Yeahman" and "Noman," the Reggae
Sunday School CD and website have been designed to both entertain
and inspire kids of all ages, while captivating the attention of
the entire family.
The CD includes many American and Caribbean Sunday school classics
plus a few new Christafari originals, performed by an engaging
cast of dreadlocked characters including Nigel the Iguana, Calypso
the Coconut, Manu the Mango, Seymour the Seagull and Patchouli the
Jellyfish. Visitors to the highly interactive website can meet the
cast of characters, play an original computer game, download
coloring book pages and desktop wallpaper, and access various
church-related resources and materials. Visitors can also read the
lyrics and hear every song on the album in its entirety in a
RealAudio format.
The site also features original Bible studies based on each of the
14 tracks on Reggae Sunday School. Penned by Christafari founder
and lead singer Mark Mohr, these important lessons are taught by
the cast of raggamuffin Sunday school teachers. "The Bible studies
can be used as fun bedtime stories or as a great daily
devotional," says Mohr. "We encourage church leaders to use the
resources on the website for Sunday school or Vacation Bible
School curriculum. Each of these 14 stories tie into a cool song
from the Reggae Sunday School CD. This is a great way to teach
children more about Jesus over a fun reggae beat."
For Reggae Sunday School, Mohr assembled an all-star cast of
international gospel reggae musicians and vocalists, including
Monty G, Red Cloud, Richie Righteous, 'Imisi, Avion Blackman,
Jaibo Culture, Ace Winn and Solomon Jabby.
"This is our most ambitious project ever," says Mohr. "It's been
16 years since the inception of Christafari, and much of the
band's initial teenage fanbase now have children of their own. We
have established the website to help make the Internet a better
place for kids. We want to use these great characters, fun games
and quality stories to help bring moral and biblical principles to
life for children."
Reggae Sunday School was released in August and is available in
stores and direct from www.GospelReggae.com. Based in Los Angeles,
California, Lion of Zion Entertainment is the largest provider of
gospel reggae and world music on the planet, with distribution to
Christian and mainstream stores nationwide through Infinity Music
Distribution (a division of Central South Distribution Inc.).
Infinity currently distributes such top selling artists as
Lifehouse, Blindside, Kevin Max, Stryper and Gladys Knight.
www.ReggaeSundaySchool.com
www.LionofZion.com
Industry
News
JESUS
THEMED APPAREL GETS A NEW TWIST AT JESUSLOVESTSHIRTS.COM
Edgy new T-shirt line sets out to
tell the world that Jesus loves them
(NASHVILLE, TENN.) --
Capitalizing on the growing popularity of Jesus themed apparel,
Georgia-based JesusLoveTshirts.com has launched an edgy collection
of T-shirts featuring "all the people we are afraid to love."
According to the company's marketing materials, "Jesus loves
everyone: ninjas, pirates, soccer moms, lunch ladies and gangstas.
So, why not tell the world by sporting the latest fashion trend:
Jesus Loves T-Shirts."
"The idea was that often times Jesus and Christians are known for
what they are against. But in reality, Jesus was all about love,"
says Brandi Hoyt of JesusLovesTshirts.com. "He loved everyone,
even the most hated people of His day, like the tax-collector. So
why not get that message of love out in a humorous way. We decided
to make shirts that show that Jesus loves everyone. Even people
who aren’t popular or who we are normally afraid of."
The unisex shirts are printed on the American Apparel collection.
"Jesus loves sweat-shop free manufacturing," adds Hoyt, noting
that they chose American Apparel for their quality products and
commitment to changing the way garments are manufactured.
The shirt collection is available now at
www.JesusLovesTshirts.com, and they are pursuing licensing and
retail opportunities to help expand the line.
For more information, email
info@JesusLovesTshirts.com.
1ST ANNUAL FAITH BASED MARKETING SUMMIT TO BE HELD NOVEMBER 4TH
IN DALLAS
Groundbreaking event will feature
Christian marketing industry's top professionals
(NASHVILLE, TENN.) -- In
recent years, the faith based community has played a major role in
the success of numerous films such as The Passion of the Christ
and the Left Behind series, and books like The Prayer of
Jabez and Rick Warren’s best-seller Purpose-Driven Life.
The 1st Annual Faith Based Marketing Summit (www.faithbasedmarketing.com)
will explore the role this influential segment of society can play,
and help attendees learn what it takes to reach this integral group
of consumers.
Renegade Idea Group has assembled Christian marketing's top talent
for this unprecendented event, all addressing one specific topic:
Uncovering the secrets, tips, strategies, triumphs and tensions
associated with effectively reaching and communicating with the
faith based community.
The Summit will explore a variety of topics including:
- Marketing research and how it’s applied to the faith based
consumer
- Word of mouth marketing – what is it? How do things go viral
with this audience?
- 30 traditional advertising ideas in 30 minutes (radio,
television, magazines and newspapers, billboard, etc.) and
targeting the faith based demo
- How the faith based community has embraced online marketing
and the new media being used to further segment this audience
- Creative uses of telemarketing – what works and what doesn’t
- The applications of public relations for churches, non-profit
organizations, movies and books, and other products – both faith
based and mainstream
- The “soup to nuts” on event marketing – when to use it, when
to run from it
- Email vs. snail mail – current trends and comparisons for the
faith-based consumers/donors
The Summit will feature some of Christian marketing's top
professionals including:
- Larry Ross - Billy Graham’s PR representative for the
past 20 years
- Sissy Toney - formerly of LifeWay and currently on the
Executive Management team at InService America
- Bob Hutchins - owner of The Buzzplant – a new media
marketing firm specializing in the faith based entertainment and
publishing industry
- Beth Cathey - currently President of the Renegade Idea
Group, and formerly with KMA Direct
- Kobey Nicholson – currently with Renegade Lists – the
“niche” finders for both postal and email mailing list needs
- Eric Wright and Christine Bailey of Ground Force
Network – charter members of the Word of Mouth Marketing
Association
- Honnie Korngold – Director of Marketing for Events and
Conferences with Campus Crusade for Christ, and currently owner of
ChristianTravelFinder.com
- Chris Wilson – named “'Mover and Shaker in American
Politics' by Campaigns and Elections Magazine
- Several surprise guests have been promised as well
Also confirmed is special guest Greg Stielstra, author of
the new book Pyro Marketing. Formerly Senior Marketing
Director for the Book Group at Zondervan, Stielstra was recently
appointed VP of Marketing for Thomas Nelson Publishers. Stielstra
will explore the subtle differences that distinguish marketing
winners from marketing losers, and will pinpoint four "pyro"
principles as they relate the the faith based community:
“Never before has a marketing cast of experts been put together to
talk so specifically to and about the faith based community,” says
Beth Cathey, President of Renegade Idea Group. “I absolutely could
not believe the response I got from each of these presenters when I
sheepishly called them all on the phone and explained the vision for
the Summit and asked if they’d consider being a part of such an
event. I was blown away by the positive response they each gave!”
The 1st Annual Faith Based Marketing Summit will be held November 4,
2005 at the Holiday Inn Select at 11350 LBJ Freeway at Jupiter Road
in Dallas, Texas. Registration will begin at 8:00am and a
complimentary continental breakfast will be served. The conference
will run from 8:30am until 5:00pm.
Event registration is $99 and seating is limited. For more
information or to register, call 1-888-552-2762 or visit the website
at
www.faithbasedmarketing.com.
NEW LABEL SOUL2SEOUL
LAUNCHES WITH THE HIGH-PROFILE SOLO DEBUT FROM JONTEZ
Former God's Property member hits
the road on major tours through the end of 2005
Los
Angeles based SOUL2SEOUL Entertainment is preparing for the release
of the upstart label's first album. Over a year in the making,
SOUL2SEOUL will launch October 25th with And So It Is... the
solo debut from JONTEZ, a former member of the multi-platinum group
God's Property.
JONTEZ has been performing on the main stage of this fall's
ShoutFest Tour, alongside popular Christian acts like Jump5, ZOEgirl,
Skillet, KJ-52, Disciple, Krystal Meyers and others. This Christmas
season, he'll be joining Rachael Lampa, Bryan Duncan, Martha Munizzi,
the Kurt Carr Singers and Heather Powers for the nationwide Joy to
the World Christmas Tour.
Though a fresh face to many, the Texas-based artist has spent over a
decade in the business. A child prodigy at 12, JONTEZ received
regional acclaim via a ministry-focused Tejano band before finding
himself in a worship leadership position at Bishop T.D. Jakes’
Potter’s House. In addition to his time with God’s Property, where
he had the opportunity to share the stage with the likes of Erykah
Badu, Amy Grant, Jaci Velasquez and Point of Grace, JONTEZ spent
time in the hip-hop ensemble Mankynd, where SOUL2SEOUL labelhead
Eddie Kim courted him exclusively in hopes that he would step out on
his own.
JONTEZ has wide appeal from Black Gospel to pop audiences, thanks to
his unique blend of pop, R&B, hip-hop and Latin influences. The
debut single from And So It Is... is an urban/R&B
reinterpretation of WAR's smash hit "Why Can't We Be Friends" -
co-produced by Howard Scott of WAR.
“My goal is to present who I am and what I’m going through in a way
that all can relate and be encouraged,” JONTEZ states in his
official bio. “I’m also concentrating on the quality level of every
element that goes into the record and have tried tirelessly for that
effort to be apparent.”
In addition to his new solo career, JONTEZ is about to start filming
his first major movie role in the upcoming feature film Woman To
Woman. He'll also be making numerous television appearances this
fall, performing on TBN's Praise the Lord, At Home Live!, The Jim
Bakker Show, The Harvest Show, G-TV, Spin180 and others.
SOUL2SEOUL has partnered with Lightyear Entertainment in New York
for major distribution through WEA and Word Distribution. Lightyear
Entertainment President/CEO Arnie Holland said "Lightyear is
extremely pleased to welcome SOUL2SEOUL to the Lightyear family. We
believe JONTEZ has the potential to be a major star, and with both
WEA and Word distribution, we will do our part to give him that
shot."
Eddie Kim echos Lightyear's enthusiasm, stating "JONTEZ is making
waves in both the Christian and mainstream markets, and crossing
racial and social boundaries along the way. He's a trailblazer who
we anticipate will be around for a long, long time."
Now in his twenties, JONTEZ is thankful for the opportunities he has
had, telling a recent interviewer that God's Property was "a
wonderful training ground for pretty much any type of situation one
could ever possibly have as a performer," helping him to grow both
musically and spiritually. “My prayer is that God would give me the
wisdom to deal with it all, everything that may come my way and the
people I continue to meet. I thank God for my training - for all the
successes and trials - and I pray He continues to keep me strong in
what I’ve been put here to do.”
For more information, visit the official website at
www.jontez.net. And So It Is... will be released October
25, 2005 by SOUL2SEOUL with distribution through Lightyear, WEA and
Word Distribution.
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