tlantic Christian is ing a lot more to produce quality cutting -edge artist who's bringing putting a major push records, but there are more oppor- the hip -hop beats and feel of the and big bucks behind tunities." street to gospel, and it's not like the September debut Jazzy Jordan, VP of marketing finding an artist and having to put of Damita Haddon, for Verity Records, states, "The him with a producer to bring out Sviri enlisting such A -list simple fact is, when produced at a his best. Tonex is bringing it in a tul as Arif Mardin, higher quality, gospel artists are finished package. There is no need secular producers whose clients include Celine Dion, starting to resemble a lot of secular for a remix. Its appeal is urban." Barbara Streisand, Bette Midler artists. Just look at Tonex. Here's a With gospel's newfound appeal, leases and the Atlantabased Noontime imaging has become a top priority. Group (Toni Braxton). So im- Demetrus Alexander- Stewart, VP pressed by one of the cuts from the of Gospel Relations for Atlantic R list Of 10 Came much -anticipated eponymously Christian, observes, "Because ihat's titled debut, "The Wedding Song" Damita's music is very urban and by her producer /artist youth- oriented, we actually did two BY MERRILL (penned COMPILED ANTRACIA husband, Deitrick Haddon), was photo shoots trying to get the right Bride Magazine -with a readership image. The mainstream side didn't Against The Flow Records of 5.5 million -that Haddon is want it to look too churchy and, for Angie Winans, "Melodies Of Diversity Records being included in the publication's gospel, it couldn't look too worldly, My Heart" (October 1) Lemmie Battles, "He Will Come forthcoming promotional cam- so we were trying to strike a bal- Various Artists, "Our Gift To Through" (August) paign. ance." For those who see gospel as a You" (October 29) business, the balance is tied to prof- Dorohn Records NEW APPEAL In Sony's efforts to best position its. AIR (Atlantic International The Craig Brothers, "The gospel's newest sensation and Records) Legacy Continues" (TBA) hottest duo, Mary Mary -whose ON THE RADIO Dottie Peoples, untitled EMC, "It's In The Lyrics" smash single "Shackles" has struck "Contemporary gospel artists get (November 7) (TBA) a chord with their primary core better exposure and greater mar- demo of 16 to 35- year -olds across keting, so, naturally, there's more EMI Gospel the board -executives lined up a sales," notes Larry Robinson, Aaron Neville, "Devotion" full range of exposure opportuni- owner of Detroit based God's for (August 29) ties spanning the Christian Book- World. "The stations are going store Association and the Full Gospel Baptist Church Fellowship Darnita Haddon Continued on page 4-1 to the Essence College Tour and a possible opening slot on just the right urban concert tour. An "At- Home" feature in the August issue of Ebony and a series of shows for the Odyssey Network are part of Elektra Records' cam- paign to beef up Yolanda Adams' profile with mainstream audiences. Carolyn Traylor The heightened TV profile cou- pled with growing airplay of her debut, "Mountain High, Valley Low," has boosted her sales figures to 14,000 to 15,000 units per week. All are prime examples of ways in which a growing number of labels are working to position gospel artists for mainstream accep- tance and success in conjunction with a trend that has translated into huge revenues for artists like Kirk Franklin, Trin -I -Tee 5:7, Fred Hammond and Donnie McClurkin, and labels like Gospo Centric, Ben Tankard Interscope and Verity Records. "Overall, everybody's pushing Atlantic Christian the numbers," reports producer Damita Haddon, "Damita Had- Donald Lawrence, who's enjoying don" (September 26) a great deal more high -end work in Carlton Pearson, `Azusa Praise Daryl Coley, "Compositons A gospel. "Not only are they spend- And Worship" (September 26) Decade Of Song" (August 29) Lamar Campbell And Spirit Of B -Rite Records Praise, untitled (October) Woody, untitled (October) Gospel Jubilee Records Berach Records The Brooklyn All- Stars, "When Candi Staton, "Here's A Bless- You Think You're At the Bot- ing To You Love, Candi" tom, Look Down" (August) (September) Willie Morganfield, "So Close And Yet So Far Away" Blackberry Records (August) "Blackberry's Greatest Hits- The New Harmonizing Four, Volume II" (August 8) "City Called Heaven" (August) Born Again Records The Soul Lady Of Gospel Mary Kim Yvette, "Born Again Love McLaurine, "If You Just Hold Songs" (August 1) Out" (August) Sterling, "Something To Sing About" (September 1) Gospo Centric Records Labels Are Prepjng Gospel Artists Kirk Franklin, "Presents One Crystal Rose Nation Crew" (August 15) Various Artists, "Young Soldiers Continued on page 46 for uccess Of Praise" (October)

42 BILLBOARD SPOTLIGHT BILLBOARD AUGUST 5, 2000 www.americanradiohistory.com