Kind of on topic...

Okay...So yeah...I'm not only a D.J., Web Dude, and Music Guy, but I'm also a dad. Out of those 4 things...Being a dad is my favorite. That said...I got a little choked up after watching/listening to the latest song from Steven Curtis Chapman:

Love you Emerson! Hope you have a great day celebrating being 11 months old today!

See...Kind of on topic for music. Now...Here's what I'm listening to this week:

• BarlowGirl - "Beautiful Ending" (90%)
• Chasen - "On and On" (80%)
• Phil Stacey - "You're Not Shaken" (75%)
  
• Above the Golden State - "I Am Loved" (60%)
• Mike's Chair - "Can't Take Away" (75%) By recommendation.

Remember...Those percentages are my gut feelings about that song's potential during Total Axxess on JQ99. If you take that and combine it with the most recent test results, here's what's coming your way.

Testing showed that The Fray - "You Found Me" was huge all over the place. So...It filters into the rest of the day, now allowing me to add a new song for the Total Axxess part of the day. Filling that slot...BarlowGirl - "Beautiful Ending". A couple weeks on the charts and it's Top 15, it's also a really solid tune, check it out when you get a chance!

And finally...Categorize this under "F" for "Fun". Ever wonder why birds sit on telephone wires in the way they do? Here's the answer...They're composers!

That's all for today!

~j

iPhone Apps!

I'm a Mac. I haven't always been a Mac...but I have been for a number of years now. Over those years I have developed a Mac "Fan-Boy" attitude. As such...I own an iPhone and I love it. It's an AMAZING tool.

That said, the other day I was on an 'App' called "Pandora Box". No this "Pandora" the music genome project..."Pandora Box" is an 'App' that tracks the new 'Apps' that land on the 'App' Store...Free and otherwise.

As I was perusing the free 'apps' I ran across a SLEW of Christian Music Artist 'apps' that I thought I would bring to your attention, in the event that you to, have some Mac "Fan-Boy" tendencies.

Here's the list of ones I found:

• Addison Road
• Brandon Heath
• Casting Crowns
• Fireflight
• Jars of Clay
• Leeland
• Lincoln Brewster
• Matthew West
• Michael W. Smith
• Paul Baloche
• Phil Stacey
• Pillar
• Tal & Acacia
• and Tenth Avenue North

I've conveniently collected them and displayed them in "Mac-Fashion" on the right side of the blog...Check it out! (I will try and update as often as possible, so check back!)

Oh...There's currently a new Music Test available on JQ Family Rewards that's going to town, I think there's some change in the wind, but I'll share that with you in the days ahead. For the time being...Enjoy the apps and have a great day!

~j

New Releases and MORE!

Here are your New Release for today!

Barlow Girl - "Love & War"

Thousand Foot Krutch - "Welcome to the Masquerade"

Bethany Dillon - "Stop & Listen"

Also...To make up for yesterday's lack of posting because of the holiday, here's some entertaining stuff.

Remember a couple of posts ago I mentioned a song, "On and On" by a group called Chasen? Well...Here's a short little video from Chasen just sharing a little bit of background about the song:


"The Music Test" blog is on Facebook and Twitter. Chances are you are too. Well...We aren't the only ones, so I spent some time collecting Artist Facebook & Twitter links so you don't have to do the digging. What I'll do, is every time I talk about an artist, I'll make sure to update the list. The list can be found over on the right side of the blog...It's the section with all the blue "t's" and "f's".

And...Finally...Categorize this stuff in the FYI department:

• Big Daddy Weave are finishing up their Christmas record.
• Chris Tomlin's first Christmas record, "Glory in the Highest" will release October 6th.
  
• Jonny Diaz's brother is the left fielder for the Atlanta Braves.
• and...Third Day will be inducted into the Georgia Music Hall of Fame on September 19th.
  

That's it for today!

~j

Labor Day...

This is as much of a post as you're going to get on a Holiday. I'll post more tomorrow. Check back!

~j

Headline makers...

Here's what is making news today...

Relient K Announces New CD

Coming up on October 6th, Relient K will ask fans to "Forget and Not Slow Down", the name up their upcoming album. Here's what Guitarist Matt Hoopes had to say,

"The songs that tend to be the fan favorites in the past are the ones about making mistakes but ultimately moving past them, and this record has a lot of that feeling. No matter what trials and tribulation you encounter in your life, it doesn't have to be the end of your story. You can move on and be happy and experience joy."

Lead singer Matt Thiessen retreated to a remote house in Winchester, TN for months of isolation, while writing material for "Forget and Not Slow Down". During his retreat, Thiessen stayed in contact with the rest of the band, sharing song ideas and planning out the direction of the album.

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Downhere Racked Up Nominations Up North

Canadian 4-man group Downhere racked up a leading 11 Covenant Award Nominations for 2009 from the Gospel Music Association of Canada. The 31st Annual Covenant Awards will be handed out on October 23rd. Among their nominations:

• Album of the Year
• Artist of the Year
• Group of the Year
• Recorded Song of the Year
• Song of the Year
• Seasonal Song of the Year - "How Many Kings"
• Rock Song of the Year - "My Last Amen"
• Pop/Contemporary Album of the Year - "Ending is Beginning"
• Pop/Contemporary Song of the Year - "Here I Am"
• Modern Worship Song of the Year - "Live For You"
• Inspirational Song of the Year - "The Beggar Who Gives Alms"

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Here's the Top 10 Selling Christian Music CD's
(week ending August 30th)

1. Skillet - "Awake"
2. NeedtoBreate - "The Outsiders"
3. Mark Schultz - "Come Alive"
4. Selah - "You Deliver Me"
5. J Moss - "Just James"
6. Leeland - "Love is on the Move"
7. James Roberson - "Everybody Dance"
8. Hillsong - "Faith+Hope+Love"
9. Oh, Sleeper - "Son of the Morning"
10. Vickie Winans - "How I Got Over"

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New Music for Tuesday, September 8th

• Barlow Girl - "Love & War"
• Thousand Foot Krutch - "Welcome to the Masquerade"
• Bethany Dillon - "Stop & Listen"

###

~j

What I'm listening to...

Sorry about the delay in yesterday's post...Forgot to click the "Publish Post" button before closing out the browser. Oops!

Here's what I'm listening to this week.

• Chasen - "On and On" (80%)
• Kutless - "What Faith Can Do" (80%)
• Phil Stacey - "You're Not Shaken" (70%)
• Sanctus Real - "Forgiven" (70%)
• Robbie Seay Band - "Miracle" (70%)
• Barlow Girl - "Beautiful Ending" (70%)
• Remedy Drive - "Heartbeat" (65%)

Those percentages by the way indicate the chance that particular song has of being played on Total Axxess, in my humble opinion. However...As always, I leave it to the Test Results! Now...Not all of the songs I'm listening to this week were tested, only Chasen. I'll be filtering in the others over the coming weeks.

By the way...If you have a suggestion of a song/album/whatever, for me to listen to, leave me a comment with details!

~j

Test Results!

Last week's Total Axxess Music Test provided me with the following Top 5 Testing Songs:

1. The Fray - "You Found Me"
2. Bluetree - "God of This City"
3. Fireflight - "Unbreakable"
4. The Afters - "Ocean Wide"
5. FM Static - "Take Me As I Am"

This week, here are the Top 5 Testing Songs:

1. The Fray - "You Found Me"
2. Bluetree - "God of This City"
3. Fireflight - "Unbreakable"
4. FM Static - "Take Me As I Am"
5. The Afters - "Ocean Wide"

So...FM Static and The Afters switch spots...Still...Last week's Top 5 Testing Songs hold on for another week!

~j

New Release!

Happy Tuesday!

It's always good when a Tuesday rolls around, because that means NEW MUSIC! Here's a couple of notable albums worth picking up when you get a chance:

Jason Gray - "Everything Sad is Coming Untrue"

Derek Webb - "Stockholm Syndrome"

That's it...Kind of a quiet New Release Tuesday.

Oh...Read this little blurb from someone asking Phil Wickham a bunch of questions, thought it was entertaining and worth sharing, so...Here you go!

Q&A with Phil Wickham:

What's the most played song on your iPod? "Use Somebody" by Kings of Leon

What are you reading right now? "Heaven" by Randy Alcorn

Your favorite summertime activity? Going to the beach!

What sports teams do you root for? The San Diego Chargers when they are in the playoffs.

What's your go to Starbucks order? A grande coffee.

Your favorite Bible verse? Revelation 21-22

What's the name of your new album and when does it come out? It's called "Heaven & Earth," and it releases Nov. 17.

If you weren't a musician, what would you be? A backup dancer for TobyMac

Do you twitter? Yup! Follow me @philwickham

That's it for today. Short and Sweet!

~j