Archive for May, 2007

Platinum selling, award-winning Word Records recording artist, Mark Schultz, began his ACROSS AMERICA bike ride May 7 to raise support for orphans and widows. Having biked 1,287 miles and raised over $75,000 so far, Schultz also plans to make a special appearance June 8 with The Kansas Children’s Service League (the League) to help bring awareness to the more than 900 children in Kansas that are currently in foster care waiting to be adopted. This is also the same agency from where Schultz was adopted.

Based in Wichita, KS, the League noticed that Schultz’s benefit bike ride is coming through their area and invited him to appear at its Klicks for Kids Exhibit, a photo exhibit of 67 Kansas children that are currently waiting to be adopted. The exhibit is being held in Meadowbrook Mall in Pittsburg, KS.

“This was something that I immediately knew I needed to do,” says Schultz. “If it wasn’t for the caring people at this amazing organization, I don’t know where I would be today. May is National Foster Care Month, and I want to encourage family’s to consider making a lifetime of difference for the most vulnerable in our communities, the young lives of children.”

“We are excited to have Mark visit our exhibit,” says Christy Barton, East Region Community Relations Coordinator, Kansas Children’s Service League. “Mark’s life is a testament to the positive impact a forever family can have on a child. His appearance will help raise awareness of the hundreds of children in Kansas foster care awaiting adoption.”

The Kansas Children’s Service League (the League) is a statewide not-for-profit agency with over 100 years of experience protecting children and strengthening families in Kansas. The League serves over 40,000 children and their families each year through a variety of community based and child abuse prevention programs, Head Start and Early Head Start services, agency infant adoption, adoption services through its contract with the Kansas Department of Social and Rehabilitation Services, and foster home services. The League’s mission is to protect and promote the well-being of children.

On his way from California to New Hampshire, Schultz is posting daily video blogs documenting his journey, as well as completing a daily 60-second update from the road that is being offered to radio stations across the country through Westar Media Group. To date, 69 stations are using the updates to inform their listeners.

Schultz is also stopping along the way to perform concerts featuring music from his acclaimed, best-selling album, Broken & Beautiful (Word Records). A recent concert review along the bike tour can be found at www.gallupindependent.com. More information about the Across America ride, including tour dates, how to sponsor Mark, video blog updates, and Mark’s progress can be found at www.markacrossamerica.org.

Schultz’s inspiration to make this 3,500-mile ride came from a visit he and his wife, Kate, made to orphanages in Mexico. In the spring of 2006, they went on a mission trip with The James Fund, a non-profit organization founded by Family Christian Stores, to meet the needs of orphans and widows in distress. Schultz’s own adoption drew him to explore this ministry. Seeing firsthand the harsh realities for many orphans and realizing that he could have easily been one of the boys in the orphanage, he wanted to make a difference.

Schultz’s fifth career project, Broken & Beautiful, which released last fall and debuted in the Top 5 on SoundScan’s Christian and Top 10 on the general market retail charts, marked the strongest street week of his career. After the 2005 release, Mark Schultz Live…A Night of Stories & Songs, sold Platinum and garnered Schultz his first GMA Dove award, Broken & Beautiful became one of the most highly anticipated albums of the year. With his thought provoking lyrics and appealing music, Schultz’s latest effort is being heralded as his “career” album. The title track is the first multi-format hit single and No. 1 inspirational song from the album.

Lauded at No. 1 on Billboard’s “Hot Christian Adult Contemporary Songwriters” list and with eight No. 1 hits, Schultz has been honored with a 2005 Dove Award, was the centerpiece of the U.S. Army campaign “Letters From War,” was named Christian Music Today’s Male Vocalist in 2003, and was featured on the national magazine program, “48 Hours.”

For additional information on Mark Schultz, visit www.markacrossamerica.org, www.markschultzmusic.com or www.wordlabelgroup.com.

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New video from the guys called Hold On by Jonas Brothers

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INO Records President, Jeff Moseley, recently announced the promotion of Dan Michaels from VP of Promotions to Senior Vice-President of Marketing and Promotions.  Michaels is a 20-year veteran of the Christian music industry and has been with INO since 2000.  

“I am happy to announce Dan Michaels promotion to SR. VP of marketing and promotions,” says President of INO Jeff Moseley. “Dan has proven himself to be an excellent executive and his experience overseeing radio and new media will dovetail nicely with his expanded role as SR. VP. I am excited that he will be providing leadership in new areas that will benefit the company and our artist partners.

Michaels will oversee marketing, radio promotions, digital/new media marketing and publicity for the INO artist roster including MercyMe, P.O.D, The Afters, Chris Rice, PC&D, Skillet, Darlene Zschech and Sandi Patty among others.

"It is so important to build great relationships with people you work with and to have someone like Dan Michaels on your team is definitely a plus," says Zach Kelm, President of Q Management Group (Skillet, Decyfer Down, and Nevertheless). Michaels has not only been an important asset to my team, but has also been a wonderful friend to us. I am thrilled about his promotion, it could not have happen to a nicer person."

About INO
INO launched in April 1999, designed to create ‘independently minded’ artist-label partnerships that offer specialized attention to both music and ministry. Following an extremely successful two years in business, INO was purchased by Integrity Incorporated, a media/communications company that produces, publishes and distributes Christian music, books and related products throughout the United States and internationally in 176 other countries worldwide.

For more information on INO and their artists, go to http://www.inorecords.com