Australia’s national Christian music chart, The Rock Across Australia, today named Paul Colman’s driving modern worship hit Gloria (All God’s Children) as the Song of the Year, and 17 year old American pop songstress Bethany Dillon as the Artist of the Year. The Rock Across Australia, referred to as TRAA within the Christian music and radio community, researches airplay of Christian songs throughout Australia each week.
TRAA’s 2005 Top 100 Songs of the Year report shows Paul Colman’s Gloria (All God’s Children) was the most played song on Australian Christian radio during 2005. The song debuted in the weekly Top 30 on 17 January 2005, settling in for 21 weeks with 12 at number one. Colman co-wrote the TRAA Song of the Year with Peter Furler the leader of the newsboys, Hillsong Church worship pastor Reuben Morgan, and Nashville singer songwriter Jason Ingram. This is the first time the Australian who now resides in America has been honored with TRAA?s award for Song of the Year. In 2000 and 2001, the Paul Colman Trio won the award for Artist of the Year.
The report also shows that Australian Christian radio has enthusiastically embraced the music of American teenager Bethany Dillon. Her bright and airy pop songs have connected with programmers and audiences. Two of her songs All I Need and All That I Can Do spent a total of 12 weeks at number one in 2005. These, as well as her remake of Amy Grant?s Lead Me On succeeded in attaining the #2, #10, and #25 spots in the end of year report. This is the second time Dillon has earned a TRAA Award. Last year, she gained the honor for Song of the Year with Beautiful.
Other artists who triumphed with high airplay on Australian Christian radio in 2005 were newsboys, Superchic[k], Nathan Tasker, Reuben Morgan, Jars of Clay, TobyMac, ZOEgirl, and Brooke Fraser. TRAA?s 2005 Top 100 Songs and analysis are available online at www.therockacrossaustralia.com
PREVIOUS TRAA AWARDS
2004
Song of the Year – Beautiful ? Bethany Dillon
Artist of the Year – Jars Of Clay
2003
Song of the Year – (There?s Gotta Be) More to Life ? Stacie Orrico
Artist of the Year – Stacie Orrico
2002
Song of the Year – Purified – Michael W Smith
Artist of the Year – Michael W Smith
2001
Song of the Year – These Thousand Hills – Third Day
Artist of the Year – Paul Colman Trio
2000
Song of the Year – Shackles (Praise You) – Mary Mary
Artist of the Year – Paul Colman Trio
1999
Song of the Year – There’s No Power in Pity – Cliff Richard
Artist of the Year – dc Talk
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