Multi-artist collaboration City On A
Hill – Songs Of Worship And Praise has captured the No. 1 spot on the
SoundScan Top Praise & Worship chart five weeks after its release. The
Essential Records project, which features Jars of Clay, Sixpence None
the Richer, FFH, Caedmon’s Call, Third Day, The Choir, Gene Eugene, and
SONICFLOOd with Peter Furler of the Newsboys, is currently enjoying its
highest sales week yet, a rare accomplishment given its longevity on the
market.
Essential Records president, Robert Beeson, attributes the project’s
success to the unique format of the recording, one that encourages
community and collaboration between diverse artists. “It’s extremely
unusual for sales to increase five weeks after a record first arrives in
stores. Initially, all we wanted to do is get this project out into the
marketplace; extending our City On A Hill family to the Christian
community as a whole because we believed so passionately in the
concept. We think the sales growth speaks loudly to the tremendous
word-of-mouth response the record is experiencing from these Christian
music buyers, as they too are now becoming a part of the City On A Hill
community experience.
“It is further a testimony to the creativity and cooperation between
many
talented musicians who simply wanted to use their artistry in service
and
worship towards God,” explains Beeson. “I think that’s what people hear
and
respond to on this project.”
Since its August 22 debut, City On A Hill has remained in the top 5 on
the
SoundScan Top Christian Albums chart, as well as on the Praise and
Worship
chart. The project has also proven its appeal at radio. The current
single
“God of Wonders” is a multi-format hit, simultaneously landing on three
reporting charts this week: No. 2 and climbing with all stations
reporting
on the Adult Contemporary (AC) chart, No. 12 and earning “Highest Debut”
honors on the Contemporary Hits (CHR) chart, and No. 16 and named
“Hitbound” on the Inspirational chart (CRR/CCM Update). With this
accomplishment, City On A Hill becomes the first project in Essential
Records’ history to simultaneously retain a slot on all three major
radio formats.
As radio and consumers embrace this recording, critical reviews of City
On A Hill have also been overwhelmingly positive. USA Today gives the
project three-and-a-half out of four stars, saying, “Contemporary
Christian music’s
modern-worship movement reaches a pinnacle with City On A Hill, which
matches worshipers’ goal of community by encouraging collaborations from
some of the best bands to emerge from the Christian-rock scene.”
A companion book, City On A Hill – Reflections of our Spiritual
Journeys,
features selected artists’ and authors’ perspectives on their faith.
Each
segment of the book includes a photo of the artist/author and an
essay/testimony from that particular artist’s experience.
