::THE SLICE REPORT WITH MONA AUSTIN

   August 12, 2022 - (Nashville, TN) — Three-time Grammy nominee Brian Courtney Wilson drops a new song, “Always Peace,” on all digital platforms today, along with the performance video exclusively on YouTube. Penning the retro-sounding song with writer and producer Dana Sorey, Wilson offers “Always Peace” as a call for peace in our lives and our circumstances no matter what. It is a timely reminder that there is rest and comfort in God that remains in both good and bad times. The song is available today everywhere you can stream and listen to music.   The single advances his forthcoming album “Transitions” which is considered to be Wilson’s most ambitious album to date. The album, produced by celebrated producer and music director Dana Soréy, is a musical conversation backed by world-class musicians and singers, captured live during a soulful jam session.  Wilson aims to foster dialogue with listeners about faith, family, and community. On Friday, Wilson wi...

Billboard #1 Most Added Song at Radio!! (Hollywood, CA)   Grammy & Stellar Award winner   Brent Jones   is back   with a brand-new album!  Featuring the hot new single   “ N othing Else Matters” ,   (#1 Most Added Song at Radio – Billboard) ,  “Nothing Else Matters" is the highly anticipated follow-up to Brent’s  mega hits   "Open Your Mouth and Say Something", "He Rose” ,  “Don’t Wait Till Midnight” (featuring Coko from SWV) & his urban AC smash   “Goodtime” , which topped Billboard for 47+ weeks! Produced by former Stevie Wonder music director Eddie Brown, Brent Jones, and Professor James Roberson,   “Nothing Else Matters” is yet another choir jam classic from Brent Jones. A singer/songwriter extraordinaire who’s groundbreaking work with his urban group TP Mobb set the stage for Kirk Franklin and urban contemporary gospel,   JDI/Sony artist Brent Jones’ new 12-song album  “Nothing Else Matters (INSTEAD ...

Franklin inspires children in poverty through months of virtual mentoring   COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – Grammy-winning music artist Kirk Franklin has teamed up with Compassion International to re-release his single, “ Lean on Me ,” featuring the voices of youth living in poverty around the world.    For the past several months, Franklin has been working with youth from all 25 countries in Compassion’s child development program. Through virtual auditions and rehearsals, the Compassion Youth Choir, made up of more than 120 youth, ages 11-19, worked with the artist to record the song, which was originally released in 1998.    After a trip to the Dominican Republic with Compassion in early 2020, Franklin felt called by God to use his talents, platform, and personal story to inspire youth around the world to pursue their own giftings.    In late 2020, Compassion sent out a call to youth in its field countries , where the ministry serves children in poverty,...

  Aug. 20, 2021 (Nashville, Tenn.)  Stemming off the success of his radio singles “Provider,” “Every Step of the Way” and the current single “Source of Life”, Red Street Records’ breakout artist Cade Thompson has announced the release of his first full length album   Bigger Story   available starting September 10, 2021. The   pre-order is now live . Bigger Story  will feature 10 tracks produced by longtime collaborators Matt Armstrong, Bryan Fowler, Micah Kuiper and AJ Pruis. Recorded in the heart of Music City, Thompson sat down with some of the industry’s top songwriters including award-winning artist Matthew West, as well as Krissy Nordhoff, Micah Kuiper, Ross King, Jeff Owen, Matt Armstrong, Jeff Pardo, Benji Cowart and Ethan Hulse to pen powerful and inspiring songs drawing inspiration from personal experiences about his experience with God. Thompson explains, “This album was written out of my life experiences which led to this one question: How would ...

Usually when Nick Cannon is behind a mic he is hosting or rapping. Recently he connected vocally with  Grammy winning star Kierra Sheard.  Multi-talented Nick Cannon has joined the fray of mainstream artists doing gospel music with his take on the Fred Hammond classic "No Weapon" featuring Sheard.  Released on Good Friday, "No Weapon" is a follow-up to the artists March release of "Ghetto Blues" which focuses on the homeless population in Los Angeles.  The Wildin' Out creator  is singing and playing the keys, displaying hidden skills on the track. Cannon announced the collaboration by tweeting the hook of the song and shouting out Kierra. "Good Friday! No weapon that is formed against thee shall prosper. Thanks to @KierraSheard [for] coming through and blessing us all with an Ncredible Session!" . A video of the pairing has a peaceful white aesthetic with  a small choir offering supporting vocals. The message of the song is based on the sc...

Washington DC --  Rising singer and songwriter  Darnell Moore is making his imprint on Gospel music.  He is a young astute musician who has an easy-going spirit and worships with an authentic heart.  Over the years, Darnell has toured internationally in a supporting role to other artists as a musician, music director, or vocal director.  He recently returned from his first solo international tour of Italy in December to pre-promote his HOSANNA  EP.   HOSANNA is now available on all digital music and streaming outlets and marks the singer's first album/EP release. "This is a new step for my music career," Darnell shares.  "This is the first time I have placed a body of work on digital platforms for distribution.  Also, this EP is being released on my 35th birthday. Even though birthdays are a time to receive love and appreciation, I decided to share with the world, m...

The Music Legend Shares His Journey of Love, Music, Loss, Grief, and His Bout with Depression, Mental Illness and His Obsession with Suicide (Washington, DC) – Multiple Award-winning recording artist, songwriter, and author,  Richard Smallwood,  released his memoir   TOTAL PRAISE: THE AUTOBIOGRAPHY ,  with the Foreword written by Tony Award winner Phylicia Rashad on November 11, 2019, two weeks before his 71 st  birthday. In TOTAL PRAISE, Smallwood chronicles his life as a musician and composer and the highs and lows of his music career. He also shares his journey of love, loss, grief, and his bouts of depression, mental illness and his obsession with suicide. Published by Godzchild Publication, TOTAL PRAISE is available on digital retail outlets, including   Amazon ,  Amazon Kindle ,  Apple , and  Barnes & Noble . TOTAL PRAISE also documents his humble beginnings from Atlanta, GA to Washington, DC, to his love of music as...

Gospel artist Kirk Franklin. Photo by Mona Austin By Mona Austin (The Slice): Gospel music icon Kirk Franklin is protesting the Gospel Music Association, producers of the Dove Awards and their broadcasting partner the Trinity  Broadcasting Network (TBN). In a video posted on Facebook, the artist explained "history has repeated itself" with a recurrence of his comments being edited out of the Dove Awards telecast. "Today I feel like quitting, I am heart-broken that I even have to share this with you," he starts the video saying. Franklin's sentiment reflects the micro-aggressive behaviors in business and society that  bring to light what many Africans-Americans perceive as blatant discrimination decades beyond the Civil Rights Era. VIDEO: Kirk Franklin announces personal boycott of Dove Awards and TBN Continuing, the Sunday Best host details the background on why he is taking a personal stand. He referred back to the year when h...

Nashville, TN (October 25, 2019) – RCA Inspiration and Essential Worship , both divisions of Provident Label Group and Sony Music Entertainment , have announced a strategic music partnership with the global ministry, All Nations Worship Assembly , which is headquartered in Chicago, IL, and has campuses across the U.S. in Atlanta, GA, Huntsville, AL, Memphis, TN, Baltimore, MD, San Bernardino, CA, and Louisville, KY, as well as in Toronto, Ontario in Canada. Under this collaboration, which was just unveiled at the World Changers Summit hosted by All Nations in Chicago, leading gospel and inspirational music label RCA Inspiration, and Essential Worship, Essential Music Publishing’s church and worship leader resourcing platform, will release new music from All Nations’ various campuses and worship leaders. Phil Thornton , Senior Vice President and GM, RCA Inspiration, says, “The RCAI and Provident teams look forward to being able to bless the world through All Nati...

  Nashville, TN (October 25, 2019) – Motown Gospel recording artist, and television and radio personality Lexi releases the powerful faith-inspiring ballad “There is More” along with an exclusive lyric video on YouTube. Written by Lexi, along with multi-Dove-Award nominated producer Dana Soréy and award-winning gospel singer and composer Deon Kipping, the single is available on all digital platforms today. A soulful vibe and stirring vocal ensemble showcase the most passionate vocal performance of Lexi’s career. “There is More” is a testament to her unwavering faith in God. The heartfelt lyrics speak directly to those facing adversity, offering hope and encouraging trust in God. “This song was written in one of the most difficult times in my life,” says Lexi. However, I still believe that God has more for me, and I won’t stop until I see it. Better ain’t coming, BETTER IS HERE!”

  Nashville, TN  – Chart-topper Koryn Hawthorne continues to amass a series of firsts, garnering nods for the 2019 Billboard Music Awards with triple nominations across all Gospel categories: Top Gospel Artist, Top Gospel Album (Unstoppable) , and Top Gospel Song (“Won’t He Do It”) . Fresh off first-time wins at the Stellar Awards and NAACP Image Awards , the inspirational vocal phenom took home a Stellar Award for “Won’t He Do It” as Music Video of the Year (director: Casey Cross), and an Image Award for Unstoppable as Outstanding Gospel Album (Traditional or Contemporary) . Hawthorne also made her second consecutive appearance performing on the Stellar Awards main stage this year.   Hawthorne has celebrated a record-breaking year, by setting a new record for a female artist at #1 on Billboard’s Hot Gospel Songs chart for 41 weeks with her smash hit, “Won’t He Do It.” Additionally, she earned a #1 debut on Billboard’s Top Gospel Albums chart for ...