Tenth Avenue North's Sophomore Album Debuts #1

On the heels of its hit single “By Your Side” receiving the prestigious Song of the Year honor at this year’s GMA Dove Awards, headliners Tenth Avenue North’s highly anticipated The Light Meets The Dark debuts at No. 1 on the Nielsen Christian SoundScan chart and No. 15 on the Billboard Top 200 with first week scans of 21,583. The Light Meets the Dark also secured the No.1 Christian Album chart position at both iTunes and AmazonMP3, and reached Top 5 on the iTunes overall chart.
 
In addition, the album’s first single “Healing Begins” makes the biggest chart move this week from
No. 16 to No. 10 on Billboard’s National AC Christian Monitored chart.  The song has seen a weekly audience growth of 20 percent, which translates to 4.6 million impressions and was second in most- increased spins at the format with a jump of 187 spins this week.
 
“Healing Begins” is currently ranked in the Top Ten of four different Billboard Christian radio airplay charts including: No. 10, National Christian Audience; No. 10, Christian AC Monitored; No. 8, Christian AC Indicator and No. 8, Christian CHR.
 
The band, who has performed for more than 400,000 on the Winter Jam Tour alone, and recently wrapped up the Casting Crowns “Until The Whole World Hears Tour,” also visited seven radio markets as it approached its release date. “Sunset Shows” were performed, in honor of its album’s title, in markets including: Seattle, L.A., Phoenix, New York City, Tampa, Orlando and West Palm Beach, the band’s hometown. All were free shows promoted by radio stations and averaged more than 1,500 in attendance per market.  At the end of the promotional “Sunset Show” run, the band had played for more than 10,000 people.
 
Sarah Taylor, Music Director and On Air talent for CRISTA Broadcasting, shares, “Talk about an experience money can’t buy… Tenth Avenue North performed an exclusive concert for our audience, then stayed after the show to meet every single person! Plus, all concert attendees got to pick up ‘The Light Meets The Dark’ six days early! That event will be one of the highlights of 2010 for sure.”
 
In addition to radio support, the band continues to receive glowing reviews.  Gmclife.com (formerly Gospel Music Channel) says, “Between Donehy’s vocals and the guitar/piano-driven pop-rock sound, The Light Meets the Dark will inevitably draw comparisons to the likes of Coldplay, Keane and Switchfoot’s lighter fare.… The Light Meets the Dark is a strong, honest, mature and musically addictive sophomore effort from a band with a very bright future ahead.”
 
And, “Sticking closely to its formula for success, Tenth Avenue North’s anticipated sophomore project, The Light Meets the Dark, is yet another collection of radio-friendly, melody-driven anthems that showcase the band’s gift for crafting songs that strike an immediate chord with listeners. And in this case, “radio-friendly” doesn’t mean the band sacrificed depth and authenticity when it comes to the album’s themes of brokenness, healing and mercy.”
 
That ability to challenge audiences to a deeper walk of faith while simultaneously encouraging them with the truth of God’s grace has propelled Tenth Avenue North to the forefront of the Christian music industry. The band’s debut disc placed tenth on Billboard Magazine’s list of Top Christian Albums for 2009. The group placed two songs on the Hot Christian Songs chart, including the No. 1 radio single, “By Your Side” at No. 2 and “Hold My Heart” at No. 13. The most impressive is the fact that Tenth Avenue North, still on its first album, had “By Your Side” place No. 3 on Billboard’s overall decade ranking of Christian Songs.
 
In addition to performing a closing slot on the 2010 Winter Jam tour and recently opening for Casting Crowns, Tenth Avenue North will resume a headlining tour in the fall, after its summer festival run.  Dates and markets will be announced soon.