Amy Grant Switches Label after 30 Years
Amy Grant, one of Christian music's most notable Christian mainstays, has left her current label, Word Records, which she has been with for the last 30 years, ever since she first began as a teenager.
The acclaimed artist, who has also sold more Christian albums than any other contemporary Christian singer, will now be joining EMI Christian Music Group (CMG)'s Sparrow Records which will now hold her current catalogue as well as new music.
"I had a great run with Word and still love the people there," explained Grant in Billboard.com last week, "but I feel like EMI is uniquely outfitted to do great things for the catalog. And I've known Bill Hearn (president of EMI CMG) and his father for over 25 years. There's a comfort level there."
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Grant has become one of the most identifiable artists in the Christian genre over her long career. Her best-selling Christian album Heart in Motion has sold more than 5 million copies. Her record Lead Me On was even the top-ranked album in the book CCM Presents: The 100 Greatest Albums in Christian Music.
The famed female vocalist will be able to bring all of her catalogues over to her new label, because she owns all of the master recordings, which is not usual for a musician.
Sparrow Records plans on repacking and re-mastering all of her music, which includes 16 catalogues, and will physically and digitally put them back out. They will also begin to create cell phone rings from her popular music.
"There's never been a 'Baby, Baby' ring tone," said Hearn in Billboard. "Imagine how popular that could be."
In October, the label also plans on releasing a greatest hits compilation that will include at least one song from each of her previous albums and will also include a companion DVD that will feature her music videos and other content.
"Word is honored to have been part of Amy's career for the past 30 years," shared Rod Riley, senior vice president of marketing at Word Records, in Billboard. "She is a pioneer that paved the way for so many other Christian artists and we wish her the best on all her endeavors."
Currently Grant is working on a new book to be released into stores in the fall called Mosaic. It will include stories, poems, and other writings from the acclaimed singer.
She also plans on going on tour during the summer with Vince Gill, her husband, and the Del McCoury Band.
EMI has been the home to some of music's most legendary names, including the Beach Boys, the Beatles, Bob Seger, and Frank Sinatra.
