Switchfoot's New Song Kicks Off With Big Bang Shattering Record for Christian Radio Play

By Tyler O'Neil, Op-ed contributor Friday, October 18, 2013

Switchfoot's new single "Love Alone is Worth the Fight," from its anticipated 9^{th studio album Fading West is the first and only song to have every Christian Adult Contemporary (AC/CHR) station playing the single in its debut week, according to Nielson BDS, a service that tracks monitored radio, television, and internet airplay.}

The song also breaks new ground for Switchfoot, as the highest debut rank for the band on the National Christian Audience (NCA) chart – it hit No. 34 in the first week, reaching about 1 million people. The song also took the band's second highest chart spot on the Hot AC/CHR singles list.

Switchfoot released the single during its 43-city "Fading West" Fall tour, which began Sept. 20 and continues until Nov. 24. The album itself premieres on Jan. 14, 2014, with a feature film preceding it on Dec. 10, 2013. The film will be part rock documentary, part surf film, and part travelogue.

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In an email, Switchfoot called the film "our most ambitious project yet." The band conveyed its enthusiasm with a brief online description: "We can't wait to show it to you! Part rock-umentary, part surf film, Fading West is an extremely personal, in-depth look at the highs and lows of this band of brothers that we call Switchfoot. We've captured the entire journey we've been on for the last 2 years – and we're so excited for you to see it!"

The band also released an EP featuring "Who We Are" and "Ba55," two other Fading West preview songs, along with "Love Alone is Worth the Fight." While Switchfoot released the EP on Sept. 17, a special physical edition – which includes a bonus track not even featured on the full album, "Fading West," will be available only on the Fall tour.

Switchfoot has sold millions of copies of their eight studio albums, released Alternative radio hit singles, and performed sold-out world tours on five continents in the past year alone.

The band has also raised over $900,000 with their Bro-Am Foundation to support "local at-risk, homeless, and street kids year-round" in California. Its 9^{th annual surf contest and concert took place in July.}