TobyMac's 'Welcome To Diverse City' Reaps Success On Debut

By Justin Camacho, Christian Post Correspondent Friday, October 15, 2004

TobyMac’s sophomore solo project, Welcome To Diverse City, debuted at number one on the Soundscan Christian charts, selling 20,987 units in its first week. The CD was also the number one selling album at Family Christian Stores, as well as the Berean chain.

The album has also spawned tobyMac’s biggest radio success with the single “Gone,” which simultaneously hit #1 on both R&R’s CHR and Rock charts this week. Nikki Cantu, Music Director at Radio-U Columbus, commented, “We knew that ‘Gone’ by tobyMac was destined to make it to #1! We love it, and most importantly, our listeners love it!”

"Toby is the personification of the word ‘ambition,’" exclaimed Nick Barre, Vice President Artist Development for EMI CMG Label Group. “He has a deep-rooted sense of his calling as an artist and it bears fruit in terms of the high level of creativity in his songwriting, his perfectionism in the recording studio, his riveting, unparalleled live show, and his impassioned commitment to live a life of authenticity consistent with his faith. The tremendous initial success we're experiencing with the launch of TobyMac's new project is the outcome of a lot of hard work on behalf of the artist, management, and the label. It's especially encouraging to see the impact of EMI CMG's reorganization deliver results even greater than we anticipated. "