Posted by Larry Gleeson
By Herb Longs
New Day Christian Distributors and Word Entertainment are pleased to announce an expanded distribution relationship. Effective January 2, 2017, all titles from Word Entertainment will be exclusively distributed in the physical format to Christian Retail by New Day. The agreement encompasses Word Entertainment’s record and film partners and all artists on the Word and Curb Christian rosters, including: Meredith Andrews, Chris August, Francesca Battistelli, Big Daddy Weave, Blanca, Castro, Everfound, Family Force 5, for KING & COUNTRY, Natalie Grant, Group 1 Crew, Mallary Hope, Love & The Outcome, Dara Maclean, Steven Malcolm, OBB, Plumb, Sarah Reeves, Selah, Sidewalk Prophets, Todd Smith, Stars Go Dim, VERIDIA, We Are Messengers and Zealand Worship.
“The first major label relationship we established after starting New Day in 1981, was with Word Records,” shared Dottie Leonard Miller, President & CEO of New Day. “Serving Christian Retail is our entire focus at New Day. To be able to exclusively represent Word Entertainment and Curb Records to Christian Retail, along with products from their distributed labels and film partners, is a career highlight. We are humbled by Mike Curb’s and Rod Riley’s trust in New Day.”
This exclusive distribution arrangement brings together two great, independent, Christian-owned companies. According to Nielsen Music’s SoundScan, combined Christian music market share YTD for New Day/Word exceeds 16%.
Rod Riley, President & CEO, Word Entertainment, adds, “I have been a big fan of Dottie, Ed, and the New Day team for many years now, and it is an honor to bring our companies together as we effectively move forward into the future of the music industry. As we sharpen our focus on content creation while continuing to be committed to Christian Retail, this new relationship will strengthen how we are able to serve our artists and our catalog of 65 years.”
Today’s announcement comes on the heels of New Day signing the TillyMann (Tamela Mann) label for Christian Retail distribution, and extending its exclusive Christian Retail distribution relationships with Reach Records (Lecrae, Andy Mineo, Trip Lee, Tedashii, KB) and Tooth & Nail/BEC/Solid State Records (Kutless, 7eventh Time Down, Disciple, Demon Hunter, David Dunn). New Day will now exclusively represent a historic collection of independent Christian labels and artists under one roof with artists representing all styles of the Christian genre, including: AC, Hip Hop, Rap, Rock, Gospel, Southern Gospel, Jazz, Bluegrass, Country, and Inspirational. Also, for the first time, New Day will offer Word performance tracks, adding to the market leadership of their Daywind line which features over 4,400 titles across genres.
