Vol 1, Issue 8

Thursday August 4, 2005

Welcome to The Beat!

The monthly e-newsletter from The Premier Group, the nation’s leading promoter of Christian events, cruises and concerts. With Premier, you won’t miss a beat!

Premier Christian Cruises - Cruise News

The Music Boat 2005

Over 95 percent sold out! The Music Boat 2005 is down to the last few cabins.

With a few vacant cabins, there is still time to join us on The Music Boat 2005, sailing Sept. 12-16, from Miami to Key West and Cozumel, Mexico.

Guests who have already booked this tremendous family vacation on The Music Boat are counting down the days until castoff!

This Premier Christian Cruise will be a family vacation to remember. With nightly concerts featuring some of the top names in contemporary Christian music – 7-time Dove Award winner Casting Crowns; heart-pumping Audio Adrenaline, and other contemporary Christian greats – Tait, Mark Schultz, 4HIM, NewSong, Anointed, David Phelps, Brother’s Keeper, Superchic(k), Geoff Moore, Warren Barfield and Rachael Lampa. That’s just the music!

N.Y. Times best-selling author and statesman Stephen Mansfield, along with world-renowned evangelist and author David Nasser will be speaking during the cruise. Comedian Mike Williams will tickle your funny bone, while magician David Garrard will leave you wondering how he did it!

With a Premier Christian Cruise there are exciting shore excursions, exotic locations, luxury accommodations, all-inclusive meals - from gala dinners to 24-hour pizza service, state-of-the-art Spa equipment, three pools, teen center and so much more.

It’s everything a family vacation is supposed to be – all at an affordable price. Check out all there is to see and do at www.premierchristiancruises.com

Then jump onboard today. The cabins are selling fast and expected to sell out very soon. Don’t delay. Call today. 1-888-999-1099.

The First Annual Girls’ Getaway Cruise

Women are all about relationships. We love our girl talks, listening to each other, sharing our life struggles, laughing and crying together. That’s how we grow closer to each other and to God. Women build those face-to-face friendships we value most. Men, on the other hand, tend to build side-by-side friendships. They work and play and watch games with their best buddies, but aren’t as likely to share deep feelings. That’s OK. That’s the way God made us.

Still, we all need time to build our friendships. That’s one of the goals of The Girls Getaway Cruise. An extended weekend retreat, you’ll set sail from Port Canaveral, Florida on Thursday, Nov. 10, 2005. Spend a day at Nassau, Bahamas and a fun-filled day and night at sea, and then you'll be home by Sunday evening, Nov. 13, 2005.

Bring your friends and come worship with some of the best women Christian artists and vocalists today - Sandi Patty, Kim Hill, Point of Grace and newcomer Kristy Starling. Hear the poignant, funny and real-life stories of Lisa Whelchel and Lisa Harper. Laugh until your sides ache with the “Queen of Clean” comedy, Chonda Pierce. Hear the down-to-earth message of Susie Shellenberger with Brio magazine, targeting today’s young women right where they’re living.

CLICK HERE for the full article.

K-LOVE Friends & Family Cruise 2006

Half a year seems like forever, but it will be here before you know it. With less than six months until the K-LOVE Friends and Family Music Cruise 2006, people are already making plans.

“In-the-know” vacationers have booked their cabins for the next K-LOVE cruise. More than 63 percent of the available cabins on the luxury Carnival cruise ship have already been booked! Many of them are repeat K-LOVE cruisers.

You too can sail away with more than a dozen of today’s best artists in Christian music on Jan. 23-27, 2006, from Long Beach, California, to Catalina Island and Ensenada, Mexico.

Join Third Day, Salvador, Matthew West, Building 429, Todd Agnew, Denver & The Mile High Orchestra, George Huff, Ginny Owens, BarlowGirl, The Katinas, Jump 5, Joy Williams, Lincoln Brewster and many more on the Third Annual K-LOVE Friends & Family Music Cruise. With music ranging from Pop to Rock and Neo-soul to Jazzy 40s, there are styles to please every Christian music fan.

CLICK HERE for the full article.

Premier Productions - Concert News

Concert of the Month

With the recent release of “History,” Matthew West continues doing what he does best - writing songs that come straight from his heart. A prolific songwriter, West has written with some of the best talent in the industry today. He wrote today’s No. 1 song in the country, “Hide” with Joy Williams, along with “The Day Before You,” by Rascal Flatts, “Something Beautiful” by Natalie Grant, “Down” by Point of Grace and “Complete” by Andy Chrisman. That’s an impressive list for someone who jumped from the springboard into the Christian music spotlight merely 18 months ago.

Since the 2003 release of his national debut “Happy,” West has risen quickly in the ranks of the music industry. His single, “More” held the top spot of R&Rs Christian Adult Contemporary singles chart for a record-breaking nine weeks.

He continues to make “history” with his release by the same name. Loosely chronicling his own life story, he pens songs that focus on his past, present and future. The only history he is truly interested in making is the kind that will stand the test of eternity, he said.

One of the featured artists on the upcoming K-LOVE Friends & Family Music Cruise, Matthew West is filling his days with fun events. Catch him in the “Welcome Back” concert at Mississippi College in Clinton, 7 p.m. on August 25 th.

Advance tickets are $13 for individuals, $10 for students and $10 for groups of 10 or more. For more information go to www.premierproductions.com or www.matthewwest.com

Check out this Q&A with Matthew West:

Q. You are an amazing songwriter. How long have you been writing songs?

A. Thanks... for saying I'm amazing! That's really nice of you to say. What was the question? Just kidding. I've been writing songs since 1996, my freshman year in college.

CLICK HERE for the full article.

Upcoming Concerts

Ernie Haase & Signature Sound

*Aug. 5 – Springfield, MO – High Street Baptist Church / Tickets on sale NOW!

To purchase tickets go to www.PremierProductions.com

Legacy 5 & Greater Vision

*Sept. 10 – Ridgecrest, NC – Lifeway Conference Center / Tickets on sale NOW!

God Is Crazy About You Tour

Mark Lowry, LordSong, & Stan Whitmire

*Sept. 22 – Port Huron, MI – McMorran Place Arena / Tickets on sale NOW!

To Purchase tickets go to www.Ticketmaster.com

*Sept. 23 – Grand Rapids, MI – Sunshine Community Church / Tickets on sale NOW!

To Purchase tickets go to www.PremierProductions.com

*Sept. 25 – Saginaw, MI – Dow Event Center Theater / Tickets on sale NOW!

To Purchase tickets go to www.Ticketmaster.com

*Oct. 6 – Blountville, TN – Celebration Church / Tickets on sale Aug. 12th!

*Oct. 7 – Mobile, AL – Dauphin Way Baptist Church / Tickets on sale Aug. 12th!

*Oct. 8 – Decatur, AL – Decatur Baptist Church / Tickets on sale Aug. 12th!

*Oct. 21 – Atlanta, GA – Mount Paran Church of God Central / Tickets on sale Aug. 26th!

*Oct. 22 – Spartanburg, SC – First Baptist North Spartanburg / Tickets on sale Aug. 26th!

*Nov. 3 – Hattiesburg, MS – Main Street Baptist Church / Tickets on sale Sept. 9th!

*Nov. 17 – Waco, TX – Columbus Avenue Baptist Church / Tickets on sale Sept. 23rd!

*Nov. 18 – Sunnyvale, TX – Sunnyvale First Baptist Church / Tickets on sale Sept. 23rd!

*Nov. 19 – Little Rock, AR – Geyer Springs First Baptist Church / Tickets on sale Sept. 23rd!

Lifesong Tour

Casting Crowns, Building 429, & Tony Nolan

*Oct. 9 – Spokane, WA – Spokane Arena / Tickets on sale Aug. 5th!

*Oct. 10 – Boise, ID – BSU Pavilion / Tickets on sale Aug. 5th!

*Oct. 22 – Tyler, TX – Oil Palace / Tickets on sale Aug. 8th!

*Nov. 4 – Jackson, MS – First Baptist Church / Tickets on sale Aug. 26th!

*Nov. 29 – Saginaw, MI – Dow Event Center / Tickets on sale Sept. 16th!

Matthew West & Hawk Nelson

*Aug. 25 – Clinton, MS – A.E. Woods Coliseum / Tickets on sale NOW!

To Purchase tickets go to www.PremierProductions.com

The Indescribable Tour

Chris Tomlin, Matt Redman & Louie Giglio

*Oct. 18 – Detroit, MI – Northridge Church / Tickets on sale Aug. 12th!

*Oct. 20 – Grand Rapids, MI – Sunshine Community Church / Tickets on sale Aug. 19th!

*Oct. 24 – Raytown, MO – First Baptist Church / Tickets on sale Aug. 26th!

Restored Tour 2005

Jeremy Camp, Tree 63, & Bethany Dillon

*Sept. 22 – Winston-Salem, NC – LJVM Coliseum Annex / Tickets on sale NOW!

To Purchase tickets go to www.Ticketmaster.com

*Nov. 19 – Grand Rapids, MI – Sunshine Community Church / Tickets on sale Sept. 16th!

Jars of Clay

*Nov. 20 – Birmingham, AL – Wright Center / Tickets on sale Sept. 16th!

Until My Heart Caves Tour

Audio Adrenaline, Pillar, Superchic[k], Kids in the Way, & Sanctus Real

*Oct. 14 – Canton, OH – Canton Civic Center / Tickets on sale Aug. 12th!

*Oct. 23 – Toledo, OH – Stranahan Theatre / Tickets on sale Aug. 19th!

*Oct. 21– Augusta, GA – First Baptist Church of North Augusta / Tickets on sale Aug. 25th!

*Oct. 28 – Springfield, MO – Shrine Mosque / Tickets on sale Aug. 19th!

Christmas Tour

Steven Curtis Chapman & MercyMe

*Nov. 25 – Greenville, SC – BI-LO Center / Tickets on sale Sept. 9th!

*Nov. 26 – Greensboro, NC – Greensboro Coliseum / Tickets on sale Sept. 9th!

*Nov. 29 – Detroit, MI – The Palace of Auburn Hills / Tickets on sale Sept. 9th!

*Nov. 30 – Grand Rapids, MI – Van Andel Arena / Tickets on sale Sept. 9th!

*Dec. 2 – Kansas City, MO – Kemper Arena / Tickets on sale Sept. 16th!

*Dec. 17 – Birmingham, AL – BJCC Arena /Tickets on sale Sept. 23rd!

Concert schedule is subject to change. For more information on upcoming concerts, please visit our website regularly at www.PremierProductions.com. More concert dates and information will be added soon!

Book your Premier Christian Cruise on-line!

CLICK HERE for more information.

Radio Station of the Month

“On-The-Air” Award – for the radio station that has demonstrated outstanding service to the Christian music industry, artists and audience.

The Radio Station of the Month for August goes to Z88.3 Radio out of Altamonte Springs, FL.

Founder, president and general manager Jim Hoge accepted the award on behalf of his station.

See their website at zradio.org

Q. What is your reaction to winning the Radio Station of the Month from The Premier Group?

A. Wow- Praise God! God alone gets all the glory!

CLICK HERE for full article.

Insider News from Premier

Join us in welcoming Misti Sargent - the newest member of The Premier Group. She joined the company in July as the bookkeeper and receptionist.

“What I enjoy about working at Premier so far is the wonderful staff,” she said. “The unity of the staff demonstrates the most important goal and that is building God’s kingdom through every activity that Premier sponsors.”

Born and raised in Greensboro, N.C., she currently lives in High Point, home to the North Carolina division of Premier. She has worked as an emergency room secretary, office assistant and recovery room assistant for a surgical practice, and a financial manager for a local dentist’s office.

CLICK HERE for full article.

Charity News

“Premier Foundation is … formed to spread the gospel of Jesus Christ through the medium of Christian music,” said Gary Gentry, administrator of Premier Foundation. “We give grants to churches, radio stations and groups that support the spread of the Gospel. This is our way of reaching out to people today and making an impact in the world long after we are gone.”

Premier Productions
Premier Christian Cruises
Premier Foundation

At Premier
It’s more than music … It’s ministry!