This marks the first time since 2002 that gospel music sales have risen in the first half of the year. When factoring in rising digital tracks sales (which were not tracked until two years ago), the total sales impact of gospel music adds up to a reason for rejoicing, says John W. Styll, president of the Gospel Music Association (GMA).

“The first half of 2006 has been encouraging for gospel music,” said Styll. “It is especially good news that the growth extends to a wide diversity of albums and styles, suggesting that the inspiring and compassionate message that unifies all gospel music is resonating in our culture today.”

As of July 2, 2006, 17,952,000 gospel music albums, including those sold via digital download, have been sold year-to-date compared to 16,085,000 albums for the same six-month time period in 2005. That represents an 11.6 percent increase in sales in a 2005 to 2006 year-to-date comparison. In contrast, the overall music business reports a four percent decline in album sales.

Legal music downloads are accounting for a continually larger piece of overall gospel music sales. Of the total albums sold in the first half of the year, 502,000 were purchased digitally compared to 191,000 albums downloaded in 2005, a nearly 163 percent growth in digital album sales from the first half of 2005 compared with the first half of 2006. That growth is skewing slightly higher than the overall music business’ 126 percent increase in digital album sales. As for individual digital tracks, 2,688,000 songs were sold through digital downloads for the same time period compared to 1,989,000 last year, a 35 percent increase. The top-selling digital track so far in 2006 is “Beautiful Love” by The Afters.

According to Styll, no trend or style of gospel music has sparked the sales growth. “Take any album’s individual success out of the charts and gospel music sales are still up. Both seasoned artists and new names are finding their way onto the charts. Consumers are buying gospel music where they want to buy music, whether at a Christian store, a general market retailer or on their computer. If there is any explanation behind the growth trend, it might be that we are seeing more acceptance in the marketplace for the gospel message, and hopefully, we are also finally experiencing a decline in music piracy,” he said.

The top 20 albums on the year-to-date Billboard Christian/Gospel music album chart for the six month period ending July 2, 2006 are:

1. Precious Memories	Alan Jackson
2. Hero	Kirk Franklin
3. Flyleaf	Flyleaf
4. WoW Gospel 2006	Various
5. Lifesong	Casting Crowns
6. Piece of My Passion	Juanita Bynum
7. Testify	P.O.D.
8. WoW Hits 2006	Various
9. Coming Up To Breathe	MercyMe
10. Wherever You Are	Third Day
11. Arriving	Chris Tomlin
12. Mary Mary	Mary Mary
13. Chronicles of Narnia Soundtrack	Various
14. Define The Great Line	Underoath
15. Open The Eyes of My Heart	Various
16. The Gospel Soundtrack	Various
17. WoW Worship: Aqua	Various
18. Day by Day	Yolanda Adams
19. MMHMM	Relient K
20. Hearts of the Innocent	Kutless

The top 20 albums on the year-to-date Billboard Digital Albums Christian/Gospel music chart for the six month period ending July 2, 2006 are:

1. Testify	P.O.D.
2. Chronicles of Narnia Soundtrack	Various
3. Precious Memories	Alan Jackson
4. MMHMM	Relient K
5. Flyleaf	Flyleaf
6. Lifesong	Casting Crowns
7. Arriving	Chris Tomlin
8. Passion: Everything Glorious	Passion Worship Band
9. Coming Up To Breathe	MercyMe
10. Nothing is Sound	Switchfoot
11. Wherever You Are	Third Day
12. A Collision	David Crowder Band
13. Define The Great Line	Underoath
14. Hero	Kirk Franklin
15. Hearts of the Innocent	Kutless
16. Smile, It's The End of the World	Hawk Nelson
17. Chaotic Resolve	Plumb
18. Everglow	Mae
19. Ripen	Shawn McDonald
20. Nothing Left to Lose	Mat Kearney

Looking ahead to the second half of 2006, traditionally the stronger season for music sales with high profile fall releases and holidays generating bigger sales, gospel music will count on an impressive slate of new projects from high profile artists to maintain or improve on the current growth. Among the artists with upcoming new releases are Amy Grant, Chris Tomlin, Hezekiah Walker, Jars of Clay, Jeremy Camp, Leigh Nash (formerly of Sixpence None the Richer), Mark Schultz, Michael W. Smith, Pillar, Relient K, Selah, Smokie Norful and others. Compilation projects with high hopes include Hip Hope 2007 and Three Wooden Crosses: 17 Inspirational Songs from Today’s Top Country Artists and the perennially successful WoW Hits project.

ABOUT GMA:
Founded in 1964, the 4,000-member Gospel Music Association is dedicated to exposing, promoting and celebrating the gospel through music. The GMA supports all styles of gospel music including contemporary pop, rock, black gospel, urban, praise & worship, Southern gospel, country and children’s gospel music. The GMA produces the GMA Music Awards, which recognizes achievement in all genres of gospel music and are voted on by members of the GMA. GMA Music Week 2007 is scheduled to begin on April 21, 2007 and culminating with the handing out of Dove Awards at the 38th Annual GMA Music Awards on April 25, 2007 in Nashville.