Zomba Gospel Named Billboard’s Top Gospel Album Label

New York, NY – Approaching the end of a monumental year, Zomba Gospel maintains its leadership position in the gospel music industry by being named Top Gospel Album Label in Billboard Magazine’s Year End issue.

With over 20 top-charting releases this year, Zomba Gospel also holds multiple spots on Billboard’s list of Top Gospel Albums (#1Thirsty/Marvin Sapp); Top Gospel Imprints (#1Verity, #2GospoCentric); Hot Gospel Songs Artists (#1Marvin Sapp, #2Kirk Franklin, #7 Dorinda Clark Cole); Hot Gospel Songs (#1Never Would Have Made It, #6 Take It Back, #9 Declaration (This Is It!), #17 Praise Him In Advance, #18 Love Him Like I Do ), and Hot Gospel Songs Imprints (#1Verity,#2 GospoCentric).

The top gospel release of the year was Marvin Sapp’s “Thirsty” and its breakout hit “Never Would Have Made It.” The CD maintained the #1 sales position for 39 weeks, and was the number one song at Gospel radio for a record-breaking 47 weeks. Additionally, “Never Would Have Made It” was just named the top song of the year, any genre, by the Associated Press.

“With the amount of great music released this year, we never take these accomplishments for granted,” says Zomba Gospel Executive Vice President James “Jazzy” Jordan. “I am happy that we continue to successfully facilitate our artist’s music ministries in a way that resonates in the marketplace, and that we continue to see that Gospel music is a viable and necessary genre, especially in this day and time when our message of encouragement and hope means so much.”

The label is poised for continued success in 2009, with scheduled releases from newcomers Crystal Aikin and Shari Addison, the respective winner and first runner-up of BET’s Sunday Best, as well as hit maker Donald Lawrence and musical powerhouse Donnie McClurkin.

A division of Zomba Label Group, Zomba Gospel is comprised of Verity Records; GospoCentric Records; Kirk Franklin’s Fo-Yo Soul Entertainment; Quiet Water Entertainment; F. Hammond Music and New Life Records. Zomba Gospel is based in New York, with offices in Los Angeles and Nashville.