Time flies! Seven years have passed since the TobyMac released a remix project. With great results, he let his record-scratching friends take a spin around the gold-selling albums Momentum and Welcome to Diverse City on Re: Mix Momentum and Renovating Diverse City.

On March 27, look for Dubbed & Freq’d, a new remix set targeting big hits from his Portable Sounds and Tonight studio records.

For a limited time, iTunes is offering both “City On Our Knees” [from TobyMac's CD Tonight] and “Good Morning” [by Mandisa, featuring TobyMac] for just $.69 instead of $1.29. Check it out here!

We will be auctioning off 3 VIP packages per show (2 tickets per package) for the upcoming concerts, A Night of Stories & Songs, beginning with the January 28th show in Maryland. Proceeds from the auctions will benefit New Hope Academy (click here to learn more).

Auctions for Joppa, Maryland SOLD OUT shows now in progress!

VIP Package Includes:
-2 front row tickets
-2 meet and greet passes including a photo with TobyMac
-2 t-shirts of your choice from the merch booth

Click on the date you’re interested in to bid:

Jan. 28 in Joppa, MD – Package One
Jan. 28 in Joppa, MD – Package Two
Jan. 28 in Joppa, MD – Package Three

Jan. 29 in Joppa, MD – Package One
Jan. 29 in Joppa, MD – Package Two
Jan. 29 in Joppa, MD – Package Three

Future auctions will begin 7 days before show date and close 24 hours before showtime. Email webgirljess@tobymac.com if you have any questions.

Are you ready for the VIP fan experience of a lifetime?  Join TobyMac on April 28, 2012 as you run or walk the Nashville Country Music 1/2 Marathon as part of Powered by Hope.  Not only will you get to run with TobyMac and get unprecedented access to him, you’ll also get in shape while supporting the cause of diverse-city at the same time.  Please note, Team TobyMac will be limited to 150 team members, so register now to reserve your exclusive spot.

Exclusive benefits for Team TobyMac members
-Admission to the exclusive pre-race Team TobyMac Pasta Party for you and a guest*
-Admission to private VIP TobyMac Concert for you and a guest*
-Meet TobyMac and his band
-Have your individual photo taken with TobyMac
-VIP Team TobyMac gift bag, full of signature Team TobyMac Gear, designed by TobyMac himself
-Limited edition team jersey to wear on race day
-Access to our VIP Powered by Hope finish line party on race day
-Chance to attend a private luncheon with TobyMac on April 27, 2012**
-Tour New Hope Academy, the cause behind Powered by Hope

What you provide
-$95 registration fee for the Country Music Marathon (You must register directly on the CMM website.) NOTE – early registration is $95 until 12/31/2011.  After that, registration is $115.
-Commitment to raise a minimum of $1,000 individually for New Hope Academy. Please carefully read the information about the fundraising commitment before you register.**
-Transportation to and lodging in Nashville Friday through Saturday, April 27 and 28, 2012.
-Willingness to run or walk the Country Music 1/2 Marathon on April 28, 2012.

Additional benefits provided by Powered by Hope
-Runners and walkers, seasoned vets and newbies alike will reach their goals with our proven, nationally renowned training program led by the Galloway Group.
-Our 16-week plan is long enough to cement new habits that will stick long after race day.
-We will motivate you with our weekly e-blasts and numerous ways to connect with fellow team members through Facebook and Twitter.
-Running or walking for a cause is a key predictor of success, read more about New Hope Academy by clicking here.

Powered by Hope and Team TobyMac are on a mission to turn racial division, class segregation, and spiritual poverty into community, possibility, and vision. We need your help to accomplish this as we raise funds for New Hope Academy – a school that is igniting hope and transforming hearts.

Additional Information

*Please email Jess the Webgirl if you need to inquire about bringing additional family members.

**Any individual raising $2,000 or more will be included in the private luncheon.

REGISTER NOW

Last year, TobyMac, his wife Amanda, and more than 70 other runners participated in the Country Music Half Marathon on April 30th in Nashville, raising more than $100,000 for New Hope Academy. The third annual run and fundraising event will take place April 27-28, 2012. Complete details and registration will be coming soon … stay tuned!

TobyMac is nominated for Contemporary Inspirational Music: Favorite Artist in the 2011 American Music Awards! Make your picks in this and the other 17 categories before voting ends on FRIDAY NOV. 11 at 11:59PM PT. Click here to vote now!

Winners will be revealed LIVE during the 2011 American Music Awards on Sunday Nov. 20th at 8/7c on ABC.

This week, TobyMac released his first Christmas record. Christmas in DiverseCity (Forefront Records) is available wherever music is sold, including iTunes, Amazon MP3, Family Christian Stores, LifeWay, Parable, and Mardel. A limited amount of autographed copies are also available in a special deal with the striped hoodie from the official online store.

Christmas in DiverseCity showcases pop, rock, soul, hip-hop and urban flavors into irresistible songs with a distinctive Christmas spirit. Featuring memorable collaborations with Owl City, Leigh Nash and Jamie Grace, the album’s track listing also spotlights performances and songs from TobyMac’s long-time touring band, DiverseCity.

TobyMac says: “I just tried to think outside the box. It’s difficult at first to imagine some of these songs with a modern beat, but I think Christmas is about celebration and come on, on the inside everyone wants to dance. It has a bit of everything- six songs are my artistry: an eclectic blend of Christmas classics and originals. The other seven tracks are my amazing band’s (DiverseCity) individual artistic efforts. I love it.”

Christmas in DiverseCity also features the No. 1 radio hit “Christmas This Year,” which was released as a single track last year and features the talents of Leigh Nash.

Christmas in DiverseCity Track Listing:
1) Christmas This Year (Featuring Leigh Nash)-TobyMac
2) The First Noel (Featuring Owl City)-TobyMac
3) Mary’s Boy Child (Featuring Jamie Grace)-TobyMac
4) O Come All Ye Faithful-TobyMac
5) Little Drummer Boy-TobyMac
6) This Christmas (Father of the Fatherless)-TobyMac
7) Carol of the Kings (Featuring Gabe Real & Liquid) –Maj
8) Birthoflove-Superherose
9) What Child Is This? – Arch Nemesiz
10) It Snowed- Tim Rosenau
11) Angels We Have Heard on High- Nirva Ready
12) Santa’s Comin’ Back ‘Round- Toddie Funk
13) ChristmasTime- Byron “Mr. Talkbox” Chambers

The latest in the ListenIn podcast series is up now… click here to hear insight, interview, and inspiration from TobyMac about the song “Hold On.”

TOBYMAC UNPLUGGED -A Night of Stories and Songs, featuring special guest Jamie Grace, is coming this Fall to select cities. It will be a totally different TobyMac show, a time where it’s not about the lights, smoke, big stage, numerous musicians… instead it will be more intimate and personal, a “storyteller’s night” where TobyMac will share where the songs came from. The song arrangements will be different… not completely acoustic, but basically acoustic—thus the name UNPLUGGED. The dates are listed below with links to the ticket sales site. Keep checking back for updated info.

Nov. 3 – Huntsville, Alabama
Nov. 4 – Marietta, Georgia
Nov. 5 – Fayetteville, Georgia
Nov. 6 – Columbus, Indiana
Nov.10 – Rocky Mount, North Carolina
Nov.11 – Fayetteville, North Carolina
Nov.12 – Cincinnati, Ohio
Nov.13 – Evansville, Indiana
Nov.17 – Dothan, Alabama (cancelled)
Nov.18 – Tallahassee, Florida
Nov.19 – Aiken, South Carolina
Nov.20 – Mobile, AL (cancelled)

Go behind the music and listen in on a series of conversations as TobyMac speaks with Frank Jenks of ListenIn.org. Check it out here now and then come back and comment about what part you found most interesting. (These are seriously really interesting! -webgirl)

Here’s a preview of the songs that will be on Christmas in DiverseCity, releasing on October 4th. The order is subject to change …

TOBYMAC
1. Christmas This Year (Featuring Leigh Nash)*
2. The First Noel (Featuring Owl City)
3. Mary’s Boy Child (Featuring Jamie Grace)
4. O Come All Ye Faithful*
5. Little Drummer Boy
6. This Christmas (Father of the Fatherless) Featuring Nirva Ready*

*new versions

DIVERSECITY
7. Carol Of The Kings – Maj (Featuring Gabe Real & Liquid)
8. Birth of Love – SUPERHEROSE
9. What Child Is This? – Arch Nemesiz
10. It Snowed – Tim Rosenau
11. Angels We Have Heard On High – Nirva Ready
12. Santa’scomin’baka’round! – toddiefunk
13. Christmas Time – Byron “Mr. Talkbox” Chambers

As you may have heard in the new video, TobyMac and DiverseCity have been in the studio this summer working on a Christmas album! TobyMac will contribute about 5 or 6 songs including “Little Drummer Boy” and some of the members of DiverseCity will add about 7 or 8 songs. It will release on October 4th.

Stay tuned for more details!

The people have spoken in the 8th Annual JesusFreakHideout.com Reader’s Choice Awards with the results just announced today. TobyMac placed in six of the categories, coming out on top in 3 – Male Vocalist of the Year, Pop / Pop Rock / Contemporary Album of the Year and Best Live Performance. Huge thanks to all who voted! Click here to check out all of the results.

Check out the new blog and photo set, from last month’s European tour, courtesy of “merch guy” Eric!

This June, TobyMac will share his passion for golf with FCA campers in North Carolina. The 5-day camp is open to boys ages 12-18. Click here for registration information.

TobyMac lead “Team TobyMac,” with more than 70 runners from across the U.S., in the Country Music Half Marathon on April 30th in Nashville, TN,  part of the larger Powered by Hope half marathon team. Team TobyMac brought in more than $100,000 to help support the education provided at New Hope Academy in Franklin, TN. Powered by Hope team members were on a mission to turn racial division, class segregation and spiritual poverty into community, possibility and vision.

Ten days before the run, TobyMac took home his 16th Dove Award as a solo artist when he won “Best Rock Contemporary Album of the Year” for Tonight. He also recently garnered three Billboard Music Award nominations including “Top Christian Artist,”and  “Top Christian Album” while his hit single “Get Back Up” is up for “Top Christian Song.” The annual event will air on ABC live from the MGM Grand in Las Vegas on May 22.

Only a few more days until the 42nd annual Dove Awards but there is still time for you to vote for TobyMac for Artist of the Year. It just takes a couple of minutes … you can vote online here or simply text DOVE TOBYMAC to 72648.

If you’ve already voted, thank you so much! Voting closes Tuesday, April 19th, at midnight EST.

BMI recently hosted their Annual Christian Awards ceremony at their offices in downtown Nashville and TobyMac took home the award of the night “Songwriter of the Year,” making it his fourth win in this category. He shared the honor with Rodney Griffin (Greater Vision) and Bo Rinehart (needtobreathe) who also took home awards for the same title. Additionally, the songs “Get Back Up” and “City On Our Knees ” were recognized for being two of the Top 25 most performed songs on Christian radio over the past year.

In addition to being one of Nashville’s top songwriters, TobyMac continues to mentor songwriters and artists such as Jamie Grace, through Gotee Records and is excited for what she is bringing to the music industry:

“Jamie Grace writes, sings and plays her own music. She has a style that can’t be put into a typical label box—a dash of reggae, a dash of folk, a dash of hip hop. I’ve said it a million times, ‘If we’re ever going to be a shining city on a hill, we have to be diverse city.’ Jamie Grace is part of that diverse city. She’s such a natural, beautiful next step for our industry.”

The new female vocalist’s latest single “Hold Me,” also featuring TobyMac, was recently given the spotlight at iTunes ® as the Discovery Download. Listeners welcomed Grace with open arms as over 188,000 downloads were received. Click here for more information on Jamie Grace.

TobyMac is currently entertaining crowds in the thousands on the HipRockFunkSoul tour which also spotlights the solo talents of ArchNemesiz, SHONLOCK, Nirva Ready, Toddiefunk, Tim Rosenau, SuperHeRose and Byron “Mr. Talkbox” Chambers … otherwise known as the DiverseCity band.

Want to know more about the band members who perform live with TobyMac? Visit the “About DiverseCity” page to find out who’s who, what they do outside of DiverseCity, and who said “I mean, vegetables are bad already…  there’s no need to put them all in liquid form together.”

Join TobyMac and his band members (DiverseCity) for a night of stories and music. This show will be a bit more laid-back, intimate and “acoustic” than the usual TobyMac show, with a chance to hear more about the meanings of your favorite TobyMac songs. Also throughout the evening, each band member will perform a song from his or her side project. Learn more about the musicians who make up DiverseCity here.

Dates and ticket links below!

March 31 – Summerville, SC
April 1 – Raleigh, NC (sold out)
April 3 – Asheville, NC
April 8 – Savannah, GA
April 14 – Ocala, FL
April 15 – Clearwater, FL
April 16 – Lakeland, FL

Sign up now for the 2nd annual Team TobyMac event -  run or walk the Country Music 1/2 Marathon with TobyMac on April 30, 2011 as part of the Powered by Hope team. This is a fundraising event to benefit the cause of diverse-city.

Here are just some of the special things you get as part of team TobyMac:

*Admission to private VIP Tobymac Concert for you and a guest, featuring special surprise guest
*Meet TobyMac and his band at the VIP Concert
*Admission to the exclusive pre-race Team TobyMac Pasta Party for you and a guest
*Limited edition team jersey to wear on race day
*Have your individual photo taken with TobyMac at the team Pasta Party

Get all the sign-up details at whatpowersyou.org and go here to see the full event itinerary. You can see photos from last year’s event on the TobyMac Facebook page.

Hurry … only 50 spots remain and registration closes 3/11/11.

The nominations for the 42nd Annual Dove Awards were held Feb. 16th in Atlanta, and TobyMac garnered a total of six nominations (as follows):

Best Artist
Song of the Year (“Get Back Up”)
Rock Recorded Song of the Year (“Showstopper”)
Rock/Contemporary Recorded Song of the Year (“Tonight”)
Pop/Contemporary Recorded Song of the Year (“Get Back Up”)
Rock/Contemporary Album of the Year (TONIGHT).

The 42nd Annual Dove Awards show will take place on Wednesday, April 20, 2011 at the Fox Theatre in Atlanta, Georgia at 8:00 p.m. EST. The awards will be broadcast on GMC, America’s favorite network for uplifting music and entertainment, on Easter Sunday, April 24, 2011 at 7:00 p.m. EST.

Click here to participate in the fan voting.

In commenting on the nominations to The Tennessean, TobyMac stated, “These are the people that know you. They go to your shows, and they’re around the studio when you’re making your records. I’ve been doing this for a minute, and the last thing I want to do is (phone) it in. I want to be passionate about every single hi-hat, kick drum, bass line, guitar riff, melody and lyric on the record … it tells me that the guys around me can see that I do that. That’s quite an honor.” He also tweeted to his fans “I was nominated for 6 Doves. I’m humbled & grateful. God choosing 2 breath songs through me is just that…His Choosing! Let Him Choose you!”

UPDATE: Just last week the celebrity field for the 2011 AT&T Pebble Beach National ProAm was joined for the first time by TobyMac, he and his Pro Kevin Steelman placed 27th out of 150 teams. Leading PGA Tour pros were teamed with celebrity amateurs including TobyMac, as well as ESP sportscaster Chris Berman, actor Kevin Costner, NCIS: Los Angeles star Chris O’Donnell,  Josh Duhamel and more. Played on the Pebble Beach Golf Links, Spyglass Hill Golf Course and Monterey Peninsula Country Club’s Shore Course, Net proceeds from the ProAm go to support a wide variety of charitable organizations.

[Posted Jan. 27th] What do TobyMac, Drew Brees, Ray Romano, Oscar de la Hoya and Kevin Costner all have in common? Golf, of course! They will all be participating, along with other celebrities and professional golfers, in the 2011 AT&T Pebble Beach National Pro-Am on in California on February 7-13. The tournament has been a charitable classic since 1947. Click here to purchase tickets and get all the details.

Madelyn, her mom and her grandmother found Mr. Talkbox before the show in Wichita and got backstage passes to meet TobyMac! We’re doing this at every Winter Wonder Slam show in January and February, read the rules at winterwonderslam.com and make sure you’re following TobyMac on Twitter or Facebook!

TobyMac and the rest of the Gotee Records family welcome new artist Jamie Grace, a 19-year-old singer-songwriter who is appearing as part of the Revolve Tour. Jamie’s debut E.P., including her first single “Hold Me” featuring TobyMac, is now available in the Gotee online store and will release digitally on February 22.

“Every couple of years, I get a true desire to find an artist and dig in to try to help them develop songs, find the right producers and introduce them to the world at large,” explains TobyMac. “Jamie Grace is a great fit for Gotee Records for a lot of reasons. She writes, sings and plays her own music. She has a style that can’t be put into a typical label box—a dash of reggae, a dash of folk, a dash of hip hop. I’ve said it a million times, ‘If we’re every going to be a shining city on a hill, we have to be diverse city.’ Jamie Grace is part of that diverse city. She’s such a natural, beautiful next step for our industry.”

Additional tracks on the E.P. include a cover of the dcTalk song “Into Jesus,” “One Song At A Time”  featuring GabeReal of the DiverseCity Band, and “Holding On,” a ballad written by Matt Hammitt of Sanctus Real, TobyMac, Cary Barlowe and Jamie Moore.

CLICK HERE to hear the debut single “Hold Me” featuring TobyMac as well as a special message about the discovering of Jamie Grace. You can keep up with Jamie at her official website www.jamie-grace.com.

Are you coming out to a Winter Wonder Slam concert? How would you like to meet TobyMac before the show?? All you have to do is get to the concert a little early, and be the first one to find Mr. Talkbox! If you want to win, follow these instructions closely…

1. Watch TobyMac’s Twitter or Facebook the day of the show for a clue from Mr. Talkbox

2. Arrive at the show about 2 hours before it starts and use the clue to be the first one to find Mr. Talkbox

3. Walk up to Mr. Talkbox and tell him It’s my time! He will present you with two passes to go backstage!

It’s as simple as that! But if you have any questions about the game or the rules, email Jess the WebGirl.

First Prize (one per concert, for Jan/Feb dates only): 2 tickets and 2 meet & greet passes

Grand Prize: $150 gift card to nike.com

Runner-up prize pack: (5) overall runners-up will win a set of 2010 TobyMac releases (Tonight CD, City on our Knees book, Moving Pictures DVD) and an autographed 8×10.

Create a jingle or crayon drawing inspired by TobyMac’s annual Winter Wonder Slam tour. To submit the jingle, make a video and upload it to the Winter Wonder Slam Facebook page (you need to “like” the page in order to upload/post on the wall). To submit the drawing (which MUST be made with crayons on paper), have someone take a photo of you holding it, and upload the photo to the Winter Wonder Slam Facebook page. In the caption of the photo or description of the video, state for which concert (by city name) you want the tickets and passes. If you don’t specify a city, we will consider your entry only for the Grand Prize and Runner-up Prizes.

The first prizes will be rewarded to those in each city whose video or photo gets the most “likes” – so encourage your friends to “like” your entry!

Winners of the Runner-up prizes packs and the Grand Prize will be chosen by TobyMac staff.

*Important* Once you have submitted your entry on Facebook, you must send an email to tmail@tobymac.com with the subject “Winter Wonder Slam GET CREATIVE Contest.” In the body of your email, please include your name as it appears on Facebook, whether you submitted a photo or a video, and which concert you want to attend (or say Grand Prize entry).

If you are under 18 years of age, you will need to have your parent or guardian send the email entry. If you have any questions, email Jess the WebGirl at tmail@tobymac.com.

First prize winners will be notified 2 days before the show. Entries must be received by 3 days before show (for example, if the show is on the 15th, entry must be in by the 12th, 11:59pm CST).

Grand Prize and Runner-up winners will be chosen and notified by February 28, 2011.

LMG Concerts presents the FB Winter WonderSlam SuperFan Flyaway 2! Enter now to win a grand prize that includes…

-2 VIP tickets to the show of your choice
-Hotel accommodations and roundtrip airfare
-2 backstage passes to hang with Toby and the band before the show
-Ground Transportation from airport to hotel to show and back
-A custom LMG Flip cam to be our reporter for the day (We’ll post your experience on our site – you keep the camera!)

Shows you can choose from:

*Abbotsford, BC – January 27 @ Abbotsford Entertainment & Sports Centre
*Seattle, WA – January 28 @ Overlake Christian Church
*Tri-Cities, WA – January 30 @ Toyota Center
*Casper, WY – February 1 @ Casper Events Center

Contest Instructions
Tell us in 1-2 paragraphs max why YOU should be chosen! The best entry will be selected under the sole discretion of the LMG team.

To qualify, you must also:
1. Like the LMG Concerts page
2. Suggest the LMG Concerts FB page to at least 50 friends
3. Subscribe to the LMG Concerts YouTube Channel
4. Acknowledge completion of all three steps in your entry. (Provide YouTube user name for verification.)

Only persons residing in United States and Canada who are at least 18 years of age can enter. Contest ends January 17, 2011 @ 05:00 pm (PST)

We’re excited to announce that iTunes has selected “Christmas This Year” as this week’s Holiday Single of the Week! That means that you can download it for FREE at iTunes all week!

The kind people at iTunes have also listed Tonight as the best Christian album of 2010, and it’s on sale for only $7.99 (and just $10.99 for the deluxe version).

Huge shoutout to all of you who have already purchased “Christmas This Year” and Tonight, we appreciate you so much!

This just in! TobyMac has been honored with his seventh solo GRAMMY ® Award nomination for Tonight in the category “Best Pop/Contemporary Gospel Album.” The 53rd Annual GRAMMY ® Awards are slated for February 13, 2011 at the Staples Center in Los Angeles, CA. The ceremony will be broadcast LIVE on CBS at 8pm EST/PT.

“I Love what I do,” says TobyMac. “I love making records with my friends. Painstaking at times, but always passionate.  A GRAMMY ® nom for Tonight is humbling, exciting and truly an honor.  It really is!”

“Christmas This Year,” the new Christmas single from TobyMac featuring Leigh Nash (sixpence none the richer), releases today exclusively at iTunes. The song is also playing on radio stations across the country.

Coming in January and February of the new year … Winter Wonder Slam with TobyMac, Brandon Heath and House of Heroes! Check the tour page for dates and ticket links … we’re coming to the west coast!! More dates will be added soon.

Coming Tuesday Nov. 9th – the new DVD Moving Pictures! For the first time, you’ll be able to own all of TobyMac’s music videos on one DVD, as well as a selection of live songs from Alive & Transported, and never-before-released “director’s videos” for several songs from Tonight.

You can enter to win one of five copies before release date with one simple text message! Just send the word MOVINGPICTURES to the number 66937 and then reply Y to be entered. Contest ends Monday, November 8th at midnight CST.

Get more information and pre-order at Amazon.com.

Freedom, available now exclusively at Family Christian stores for just $5, includes “Hold On (Acoustic)” as well as an outstanding collection of songs by artists like Third Day, Jon Foreman, Brandon Heath, Sara Groves, Phil Wickham and many more. The artists donated their time and proceeds for this double CD to benefit IJM, an agency dedicated to defending individual human rights. In response to Isaiah 1:17, IJM’s professionals work tirelessly to rescue, protect and secure justice for victims across three continents.

Learn more about IJM and the Freedom project at familychristian.com/freedom.

You may have heard the new single “Hold On” on your local Christian radio station, and noticed that it’s a bit different from the Tonight album version. Toby describes it as “kinda like the granola version, a little less affected, au naturel.” You can purchase the radio version now on iTunes for $1.29. And if you don’t have Tonight yet, pick it up too for just $8.99 on iTunes.

Win passes to meet TobyMac and the DiverseCity band backstage at a Winter Wonder Slam show- be the last one standing in your city’s SNOWBALL BLAST Game!

Sign up today – you will be emailed when it’s time to start throwing those snowballs. Winner will receive 4 passes to the meet & greet before the show in the specified city. Winner must have tickets to the show; they are not included in the prize. Winner will be notified via email the day before the show.

(This was for 2010 dates only.)

The American Music Awards are coming up on November 21st and TobyMac is nominated for the second time in the category Favorite Contemporary Inspirational Artist. The live ceremony will take place at the NOKIA Theater L.A. on Sunday 11/21 and will be broadcast on ABC at 8pm (EST/PST).

Even better, YOU can help him win! Cast your vote online at the official Coca-Cola voting location www.amavote.com. Also, make sure to visit the official homepage of the 2010 American Music Awards, ama.abc.com, to find performer and presenter announcements, artist information, and more. If you’re interested in attending the show, tickets are on sale now at www.ticketmaster.com.

Reminder: If you have VIP tickets to the Make a Difference Tour, you need to arrive at the show at 5:15pm as the Q&A is before the show at 6:15pm. Thank you!

TobyMac will be stopping by a few Barnes & Noble locations during the Make a Difference Tour to sign copies of his new book City On Our Knees. Make sure you stop in if you’re nearby!

Oct.9 @ 3:30-4:30pm
Barnes & Noble
Lafayette, LA

Oct.15 @ 3:30-4:30pm
Barnes & Noble
Bakersfield, CA

Oct.29 @ 4-5pm
Barnes & Noble
Dayton, OH

The new book, City on Our Knees, shares the true stories of people who have stepped across the line—lines of discrimination, persecution, doubt, prejudice, pride, bitterness, self-isolation, and despair—to change their worlds.

What’s your story? Share it now to inspire and encourage others…

www.cityonourknees.org

It has always been a goal for TobyMac to use his gifts and popularity for good, preaching the gospel of hope, reconciliation, and unity through his upbeat, catchy songs—and now in his new book City on Our Knees, inspired by the number one hit single of the same name.

“This book really is a personal and life message of mine. In today’s society, people often find themselves separated and divided—on the basis of skin color, economic status, religion, age, politics, geographic location, and so on,” says TobyMac. “But God is the father of us all, and what unites us is more powerful than what divides us. That’s what City on Our Knees is all about. It shows what life can look like when we step out in love.”

Because of his passion for inspiring believers to step out and take action for their faith, City on Our Knees is filled with compelling stories illustrating how Christians past (including Charles Spurgeon and John Wesley) and present (including young abolitionist Zach Hunter and tennis star Andrea Jaeger) have set aside differences, come together in unity, and stepped forward in action and prayer. Readers will be encouraged and inspired to do the same, summoning the commitment, courage, and devotion to bring a city to its knees.

“I really wanted to show people that it’s the everyday moments, and how we respond to them, that are key—just one person, or one small group, can be a mechanism for change,” he says. “God can use us right here. Right now. All we need is faith that He has our best in mind. And believe me—He does.”

Available now  … buy online at Amazon.com, Barnes & Noble, ChristianBook.com or at your local Christian bookstore.

We are now adding Winter Wonder Slam dates to the TOUR page and to the official website www.winterwonderslam.com. If you’re on our mailing list, you’ll receive the username and password via email or you can register at the presale site. Presales can be accessed here. We will add information for other dates as we get it.

12.03 – Nashville, TN – Bridgestone Arena
Buy tickets via Ticketmaster

11.14 – Sioux Falls, SD – Sioux Falls Arena
Buy tickets via Ticketmaster

12.5 – Greenville, SC – Bi Lo Center
Presale begins on Wed. 9/15 at 3pm local time

12.9 – Greensboro, NC – Greensboro Coliseum
Presale begins on Wed. 9/15 at 3pm local time

12.12 – Salem, VA – Salem Civic Center
Presale begins on Thurs. 9/17 at 10am local time

Check out this recent online news piece from this year’s Creation Festival, courtesy Time.com.

Bigger, better, and bursting with all of the same stuff you can buy at a TobyMac concert. Check it out now: tobymac.zambooie.com!

presale information coming soon

Just a few fun things we wanted to highlight:

Billboard.com article regarding Hello Tonight tour

Photos by webgirljess from last week’s show in Knoxville

“Get Back Up” stop motion video on youtube (created by fan Brian)

The July 7th show at Hope Church in Cordova, TN is sold out. We will not be holding a contest to give away tickets to this show. The July 8th show at Knoxville Coliseum in Knoxville is also very close to selling out … so if you want to go, get your tickets now!

Summer is here along with the exciting live pairing of Chris Tomlin and TobyMac on the appropriately named Hello Tonight Tour! We will be giving away two tickets to each of the shows along with other great prizes – keep your eyes on either the TobyMac Facebook or Twitter page for instructions on how to enter to win. The tour dates are:

June 17 — Oklahoma City, OK
June 18 — St. Louis, MO
June 19 — North Little Rock, AR
June 24 — Grand Rapids, MI
June 25 — Detroit, MI
July 7 — Cordova, TN sold out!!
July 8 — Knoxville, TN almost sold out!!

Once you get to the show, you’ll also be able to enter to win “freak seats” on the stage … just make sure you have your phone with you and watch the screen for instructions.

On Sunday, June 13th, TobyMac participated in “A Time For Heroes Celebrity Picnic” in Los Angeles to benefit the Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation. The event was co-sponsored by Disney and raised $1.3 million to help the Foundation eliminate pediatric AIDS (click here for more information). You can check out photos from the afternoon here.

Tuesday, May 18th, TobyMac will join with Brandon Heath, Jason Ingram, Mike Donehey (of Tenth Avenue North) and Britt Nicole for “Love Your Neighbor,” a writer’s in the round concert to benefit El Shaddai Christian Church, which was totally devastated in the recent floods. The concert is free and a love offering will be taken. Doors open at 6:15pm and the show starts at 7pm (central time). If you’re near Nashville and would like to attend, get more info here.

If you cannot attend, you can stream the concert online here.

World Vision and AEG Live recently announced the “Make A Difference Tour 2010” featuring the incredible lineup of TobyMac, Michael W. Smith, Third Day and author Max Lucado. The tour is inspired by the themes of Lucado’s new book, Outlive Your Life: You Were Made to Make a Difference and will kick off Sept. 30, in Youngstown, Ohio, and hit arenas in 20 cities through the end of October.

The “Make A Difference Tour 2010” will make a difference for children by helping to raise up sponsors for 25,000 children through World Vision. Lucado set the goal last year in honor of his 25th year of publishing in 2010; he is donating 100% of author royalties from all Outlive Your Life products to benefit children and families through World Vision and other ministries of faith-based compassion.

Lucado says: “Partnering with World Vision, TobyMac, Michael and Third Day is a real privilege and pleasure. None of us can help everyone, but all of us can help someone. And when we serve the poor, we serve God. Who would want to miss a chance to do that?”

“The ‘Make A Difference Tour 2010’ is different by design,” says Jenny Lockwald of World Vision. “The focus of the tour is to encourage people to look beyond themselves, to turn outward and to make a difference on behalf of friends, neighbors, their community and the world. We are honored to be partnering in this endeavor with Max Lucado and this amazing group of artists.”

Tickets will go on sale first to World Vision supporters and artist fan clubs on June 11, then open up to the general public on June 18. Visit www.MakeADifferenceTour.com for tour updates.

Although the annual Gospel Music Week in Nashville was very much scaled back this year (April 18-21), it was still a very busy time for TobyMac and Co. The BMI (song publishing company) Christian Music Awards took place on Tuesday evening where TobyMac received two honors: Song of the Year for “Lose My Soul” as well as Songwriter of the Year (tied with Steven Curtis Chapman, Chris Stevens, and Jason Walker as all four writers contributed two songs each to the most-performed list). To close the ceremony, the audience enjoyed an intimate live performance of “Boomin’.” Click here for a complete list of winners.

Wednesday night brought the 41st Annual Dove Awards where TobyMac and DiverseCity performed a rousing rendition of “Funky Jesus Music” and took home the Dove for Pop/Contemporary Recorded Song of the Year – “City on Our Knees.” If you missed the broadcast on Gospel Music Channel, you can check out some clips on youtube and read the Live Blog on gmclife.com. You can see all of the winners here.

Then on Friday, we welcomed more than 100 runners to town for the first annual Team Freakazoids Run for Hope event. The day consisted of sharing in group devotions at New Hope Academy, a VIP luncheon and studio tour, three more studio tours, a pasta dinner and a stripped down concert. The next morning, Saturday the 24th, TobyMac along with his wife Amanda, the Freakazoids (including Sean Algaier of “The Biggest Loser” and Jess the webGirl) and a group of local Run for Hope peeps all participated in the Country Music Marathon in downtown Nashville. Most completed the half-marathon, which is 13.1 miles. TobyMac was able to improve his race time by 8 minutes compared to last year, finishing in 2 hours and 14 minutes. A great time was had by all who participated and the best news is that altogether we were able to raise approximately $180,000 to benefit lower-income students and the overall mission of diversity through education (click here to learn more about New Hope Academy). We look forward to doing it again next year!

Check out the new blog, an update by Clint from the Diverse City crew.

Tune in to hear TobyMac take control and play whatever he wants on a special edition of “The Message: AMPED!” on SIRIUS XM radio, Saturday, May 1st, at 11pm EST. It will also be rebroadcast on Tuesday, May 4th, at 11pm EST. To check it out even if you don’t have SIRIUS XM, sign up for a free online trial at www.sirius.com/themessage!

**Update**

Watch video clips online from the show here (Get Back Up) and here (Boomin).

Catch a live performance by TobyMac on FoxNews channel’s Fox & Friends – Friday, April 16th, at 8am EST.

Make sure you tune in to the website at the end of the show for the “after show show” also featuring TobyMac.

You may also want to watch or record Strategy Room for another few minutes of TobyMac around 9:40am EST.

The official music video of the title track “Tonight” is now available to watch on TobyMac’s youtube channel. Also added is the creative video for “ShowStopper” part of a project spearheaded by TobyMac to let directors he appreciates do a visual interpretation of the songs on Tonight. Enjoy!

For the second consecutive year, the GMA Dove Awards are inviting music fans to vote in two categories – Artist of the Year and New Artist of the Year. TobyMac is nominated in the Artist of the Year category along with Casting Crowns, Mary Mary, Jars of Clay, Francesca Battistelli, Skillet and Jason Crabb.

Help us out by casting your vote today! You can vote twice – online here and via text message. Just text GMC TOBY to 72648.

The Dove Awards take place in Nashville on Wednesday April 21st, and will premiere on Gospel Music Channel Sunday evening, April 25th at 7pm CST with encore airings that evening and throughout the week.

Here are the onsale dates and ticket links for the Hello Tonight Tour … this summer, experience TobyMac and Chris Tomlin on the same stage!

June 17 in Oklahoma City – onsale 3/29, get more info here

June 18 in St. Louis – onsale 4/9, get more info here

June 19 in North Little Rock – tickets onsale via Ticketmaster

June 24 in Grand Rapids – tickets onsale via Ticketmaster

June 25 in Detroit – onsale 4/17, get more info here

July 7 in Memphis – onsale 3/29 via iTickets

July 8 in Knoxville – tickets onsale via Tickets Unlimited

TobyMac and Chris Tomlin are also sharing the stage at Alive Festival in Ohio on June 26th and at the Indiana State Fair on August 11th (buy tickets via Ticketmaster) as well.

“Tonight,” the title track from the new CD, has been chosen as the theme song for Major League Baseball Network’s (MLB) 30 CLUBS IN 30 DAYS spring training series. The song will be featured throughout each episode.

With just 41 days until Opening Day, MLB Network recently announced it will once again televise the Spring Training series 30 Clubs in 30 Days, with hour-long features on each of the 30 Major League clubs previewing the 2010 season. The new season of 30 Clubs in 30 Days will provide extensive coverage of each team with field reports, interviews, predictions and inside access to every club’s training camp as Opening Day approaches. A preview of the new season can be viewed on MLB Network’s web site.

30 Clubs in 30 Days premieres on Wednesday, March 3 at 5:00 p.m. ET with the Detroit Tigers, followed by the New York Yankees on Thursday, March 4 at 5:00 p.m. ET (check www.mlbnetwork.com for updates).

Click here to access the presale.

Due to overwhelming demand, the ticket server crashed this morning when the Hello Tonight presale started. The tech guys are moving everything to a more powerful server today, and we’re going to try again tomorrow. Please make a note of the new time, Thursday March 11th at 10am EST – 9am CST. It looks like these tickets will go fast, so don’t wait to buy yours!

TobyMac and Chris Tomlin will be touring together this summer! Below is the list of dates on the Hello Tonight tour. There will be a presale for dance floor tickets and VIP tickets beginning Wednesday March 10th at 10am EST through Thursday March 18th. Click here to buy tickets now.

June 17 Oklahoma City, OK
June 18 St. Louis, MO
June 19  North Little Rock, AR
June 24 Grand Rapids, MI
June 25 Detroit, MI
July 7 Cordova, TN
July 8 Knoxville, TN

Follow the instructions below to enter to win 2 tickets to the Awake Tonight concert near you!

Please read ALL of the instructions before entering!! Winners will be notified by direct message on Twitter and must email confirmation so make sure you check your direct messages!

Step 1- Go to Twitter and if you don’t already have an account there, set one up. It’s free. Then follow TobyMac by going to http://www.twitter.com/therealtobymac and clicking on the ‘Follow’ button that appears under his profile. (If you’re already following TobyMac on Twitter, you can skip this step.)

Step 2- Then “tweet” the text below (all of it) from your Twitter account … tell us which tour date you’re entering for by including the correlating hash tag (for example: #AwakeTonightTourAurora-IL). See the list of tour dates below to find out which tag you need to use. Cities will be removed from the list as winners are chosen.

Win 2 free tickets to the Awake Tonight Tour from @therealtobymac #PUT_CITY_TAG_HERE Details: http://tinyurl.com/wintmactix

3/25/2010 Tallahassee, FL
#AwakeTonightTourTallahassee-FL

3/26/2010 Ft. Myers, FL
#AwakeTonightTourFtMyers-FL

3/27/2010 West Palm Beach, FL
#AwakeTonightTourWestPalmBeach-FL

4/1/2010 New Orleans, LA
#AwakeTonightTourNewOrleans-LA

4/2/2010 Tyler, TX
#AwakeTonightTourTyler-TX

4/3/2010 Jackson, MS
#AwakeTonightTourJackson-MS

4/8/2010 Norfolk, VA
#AwakeTonightTourNorfolk-VA

4/9/2010 Huntington, WV
#AwakeTonightTourHuntington-WV

4/10/2010 Lynchburg, VA
#AwakeTonightTourLynchburg-VA

4/11/2010 Asheville, NC
#AwakeTonightTourAsheville-NC

Please limit entries to once a day. Multiple entries will not help your chance of winning. Winners will be randomly chosen the Monday or Tuesday before the show. We will contact the winner on Twitter with a direct message and the winner must confirm via email within 24 hours or another winner will be chosen. There must be an adult (18 or older) present to pick up the tickets.

On January 28, 2010, Michael W. Smith gathered a big group of Nashville artists to record “Come Together Now.” The song, penned by Smith, David Mullen and Cindy Morgan – and produced by Bryan Lenox – was written to remind people of the need to help those in Haiti. Contributing artists include: TobyMac, Brandon Heath, Mandisa, Matthew West, Britt Nicole, Francesca Battistelli, The Katinas, Kevin Max, Nicole C. Mullen, Michael Tait, Rachael Lampa, Steven Curtis Chapman and many more. Check out the video from that day, and click on the banner below to purchase the song on iTunes. All proceeds will benefit relief efforts in Haiti.

Come Together Now (Music City Unites For Haiti)

In conjunction with the LiveStream webcast, one lucky winner will receive a grand prize consisting of 2 concert tickets along with dinner backstage before the show with TobyMac. To enter, text “tonight” to 66937 before 8:30pm CST on 2/16. The winner will be announced during the webcast on February 16th. Four other prizes will also be awarded.

Prizes
Grand Prize: Two Concert tickets, Two Backstage Passes, and Dinner for Two with TobyMac at one TobyMac concert. Also included – an Autographed Tonight Deluxe CD and a T-Shirt
Second Prize: Nike sneakers customized by TobyMac, an Autographed Tonight Deluxe CD and a T-Shirt
Third Prize: Autographed Tonight Deluxe CD and a T-Shirt
Fourth Prize: Tonight Deluxe CD
Fifth Prize: Autographed T-Shirt

Official Rules
No purchase necessary to enter, standard text messaging rates apply. Grand prize winner is responsible for transportation to the concert of his or her choice (concerts at theme parks not included, concert choice is subject to approval by True Artist Management). Contest begins Monday February 15th at 5pm CST and ends February 16th at 8:30pm CST. Contest is only open to U.S. residents.

Tune in to the TobyMac Facebook page on Tuesday February 16th, at 8pm CST to watch a live webcast, direct from TobyMac’s studio in Franklin, Tennessee. TobyMac will be playing tracks from his new album and giving you an inside look behind the songs. CLICK HERE to RSVP to the webcast and submit your questions.

On Wednesday 2/10 TobyMac will be in the Houston area – on air with the KSBJ morning show followed by three appearances at local Lifeway locations. Click here for details. Thursday he will be on the KLTY morning show followed by a lunchtime appearance at Chick-Fil-A and an evening event for contest winners. After that, he’s recording at the River Riders Ranch so be sure to tune in to 20 the Countdown Magazine.

Release day is upon us! Keep in mind there are two versions – regular and deluxe – both available as physical CDs as well as digital. The deluxe version includes three remixes (Captured, Hold On and Tonight) that aren’t on the regular version, as well as some behind-the-scenes videos. The physical deluxe version also includes the episode of “Faith & Fame” that Gospel Music Channel produced. Remember that if you have purchased ANY of the singles already on iTunes, you can use the “complete your album” feature to save money on the full album. Here are some handy links to buy Tonight…

Regular digital version on iTunes – $10.99

Deluxe digital version on iTunes – $13.99

Regular physical version from Amazon – $11.99

Deluxe physical version from Amazon – $14.99

And of course you should be able to find it in any other stores that sell music … if you have any trouble finding the CD at a store near you, please email jess the webgirl.

Due to overwhelming demand, we’ve decided to reopen registration for TEAM TOBYMAC aka The Freakazoids. If you are interested in running the half marathon in Nashville in April with TobyMac, his wife, Jess the WebGirl, Sean from Biggest Loser and over a hundred TobyMac fans from around the nation – then click here for more information.

(Registration form isn’t live again yet but it will be soon…)

All this week, you can check out the premiere of the music video for “ShowStopper” on Yahoo! Music. Click here to watch now.

Dates of confirmed summer concerts & festivals are now up on the Tour page.

More details, including ticket links, will be posted as soon as we have them. Don’t see a show in your area? Keep checking back … we will post new tour dates as soon as they come in.

Just a little something to make your weekend sweeter … you can stream Tonight in it’s entirety today through Monday. Just visit Yahoo Music and click on the ‘TobyMac album preview’ button.

The third and final single in the iTunes Countdown – “Funky Jesus Music” – is available today.

Click here to buy now and remember to check out the FREE podcast!

TONIGHT releases in one week, Tuesday 2/9, and if you have pre-purchased any of the single at iTunes, you can use their handy “complete your album” feature to get the rest of the songs at a special price.

Due to the devastation in Haiti, TobyMac has decided to donate 100% of his artist royalties from first week sales of his new single “Get Back Up” to relief efforts. Proceeds will be divided up amongst the Hands and Feet Organization, Restore Haiti, and Compassion International.

“The world is responding in a beautiful way to this tragedy haitians are experiencing,” he says. “If I am going to create art that speaks of compassion than I must live that out. I wanted my new release ‘Get Back Up’ to benefit Haiti in their tragedy and I am blessed to use my music to help as your purchase becomes our gift. “

TobyMac and Skillet, along with Gotee band House of Heroes, will be joining forces for the Awake Tonight Tour this spring. Sure to be an evening of pure adrenaline, the tour will hit over 20 cities throughout March and April, kicking off on March 4th in Illinois (click here for dates and ticket info).

The iTunes Countdown to TobyMac’s new record has begun! Starting Jan. 19th, you can download a new single every week leading up to the release of TONIGHT.

The pounding track “ShowStopper” kicks things off and is available now, “Get Back Up” comes next Tuesday Jan 26th, and “Funky Jesus Music” drops on Feb 2nd.

Along with the new songs, you can also get a free podcast video each week. And on release day February 9th, you can complete your album for a special price.

Click here to go to iTunes now!

The new digital issue of CCM Magazine is now online, and TobyMac is featured on the cover. Find out what comprises a typical day off the road, listen to him talk about the recording process, and get an exclusive sneak peek into tobyMac and Skillet’s co-headlining spring tour. Click here to read the full story.

After getting a great head start this past fall with the hit single, “City On Our Knees,” TobyMac’s fourth studio album Tonight will release on February 9th.

Along with producers Chris Stevens, Jamie Moore and Dave Wyatt,  TobyMac has spent the last two and a half years creating Tonight:

“The recording process means a lot to me, and I don’t approach what I do haphazardly,” he says. “I have a lot of passion when it comes to my records. I don’t know if it’s good or bad, but there’s this range of emotions that come with making a record. Music is something that can actually open people’s minds to who God is. Music will never change the world, but God can choose to use music, and that’s what I count on. I want my songs to be said in a way that anyone can relate to them. I want them to move people’s lives forward; move people toward God, and if I’m accomplishing that, whether or not anyone loves this record, as long as I feel like that is what I’m doing, then I feel like my job is done.”

As with previous TobyMac projects, Tonight also features special guest collaborations and a diversity of musical styles. The title track brings in John Cooper of Skillet, while “Wonderin’” features Matthew Thiessen of Relient K, and Nirva Ready belts her vocals on “Changed Forever.” A true highlight is with TruDog’s full song debut on the track “LoudNClear.”

Tonight will be available as a physical CD and in digital form, both of which will offer deluxe editions with bonus remixes and behind the scenes videos.

The Gospel Music Association has announced that the 2010 Dove Awards will be held on Wednesday, April 21, 2010 at Nashville’s Grand Ole Opry House. Performers for the 41st Annual Dove Awards include Casting Crowns, TobyMac, Natalie Grant, Donald Lawrence, Jason Crabb, and MercyMe. More performers and presenters will be announced in the coming weeks.The awards ceremony will be televised nationally on the Gospel Music Channel (GMC) television network, Saturday, April 24, 2010 from 8 p.m. – 10 p.m. EST.