Is Breaking Hits By Independent Artists
On “Kerry Douglas Presents Gospel Mix III” CD/DVD
Project in Stores Everywhere June 30, 2009
“We’re breaking the hits,” says Blacksmoke Worldwide CEO Kerry Douglas of his trailblazing Gospel Mix compilation CD/DVD series. “We’re letting you hear it before you hear it anywhere else and letting you see it before you see it anywhere else.” The WOW and Gotta Have Gospel compilation CD series have become successful by repackaging already established hits; but Douglas is taking a grassroots route with his new CD/DVD, Gospel Mix III (List Price $14.98). “We’re taking new artists or rising artists who don’t already have a big hit,” says Douglas. “We’re putting them out and watching their songs become today’s big hits.”
Douglas has been doing just that for the last decade. He has made songs such as James Fortune & FIYA’s “I Will Trust You” (#1 for 28 weeks on Billboard’s Hot Gospel Songs chart), Jimmy Hick’s “Born Blessed” and Evelyn Turrentine-Agee’s “God Did It” gospel household standards. Five songs from this new CD have already hit the Billboard Hot Gospel songs chart. Fortune’s “I Wouldn’t Know You” is #9 on the chart. Keith “Wonderboy” Johnson & the Spiritual Voices’s “Time to Get Close Jesus” and The Brown Boyz’ “Love Like That” are both in the Top 20 while contemporary quartet GI’s “Get Up” and Earnest Pugh’s “Rain on Us” have just hit the Top 40 and are steadily moving up the survey.
For Douglas, this is a ministry as well as a business. “In a time when unemployment is at an all time high and the economy is in a slump, it is important for those of us who carry the Word of God in our hearts to do all we can to spread encouragement and hope to others,” Douglas states. “For this reason, we are offering both the CD /DVD combo for only $15 and some outlets such as Wal-Mart are offering it for even less.”
The double disc set includes a 17-track CD featuring James Fortune’s mega hits “I Trust You” and “I Wouldn’t Know You.” It also features retro soul tracks such as Bryan Wilson’s “Change in Me” and the Brown Boyz’ “Love Like That.” There’s quartet tunes by Keith “Wonderboy” Johnson” and Darrell McFadden & The Disciples, as well as, up-tempo urban tracks by G.I. and Niyoki. The DVD features Douglas and Fortune hosting and introducing eighteen music videos by the artists featured on the CD. Among the noted videos is The Brown Boyz’ “Love Like That” video which features a two-step and line dance. Following the video, there is a 10-minute two-step instructional video.
A part of the grassroots campaign to promote the CD/DVD is the artists. “With one CD you have one artist in one place pushing it,” says Douglas. “With this, we have at least 14 artists all over the country pushing the CD because they are on the CD and when they push themselves, they are also pushing the other artists. That is a unique marketing angle. I’ve also got different radio promoters working different singles from the CD.”
“We are planning a national concert tour and lots of promotional activities. We will work with churches, radio stations, retail outlets, promoters and all to make sure that events are affordable and accessible for all to come and be inspired by the awesome talent and ministry of the artists featured on the CD /DVD,” says Kerry Douglas. “I encourage anyone interested in co-partnering with us to reach out to me personally at 713-245-6204. We will make it work for all. It’s part of my vision to take artists who have talent and anointing and give them a national platform.”