Hip Hope Hits 2009, a compilation of hip-hop and rap, released Feb. 3 from Gotee Records (EMI CMG Distribution). The fifth album in the series features tracks from Toby Mac, Verbs, B. Reith, KJ-52, Canton Jones and others.

Christian songs continue to find their way onto television as labels look to increase licensing revenue and find new ways to market music. The latest examples include “Get Up” by Mary Mary (from 2008’s The Sound, Integrity Music/Provident-Integrity Distribution), heard on ABC’s Ugly Betty in November 2008, and Lanae’ Hale’s “Back and Forth,” featured on MTV’s The Hills the following month. The song is from Hale’s forthcoming album (Centricity Music/Word Distribution), which is currently untitled but slated for a spring release.

If last year is any indication, newcomers Tenth Avenue North might be one of the new Christian groups with some staying power. According to R&R (Radio & Records) magazine, the band was the only new Christian artist to have multiple number one hits (“By Your Side” and “Love Is Here”) last year. The songs were off the group’s 2008 debut, Over and Underneath (Reunion Records/Provident-Integrity).

2008 was also a good year for Jeremy Camp as he saw lifetime sales exceed 3 million and his 2008 album Speaking Louder Than Before (BEC Recordings/EMI CMG Distribution) sell 60,000 units.

As if three consecutive Female Vocalist of the Year Dove Awards weren’t enough, Natalie Grant was the most played female artist on Christian radio in 2008. “In Better Hands” and “I Will Not Be Moved” were among her hit songs on Christian Adult Contemporary stations—both from Grant’s 2008 album, Relentless (Curb Records/Word Distribution).

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