MAKE A DIFFERENCE TOUR 2010

MAX LUCADO, MICHAEL W. SMITH, THIRD DAY AND TOBYMAC
WELCOME SINGER/SONGWRITER JASON GRAY AS OPENER ON
MAKE A DIFFERENCE TOUR 2010

Gray Will Be Tour’s ‘Embedded Video Reporter,’ Filming Behind-The-Scenes Videos Exclusively for HearItFirst.com

NASHVILLE, TN—August 23, 2010—As ticket sales continue to climb for one of the most anticipated tours of the year, World Vision’s Make A Difference Tour 2010 featuring New York Times best-selling author Max Lucado and GRAMMY® Award winners Michael W. Smith, TobyMac and Third Day, critically acclaimed singer/songwriter Jason Gray has been added to the roster as the tour’s opener.  Gray joins the tour in support of his sophomore Centricity Music release, Everything Sad Is Coming Untrue, but will also play an important role for fans as the Make A Difference Tour’s “embedded video reporter,” charged with capturing exclusive behind-the-scenes footage and interviews that will be part of his weekly video blog from the road, posted exclusively on HearItFirst.com.

“I feel so honored to be a part of such a monumental tour,” Gray says. “To share the stage with such an amazing lineup (has there ever been a tour of this magnitude in the history of Christian music?) would be more than enough, but to get to join them on a tour where we work together to serve the poorest of the poor makes it that much sweeter and is ultimately what makes this tour significant.”

“We are so excited to partner with Max Lucado, Michael W. Smith, Third Day, TobyMac and the Make a Difference Tour to bring exclusive behind-the-scenes video content to fans every week from the road,” says HearItFirst.com Director of Content Jamie Wilson.  “HearItFirst.com is honored to help increase awareness of World Vision’s mission, and as a passionate ambassador for World Vision, Jason Gray is the perfect spokesman for our video blog series. His heart for changing the world is evident as soon as you meet him and we’re delighted to have the opportunity to introduce him to our audience each week. We believe these fun, candid videos featuring all of the artists will truly show the heart and soul behind the Make a Difference Tour.”

“World Vision has been working with Jason Gray for eight years,” adds Jenny Lockwald, Executive Director, Artist Associates and Sponsor Engagement for World Vision. “In that time Jason has impacted the lives of thousands of children around the world and has made World Vision a major part of his music ministry and career. It was our pleasure to find a place for Jason on this tour because we know his heart and music are directly in line with the concept of making a difference. For those who have not yet had the opportunity to hear Jason, get prepared to become a fan. Jason is an amazing singer/songwriter who hits the mark with his soulful insights on what it means to live out Christianity every day.”

One of the most respected singer/songwriters in the Christian music business, Jason Gray released his latest studio project, Everything Sad Is Coming Untrue, in the fall of last year.  Heralded by numerous media outlets, the project landed at No. 8 in CCM Magazine’s Top Ten best faith-based albums in 2009 and Worship Leader magazine says, “Gray’s songs don’t really work as background music, they demand to be listened to and considered.” Gray’s latest single, “More Like Falling In Love,” was his highest charting song that peaked at #4 on the Adult Contemporary chart.  Gray has also been touring consistently in support of his current album, and with his soulful performances and heart-felt ministry (that is sometimes sprinkled with humorous anecdotes), he remains a fan favorite on the touring circuit.
(www.jasongraymusic.com)

Launching in Youngstown, Ohio on Sept. 30, and running through the end of October, tickets for the 20-city Make A Difference Tour 2010 are available now at all Ticketmaster outlets and other locations.  Ticket options include a special VIP package featuring Gold Circle seats, a pre-show Q&A with all artists, a limited-edition Make A Difference Tour poster, a commemorative tour credential and a copy of the new book Outlive Your Life by Max Lucado.  A complete list of tour dates, news, artist info, exclusive photos, videos and more resources are available online at www.MakeADifferenceTour.com. In addition, the tour’s official Facebook page is live at www.facebook.com/makeadifferencetour, and fans and supporters can follow the tour’s official Twitter feed at @MakeADiffTour to stay up to date on the latest news and exclusive content.

The “Make A Difference Tour 2010” will visit 20 U.S. cities during the month of October, including:

9-30       Youngstown, OH              Covelli Center
10-1       Corbin, KY                        Southeastern Kentucky Expo Center
10-2       Alpharetta, GA                  Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre
10-3       Cape Girardeau, MO       Show Me Center
10-7       Austin, TX                          The Theatre at the Frank Erwin Center
10-8       Beaumont, TX                  Ford Park Arena
10-9       Lafayette, LA                     Cajundome
10-10     Columbus, GA                  Columbus Civic Center
10-14     San Jose, CA                    HP Pavilion at San Jose
10-15     Bakersfield, CA                 Rabobank Arena
10-16     Ontario, CA                        Citizens Business Bank Arena
10-17     Glendale, AZ                      Jobing.com Arena
10-21     Colorado Springs, CO       World Arena
10-22     Lubbock, TX                        United Spirit Arena
10-23     Wichita Falls, TX                Kay Yeager Coliseum
10-24     Topeka, KS                         Kansas ExpoCentre
10-27     Cedar Rapids, IA                US Cellular Center
10-28     Green Bay, WI                     Resch Center
10-29     Dayton, OH                          Nutter Center
10-30     Fayetteville, NC                  Crown Coliseum

* All dates are subject to change without notice.

AEG Live, a leading provider of live entertainment around the world, is producer for the Make A Difference Tour 2010 and World Vision, an international humanitarian agency, is the tour sponsor. The tour has also partnered with HearItFirst.com, a leading online destination for Christian music fans, for exclusive video content, tour news and more.

About Max Lucado:
Max Lucado has more than 65 million books in print and a publishing career spanning 25 years. Max and his wife Denalyn live in San Antonio, Texas, where he is Minister of Preaching at Oak Hills Church.  For more information on Max Lucado, please visit www.maxlucado.com.

About TobyMac:
The ascension of TobyMac’s solo career has been nothing short of spectacular. In an era of declining music sales, he has consistently defied the odds and has seen his sales increase with each new album. TobyMac has sold more than 2 million albums and received his first Grammy as a solo artist. With his groundbreaking group dc talk, he won four Grammys and sold more than 8 million albums. His latest album is TONIGHT, which features his chart-topping, Grammy-nominated and Dove Award-wining single “City On Our Knees.” TobyMac was named the GMA Dove Award’s 2008 Artist of the Year and is now writing his first solo book City On Our Knees: If You Gotta Start Somewhere, Why Not Here (Bethany House, September 2010). TobyMac and his family of seven live in Franklin, TN. For more information on TobyMac, please visit www.tobymac.com.

About Michael W. Smith:
Throughout his 27-year career as a recording artist, Michael W. Smith has amassed an impressive catalog of achievements. His 21 albums have garnered multiple honors including an American Music Award, three GRAMMY® Awards (from 13 nominations), 44 GMA Dove Awards and 33 No. 1 radio hits. In addition, he holds 16 Gold and five platinum albums for career sales approaching 15 million. Smith, who was inducted into the
Gospel Music Hall of Fame in 2009, has scored several film projects, written 11 books and has been featured by many national media outlets.  For up-to-date information on Michael W. Smith, please visit www.michaelwsmith.com or www.providentpress.com.

About Third Day:
Over the past decade, the Atlanta-based, multi-Platinum rock band Third Day (made up of members Mac Powell, Tai Anderson, David Carr and Mark Lee) has racked up 27 No. 1 radio singles and sold 6.25 million albums. A recent Georgia Music Hall of Fame inductee, Third Day has garnered 24 career GMA Dove Awards, four GRAMMY Awards (with eleven career nominations), an American Music Award, three American Music Award nominations and multiple ASCAP honors for songwriting. As a top-ranked touring band, according to Pollstar magazine, Third Day has played for audiences reaching into the millions. For more information on Third Day, please visit: www.ThirdDay.com.

AEG Live/MEG is a subsidiary of Anschutz Entertainment Group, one of the leading providers of live entertainment and sports in the world. Dedicated to all aspects of live entertainment and multi-media production, it is the second largest concert promotion, special event and touring company in the world.

World Vision is a Christian humanitarian organization dedicated to working with children, families and their communities worldwide to reach their full potential by tackling the causes of poverty and injustice. For more on World Vision, go to www.worldvision.org.

HearItFirst.com, a division of Spinnaker Media Fund I, is the definitive online destination for the Christian music and entertainment fan. Filled with rich content covering the entire Christian music and entertainment industry, HIF boasts a membership of over 248,000 registered users, and hosts an array of features on the site, including Exclusive Content Rich Media – videos, photos & audio streams, Genre Sections, Artist Pages, News, New Releases, Store, Tour Information, Community and Blogs.