HearItFirst.com Relaunches As "The" Definitive Community Website For Contemporary Christian Music
NASHVILLE - 1/9/05. This January, hearitfirst.com will re-launch to become THE definitive community website for fans of the nation's fastest growing musical genre, contemporary Christian music. "We're a site for fans of CCM and anyone wanting to learn more about the genre. A place where fans can easily keep up with all artists from all labels, as well as, connect with one another," said Mark Adkison, hearitfirst.com co-creator.
Creating a community where fans can go into a deeper experience with all their favorite artists at once, hearitfirst.com will be a one-stop site for the latest on all artists from all labels.
"Christian music is the only genre defined by lyrical content not musical style. Visitors to our site will find music from a broad range of styles including pop, rock, alternative, and gospel --- a mixture or sound and information not found anywhere else on the web," adds Adkison.
Besides providing a virtual soundboard for the entire Christian genre, independent and upcoming artists will have a chance to be showcased and introduced to fans seeking more music and new and upcoming hit-makers on this premier site. Essentially, fans who go to hearitfirst.com will have a one of a kind experience through the meshing of various sounds and sorted media, best described as a meeting of what can be found on Yahoo Music and Pitchfork Media. The hearitfirst.com homepage will feature major artists, video debuts, top rated music as chosen by fans, news, upcoming releases and links to chat rooms, message boards, media centers and individual sub-genre pages.
Since hearitfirst.com is a site solely focused on needs and desires of music fans primarily in the 18-24 demographic, it will be a destination where young people like the ones running hearitfirst.com will be able to sample new music and discover for themselves what they like, without the influence of a large marketing presence found in other websites.
Music fans will be able to: -Preview upcoming albums by established and up-and-coming artists -Discover new artists, both on major and independent labels -Discover the many different genres of Christian music -Rate their favorite music and save that information on the site -Find similar acts via an interactive "Six Degrees" feature -Communicate with other music fans via an extensive message board system -Currently browse over 200 artists (Site updated weekly with new artists) -View extensive media options, including audio, music videos, exclusive video interviews, download podcasts and read artist and editor blogs -Purchase CDs
Taking participation a step further, fans who are aspiring musicians themselves can submit their own music and information for possible inclusion in the Indiescovery section, as well as have the opportunity to sell their own independent records in the hearitfirst.com store. There is also a "Get Involved" place on the site for fans to take action in other ways by linking them to particular social justice causes supported by site artists. The Community section is another forum where fans are asked to take part and voice their own opinions by voting in polls, surveys, and writing in blogs and various online discussions. Overall, hearitfirst.com is a place where fans do so much more than learn about music - they are invited to become a part of the music itself.
hearitfirst.com, which started in 1998 with a different format, has been completely revamped to encompass all the sub-genres that make up contemporary Christian music, with the ultimate goal of integrating and inviting everyone into this growing musical genre.