Kingsway to distribute Hillsong in the UK and Europe

Kingsway Music has entered into a sales and distribution agreement with Hillsong Church and Hillsong Music.

Effective immediately Kingsway have been assigned the right to distribute recorded music, video and Leadership/Church Resources from Hillsong into the UK and European Christian Markets. Featured products will include the best-selling Hillsong LIVE, Hillsong UNITED and Hillsong Kids recordings.

In addition to new products, Kingsway will also be re-introducing all key Hillsong catalogue titles.

Hillsong Music now well established as a global force in Christian music, has sold over 11 million albums to date and has earned 30 Gold and Platinum awards around the world. Based in Sydney Australia, Hillsong is one of the world's fastest-growing ministries, with a 25,000-plus strong congregation in Australia, established large evangelical churches in London, Cape Town and Kiev; rapidly growing churches in Stockholm and Paris, and recently announced plans to establish a new church in New York City.

A newly formed European Hillsong Media company, will be managed by Gareth Russell the former MD of Authentic Media under the direction of Graham Williams and George Aghjanian of Hillsong. In addition to supervising the Kingsway Distribution partnership, a key part of Gareth's role will be to focus on European sales and the development of general market opportunities. This new team will be supported by the in-house marketing expertise of the London Hillsong Church.

George Aghajanian, General Manager, Hillsong Church and Music, says, "Hillsong Music has always been an expression of our passion, as a church in Sydney Australia, to honour and worship the Lord. As we enter this next season of ministry, we look forward to a new partnership with Kingsway and are excited at the opportunities available to continue to serve the Body of Christ."

Jonathan Brown of Kingsway says, "We will work diligently to support Hillsong's vision to introduce and connect people with the living God."

Gareth Russell adds "I am delighted to once again be working alongside the Hillsong team. I have been directly involved in the distribution of Hillsong music for many years and am continually inspired by the passion, professionalism, and dedication of the team. With the upcoming new releases and United touring Europe, I am excited about the potential of the coming 12 months."

Tracing its music heritage to 1969, Kingsway today is known as a leader in Worship Music. With songs like Here I Am to Worship, In Christ Alone, Everlasting God, Blessed Be The Name among others, and as creator of the Thank You Music Catalogue, and latterly in partnership with EMI.

Kingsway's songs are sung in more than 300,000 churches worldwide accounting for over 30% of CCLI's (Church Copyright Licensing International) bestseller list. With writers and artists like Tim Hughes, Matt Redman, Delirious?, Graham Kendrick and Stuart Townend, Kingsway is dedicated to feeding the Church with songs that will change the world.

As the music arm of David C Cook, a non-profit organisation located in Colorado Springs, Colorado, USA, the monies that Kingsway and Cook make are used to provide discipleship and music materials free of charge to church leaders in developing parts of the world who wouldn't be able to get them any other way.