CCM Update Article (March 3, 1997)

       At age 17, Jaci Velasquez is one of the youngest artists in the contemporary Christian music industry today. She has also become one of the most popular, her debut album on Myrrh Records recently passing the 160,000 mark in total SoundScan sales since its release in May of last year.
       Heavenly Place has averaged weekly SoundScan sales of more than 3,500 units and has appeared on the SoundScan Christian retail chart for a total of 41 weeks, remaining in the top ten for 24 of those weeks. Her album has also remained on Billboard's "HeatSeeker" chart for 28 weeks. Additionally, she has received a Dove nomination for both New Artist and Female Vocalist of the Year.
       LaDonna Thorne, music buyer for Joshua's stores, told The CCM Update, "Jaci's album has probably been one of the best debut releases we've ever had. It's been on our best-seller chart since June or July, so it's been a really good release for us. With her new single that just hit radio, we've already seen a substantial increase in sales. It's rare that a new artist takes off so well for us, especially in such a short amount of time."
       Radio success is beginning to match the early success Velasquez has seen at the retail level. Heavenly Place has birthed three consecutive No. 1 Adult Contemporary singles at Christian radio, and the most recent release, "On My Knees," is currently making its way up the charts. Radio has seemed to embrace Velasquez, due in part to an extensive promotional tour that landed her at Christian radio stations and bookstores across the country last year.
       "There has been an incredible response to Jaci here," says Stacey Brooks, music director for the Houston market's KSBJ radio station. "We log all of the listener requests called in, and Jaci's name is there constantly. Every single she's released we played in heavy rotation. She has definitely endeared herself to us here, and people in Houston have just fallen in love with her. This little girl is anointed, and we pray for her daily that God will keep his hand on her, because this is a lot for a young girl to try to handle."
       Myrrh launched a second-phase marketing plan for Heavenly Place during the latter part of 1996, spending an equal amount to the project's initial marketing phase. At the same time, the William Morris Agency coupled Velasquez's radio and retail visits with actual live performances in many of the markets. To date, Velasquez has done concerts with 4Him, Mark Lowry and NewSong, performing a total of 76 dates from May to December of 1996. In 1997, she is performing every single weekend through the end of May, and will join Clay Crosse on tour in the fall.
       Raul Mateu, an agent in William Morris' New York office, told The CCM Update, "My only complaint about Jaci is that I don't have her here enough. There are no limits to what she can do. We've had requests for her to come to New York to audition for Broadway shows, audition for television, audition for movies -- all strictly out of small little meetings that we've set up for her here and there. I'm confident that if she ever wanted to move to New York of Los Angeles to pursue other avenues, which at this time are not important to her, she could do whatever she wanted to do."
       As Myrrh prepares for a follow-up to Heavenly Place, Velasquez has peaked the interest of New York publishing company Simon & Schuster, which has just signed the 17-year-old to a book deal with its Fireside imprint. According to Rebecca Cabaza, senior editor for Simon & Schuster trade paperbacks, the book is tentatively scheduled for release in the spring of 1988.
       "I think Jaci's got a lot of positive, inspiring things to say, particularly to young people. What I'm envisioning is a book of advice and inspiring words. I want Jaci to share some personal stories with her audience, experiences or frustrations she may have had growing up. I think that type of inspirational, non-fiction book is something that really fits who Jaci is and who her audience is.
       "Simon & Schuster definitely has a presence in the CBA market, and we are also very strong in the standard retail outlets. We are a full-range publisher in terms of where we put our books, so I think we'll be able to reach a very broad market. We'll also be looking for opportunities to cross-promote with her touring or her album any way we can."
       Myrrh plans to release Velasquez's second project in October, and another release geared mainly toward the Hispanic market may follow shortly thereafter.