Line-Up
Artists/Speakers/Instructors subject to change.
John Cooper is the lead vocalist, bassist, and songwriter/producer for Skillet, one of the best-selling rock bands of the 21st century. The two-time GRAMMY Award-nominated 12x platinum band was recently invited into Pandora’s Billionaire club after garnering 2 billion streams, receiving a pair of GRAMMY Award nods, selling over 12 million albums worldwide, taking home a Billboard Music Award, and more. Their breakout single “Monster” remains “one of the most-streamed rock songs of all-time” with 285 million global audio streams.
Between selling out arenas on four continents, Cooper has found time to launch his podcast, COOPER STUFF PODCAST, a beard care line with Hawk & Hatchett, available at Macys.com and partnered with Z2 COMICS to create Skillet’s first Graphic Novel, EDEN, out now. Their tenth full-length project, Victorious released via Atlantic Records on August 2nd.
Spend five minutes with the members of CAIN and you’ll feel like you’ve spent the afternoon in the sunshine. The band’s effervescent joy spills over onto each person they meet, their bright smiles as contagious as their chill-inducing harmonies. Pouring their perpetual joy into their debut album, 2021’s Rise Up, CAIN – made up of siblings Madison Cain Johnson, Taylor Cain Matz, and Logan Cain – has discovered what it’s like to live their calling while doing their favorite thing, singing about Jesus.
Riley Clemmons is a 22-year-old artist from Nashville, TN who has accumulated over 210 million global streams and 50 million YouTube video views since the beginning of her almost decade long career. After spending years honing her craft in writers’ rooms, Riley sky-rocketed onto the scene with her 2017 Capitol CMG debut single “Broken Prayers,” which has generating over 30 million global streams since its release.
In 2021, she was nominated as Female Artist of the Year at the 9th Annual K-LOVE Fan Awards, marking a first in her career in addition to becoming the youngest nominee in the show’s history.
An accomplished composer, performer, producer, and recording artist, Riley draws inspiration from life experiences, blending musical influences ranging from pop to classic rock to create music that is as catchy as it is relatable. Her sophomore album, Godsend, will be released on June 4th.
Jonathan Traylor signals the coming of a new generation of faith music—an authentic melting pot of Worship, Christian and Gospel influences, marked by captivating songs and anchored by a heartfelt passion for ministry.
His debut project on Motown Gospel/Capitol CMG, The Unknown, is an innovative playlist of songs and videos to be released over the course of 2020. Chronicling Traylor's journey of blindfolded faith and ultimate acceptance in Christ, The Unknown is a worthy introduction to the singer, songwriter, and dancer who has caught the attention of fans everywhere.
This statement immediately seems contradictory when you meet singer, songwriter and guitar aficionado Coby James. The exuberant 19-year-old appears as carefree as they come, his smile as big as the heart on his sleeve. One would think his cheerful personality would naturally lead to happy songs. Yet, his first two decades of life have dealt some difficult blows, instilling in him a maturity and inner strength that lends itself to crafting songs out of hard truths versus happy endings. James, however, has channeled his pain into melody, making him something of a prodigy as he writes, produces and performs all of his own music. Happy or not, James is building something far greater than a feeling. He’s assembling relatable moments, packaged in vibrant sonics and carefully curated from a wide range of artistic influences.
Although he’s still a new artist, James has already notched a No. 1 song on Billboard’s Christian Hot AC/CHR chart as a contributing writer on Courtnie Ramirez’s track, “Who We Are.” Moreover, he’s also scored a Top 5 hit on the same chart with “Born Ready,” a song on which he serves as the lead artist, co-writer and co-producer. James is no doubt a triple threat. The Nashville transplant and North Carolina native’s rare talent is set to be further showcased throughout 2021 with tour dates alongside Danny Gokey, his debut Christian AC radio single, “Brand New,” and a trio of mixtapes, each possessing its own distinct sound.
Singer/songwriter, and new Centricity Music signee, Katy Nichole doesn’t make this statement lightly. She’s experienced supernatural healing in her own life. And her unwavering belief in God’s ability to heal and the power of prayer have swiftly turned her into a viral sensation thanks to her debut single, “In Jesus Name (God of Possible),” now sound-tracking millions of personal stories on TikTok and Instagram. The song, however, finds its genesis in Katy’s own narrative—a miraculous story of suffering, hope, and ultimately, healing.
Long before TikTok was even a social platform, Katy was singing in her church choir. By 14, she was writing songs and leading worship. “My earliest memories of feeling the Lord’s presence were when I was singing and when I had a song in my heart,” Katy recalls. “Singing has always been that place for me where I’m at my best—it’s the best feeling ever.”
Despite her natural gifting and obvious passion for the art form, Katy headed to college thinking she would pursue a profession in the medical field, content to allow music to remain a hobby. “Funny enough, after being certified as a medical assistant, doors started to close in that area; and they started to open in music. I began to think, OK, God, I think You see something different than what I wanted for my own life,” Katy says. “I think our desires are sometimes different than what God has planned for us. A lot of times, we’ll think it’s going to be a certain way, and then God’s like, ‘Nope, this story is going to look a little different.’”
Katy’s journey to a recording contract—one of those open doors—also looks different than most. Her relationship with both music and God is inextricably intertwined with her path to health and wholeness. “For three years, I was in excruciating pain every single day,” the budding artist reveals. “And no one could tell me why.”
