Artist description In the wake of the furore over the sharing of digital audio files via Napster, it seems inevitable to some people that the Internet will soon be the primary vehicle for the distribution of music, both secular and Christian. Amid the speculation, ShareSong.org is fast becoming established as the major vehicle for the distribution of praise and worship music freely on the Internet. “The Internet will act to help level the playing field. Even though the large corporations will still maintain a large percentage of control, there will be lot more room for independent labels and individuals. The Internet is an empowering medium above all else,” says Sam King, co-founder and vice president of mp3.com.au. According to USA Today (“Faithful Believe in Net’s Power”, 12/22/00), 81% of churches are going online to find worship resources. ShareSong.org aims to connect songwriters with the quickly expanding audience of Christians searching the Internet for praise and worship resources. For consumers of Christian music, ShareSong.org provides a dynamically expanding showcase of some of the best new praise and worship music available on the Web. Users can return regularly for an all you can eat feast of new praise and worship music. For worship leaders, ShareSong.org provides a place where they can legally access the latest songs for use in their church. Looking for a great new song to go with a particular sermon topic? Just type in your keywords and search over 500 songs in the database, browse through the results of your search, and then download the mp3s, sheet music, chord charts, lyrics, midi files and OHTs of the songs you chose. For songwriters, ShareSong.org gives access to a global audience. Without the costs and complications of manufacturing CDs, distribution contracts, and marketing, songwriters can see their songs used for God’s glory internationally. Since launching last September in partnership with freepraiseandworship.org, more than 60 songwriters from all over the world have submitted over 500 of their songs to the database! "This technology facilitates a new paradigm for sharing music in the church worldwide," says Russ Reese, founder of freepraiseandworship.org. "There are a lot of great, inspired songs out there, and now we can share them as though we were all members of the same church. Come to think of it, isn't that what we are?" The future looks bright, and the response so far has certainly been encouraging: “I have been hoping and praying that a third party would start such a site. Worship Leaders need a reliable, unbiased source of praise and worship music without constantly having to pay for everything.” Paul Borderkircher, RPJ Artists Group “Writing songs is the easy part. Getting them performed and promoted is the hard part. Keep up the good work!” Ken Halverson, CA, USA “I think this could be the beginning of the end of the strangle-hold that the establishment has on the supply routes to the church. Wouldn't it be something if God has found a way to sidestep the people who require that we give them our copyrights before they will use our songs! I am delighted to be a part of the revolution.” Lenny Smith, Author of “Our God Reigns” “This is THE most amazing site on the web for praise & worship music! Thank you Lord & to your team! Wow!” Keith Berry, Cape Town, South Africa ShareSong.org… empowering songwriters, worship leaders, churches, and individuals for God’s glory!

Music Style praise and worship

Similar Artists Geoff Bullock, Darlene Zsech, Graham Kendrick, Integrity Music

Press Reviews Let me commend you for your desire to provide worship resources for the church and at the same time remain sensitive to the legal copyright issues... It looks like a great opportunity for the independent songwriters to gain greater exposure. Thank you for encouraging the church to secure the Church Copyright License. Rod Rachinski Vice President, North America Operations Christian Copyright Licensing Inc If you are always looking for new worship songs, this Brisbane based service may be your answer. ShareSong.org provides searchable access to over 500 praise and worship songs from around the world. Facilities include mp3 downloads (using mp3.com), guitar chords, lyrics and song sheets. While I haven't heard of many of the artists, the recording are generally of good to professional quality. Michael Cutter, Alive Magazine I have to admit I was sceptical at first when I heard about what you all do. I spent about 7,000 dollars to make 1,000 CD's including all final mixing, graphics and all. The idea of just giving it all away on MP3 and your site to churches and users kind of caught me off guard a bit. But I am learning much more now about how all this works, and the fact that you provide such a vital link between me as writer and the churches who use CCLI songs. So I guess over time I began to see the advantages of you all getting our material into the hands of people that can in fact use the material. CD sales are very slow for me on-line too, and the internet is a great way to promote but maybe not sell as much. I only have 500 CD's left so something is going right though!. Thanks again for your valid ministry and link between the writer and churches. Steve Massey As a worship leader beginning a new contemporary service and having some difficulty explaining to my song leaders why I think it's important that they give me the song writer's name, much less the copyright info, I am impressed with your site and with the commitment you've made to both the letter and the spirit of the copyright law. I'm troubled by how hard it is for some Christians to understand that violating intellectual property laws is theft, both legally and morally. I also wish I'd searched sooner -- you have a perfect fit for my service tomorrow evening... I've added you to my favourites and I plan to be a regular visitor. Michael Wood, Chehalis, Washington. Publishing my music for free on ShareSong.org has allowed me to reach a potential audience of millions without having to concern myself with the enormous costs of publishing and marketing via the traditional means. My goal is to share my God-given gifts with as many people as possible - not how much profit I can make from doing so. Ben Thorn Brisbane, Australia I'm feeling some little voice deep inside that is telling me there is a major revolution going on here. On the surface it doesn't look like it's such a very big deal, but I think (I could be wrong) this could be the beginning of the end of the strangle-hold that the establishment has on the supply routes to the church. Wouldn't it be something if God has found a way to sidestep the people who require that we give them our copyrights before they will use our songs! Wow, what a great God... and He's just so smart! I am delighted to be a part of the revolution. Lenny Smith, author of “Our God Reigns” New Jerusalem Music As a worship leader I love your site. I am always looking for new material, and our small church fellowship doesn't have the funds to be continually purchasing new praise and worship books. Your kind of site is especially helpful to us, and the quality of the available music is good. Andrea Gear I have found this website very useful. It has also inspired me to have confidence in my own song-writing ability. Carol Unwin Bristol, England As a worship songwriter, I'm very happy to see something like this come into existence. I'm going to begin submitting songs real soon! Matthew Vohlmer When you manufacture a run of CDs and songbooks, it's easy for your focus to shift from ministry to marketing and merchandising. All of a sudden, you are asking yourself, "How am I going to recover all the money that I've put into this 'product'?" Internet distribution helps me to avoid making a massive financial outlay in order achieve my goal of getting the songs into people's homes. Then I can get on with the preaching, teaching, serving and relationships with the people who need it more than they need to pay for another CD and music book. Cedric Taylor The Word in Song I think that the website is a brilliant idea. It encourages many people to listen to Christian music and to hear about our faith through the music. I also think that having the music available in sheet format is great. I am planning to try and play a few of the songs with my church music group and possibly in some of our services. Thank you for all the time and effort put into this site, it is really worthwhile. Keep it going. Kimberley Suffolk, England I have been hoping and praying that a third party (i.e. someone outside a record label) would start such a site. Worship leaders need a reliable, unbiased source of praise and worship music without constantly having to pay for everything - chord sheets, lead sheets, etc. Paul Borderkircher RPJ Artists Group ShareSong.org is the Linux of Worship Music!! Bill Cooney This is the most AWESOME site... how do you dedicate so much of your time to this endeavour? I am completely impressed and enthusiastic about using these artists new songs. Thank You for this wonderful site. I will pass this to other praise team leaders along the way. Mark Oster Lutheran Church of the Resurrection Huntington Beach, CA This is fantastic! I was fair dinkum blown away by the professionalism of the site. The resources you offer are outstanding. The amount of work that has gone into this site is phenomenal. There are A LOT of people out there that are really going to appreciate all this one day. I say "one day" because at this stage I can see you have just begun your vision... "Despise not the day of small beginnings". And this is hardly a small beginning! You are obviously dedicated and committed to the cause of providing worship resources for the Body of Christ. I commend your efforts with all my heart. Keep it up. I believe if you maintain this standard of excellence and service you will attract world-wide attention eventually and become a tremendous resource - I'm serious - I haven't found such a helpful site as yours. I really do think very highly of your work on your website - I think it will become a major resource for the Body in the years ahead and I'm honoured to be a part of it. Ray Watson The Secret Place I have been a member of ASCAP since April 1971 when I had two of my pop songs published by Standley Music. I now have my own Revlah Music company registered with ASCAP. This in itself doesn't guarantee success; it just means my foot's in the door. Writing songs is the easy part. Getting them performed and promoted is the hard part. I think you have hit on a good idea here. Keep up the good work! Ken Halverson Rolling Hills Est., CA, USA I find it hard to get my songs used regularly at my own church. It' seems sometimes as if there's a bit of the "home town prophet syndrome" happening. I hope that through ShareSong.org I can get my songs "out there" to be used by people all over the world for God's glory. Grant Walker Brisbane, Australia Holy carp (yes, carp!), is the Sharesong site looking sweet or what!? I've been checking in every few months and - WOW!! - I am so impressed by it right now! Well done, Marty and Marty-minions! It really has taken off, ne? That is to say, it no longer looks like something a mate of mine did. It has BIGNESS. A life of its OWN!! Woo, spooky. It's really encouraging to encounter every so often a good idea that actually worked. Because it was a good idea. Praise Jesus!! Patrick Reid Brisbane, Australia This is THE most amazing site on the web for praise & worship music! Thanks you Lord & to your team! Wow! Keith Berry Cape Town, South Africa

Location Brisbane, Queensland - Australia

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