Earnest Pugh's EPM Music Group Celebrates 8 Year Partnership with eOne with Anniversary Album

By Press Release Mar 27, 2019 03:49 AM EDT

EPM Music Group, the label imprint helmed by vocal virtuoso Dr. Earnest Pugh, celebrates its eighth year of partnership with eOne Entertainment. To commemorate the occasion, EPM is releasing a 'Best Of' album that features Sunday morning classics from such artist favorites as Michelle Prather, Zacardi Cortez, Charles Butler & Trinity, Chrystal Rucker and Earnest Pugh himself.

Titled the EPM Music Group 8^th Anniversary Celebration, the album will be available on digital formats on Good Friday, April 19th. Pre-orders on iTunes begin on Gospel music's favorite Friday: March 29^th - Stellar Gospel Music Awards Weekend. The lead radio single is "I Came to Bless The Lord" featuring the incredible Brittney Wright.

The anniversary celebration album features artists and tracks that have made EPM Music Group a chart-topping force in the gospel music industry. Four of the label's first artists are featured (Butler, Rucker, Keith Williams and Vincent Tharpe). These artists all debuted in the Top-10 on the Billboard Gospel Albums chart when their albums were released.

Pugh says: "When I was approached by Jim Cuomo (Senior Vice President of eOne Entertainment at the time) I was reluctant to accept the offer because I knew that the weight and gravity of facilitating masters along with marketing and promotion efforts for artists could present a huge conflict of interest for me because of my own solo career and contractual obligations. After careful consideration, fervent prayer and encouragement from my mentors, I accepted the opportunity to bring a label imprint to eOne. The journey has been more rewarding than it has been challenging, and has given me enormous respect for the business of music and those who have toiled behind-the-scenes throughout their career."

EPM went on to sign other artists such as John Paul McGee, Faith Hope and Love Mass Choir, Deric Lewis and the Church Choir (featuring Kathy Taylor, NaKitta Fox, and Zacardi Cortez). The label has released three specialty projects such as "Rising Stars" (Featuring Brittany Wright and Michelle Prather) and "Praise Breaks CD" (Featuring Cedric Thompson, Jason White, and Rodrick Dowling). In 2018, EPM facilitated the release of "Be The Glow", a Free AT&T holiday single that garnered over 2-million downloads. "Be The Glow" featured Fantasia, Fred Hammond, Marvin Sapp, Monica, Romeo and Earnest Pugh. The track was written & Produced by Keith Williams and Co-Produced by Michael Bereal. The single spent several weeks on the Billboard Top 30 Gospel Chart.

"The EPM Music Group 8^th Anniversary Celebration album is a representation of the creativity and vision of this label," says Pugh. "It's wonderful to have maintain a standing in the ever changing Gospel music marketplace, and even moreso that so many artists that we started with are still relevant today. EPM Music Group is a timeless label, and this collection of music demonstrates why."

EPM Music Group 8th Anniversary Celebration - TRACK LISTING

"I Came To Bless To Bless The Lord"

GOSPEL'S RISING STARS

Feat. Brittney Wright

"Thank Ya Lord"

LIVE IN MEMPHIS

Vincent Tharpe & Kenosis

"More Than Enough"

BETTER

Charles Butler & Trinity

"He Never Failed Me Yet"

DERIC LEWIS & THE CHURCH CHOIR LIVE