Jonathan Bellamy charts the history of Britain's Nelson Word and talks to the label's Ian Hamilton.



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1988 Staff: 60+. Begin distribution of Integrity Music. Amy Grant at Greenbelt and concert at London's Dominion. Heartbeat's single Tears From Heaven hits the charts. Peaks at 32. Steve Taylor tours UK. Releases: Lead Me On (Amy Grant), / Predict 1990 (Steve Taylor), Make His Praise Glorious (Sandi Patti), The Manner (Heartbeat), / 2 Eye (Michael W Smith).

1989 Performance of Alpha And Omega, Royal Albert Hall with 700-voice choir. Snell's Song Of An Exile premiered. Tours: Prom Praise (All Souls' Orchestra and Choir), Phil And John (USA). Melody Green's biography of Keith Green's Wo Compromise sold over 42,000. Releases: Cliff and Kendrick combine on The Kendrick Collection, The Highest Honour (Chris Bowater), We Believe (Graham Kendrick), Don't Look Now...lt's The Hallelujah Brothers (Phil And John), An Aching And A Longing (Martyn Joseph), Live In The UK (Don Francisco), Heaven (BeBe And CeCe Winans).

1990 Word launch White Metal Club - Metal Direct. More than 50% of Word UK's sales go overseas. Cross Rhythms launched with Word's Dave Bruce calling CR "the publication with the potential to become the best music magazine in the world." Releases: Father (Adrian Snell), Amazing Love (Hosanna! Music), lona, Meet Julie Miller, Secret Of Time (Charlie Peacock), A New Beginning (Marilyn Baker).

1991 Licence deal signed with Warner Alliance (Take 6, The Winans, Donna McElroy). Baby Baby charts, peaks at number 2. Word bought Bagster Video catalogue. Publish International Children's Bible - Word's first Bible. Releases: Heart In Motion (Amy Grant) sales over 140,000 - all time best Christian seller worldwide, Lonesome Troubadour (Garth Hewitt), Vision Of The Valley (Don Francisco), Unseen Power (Petra), Different Lifestyles (BeBe And CeCe Winans), The Way Of Wisdom (Michael Card), Powerhouse (White Heart).

1992 Word Inc world's largest Christian record company bought by Thomas Nelson world's biggest Bible publisher for $72 million. Comedian Mike Warnke disgraced - albums deleted. Sparrow, the giant US Christian company licensed by Word (UK), bought by EMI. Word (UK) celebrate 25th anniversary and are presented with award for services to gospel music. Releases: Addicted To Jesus (Carman), Pure Heart (Hosanna!/lan White), Kiss The Tears (Adrian Snell), Up To Zion (Hosannal/Noel Richards), Face To Face (Marilyn Baker), Book OfKells (lona), Change Your World (Michael W Smith), Home For Christmas (Amy Grant), Come Away (Don Francisco).

1993 Word (UK) change their name to Nelson Word. Prepare for massive expansion of book/Bible division. Premier reaches 150th edition, Ian Hamilton grants interview to Cross Rhythms. Releases: Free At Last (DC Talk), Hymns (Steve Green), Beautiful...Or What?! (Adrian Snell). CR

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