Five Finger Death Punch's "Got Your Six" Opens at #2 on Billboard Album Chart

While it's becoming a habit, it's still an achievement: In a music business that seems to be dominated by free streaming, Five Finger Death Punch has scored its third debut at number two on the Billboard Top 200 Album chart with Got Your Six (or fourth, if you included both volumes of The Wrong Side of Heaven and the Righteous Side of Hell).

Co-written and produced once again by Kevin Churko, Got Your Six eschews the softer side of FFDP as showcased on both parts of the Heaven album, but has the power of the record's first single, "Jekyll and Hyde," which is currently at number three on the Active Rock radio charts.

Also, in a nod to the band's core fans (more affectionately known as Knuckleheads), Heaven, Vol. 1 spiked on the Billboard Album chart the same week as Got Your Six's debut entry.  Heaven, Vol. 1 has enjoyed over 80 weeks on the sales chart since its release July, 2013.

FFDP are currently on the road with two other Kevin Churko (and Kane Churko) produced acts: Papa Roach and In This Moment.

Disturbed's "Immortalized" Debuts at #1; Kevin Churko's First #1

Cadium Music Publishing's writer/producer, Kevin Churko, scored his first number one album with Disturbed's latest, Immortalized.  Churko has written and produced albums that hit number two on the Billboard Top 200 album chart with Five Finger Death Punch's American Capitalist and The Wrong Side of Heaven and the Righteous Side of Hell (Vols. One and Two), but until very recently, the number one spot had remained elusive.

Churko co-wrote on all the band's 15 songs from the album.

Disturbed, no stranger to number ones, has had its last five albums open at the top spot.

Immortalized has been partly fueled by the anticipation from loyal "Disturbed Ones" who have waited five years for a new record from the group, and the album's first (number one rock radio) single from the disc, "The Vengeful One."

The band will play one show this year, then begin the first leg of their U.S. tour in the Spring.

Producer / Mixer Michael James has #1 for Fifth Week in a Row

Veteran producer / mixer, Michael James, is enjoying his fifth week at number one at Mexican radio with his mix of Kalimba's "Estrellas Rotas."  The track has actually topped two charts:
Audience Response and Spins.

James, who has a long history of working with artists early in their careers (Hole, L7, New Radicals, Jane's Addiction, among others), has managed to remain ahead of the curve when it comes to production and mixing.  An early believer in "hybrid mixing," the native New Yorker has consistently brought fresh perspectives to songs, sometimes taking tracks in their most raw forms and creating dazzling mixes or even taking a previously mixed track and making it even better, thus winning over the artist with his take on how to get the most out of a recording.

While James has won over many artists with his mixing abilities - as well as his guitar work - many of James' clients come by way of the collective he helped found, IndieProMix.  IPM has proven to benefit both producer and artists, as James has helped up and coming artists release advanced recordings at an affordable rate, while keeping the Los Angeles area habitant up on the latest new sounds.

For more on Michael James, check out http://michaeljamesproducer.com.

Disturbed to Release New Album Recorded by the Churkos

After a five year hiatus, Disturbed are back with a new album.

The Chicago quartet chose to (not so) quietly step into Kevin and Kane Churko's The Hideout towards the end of last year and record 19 songs, which culminated in Immortalized, due out August 21, according to the band's website.

Kevin helmed the sessions and is credited with co-writing all the songs.

The lead track is "The Vengeful One," and based on some Disturbed Ones' reaction, the news of a new album is happily welcomed.

Cadium Music Signs Actor/Singer/Songwriter, Chester Rushing

Cadium Music Publishing signs its first multi-media artist, actor and musician, Chester Rushing.  Rushing, from Texas, currently has a soft release of his debut solo album, Halfway Across The Stars. The official release date is May 26.  Stars was co-written and produced by Ryan Green (NOFX,
No Use For A Name, Good Riddance).

On the visual media side, the 23 year-old has two films in the can: Don't Look in the Basement 2 and Cold Moon.  In Cold Moon, Rushing stars opposite Christopher Lloyd.  Both films are expected to be released later this year.  Rushing also has a role in the upcoming AMC series, South of Hell.

Chester Rushing has upcoming show dates in May and June:

DATE             VENUE                                          CITY

5/15                 Gexa Energy Pavillion                   Dallas
                        (with Dave Matthews Band)
6/5                   Arcadia Bar & Grill               Houston
6/6                   Darwin's Pub                                  Austin

Five Finger Death Punch Scores Gold Again with "Heaven, Vol. 1"

Five Finger Death Punch has done it again with their fourth Gold album in The Wrong Side of Heaven and the Righteous Side of Hell, Vol. 1.  The Kevin Churko-produced album, which was release in July 2013, led off with "Lift Me Up" (guested by Rob Halford) and dove-tailed with the title track, which hit #1 on the U.S. Active Rock charts in late 2014/early 2015.  Both Kevin and Kane Churko co-wrote on the album, as well.  This is the third Gold FFDP album helmed by Kevin Churko.

As of this writing, the album is still in the Billboard Top 200.  Vol. 1 has been on that chart for 61 weeks.

The Churkos are currently in the studio with FFDP, working on their new album, expected later this year.

Cadium Music signs "The Fighter" co-writer, Nikka Bling; Churkos Back in Studio with FFDP

Cadium Music Publishing has signed Nikka Bling.

Bling (real name if Nick Helbling), who brought his song, "The Fighter," to In This Moment during the recording of their Black Widow album, has been an integral part of the success at Kevin Churko's studio, The Hideout.  Bling has credits as a Programmer and Editor on the aforementioned ITM album, as well as the most recent Five Finger Death Punch album, The Wrong Side of Heaven and the Righteous Side of Hell.

Bling also co-wrote "Be Right There" for teen artist, MattyB.

"The Fighter," which is the most commercial song on ITM's new album, will most likely be released as a single, later this year.

In other news, a new Five Finger Death Punch album is in the works.  Kevin and Kane Churko have been recording new material with the band and it is projected that the new album will be released by this Summer.