Billboard reports on Marvin Sapp's crossover song

THE CURRENT issue of influential trade magazine Billboard charts the unexpected crossover success of the gospel song "Never Would Have Made It" by Marvin Sapp. The 2007 album from which it comes, 'Thirsty', has spent 27 weeks at number one on the Top Gospel Albums chart, selling 395,000 copies in the States. About "Never Would Have Made It" Billboard reports, "For a song that was originally deemed too raw and incomplete to be included on an album, let alone be a lead single, 'Never Would Have Made It' has proved a career breakthrough for gospel mainstay Marvin Sapp - and a record-breaker on the airwaves. During its nearly yearlong run at gospel radio, the live track has spent a staggering 43 weeks at number one on Hot Gospel Songs, shattering all records set by previous chart-toppers at any other format in the history of Nielsen BDS.

"The unprecedented momentum of 'Never Would Have Made It' at gospel radio ignited a crossover to urban AC stations, with outlets like KJLH Inglewood, California, leading the way in a slow but steady build on the Hot Adult R&B Airplay tally. The song finally hit the top spot there in the July 26 issue. 'Never Would Have Made It' joins a short list of contemporary gospel tracks that have found favour with adult urban programmers, including Yolanda Adams' 'Open My Heart' in 2000, Donnie McClurkin's 'We Fall Down' in 2001 and Smokie Norful's 'I Need You Now' in 2003."