Just like plenty of great ballplayers never make the World Series, a lot of Christian music performers never get to have a Gold record.
But Casting Crowns is marking its sixth consecutive record with at least the gold status, thanks to its third live CD/DVD, “The Altar and The Door Live.”
A gold record is usually considered one that has sold at least a half-million copies, while platinum is even better … at least one million sold.
Of course, because of its smaller playing field, or number of listeners and potential buyers Christian music has far fewer gold or platinum artists than popular music.
It takes someone on the order of Casting Crowns to blow that out the window.
The new live project has only been out since mid-August, and captures the band’s monumental 2007-2008 headlining tour, one of Christian music’s top-attended series of concerts of all time … nearly 500,000 fans in more than 80 cities.
Not bad for a part-time gig.
The band’s lead singer Mark Hall is the youth pastor for an Atlanta church, and all seven band members remain active in student ministry in the Atlanta area, and tour part-time around their local church duties.
The gold record announcement is just the latest news about Casting Crowns.
This week came the band’s fourth American Music Awards nomination (for favorite artist, along with Third Day) and the release of the band’s first Christmas album, “Peace On Earth.”
The new Christmas album initially reached No. 1 on Christian albums charts and now sits at a still-healthy No. 3.
It’s also ahead of new seasonal releases from Faith Hill and (ever hear of him?) Elvis Presley.
Casting Crowns also is headlining a 14-city Christmas concert tour with Natalie Grant, Denver & the Mile High Orchestra, Avalon, Michael English and pureNRG.
The tour comes to Reading on Saturday, Dec. 13.
Both of the previous live  efforts for Casting Crowns, “Live From Atlanta” and “Lifesong Live,” have reached platinum, as did two of its studio albums.
For more information on Casting Crowns, visit www.castingcrowns.com.