David C Cook wants to pave the way for Christians around the world to worship the Lord Jesus Christ at a deeper level.
That heartfelt desire paved the way for the nonprofit organization dedicated to publishing and distributing leadership and discipleship resources to acquire Integrity Music. Integrity Music offers recordings from worship artists such as Daniel Bashta, Israel Houghton and Kari Jobe (pictured).
Colorado Springs, Colo.-based David C Cook reached a deal with Mobile, Ala.-based Integrity Media to acquire Integrity Music assets for an undisclosed amount.
“At David C Cook we are committed to the Great Commission,” says Cris Doornbos, CEO of David C Cook. “Our mission is to ‘Equip the Church with Christ-centered resources for making and teaching disciples who obediently transform today’s generations.’ We are delighted to have Integrity Music join the David C Cook family in serving the body of Christ.”
Integrity Media still holds Integrity Direct, Integrity Worship Institute, and the international companies in the UK, South Africa and Singapore. Industry veteran C. Ryan Dunham, formerly David C Cook’s senior vice president of sales and marketing, will serve as president of Integrity Music.
“The acquisition of Integrity Music makes sense from both a ministry as well as a business standpoint. Both organizations are widely respected for their international reach and their worship music catalogs,” says Dunham, president of Integrity Music.
“David C Cook is no newcomer to the worship music ministry. In 1993 Cook acquired Kingsway, a worship music company in Eastbourne, England, and partnered with EMI Christian Music Group to produce the Thank You Music song catalog,” Dunham continued. “Kingsway artists include Matt Redman, Tim Hughes, Brenton Brown, The City Harmonic, and many others whose original songs are shaping the way a world-wide generation of Christians experiences worship.”
With the acquisition of Integrity Music, David C Cook adds an even greater variety of worship titles to its library. David C Cook also expects the acquisition benefit Integrity worship artists and writers by providing a fresh perspective and an ownership structure as part of a nonprofit with an expanding realm of influence. Most importantly, the company says, it will provide the global church more options than ever for meaningful worship.
“Cris Doornbos and I share a deep passion for serving the global church and for the role worship music plays in making disciples around the world,” says Integrity co-founder and CEO Michael Coleman. “As Integrity prepares to celebrate 25 years in ministry, I look forward to seeing the expanding impact of Integrity songs and products around the world.”
Integrity Music will operate independently within David C Cook as a Strategic Ministry Unit and be relocated to the company headquarters in Colorado Springs after a transition period of three months. Distribution of Integrity Music products in the U.S. will continue through Provident-Integrity Distribution and Columbia and Sony Music Distribution.
“I am honored that Michael Coleman, a man whom I highly respect and who has meant so much to the worship music movement, has chosen to entrust us with Integrity Music’s worship catalog,” Doornbos says. “Our vision for Integrity Music songs and recordings is to see them sung by people in their native languages in churches all over the world.”
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