NEEDTOBREATHE debuts at No. 1 with 'H A R D L O V E'

Grammy-nominated rock band has the top selling album in the country, entering Billboard's top current album chart at No. 1

Following top 5 success of 'Happiness,' band releases next single 'Testify' 

Extensive North American trek 'Tour De Compadres 2016' begins Aug. 17

"H A R D L O V E," the latest release from Atlantic recording group NEEDTOBREATHE, is the top-selling album in the country, entering the Soundscan/Billboard top current albums chart at No. 1 with sales exceeding 46,000 units. The Grammy-nominated rock band's highly anticipated album also topped Billboard's top albums, top current rock albums, current alternative albums, current digital albums and overall digital albums charts, and entered the Billboard 200 at No. 2. Additionally, the album scored international success topping Canada's top digital albums chart, as well as debuting at No. 3 on Canada's top albums chart. The news follows last week's national television debut performance of the album's lead single "Happiness."

"Happiness" hit the top five on the Christian hot AC chart and has amassed over 4 million streams on Spotify. The band recently unveiled the official music video for "Happiness"- which can be seen here: https://youtu.be/xSWnSFPrPI4. The single is also currently featured in Microsoft's new ad campaign, broadcasting both on television and online. The next single, "Testify," has been released to Christian radio.

In related news, NEEDTOBREATHE is the latest artist to release a special edition album under Cracker Barrel Old Country Store's "Spotlight Music" program. This special edition of "H A R D L O V E" includes two additional tracks exclusively for Cracker Barrel Old Country Store - "When I Sing (Mountain House Version)" and "Let's Stay Home Tonight (Original Demo)" - and is available at Cracker Barrel Old Country Stores nationwide and online at crackerbarrel.com.

NEEDTOBREATHE will kick off their epic U.S. headlining tour, "Tour De Compadres 2016," on Aug. 17 in Raleigh, North Carolina, at the Red Hat Amphitheater. The 50-city-plus run wraps up Nov. 12 at Lynchburg, Virginia, at Liberty University.

The second annual "Tour De Compadres" sees NEEDTOBREATHE bringing along some of their closest musical friends as support, including special guests Mat Kearney, John Mark McMillan (leg one only), Parachute (leg two only), and Welshly Arms. Highlights include a massive hometown concert in Charleston, South Carolina, at the 10,000-plus-capacity Volvo Car Stadium on Aug. 19, as well as performances at such legendary venues as Los Angeles' Greek Theatre (Sept. 10), Red Rocks Amphitheatre in Colorado (Sept. 15), Chicago's Aragon Ballroom (Oct. 30), and New York City's Beacon Theatre (Nov. 2). For complete details and ticket information, visit www.tourdecompadres.com.

Co-produced by NEEDTOBREATHE and recorded at their very own Plantation Studios in Charleston, "H A R D L O V E" follows the band's 2014 album "Rivers In the Wasteland," which topped Billboard's Christian albums chart. The album also earned NEEDTOBREATHE their first ever Grammy Award nomination and a pair of Billboard Music Award nominations, while the breakout single "Brother (Feat. Gavin DeGraw)" proved to be the highest charting single of the band's career to date. The RIAA-certified gold hit song soared up the charts, landing at No. 1 on Billboard's hot Christian songs and Christian digital songs charts.

NEEDTOBREATHE is: Bear Rinehart (vocals, guitar) and Bo Rinehart (guitar, vocals), Seth Bolt (bass, vocals), and Josh Lovelace (keys, vocals).

For additional news and information, visit NEEDTOBREATHE.com,facebook.com/NEEDTOBREATHE,twitter.com/NEEDTOBREATHE (@NEEDTOBREATHE), instagram.com/needtobreathe,tourdecompadres.com, and www.atlanticrecords.com.