TobyMac nabs dual Aussie music honours

American singer tobyMac has been crowned “king” of the Australian Christian music charts after scoring dual honours for Song Of the Year and Artist Of The Year for the first time.

According to The Rock Across Australia — Australia’s official national Christian music chart — tobyMac’s Me Without You secured the most airplay of any Christian song on Australian Christian radio in the past year.

Chart researcher Wes Jay says the song spent a total of 30 weeks in the survey, dominating the top spot for 13 consecutive weeks, plus securing a position in the Top 10 of the weekly survey for 25 weeks.

“tobyMac stood out on the chart with multiple entries over the year — four as a soloist, and two as a featured act with other performers,” Jay says.

“These being Me Without You, Changed Forever, Steal My Show and Start Somewhere, plus Good Morning with Mandisa, and Hold Me with Jamie Grace.

“No other artist came close to achieving the same level of airplay on Australian Christian radio in the past year as tobyMac.

“He’s a phenomenon.”

Last year was the second time tobyMac secured Song Of the Year honours. He first earned it in 2010 with his song Get Back Up. He previously garnered Artist of the Year as member of the group dc Talk in 1999.

The Rock Across Australia

Established in 1999, The Rock Across Australia (TRAA) is Australia’s official national Christian music chart.

Published by Woodlands Media, TRAA compiles its weekly charts aggregating high rotation activity (derived from playlist reports, and airplay monitoring) from more than 20 stations in capital cities and regional markets.

TRAA’s annual accolades recognise the individual song generating the most airplay, and the act gaining the most airplay on Australian Christian radio.

The Rock Across Australia’s 2012 Top 100 Songs and Top 100 Artists charts are available online.

Analysis of 2012 airplay activity and trends is available here.