Australia's national Christian music charts, The Rock Across Australia (TRAA), today announced Mat Kearney's Closer To Love as the 2009 Song of the Year, and honored 30 year old American singer Brandon Heath as 2009 Artist of the Year.

This is first time Mat Kearney (pronounced Karni) and Brandon Heath have earned TRAA honors.

The internationally acclaimed American singer/songwriter who has toured with John Mayer, The Fray and newsboys spent eight weeks atop TRAA with Closer To Love, the lead single from his City Of Black & White album.

Best known for his 2007 song Nothing Left To Lose which peaked at #41 on the Billboard Hot 100, Kearney regards himself as a mainstream act. His music is included in TRAA because of parallel distribution in the Christian sector.

Brandon Heath garnered Artist honors for three songs - Wait And See, Give Me Your Eyes, and Follow You (a duet with Leeland) - with each landing in the top half of TRAA's end of year chart. His songs spent a total of 56 weeks in the survey with dual listings for some weeks.

Other contenders for TRAA awards this year included Francesca Battistelli. The US singer songwriter was the only act to score two number ones (Free To Be Me, and It's Your Life).

TRAA's annual airplay accolades recognise the artist or group gaining the most airplay on Australian Christian radio, plus the individual song generating the most airplay.

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

The Rock Across Australia's 2009 Top 100 Songs and Top 50 Artists Chart are available online here: www.therockacrossaustralia.com/annual/TRAA-091231-Top100.doc

The Rock Across Australia's analysis of 2009 is available here: www.therockacrossaustralia.com/annual/TRAA-091231-Analysis.doc

The Rock Across Australia has published its national Christian music charts weekly since 1999 at: www.therockacrossaustralia.com.
 
PREVIOUS TRAA HONORS

2008 Song of the Year This Is Home - Switchfoot
 Artist of the Year Britt Nicole

2007 Song of the Year Something Beautiful - newsboys
 Artist of the Year newsboys

2006 Song of the Year Like You Love Me - Nathan Tasker
 Artist of the Year Nathan Tasker

2005 Song of the Year Gloria (All God's Children) - Paul Colman
 Artist of the Year Bethany Dillon

2004 Song of the Year Beautiful - Bethany Dillon
 Artist of the Year Jars Of Clay

2003 Song of the Year (There's Gotta Be) More to Life - Stacie Orrico
 Artist of the Year Stacie Orrico

2002 Song of the Year Purified - Michael W Smith
 Artist of the Year Michael W. Smith

2001 Song of the Year These Thousand Hills - Third Day
 Artist of the Year Paul Colman Trio

2000 Song of the Year Shackles (Praise You) - Mary Mary
 Artist of the Year Paul Colman Trio

1999 Song of the Year There's No Power in Pity - Cliff Richard
 Artist of the Year dc Talk