Evanescence Album Pulled From Christian Distribution

Provident Music Distribution, the Christian distribution arm of Zomba, says it will no longer handle Wind-Up Records act Evanescence for the Christian retail market. The move follows published reports in which the band used profanity and made clear that it does not want to be known as a Christian act.

Don Noes, senior VP of Provident--which had been distributing Evanescence's debut album, "Fallen"--has issued a letter to accounts saying Wind-Up has recalled the band's product from Christian retail. Noes tells accounts they can return Evanescence product for full credit.

Evanescence member Ben Moody was quoted recently in Entertainment Weekly as saying, "We're actually high on the Christian charts, and I'm like, What the f*** are we even doing there?"

"Fallen" is No. 1 on this week's Top Contemporary Christian Albums chart; the set is No. 9 on The Billboard 200. Material by Evanescence will be removed from subsequent Christian charts.

In a letter to Provident, Wind-Up chairman/CEO Alan Meltzer apologizes for "an unfortunate and embarrassing situation" and vows that in the future, the label will scrutinize "Christian artists' beliefs and commitment with even greater diligence."