Contemporary Christian music
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Contemporary Christian music (CCM), also known as Christian pop, and occasionally inspirational music, is a genre of modern popular music, and an aspect of Christian media, which is lyrically focused on matters related to the Christian faith and stylistically rooted in Christian music. Originating in the United States, it was formed by those affected by the 1960s Jesus movement revival who began to express themselves in other styles of popular music, beyond the church music of hymns, gospel and Southern gospel music that was prevalent in the church at the time. Initially referred to as Jesus music, today, the term is typically used to refer to pop, but also includes rock, alternative rock, hip hop, metal, contemporary worship, punk, hardcore punk, Latin, electronic dance music, R&B-influenced gospel, and country styles.
It has representation on several music charts, including
History
Beginnings (1950s–60s)
The growing popularity of rock and roll music in the 1950s was initially dismissed by the church because it was believed to encourage sinfulness. Yet as evangelical churches adapted to appeal to more people, the musical styles used in worship changed as well by adopting the sounds of this popular style.[2]
The genre became known as contemporary Christian music as a result of the Jesus movement revival in the latter 1960s and early 1970s,[3][4] and was originally called Jesus music.[5] "About that time, many young people from the sixties' counterculture professed to believe in Jesus. Convinced of the "bareness" of a lifestyle based on drugs, free sex and "radical politics", some of the Jesus 'hippies' became known as 'Jesus people'".[6] However, there were people who felt that Jesus was another "trip".[6] It was during the 1970s Jesus movement that Christian music started to become an industry within itself.[7] "Jesus music" started by playing instruments and singing songs about love and peace, which then translated into love of God. Paul Wohlegemuth, who wrote the book Rethinking Church Music, said "[the] 1970s will see a marked acceptance of rock-influenced music in all levels of church music. The rock style will become more familiar to all people, its rhythmic excesses will become refined, and its earlier secular associations will be less remembered."[8]
Evangelical artists made significant contributions to CCM in the 1960s, developing various Christian
There was some internal critique of CCM at its advent.[12] The Christian college Bob Jones University discourages its dormitory students from listening to CCM.[13] Controversy caused by evangelical pop music was explored by Gerald Clarke in his Time magazine article "New Lyrics for the Devil's Music".[14]
Larry Norman is often remembered as the "father of Christian rock", because of his early contributions (before the Jesus movement) to the developing new genre that mixed rock rhythms with the Christian messages.[15] Though his style was not initially well received by many in the Christian community of the time, he continued throughout his career to create controversial hard-rock songs such as "Why Should the Devil Have All the Good Music?".[15] He is remembered as the artist "who first combined rock 'n' roll with Christian lyrics" in the Gospel Music Hall of Fame.[15] Though there were Christian albums in the 1960s that contained contemporary-sounding songs, there were two albums recorded in 1969 that are considered[by whom?] to be the first complete albums of "Jesus rock": Upon This Rock (1969) by Larry Norman initially released on Capitol Records,[16] and Mylon – We Believe by Mylon LeFevre, released by Cotillion, which was LeFevre's attempt at blending gospel music with southern rock.[17][18] Unlike traditional or southern gospel music, this new Jesus music was birthed out of rock and folk music.[19]
Pioneers of this movement also included
Popularity (1970s–90s)
The genre emerged and became prevalent in the 1970s and 1980s.[29] Beginning in July 1978, CCM Magazine began covering "contemporary Christian music" artists and a wide range of spiritual themes until it launched online publications in 2009.[30][31]
It has certain themes and messages behind the songs and their lyrics, including praise and worship, faith, encouragement, and prayer.[32] These songs also focus on themes of devotion, inspiration, redemption, reconciliation, and renewal.[3] Many people listen to contemporary Christian music for comfort through tough times. The lyrics and messages conveyed in CCM songs have had varied, positive Christian messages over the decades. For instance, some of the songs have been aimed to evangelize and some of the lyrics are meant to praise and worship Jesus.[29] One of the earliest goals of CCM was to spread the news of Jesus to non-Christians.[3] In addition, contemporary Christian music also strengthens the faith of Christians.[3]
Various evangelical
In
Modern CCM
Contemporary Christian music has influences from folk, gospel, pop and rock music.[29] Genres of music such as soft rock, folk rock, alternative, hip-hop, etc. have played a large influence on CCM.[37]
Charismatic churches have had a large influence on contemporary Christian music and are one of the largest producers of CCM.
In the 2000s,
Controversy
This article's "criticism" or "controversy" section may compromise the article's neutrality. (July 2023) |
Brian Schwertley of the
Contemporary Christian musicians and listeners have sought to extend their music into settings where religious music traditionally might not be heard. For instance, MercyMe's song "I Can Only Imagine" was a crossover success despite having a clear Christian message.[46]
Paul Baker, author of Contemporary Christian Music, addressed the question, "Is the music a ministry, or is it entertainment? The motives, on both sides, were nearly always sincere and well intentioned, rarely malicious."[47]
"The responsibility of the church is not to provide escape from reality", according to Donald Ellsworth, the author of Christian Music in Contemporary Witness, "but to give answers to contemporary problems through legitimate, biblical means."[48]
James Emery White, a consultant for preaching and worship within the Southern Baptist Convention, made a statement about how many churches that changed styles to using more contemporary Christian music, appeared to have a quicker growth.[49]
According to
Rejection of the label "CCM"
Several high-profile bands have rejected the label "Christian music," such as Needtobreathe and Mutemath, with the latter suing their record label over being marketed as such.[51] Of the categorization, Needtobreathe said to Rolling Stone, "any label is limiting. That one in particular is especially limiting. To me, I think people pass over the band all the time because they read that....I hate the idea that they somehow feel like I didn't make the music for them, that we didn't play music for everyone. Christian record deals came and we said no to all of them. Waited a couple years until the right record deal came, which was Atlantic, which we've been on ever since. But we just said to them in passing when we first started, we want the records to be available to everyone."[52]
Notable contemporary Christian musicians
Growth
This section needs to be updated.(July 2023) |
Contemporary Christian album sales had increased from 31 million in 1996 to 44 million sales in 2000. Since EMI's purchase of Sparrow Records, sales had increased 100 percent.[when?] However, the main goal of the label continues to be aspiring to make a positive impact on the world through contemporary Christian music. The company has given back money to the CCM community.[53] Overall, CCM sales in 2014 had dropped to 17 million in sales.[54]
See also
- Christian alternative rock – Alternative rock music lyrically grounded in a Christian worldview
- Christian country music – Music genre, country music with Christian message
- Christian electronic dance music – music genre
- Christian hip hop – Subgenre of hip hop music and Christian music
- Christian metal – Heavy metal music with a Christian message and band members
- Christian rock – Rock music with lyrics related to Jesus and Christianity
- Contemporary Commercial Music– term used by some vocal pedagogists in the United States of America to refer to non-classical music; encompasses jazz, pop, blues, soul, country, folk, and rock styles
- Contemporary worship music – Modern genre of music sung in many churches
- Latin Christian music – Fusion of Latin music and various forms of modern Christian music
- Neues Geistliches Lied – Contemporary genre of German music intended for use in churches
Notes
- ^ In the US iTunes store, the section is entitled Christian & Gospel. In the UK iTunes store, it's Gospel. Canada's and Australia's iTunes section is entitled Inspirational.
References
- ^ "Google Play Music". play.google.com. Retrieved March 26, 2019.
- ^ McDowell, Amy D. "Contemporary Christian Music" – via Oxford Music and Art Online.
{{cite journal}}
: Cite journal requires|journal=
(help) - ^ S2CID 144756181.
- ^ "Who killed the contemporary Christian music industry?". February 17, 2016. Retrieved August 21, 2017.
- ISBN 978-0-520-29146-1.
- ^ a b Frame, John M. Contemporary Worship Music. Phillipsburg, NJ: P&R Publishing, 1997.
- ^ ISBN 1-56563-679-1.
By the '80s, the special-interest network that Jesus music had spawned had developed into a multimillion-dollar industry. Contemporary Christian music had its own magazines, radio stations and award shows. The Jesus movement revival was over.
- ^ Baker, Paul. Page 140. Contemporary Christian Music: Where it came from What it is Where It's Going. Westchester, Illinois: Crossway Books, 1985. Print.
- ^ David Horn, John Shepherd, Continuum Encyclopedia of Popular Music of the World Volume 8: Genres: North America, Continuum International Publishing Group, USA, 2012, pp. 144, 147.
- ^ Don Cusic, Encyclopedia of Contemporary Christian Music: Pop, Rock, and Worship: Pop, Rock, and Worship, ABC-CLIO, USA, 2009, p. 77.
- ^ W. K. McNeil, Encyclopedia of American Gospel Music, Routledge, Abingdon-on-Thames, 2013, p. 108.
- ^ ISBN 1-56563-679-1.
- ^ "BJU ~ Residence Hall Life". Bob Jones University. Archived from the original on January 25, 2012. Retrieved March 21, 2009.
- ^ Clarke, Gerald (June 24, 2001). "New Lyrics for the Devil's Music". Time. Archived from the original on November 20, 2011.
- ^ a b c Hevesi, Dennis. "Larry Norman, 60, Singer of Christian Rock Music". The New York Times March 4, 2008: 1. Print. February 3, 2016.
- ^ John J. Thompson, Raised by Wolves: The Story of Christian Rock & Roll (2000):49.
- ^ Oord, Bill. "Mylon LeFevre Biography". Retrieved June 26, 2010.
- ISBN 1-56563-679-1.
Musically, the 1970 album Mylon (a.k.a. We Believe) is deservedly a Christian classic, a raw example of down-home southern rock. A dominant organ, spicy guitars, and generous use of female background vocals give the project a funky-and-gritty combination of R&B soul and roots rock.
- ^ Di Sabatino, David (1999). The Jesus People Movement: an annotated bibliography and general resource. Lake Forest, CA. p. 136.
{{cite book}}
: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link) - ^ "It's a long way from 'Jesus music' to CCM industry". Canadianchristianity.com. Archived from the original on February 15, 2013. Retrieved January 26, 2013.
- ^ "News Digest". Pe.ag.org. March 16, 2003. Archived from the original on January 13, 2014. Retrieved January 26, 2013.
- ^ "CCM Legends – Benny Hester". CBN.com.
- ^ Billboard Top 50 Adult Contemporary Chart – Nov 7, 1981 – 'Nobody Knows Me Like You' Debuts No. 44 Mainstream. Billboard.com. November 7, 1981.
- ^ "Amy Grant – Chart history". Billboard. Retrieved May 8, 2013.
- ^ "dc Talk – Chart history". Billboard. Retrieved May 8, 2013.
- ^ "Michael W. Smith – Chart history". Billboard. Retrieved May 8, 2013.
- ^ "Stryper – Chart history". Billboard. Retrieved May 8, 2013.
- ^ "Jars of Clay – Chart history". Billboard. Retrieved May 8, 2013.
- ^ a b c d Nantais, David (2007). "What Would Jesus Listen To?". America. 196 (18): 22–24.
- ^ "CCM Magazine". TodaysChristianMusic. Archived from the original on January 22, 2013. Retrieved January 26, 2013.
- ^ "CCM Magazine Subscription Options". CCM Magazine. Retrieved January 26, 2013.
- ^ Adedeji, Femi (2006). "Essentials of Christian Music in Contemporary Times: A Prognosis". Asia Journal of Theology. 20 (2): 230–240.
- ^ Don Cusic, Encyclopedia of Contemporary Christian Music: Pop, Rock, and Worship: Pop, Rock, and Worship, ABC-CLIO, USA, 2009, p. 359.
- ^ Kelsey McKinney, How Hillsong Church conquered the music industry in God's name, thefader.com, USA, October 11, 2018.
- ^ Justin Sarachik, TobyMac's Influence on Christian Hip-Hop and How Gotee Records Signed John Reuben Over KJ-52, rapzilla.com, USA, February 9, 2016.
- ^ Randall Herbert Balmer, Encyclopedia of Evangelicalism: Revised and expanded edition, Baylor University Press, USA, 2004, pp. 296-297.
- ^ Mumford, Lawrence R. "A variety of religious composition: the music we sing, in and out of church, is more varied and interesting than we've been led to believe." Christianity Today, June 2011: 42+. Fine Arts and Music Collection. Retrieved February 8, 2014.
- ^ Evans, Mark. Studies in Popular Music: Open up the Doors: Music in the Modern Church. London: Equinox Publishing Ltd, 2006. eBook.
- ^ "Keith Getty Is Still Fighting the Worship Wars". Christianity Today. March 26, 2018. Retrieved March 26, 2019.
- ^ "BRnow.org – Getty worship conference strikes a chord | Baptist News". brnow.org. Retrieved March 26, 2019.
- ^ "Modern Hymn Writers Aim To Take Back Sunday". NPR.org. NPR. Retrieved March 26, 2019.
- ^ McEachen, Ben (June 25, 2018). "What do you mean by worship?". Eternity News. Retrieved March 26, 2019.
- ^ Smith, Rew (November 15, 2018). "Doxology & Theology conference: Churches need to sing the Word of God". Kentucky Today. Retrieved March 26, 2019.
- ^ "Hymn Writer Keith Getty Becomes First Christian Artist To Be Appointed Officer Of The Order Of The British Empire (OBE) By The Queen". BREATHEcast. July 27, 2018. Retrieved March 26, 2019.
- ^ Schwertley, Brian. "Musical Instruments in the Public Worship of God". Archived from the original on February 12, 2013.
- Fox News Channel. Retrieved October 6, 2010.
- ^ Baker, Paul (1985). Contemporary Christian Music: Where it came from What it is Where It's Going. Westchester, Illinois: Crossway Books. p. 133.
- ^ Ellsworth, Donald (1979). Christian Music in Contemporary Witness: Historical Antecedents and Contemporary Practices. Grand Rapids, Michigan: Baker Book House.
- ^ Miller, Steve. The Contemporary Christian Music Debate. Wheaton, Illinois: Tyndale Publishers, 1993. Print. p. 3.
- ^ Hesse, Josiah (July 14, 2022). "Christian Rock Has Demonized LGBTQ People for Years. Now It Needs Them to Survive". Vice. Retrieved March 24, 2023.
- ^ "INTERVIEW- Unmuted: Did mother Earthsuit beget Mute Math? | The Hook - Charlottesville's weekly newspaper, news magazine". May 5, 2014. Archived from the original on May 5, 2014. Retrieved October 4, 2023.
- ^ Freeman, Jon (August 23, 2016). "Needtobreathe Talk Christian-Band Stigma, Experimental New LP". Rolling Stone. Retrieved October 4, 2023.
- ^ Black, Beau (March 11, 2002). "CCM's growing pains: a survey of labels finds the message—if not the creativity—is intact". Christianity Today. Fine Arts and Music Collection.
- ^ "Who killed the contemporary Christian music industry?". The Week. June 21, 2017.
Further reading
- Alfonso, Barry. The Billboard Guide . Billboard Books, 2002.
- Beaujon, Andrew (2006). Body Piercing Saved My Life: Inside the Phenomenon of Christian Rock. ISBN 0-306-81457-9.
- Di Sabatino, David (1999). The Jesus People Movement: An Annotated Bibliography and General Resource. Bibliographies and Indexes in Religious Studies, Number 49. ISBN 0-313-30268-5.
- Du, Paul (2003). "Contemporary Christian Music". The Encyclopedia of Music. ISBN 0-8230-7869-8.
- Granger, Thom (2001). CCM Presents: The 100 Greatest Albums in Christian Music. Nashville: CCM Books.
- Hendershot, Heather (2004). "Why Should the Devil Have all the Good Music? Christian Music and the Secular Marketplace". Shaking the World for Jesus: Media and Conservative Evangelical Culture. ISBN 0-226-32679-9.
- Howard, Jay R (1999). Apostles of Rock: The Splintered World of Contemporary Christian Music. ISBN 9780813121055.)
{{cite book}}
: CS1 maint: location (link - Joseph, Mark (1999). The Rock and Roll Rebellion: Why People of Faith Abandoned Rock Music-- And Why They're Coming Back. Nashville: Broadman & Holman.
- Joseph, Mark (2003). Faith, God & Rock 'n' Roll. London: Sanctuary. ISBN 9781860744655.
- ISBN 0-7658-0324-0.
- Lucarini, Dan. Why I left the Contemporary Christian Music Movement. Evangelical Press.
- Miller, Steve (1993). The Contemporary Christian Music Debate. Tyndale House.
- Powell, Mark Allan (2002). Encyclopedia of Contemporary Christian Music. ISBN 1-56563-679-1.
- Romanowski, William D. Eyes Wide Open: Looking for God in Popular Culture. Brazos Press, 2001.
- Sears, Gordon E. Is Today's Christian Music Sacred? Coldwater, Mich.: [s.n., 199-?]. 32, [1] p. Without ISBN
- Stephens, Randall J. (2018). The Devil's Music: How Christians Inspired, Condemned, and Embraced Rock 'n' Roll. Harvard University Press.
- Stowe, David W. (2013). No Sympathy for the Devil: Christian Pop Music and the Transformation of American Evangelicalism. University of North Carolina Press.
- Young, Shawn David (2015). Gray Sabbath: Jesus People USA, the Evangelical Left, and the Evolution of Christian Rock. Columbia University Press.
- Passannanti, Erminia (2023). Leonard Cohen: A Jewish Mind's Fascination with Jesus of Nazareth. Mask Press. ISBN 979-8-8609-6254-5