CCM

“one of America’s largest Christian media companies, has announced the sale of its remaining Contemporary Christian Music (CCM) stations for $80 million, signaling the end of an era for the broadcaster’s long-running ‘Fish’ brand.” - CPost

“Christian music is having a moment. In the first half of 2024, it was the fourth fastest-growing music genre, fueled by surprisingly large gains among younger listeners.” - TGC

“Pop culture and the pop style of music in general has infiltrated and reshaped much of the thinking, writing, arranging, and performing of Christian music, even within much of ‘conservative’ Christianity.” - Taigen Joos

“Some traditions work to refocus on theological distinctives in their music as worship megahits take over.” - CToday

“50,000 Catholics gathered for the National Eucharistic Congress…. Catholic bishops and other worshippers in the stands, hands raised in worship like Pentecostals, singing ‘How Great Is Our God,’ ….Others included ‘Way Maker,’ ‘Build My Life,’ ‘Come to the Altar’ and ‘Praise,’ the latest hit from Elevation” - RNS

“when I hear someone say, ‘Contemporary worship music all sounds the same,’ I think of my music history students and wonder if that person simply doesn’t like the music very much.” - CToday

“There are valid and interesting questions about the particularities that give contemporary worship music its resonance—borrowed conventions of secular love songs and pop ballads or associations with the aesthetics of high-energy arena rock concerts” - CToday

“Chapman’s ‘Don’t Lose Heart’ was released in 2022 as a part of ‘Still,’ his latest album, and addressed the loss and grief his family has experienced.” - RNS

CCLI data study: “In the mid-1990s, a popular song like ‘Refiner’s Fire,’ or ‘In Secret’ had a lifespan of about a dozen years, rising for 4-5 years before hitting a slow decline. Two decades later, that lifespan has dropped down to 3-4 years” - RNS

“A new documentary recounts the history of contemporary Christian music from its roots among California hippies to today’s multimillion-dollar industry.” - RNS

(Related at Christianity Today)