Abrahamic / Middle Eastern Christianity Types of Christian / Gospel Music An intro to Christian and Gospel music Print Christianity Christian Entertainment Christianity Origins The Bible The New Testament The Old Testament Practical Tools for Christians Christian Life For Teens Christian Prayers Weddings Inspirational Bible Devotions Denominations of Christianity Christian Holidays Key Terms in Christianity Catholicism Latter Day Saints View More By Kim Jones Kim Jones Christian Music Expert Kim Jones is an ordained pastor and a co-founder of Road to Revelation, a Christian rock band. Learn about our Editorial Process Updated on April 26, 2019 Christian Music used to be something that you only found in church and it came straight from the hymnals. However, in the late '60s/early '70s, the "Jesus Movement" brought the music out into the world and Christian music began to become an industry within itself. Pioneers like Marsha Stevens, Chuck Girard and Larry Norman took the music that spoke of Jesus and merged it with the times. We've come a long way since. Now Christian music is found in so many different styles it is the only genre of music that is defined by its lyrical content. The Changing Face of Christian Music Christian Adult Contemporary Carman. Carman Ministries Adult Contemporary Christian Music offers a pop flair, but is delivered in a softer, lighter style. However, since the modern pop elements are still there -- sometimes interspersed with folk sounds, which are back in favor with college-aged listeners -- Adult Contemporary isn't restricted to just the older folks. Popular Adult Contemporary Artists Carman Michael W. Smith Newsong Steven Curtis Chapman Christian Bluegrass The Isaacs. Gaither Music Christian Bluegrass is intricate and technically difficult, belying the stereotype of "mountain music" as being slow and simple. Some of the best pickers I've ever heard were bluegrass musicians. Popular Bluegrass Artists Alison Krauss & Union StationThe Easter BrothersThe Lewis Family Christian Music For Children pureNRG. Fervent Artists like Carman, Sandi Patty and Steve Green are more Adult Contemporary, but they have released projects specifically for kids. Then you have music that is 100% kid-friendly, like songs from the popular Veggie Tales, The Cedarmont Kids and The Praise Baby Collection. And let's not forget the "tweens." Jump5 was the first band that came out specifically aimed at the pre-teen group. Since they disbanded, PureNRG and The Rubyz have worked hard to fill the gap. Popular Kids Artists Veggie Tales Jump5 (retired but not forgotten) PureNRG (retired but not forgotten) Youth Leading Youth - Young artists leading the way Christian Country Music Point of Grace. Word Country music, lyrically, is about real life. And for many, real life includes heartbreak, as well as the faith that gets them through it. Yes, country music's sub-genres "honky tonk" and "outlaw country" are more about drinking and thumbing your nose at the "establishment," but today's country music is less outlaw and more Godlaw. Popular Country Artists Alan Jackson Charlie Daniels Point of Grace Randy Travis Inspirational Music Jason Crabb. Springhill Music Inspo blends pop, contemporary, AC, hymns, and even praise and worship, without the corporate worship elements. Artists from several of the Christian music styles have recorded inspirational albums, making the inspo genre full of variety. Popular Inspirational Artists Amy Grant Ray Boltz Sandi Patty Selah Instrumental Phil Keaggy. Phil Keaggy Many people have asked how instrumental music can be labeled as Christian, since the basis for the entire Christian music genre is the lyrics. The answer to that question, at least my answer, is to look beyond the music into the heart of the musician. Popular Instrumental Artists Dino - "America's Piano Showman" Doug Doppler Phil Keaggy Christian Metal / Hard Rock Falling Up. BEC From the underground days of the Resurrection Band of the late 1970s to the 1980s when Stryper put Christian Metal on the map, the genre has twisted, turned and grown. With several styles of metal, such as melodic metal, classic metal, speed metal, thrash metal and screamo available to metal-heads, it is absolutely possible to find a metal band that fits your taste and glorifies your Savior. Popular Metal / Hard Rock Artists August Burns Red Day of Fire Falling Up Flyleaf Skillet Stryper Top Christian Hard Rock Bands Top Christian Metal Bands Christian Pop Contemporary Natalie Grant. Curb Records Using secular music terms, Christian pop contemporary could easily be described as "Top 40." Pop music meets soft rock and voila! -- Pop Contemporary! Popular Pop/Contemporary Artists Casting Crowns Matthew West MercyMe Natalie Grant Steven Curtis Chapman Bebo Norman (retired but not forgotten) Top Christian Pop Bands Praise and Worship Kari Jobe. EMI Praise and Worship is music that is commonly found in contemporary churches of today. Short and easy to sing (and remember) choruses that repeat several times make the style perfect for corporate worship because even people who aren't familiar with a particular song can sing along with ease after hearing one or two repeats of the chorus. Popular Praise and Worship Artists Chris Tomlin Hillsong Matt Maher Matt Redman SONICFLOOd Top Worship Artists 10 Popular Praise Songs That Will Get You On Your Feet Christian Rap Group 1 Crew. Word Artists using a rap style to share their faith reach places that other styles could never enter. Unlike secular rap, which frequently glorifies sex, drinking, violence and drugs, Holy Hip Hop focuses on The One who can deliver you from those things. Popular Christian Rap Artists dcTalk Group 1 Crew KJ-52 tobyMac Top Christian RappersTop Christian Rap Albums Christian Rock Jeremy Camp. BEC Christian rock, much like its secular counterpart, has several sub-styles within the genre. Modern rock, alternative rock, indie rock, punk and southern rock are all well represented, bringing much to like to the masses. Using electric guitars, passionate vocals and drum kits beating out killer back beats, Christian rock was a way to share the Message of Hope to people in churches who wanted more than traditional hymns and to those outside of the church that didn't know Jesus. Popular Modern / Alternative Christian Rock Bands Family Force 5 Hawk Nelson Jeremy Camp Switchfoot Third Day Todd Agnew BarlowGirl (retired but not forgotten) Top Christian Rock BandsEssential Christian Rock Albums Southern Gospel Gaither Vocal Band. Gaither Music Southern gospel music today ranges from the traditional four-part harmony quartets to a blend of country and bluegrass. Popular Southern Gospel Artists The MartinsGaither Vocal BandKaren Peck & New River Top Southern Gospel Groups Urban Gospel The Blind Boys of Alabama. The Blind Boys of Alabama Urban Gospel hit the big time via quartets. Most of the early groups were composed of all males, but there were a few female groups. Huge choirs eventually replaced the quartets in popularity and were soon joined by smaller groups, led by strong directors like Kirk Franklin. As younger fans discovered the joys of Urban Gospel, the genre added another facet in the form of the modern R&B sound. Popular Urban Gospel Artists Donnie McClurkin Kirk Franklin Mary Mary Smokie Norful Vickie Winans Yolanda Adams Top Urban Gospel AlbumsWOW Gospel Series Cite this Article Format mla apa chicago Your Citation Jones, Kim. "Types of Christian / Gospel Music." Learn Religions, Apr. 5, 2023, learnreligions.com/types-of-christian-gospel-music-708423. Jones, Kim. (2023, April 5). Types of Christian / Gospel Music. Retrieved from https://www.learnreligions.com/types-of-christian-gospel-music-708423 Jones, Kim. "Types of Christian / Gospel Music." Learn Religions. https://www.learnreligions.com/types-of-christian-gospel-music-708423 (accessed March 29, 2024). copy citation