Contemporary Christian music

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.

[4] The growing popularity of rock and roll music in the 1950s was initially dismissed by the church because it was believed to encourage sinfulness.

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'".

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.

[18] 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?".

[18] He is remembered as the artist "who first combined rock 'n' roll with Christian lyrics" in the Gospel Music Hall of Fame.

[22] Pioneers of this movement also included Andraé Crouch and the Disciples, the Imperials, Michael Omartian, 2nd Chapter of Acts, Phil Keaggy, Love Song, Barry McGuire, Evie, Paul Clark, Randy Matthews, Randy Stonehill and Keith Green among others.

[10][23][24] Many CCM artists such as Benny Hester,[25][26] Amy Grant,[27] DC Talk,[28] Michael W. Smith,[29] Stryper,[30] and Jars of Clay[31] found crossover success with Top 40 mainstream radio play.

[32] 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.

[33][34] It has certain themes and messages behind the songs and their lyrics, including praise and worship, faith, encouragement, and prayer.

[37] In Christian hip-hop, TobyMac, Todd Collins, and Joey Elwood founded the first specialized label Gotee Records in 1994.

[38][39] The founding of the label Reach Records in 2004 by Lecrae and Ben Washer also had a significant impact in the development of Christian hip-hop.

[41] According to a 2009 study published by Faith Communities Today, 64% of churches that adopted contemporary Christian music in the past five years saw an increase in service attendance of 2% or more.

[citation needed] In the 2000s, contemporary worship music with a distinctly theological focus has emerged, primarily in the Baptist, Reformed and more traditional non-denominational branches of Protestant Christianity.

The format is gaining traction in many churches[48] and other areas in culture[49] as well as being heard in CCM collections & musical algorithms on several Internet streaming services.