Editing Contemporary Christian music (section)

=== Popularity (1970s–1990s) ===
The genre emerged and became prevalent in the 1970s and 1980s.<ref name="Nantais196.18">{{Cite journal |last=Nantais |first=David |year=2007 |title=What Would Jesus Listen To? |journal=America |volume=196 |issue=18 |pages=22–24}}</ref> 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.<ref>{{Cite web |title=CCM Magazine |url=http://www.todayschristianmusic.com/ccm-magazine/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130122003708/http://www.todayschristianmusic.com/ccm-magazine/ |archive-date=January 22, 2013 |access-date=January 26, 2013 |publisher=TodaysChristianMusic}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=CCM Magazine Subscription Options |url=http://www.ccmmagazine.com/magazines/ |access-date=January 26, 2013 |work=[[CCM Magazine]]}}</ref>

Themes and messages include praise and worship, faith, encouragement, and prayer.<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Adedeji |first=Femi |year=2006 |title=Essentials of Christian Music in Contemporary Times: A Prognosis |journal=Asia Journal of Theology |volume=20 |issue=2 |pages=230–240}}</ref> Songs also focus on themes of devotion, inspiration, redemption, reconciliation, and renewal.<ref name="BanjoWilliams" /> A number of people listen to contemporary Christian music for comfort in tough times. The lyrics and messages conveyed in CCM songs have had varied, positive Christian messages over the decades. For instance, some songs have aimed at evangelism and some lyrics are meant to praise and worship Jesus.<ref name="Nantais196.18" /> One of the earliest goals of CCM was to spread the news of Jesus to non-Christians.<ref name="BanjoWilliams" /> In addition, contemporary Christian music also strengthens the faith of Christians.<ref name="BanjoWilliams" />

Various evangelical [[record labels]] have supported the movement. In [[Christian rock]], [[Sparrow Records]] was founded in 1976 in the United States by Billy Ray Hearn, a [[Christian music]] graduate from [[Baylor University]].<ref>Don Cusic, ''Encyclopedia of Contemporary Christian Music: Pop, Rock, and Worship: Pop, Rock, and Worship'', ABC-CLIO, USA, 2009, p. 359.</ref> The songs of ''[[Hillsong Music]]'', founded in 1991 by [[Hillsong Church]], in [[Sydney]], [[Australia]], have been translated into various languages and have had an influence considerable in evangelical churches worldwide.<ref>Kelsey McKinney, [https://www.thefader.com/2018/10/11/hillsong-church-worship-songs-music-industry How Hillsong Church conquered the music industry in God's name], thefader.com, USA, October 11, 2018.</ref>

In [[Christian hip-hop]], [[TobyMac]], Todd Collins, and Joey Elwood founded the first specialized label ''[[Gotee Records]]'' in 1994.<ref>Justin Sarachik, [https://rapzilla.com/2016-02-tobymac-s-influence-on-hip-hop-and-how-he-signed-john-reuben-over-kj-52/ TobyMac's Influence on Christian Hip-Hop and How Gotee Records Signed John Reuben Over KJ-52], rapzilla.com, USA, February 9, 2016.</ref><ref>Randall Herbert Balmer, ''Encyclopedia of Evangelicalism: Revised and expanded edition'', Baylor University Press, USA, 2004, pp. 296-297.</ref> 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.

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 (MercyMe song)|I Can Only Imagine]]" was a crossover success in 1999 despite having a clear Christian message.<ref name="FOXNewsJuly062003">{{Cite web |last=Adams |first=Ramsay |date=July 6, 2003 |title=Christian Rock Crosses Over |url=https://www.foxnews.com/story/christian-rock-crosses-over |access-date=October 6, 2010 |publisher=[[Fox News Channel]]}}</ref> In 2018, [[Lauren Daigle]]'s '[[You Say]]' was a similar hit.<ref>Jeannie Ortega Law, [https://www.christianpost.com/news/lauren-daigle-continues-mainstream-success-as-christian-song-you-say-breaks-into-billboard-top-40.html Lauren Daigle continues mainstream success as Christian song 'You Say' breaks into Billboard Top 40], christianpost.com, USA, January 15, 2019</ref>

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.<ref> Tracy Gordon, [https://religionnews.com/2009/09/16/is-music-key-to-successful-church-growth/ Is contemporary music key to church growth?], religionnews.com, USA, September 16, 2009 </ref>