Music & Culture
Christian Artists Reach Major Landmark Success!
Written by T.M. Gaouette | September 27, 2012
PI ladies, I know many of you are fans of the contemporary Christian band Casting Crowns, so you’ll be excited to learn this news!
Casting Crowns recently reached a major milestone in their music career and in the Christian music industry as a whole. They are in line to win their first career RIAA certified double-Platinum album for their 2005 debut album “Casting Crowns.” I recently wrote a post on 5 Amazing Songs That Help Me Clear Up Moments of Doubt, which featured the song “Who Am I” from this album.
Only seven other Christian CDs have reached the multi-Platinum ranking in the past, including “Satellite” by P.O.D, “The Beautiful Letdown” by Switchfoot and “Almost There” by MercyMe.
I’m so excited about the direction in which Christian music is going. Not only is it making an impact in the Christian music industry, but it’s also making visible and successful advances in the secular music world, which means that the word of God is spreading.
For example, Lecrae’s newest album “Gravity,” released on September 4, not only debuted at No. 3 on Billboard’s Top 200 chart, but it’s currently sitting at No. 2 on Billboard’s Top 100 Hip-Hop Albums. And three songs from the album have found a consistent spot on the iTunes Top 10 Hip-Hop chart, including No.1 and 2. And Lecrae was featured in Time, a mainstream magazine. How awesome is that?
Dear Hip-Hop, this didn’t happen because of swag, drug references, or stripper anthems. #Godisgood” (Lecrae, Instagram).
Lecrae said it all in that Instagram post above. A musician doesn’t have to resort to singing about sex, drugs and violence in order to be successful in the rap industry. Lecrae sings about his love for Christ and God’s word, and guess what? It’s popular!
Another Christian musician we all love is tobyMac, and he too has made record-breaking strides in both the Christian and secular music industries. His album “Eye On It” reached No.1 on Billboard charts. This is the first Christian album in 15 years to achieve this status.
Art is about expressing what is in your heart, what you love and what you struggle with. The things I’m going through can’t be that different from anyone else, but faith plays a big role in my life—big enough to sing about it (tobyMac).
Casting Crowns, Lecrae and tobyMac are amazing musicians, and they all have inspiring and strengthening messages to spread. As Christians, we already have been blessed to hear them. Because of these achievements, millions who don’t listen to Christian music now get an opportunity to experience its awesomeness.
I believe God is working through these musicians and that their messages will be heard by more and more people, eventually leading them to Christ.
I’d like to send out a prayer to all these artists and others who are glorifying God with their music. Lord, continue to use these artists as instruments for spreading your word, not only within those who already are devoted to you, but also to those who don’t know you yet.
Ladies, who is your favorite Christian musician?
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Image: castingcrowns.com
Posted by Alina on November 20, 2012 at 07:19
I love casting crowns!
Posted by c_kells on October 29, 2012 at 17:37
An awesome band you all should check out is Skyhawk Drive! They are a band from my home town (I know 2 of the guys) and their music is really starting to take off. If you have a moment check out their song Whisper, it’s a song about wanting to know God’s will. I know I can find it relatable so hopefully you can too! Their new stuff is the best. They are currently on their first U.S. tour so check out if they will be in a city near you soon. 🙂
Posted by EmeraRider on October 13, 2012 at 17:52
I really love Red and Relient K. 😀
Posted by andi on October 12, 2012 at 05:51
i like them all!
Posted by texasgirl on October 3, 2012 at 12:51
I like Mandisa, Casting Crowns, Sara groves, and Franesca Battistelli!
Posted by boogirl on October 1, 2012 at 10:13
Oh I just love music!!!! I LOVE Mandisa, Britt Nicole, Brandon Heath, Francesca Battestelli, Third Day, TobyMac, Point of Grace, Building 421, I think my list is never ending!!!!
Posted by pinkgodlover on October 1, 2012 at 09:17
i love Mandisa,she has an awesome voice=)
Posted by MusicismyLife JesusismyGuide on September 30, 2012 at 10:50
Casting Crowns is my absolute favorite band! I love all of their CD’s and the inspiring songs featured on them. One song on their newest album release “Come to the Well” really spoke to me. It’s the song, “Just Another Birthday” by singer Megan Garrett. It makes me cry every time I listen to it because of the message that talks about the absence of fathers in a child’s life. The song has such a strong and endearing message that connects to me greatly, and also reminds me that, no matter what, I have the greatest heavenly father in the world. God 🙂
Posted by Peacegurl1960 on September 30, 2012 at 09:45
Mercy Me and Tenth ave North. They made songs that I listen to over and over. You are more, Beatiful
Posted by cookieaxson on September 30, 2012 at 07:56
lecrea i have every cd except gravity tho
Posted by hollycbryant on September 30, 2012 at 00:36
Lecrae and Francesca Battisteli!
Posted by ForHim15 on September 29, 2012 at 13:05
TobyMac is, BY FAR, my favorite Christian artist. But Lecrae is making his way up the favorites list, too. Casting Crowns has some good songs, too. I love TobyMac’s song with Lecrae, “Forgiveness”. It’s so encouraging!
Posted by CatlovingChristiansingingNortherngirl on September 29, 2012 at 12:37
if you guys wanna hear some more good music then look up matthew west, brandon heath and chris august! they are amazing christian singers!
Posted by frozenxdreamer on September 29, 2012 at 12:33
My favorite Christian musicians would have to be Red, Thousand Foot Krutch, Skillet, Underoath, and Superchick.
Posted by horse-lover on September 29, 2012 at 09:29
THIRD DAY IS AMAZING. And their concerts are so fun and encouraging to go to. I love their music. It’s helped bring me through a lot.
Posted by Paris on September 28, 2012 at 23:59
I don’t have a favorite christian artist because I simply can’t choose! There are too many amazing artists out there!
Posted by PinkyGracey on September 28, 2012 at 21:41
Colton Dixon recently released his single ‘Never Gone’ on iTunes a few days ago and it zoomed up to #4 that day 🙂
Posted by nessa562 on September 28, 2012 at 21:09
I love Casting Crowns and Switchfoot!! I also love artists like RED and Hawk Nelson.
Posted by liv_life on September 28, 2012 at 18:14
I love all of them but I also love tenth avenue north too!!!
Posted by BrittNicoleHowWeRoll on September 28, 2012 at 16:20
Judging a genre simply because it doesn’t sound like what you normally listen to doesn’t mean that it’s not christian. Skillet expresses a deep love for God. That said, sigh, I love so many artists. DJ Triune (he’s from S. Cali!), J6, Lecrae, TobyMac, Barlowgirl, Skillet, Flyleaf, Sleeping Giant, Transform DJs, POD, Mathai, Britt Nicole, Sanctus Real, etc, etc. The list just goes on and on.
I believe that God can speak to us and encourage us through all genres of music, as long as they are Christian! He made us have brilliant minds to be able to create all kinds of music to suit different tastes.
Posted by MeghanHug99 on September 28, 2012 at 12:35
I LOVE Casting Crowns! I LOVE ALL OF THEM!
Posted by jd20goblue on September 28, 2012 at 12:28
Oh, don’t get me started on music. I LOVE IT! My face artists are Lecrae (thanks to you), Trip Lee, Project 86, 12 Stones, tobyMac, Newsboys, and countless others (:
Posted by haley_nicole_4_Christ on September 28, 2012 at 12:11
It kind of seems like you only know like four Christian artists. :\ There are gazzillions more: Anthem Lights (boy band), Phil Wickham, Skillet, Relient K, Tenth Avenue North, This Beautiful Republic, Fee….and sooo many more!! 😀
Posted by BrittNicoleHowWeRoll on September 28, 2012 at 16:13
She’s just mentioning the ones who made the Billboard. 🙂
Posted by hnj922 on September 28, 2012 at 09:57
I love them all but i also love Skillet!!
Posted by BrittNicoleHowWeRoll on September 28, 2012 at 16:12
I think they’re music is Christian. Just because it isn’t what you normally listen to, that doesn’t mean that it doesn’t qualify as Christian. Yes, not everyone will like the same music, but Skillet often expresses a deep love for God. They minister to thousands – maybe millions! – of teenagers/adults.
Sure, there are a lot of metal/hard rock bands out there that don’t glorify God but Skillet is one of those bands that just totally brings light to so many people’s souls.
Posted by lililove97 on September 28, 2012 at 15:24
I feel like Skillet isn’t Christian, because they play hard rock/metal. Just because you say the word ‘God’ in your songs, doesn’t make you Christian.
Posted by annabibi on September 29, 2012 at 09:57
I used to agree with you because they DON’T really mention Jesus…they suggest Him but if you aren’t looking at them as a Chrisitan band you would miss it. But a few weeks ago I came across an article that explains their reason for doing it that way. They are officially a secular artist so that more people can hear the message. I have friends who listended to Skillet before they were saved and attribute Skillet to their coming to God. Still not really a fan of Skillet but it turns out their heart is in the right place — witnessing to people 🙂
Posted by horse-lover on September 29, 2012 at 09:32
We play Skillet at my youth group every week. Their music is awesome! You should look them up!
Posted by Emilyitude on September 28, 2012 at 17:00
just because you play hard rock/metal doesn’t mean you’re NOT a christian.
Posted by aliboyd on September 28, 2012 at 16:43
Actually, Skillet is a great group of Christians. The lead singer has a great testimony, and they headlined winter jam. It’s hard to explain a lot of it, but they are. You should look them up!!
Posted by BrittNicoleHowWeRoll on September 28, 2012 at 16:14
I believe it is Christian. They are Christian. Their music expresses a deep love for God. Judging a genre and saying it isn’t christian just because of the instruments used and the way the voices sound is kind of judgemental.
Posted by liv4god on September 28, 2012 at 08:34
I love all of them. The songs that they sing are so inspiring and uplifting. I evened listend to them alot on my ipod and because of thier music it helped lead me to christ.
Posted by nattles345 on September 28, 2012 at 06:38
I love Lecrae!! (I love all three bands that you mentioned though) (: Lecrae sold about 76,000 copies in one week (the week of his release of his new album)