Is Christian music on the rise in Birmingham?

Sponsored

Next month, Christian artist Brandon Lake will perform an already-sold-out show at Legacy Arena at the BJCC. But he’s not the only record-breaking artist of this genre.

In the past couple of years, Contemporary Christian Music (CCM) has skyrocketed in popularity, and several of the big names like Brandon Lake, Forrest Frank, TobyMac and more have either already performed at the BJCC or have sold-out shows coming up in the next year.

We dug into the trend to find out more about this growth in CCM—and even got opinions from the Director of Samford University’s Center for Worship and the Arts.

The BJCC has hosted many sold-out shows of Christian artists

According to The Gospel Coalition, millennial and younger generations made up 45% of Christian music listeners in 2024. And CCM has seen a 60% global rise on Spotify in the past five years.

Contemporary Christian Music (CCM) continues to grow, and it’s being noticed by secular audiences.

Proof of this is Birmingham’s own BJCC. In the past year, some of its highest-attended shows at both Legacy Arena and the BJCC Concert Hall have been from CCM artists like:

• Anne Wilson
• Brandon Lake
• for KING & COUNTRY
• Forrest Frank
• Lauren Daigle
• MercyMe, TobyMac + Matthew West
• Tauren Wells + Danny Gokey

Fun fact: The BJCC has sold a total of 101,412 tickets at CCM shows since the beginning of 2024.

Emily Snider Andrews, the director of Samford’s Center for Worship and the Arts, gave her thoughts on the rise of CCM specifically in Birmingham.

“Two big forces in Birmingham are shaping what you hear on Sundays: Generational turnover and metro growth.

As Gen Z and Millennials take on more leadership and volunteer roles, many churches are opening up to band-driven worship, multimedia and a blend of hymns with current songs.

And with suburban expansion and larger campuses, you tend to see bigger production teams, stronger tech and tighter bands. That infrastructure naturally supports contemporary worship repertoire and encourages churches to explore new music more often.”

Emily Snider Andrews, Director of the Center for Worship and the Arts, Samford University

Christian music doesn’t just have “one sound”

So, what could be the cause of this trend?

Part of what makes Christian music unique is its diversity. There’s not one set “sound,” but rather bits from every other genre.

“The 90s/2000s leaned ‘adult contemporary’ with pop/rock forms and radio-ready hooks. Today’s charts pull from a bigger toolbox: Black gospel harmonies, hip-hop rhythms, electronic production and even stripped-down acoustic textures.

I think [in the future] we can expect more worship music that’s theologically clearer, emotionally honest and musically broader—built to serve multigenerational congregations.”

Emily Snider Andrews, Director of the Center for Worship and the Arts, Samford University

Artists like Josiah Queen or Chris Renzema are popular in the Christian indie music scene.

DC Talk and Third Day were instrumental in making Christian rock mainstream.

Brandon Lake, Forrest Frank and Lauren Daigle have gained national attention and made appearances on broadcasts like “The Ellen Show,” “The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon” and more.

These songs have different sounds because the message of CCM is the same across the board, so music lovers of all genres can enjoy it.

See more contemporary Christian artists at Legacy Arena at the BJCC

The good news: The BJCC has more shows on the lineup. You can experience a CCM performance for yourself with these upcoming shows:

• Brandon Lake “King of Hearts Tour” with Franni Cash + Pat Barrett
  • November 11, 2025
  • Tickets are already sold out!
• Phil Wickham “Song of the Saints Tour“ featuring Tauren Wells + special guest Jamie MacDonald
  • March 18, 2026
  • Tickets
• Third Day 30th Anniversary Tour with special guest Zach Williams
  • May 1, 2026
  • Tickets

See other events coming soon to Birmingham on the BJCC’s event page and tag us @bhamnow when you go!

Sponsored by: