If you grew up in the Christian music underground of the ’90s and early 2000s, you probably spent more nights than you’d admit in some coffee-fueled rock club that promised loud guitars without the alcohol. These venues were strange little ecosystems: equal parts youth group outreach and punk rock proving ground. On any given night you’d find yuppies in polos, gutter punks in patched jackets, and suburban kids trying out eyeliner for the first time. The music was the draw, but the scene itself was the real hook. Nashville had Rocketown—Michael W. Smith’s big venue that held a coffee bar, skate park, and multiple stages. It worked. Rocketown was packed…

GRAMMY®-nominated songwriter Pat Barrett announces his fourth studio effort, I’ve Got A Fire (Bowyer & Bow CCMG). The all-new, full-length endeavor will release Oct. 3, 2025, and fans can now pre-add, pre-save, and pre-order the album here. I’ve Got A Fire breaks the mold of the worship leader’s previous artistic work with a video and audio palette that is colorful, vibrant, fun and tenderly introspective. “For me, these have been the songs that have challenged, encouraged and moved me along in my faith,” Pat Barrett says of the selections he handpicked for the bold collection. “These songs have filled my house with music, my mouth with singing, and most importantly…

Nashville-based boutique management firm Music City Management (MCM) announces its first new artist signing in eight years with the addition of emerging Integrity Music songstress and “The Voice” semifinalist Holly Brand. The Christian/Country newcomer joins an intentionally small family of talent at MCM, which has provided long-term representation for Marc Martel and Jason Gray. Industry veteran and MCM founder Josh Petersen will handle day-to-day management for Brand. “Holly’s songs caught my attention from the first time I put her demos on in my pickup truck secular country melodies with gospel-centered lyrics. She has a powerful, unique voice that reminds me of why I have always loved country music. Then I…

Many Christian artists have recently spoken up on their social media about the recent assassination of Charlie Kirk, and not without backlash. Forrest Frank released a video announcing that he had lost 30k followers because he made a post about Charlie Kirk and said that Jesus is Lord. “Good. I don’t want you to follow me…if you don’t do this one thing follow Jesus Christ.” Frank replied. He continued his video by encouraging listeners with the truth that Jesus is coming back, the hour is at hand, and something has shifted. A new boldness is rising in the church and my prayer is that we all, like Charlie, live a…

Curb Records band Sidewalk Prophets is excited to announce their annual “Great Big Family Christmas Tour.” Kicking off 11/21 in Hays, KS, all tickets for the Great Big Family Christmas Tour are on sale here. A great big family tradition for seven years, the tour will feature the band’s hits, original Christmas songs, and classic holiday favorites. Each special night will have a charitable component, as well as other fun surprises, with donations collected being given to a local family or individual in need. To date, the Great Big Family Christmas Tour has donated over $300,000 to those in need during the Christmas season. “Great Big Family Christmas has become…

NRT Music is proud to announce the release of “Holy Spirit Therapy,” the highly anticipated new single from We Are Leo. This marks the first new music in 16 months from the creative project led by singer, songwriter, and producer David Duffield. “Holy Spirit Therapy” is a bold and prayerful track that captures the heart of We Are Leo’s artistry honest lyrics, modern pop energy, and a focus on authentic encounters with God. Written by David Josiah Duffield and Howard Lalgee, and produced by Duffield alongside Katy McCray, the single leans into themes of surrender, transformation, and hope. “This song was born out of a desire to release control, trade…

Phil Wickham is celebrating two decades as a signed artist, and if his new album Songs of the Saints proves anything, it’s that he’s nowhere near slowing down. The record, his tenth studio album, clocks in at 16 tracks—an ambitious swing in an era where most artists stick to singles and EPs. Wickham is still writing like a man with something to say, and still pulling in the kind of chart numbers most worship artists dream of. “I’ve never been more excited or proud of a record,” Wickham says. “Every single song from my new album Songs Of The Saints holds so much meaning and testimony for me. My heart is bursting not only…

Grammy award-winning duo For King & Country has announced that “World on Fire” featuring Taylor Hill will be released October 3. The band referred to the song as the first single of their next chapter in a recent social media post. The single can be pre-saved here. For King & Country is known for the hits “God Only Knows,” “For God Is With Us” and “Fix My Eyes.”[…]

Until now, names like Martin Luther King Jr., John F. Kennedy, Malcolm X, and Robert F. Kennedy lived in history books and grainy footage. But on September 10, 2025, the world watched in real time, in 4K video, the cold-blooded murder of Charlie Kirk, one of today’s most passionate voices for the political right and conservative Christianity. In the days that followed, churches filled with mourners, vigils lit up city streets, and tributes poured in from across the cultural spectrum. From CCM icons to mainstream acts like Coldplay, artists have spoken, sung, and prayed in response to this moment that has shaken the world. At CCM Magazine, we chose to…