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Surprise in the Studio: The Archers Reunite With CCM Original
There are moments in this new “job” that remind me why we fight so hard to preserve the legacy of CCM Magazine. This was one of those days. The Archers were in our studio; a group whose name carries weight amongst the original CCM Magazine readers. They first graced the cover back in August of 1979 and were involved in the magazine before it ever existed. I asked Steve Archer about their connection to CCM, and he didn’t hesitate. “Well, I go all the way back to one of my best friends who was a man by the name of John Styll, who told me that he was starting a…
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August Delivers some Can’t-Miss Albums!
There might be a little Dust on the Bible, but that’s only breathing new life into independent artists like Josiah Queen. Closing out August, Josiah Queen delivered one of the most anticipated releases of 2025 with his sophomore album, Mt. Zion. As an independent musician without a record deal, Queen stands as a testament to the new way of reaching audiences. With over 216 million global streams, his rise has been nothing short of remarkable. This October, Queen will take his headlining release shows to the world-famous Ryman Auditorium and to the Yuengling Center (yes, a headlining arena show) in his hometown of Tampa. Mt. Zion—featuring his beloved single “Dusty Bibles” and a…
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Red and Spoken Unable to Perform at Uprise Festival
Recently on social media, Uprise Festival posted that “due to circumstances beyond our control, Red and Spoken will no longer be able to be a part of this year’s festival. We invite you to join us in keeping both groups in your prayer.” As of this writing, it remains unclear the reasons for both bands being unable to perform at the festival, or why said circumstances might require the bands being kept in prayers. Held annually in Shippensburg, PA, Uprise Festival is one of the premier Christian rock festivals in Christian music. Their lineup regularly features some of the biggest names in Christian music, with Skillet being a headliner this…
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Pocket Full of Rocks Announces 30-Year Reunion
Pocket Full of Rocks returns to their hometown to celebrate 30 years with a night of stories and songs. Free tickets are available for the reunion hosted by First Baptist Church Texarkana on August 28. The evening will feature both founding and recent members of the band, sharing music and memories from their journey. Attendees can expect an inspiring night of storytelling as the band reflects on three decades of music. Formed in 1995, the band gained national recognition and signed with Myrrh Records Warner Music Group after 10 years of touring and releasing music independently. Their songs have been recorded by various artists, with “Let It Rain” continuing to…
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Joel Vaughn Releases New EP
Joel Vaughn released his new EP Feel It, on DREAM Records. Following the success of his recent singles, the self titled “Feel It” and “Testify” the album promises a collection of uplifting and introspective tracks that blend pop melodies with a powerful message of hope and faith. Joel Vaughn explains the album’s title as a call to action. “I want people to ‘Feel It’–to not just hear the music, but to feel the emotions and the hope behind every lyric,” he says. “This album is about engaging with our faith in a real, tangible way, and I hope it encourages everyone who listens.” The EP is available on all major…
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Katy Nichole Releases Sophomore Album
RIAA Platinum-selling, Dove Award-winning Katy Nichole releases her highly anticipated, Centricity Music sophomore album, Honest Conversations, which is available at digital and streaming outlets everywhere now from https//katynichole.lnk.to/HonestConversations. Singing straight from her heart, holding nothing back, Nichole’s thoughts and emotions flow freely without filter on the new, 12-song album as she fearlessly grapples with her insecurities, stares down anxiety and shares her dreams out loud. This honesty has consistently struck a chord with music fans worldwide, cementing her as a phenomenon with hundreds of millions of streams, major awards, No. 1 radio hits and wide critical praise. Produced by GRAMMY-nominated Jeff Pardo, Honest Conversations features the viral (200 million views…
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HOMECOMING Releases High Energy New EP
HOMECOMING, the Canadian worship collective known for blending honest lyrics, big melodies, and modern pop production, has released their highly anticipated new live EP Live at YG with NRT Music. Captured in the heart of YG Conference–one of Western Canada’s most impactful youth gatherings–this project preserves a move of God that couldn’t be recreated in a studio. “These weren’t just songs; they became declarations,” shares the band. “We watched students jump, cry, and worship with everything. You could feel hearts shifting, walls breaking down. We captured these moments so others could experience that same move of God.” The four-track EP showcases the electric atmosphere and passionate worship that have made…
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Wes Bayliss Refuses to Sing Half-Truths
Wes Bayliss doesn’t sound like a man who’s trying to impress anybody. He talks slow, pauses often, and lets silence sit in the room like another instrument. He’s a big Southern man, Alabama born, who’s spent years on the road with The Steel Woods, building a reputation as a voice of weight and gravity. But when you strip it all back, what’s left now is something simpler, rougher, and maybe even heavier: a songwriter who’s not interested in half-truths anymore. “I come from a southern rock background, you say, but I come, before that, from a gospel background,” Wes told me. “I grew up in a gospel band with my…
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After 6 Years of Waiting, Big Daddy Weave Says: Let It Begin
For more than two decades, Big Daddy Weave has been a constant presence in Christian music. But for all the hits, the tours, and the ministry moments, the last several years tested the band in ways none of them could have anticipated. Sitting down with them now, as they prepare to launch the second leg of the Let It Begin tour with Megan Woods, I could feel both the weight of what they’ve endured and the hope of what lies ahead. This wasn’t just another record cycle. This was survival, grief, healing, and the start of something brand new. Mike Weaver was candid right away about how close he’d come to walking…
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Jason Gray Extends 19-Year Centricity Music Tenure, Signing Exclusive Recording, Pub. Agreement
Acclaimed singer/songwriter Jason Gray, who released his Greatest Hits (Acoustic) album last month, extends his 19-year relationship with Centricity Music by signing a new, worldwide exclusive recording and publishing contract. “I was nine years old when I first had the sense that music was my ‘calling,'” remembers Gray. “The longer I do this, the more I realize that for me to be faithful to that calling means others have to make space for it in the world. “I’m more grateful than I know how to say for the space Centricity has made for my calling to exist in the world, and the space they’ve found at radio for my songs…
