Christian & gospel music is on the rise

O’Neil Dennis charts the rise in popularity of Christian & gospel music during the past few decades and how it has set the scene for the StepFwd Awards in November

Christian & gospel music in the UK is a vibrant and thriving scene, with a rich history that stretches back decades. Names come to mind, like Graham Kendrick, who recently celebrated 50 years in music ministry, along with Bazil Meade and the London Community Gospel Choir (LCGC) celebrating their 40th anniversary this year. Today, the genre is experiencing a surge in popularity, with a new generation of artists emerging and pushing the boundaries of what it means to be a Christian musician in the modern age.

One of the biggest developments in UK Christian & gospel music in recent years has been the rise of crossover artists who are making music that is both spiritually uplifting and musically accessible to a wider audience. This has been driven in part by the success of international acts, like Kirk Franklin, Lecrae, Lauren Daigle, Maverick City, Elevation Worship and CeCe Winans, who have shown that the music can be commercially successful without sacrificing its message or artistic integrity.

In the UK, artists like Guvna B, Noel Robinson, Martin Smith, CalledOut Music, Reblah, Stormzy, Jonathan Ogden and Limoblaze have been at the forefront of this trend, making music that blends elements of hip-hop, grime, rock, worship, pop, afrobeat and other popular genres with Christian themes and messages. Guvna B, for example, has been hailed as one of the most exciting and innovative Christian artists in the UK, with a string of successful albums and collaborations with artists like Ghetts, Nick Brewer, Michaela Coel, Matt Redman and Kierra Sheard.

Another notable trend in UK Christian & Gospel is the increasing diversity of voices and styles that are being represented. As the UK becomes more multicultural, so too does its music scene, with artists from a wide range of backgrounds and faith traditions coming to the fore.

This includes artists, like Sarah Téibo, who blends African rhythms and melodies with contemporary gospel sounds, and LZ7, a Manchester-based group that fuses electronic and dance music with faith-based lyrics. Other notable artists in this space include The Spirituals, with their unique take on reimagining anthems from Black music history and Philippa Hanna, who is well-known for her fusion of pop, country, and gospel, and well-loved for her socially conscious lyrics.

Despite the growth and success of UK Christian & gospel music, however, there are still challenges that the industry faces. One of the biggest is the lack of mainstream exposure and recognition, which can make it difficult for artists to reach a wider audience and build sustainable careers.

To address this, several initiatives have been launched in recent years to support and promote UK Christian & gospel music. These include the annual Premier Gospel Awards, which celebrate the best in UK gospel music across a range of categories; the MOBO Awards (which saw rapper Still Shadey win the 2023 Best Gospel Act) and newcomer – but with no less significance –the StepFWD Awards.

Started by AStepFWD.com founder, O’Neil Dennis, StepFWD Awards pulls on the data accumulated annually from the UK Christian Charts, which has become the premier tastemaker for UK Christian & Gospel.

Operating now for over eight years, the UK Christian Charts covers 12 categories, namely: Contemporary Worship, Afrobeat, Contemporary Gospel, RnB/Soul, Electronic/Dance, ChillHop/Lofi, Pop, Indie/Folk/Acoustic, Rock/Metal, Poetry/Spoken Word, Rap, Reggae

The UK Christian Charts (UKCC) – and now StepFWD Awards – is revolutionising the Christian and gospel scene in the UK and creating ripples globally. Whilst not totally disregarding popularity as a necessary gauge, the UKCC has instead focused on harnessing the power of well-produced, well-written and anointed songs endorsed by its 158-strong (and growing) team of judges, along with the public votes. This peer-driven approach has encouraged the emerging talent, endorsed the established artists, and become a win-win for everyone. After all, the strength of the music should be in the song and the message and not just the personality, right?

From St Paul’s, Hammersmith, to Ruach City Church and now to Fairfield Halls in Croydon on Saturday 11th November, the 3rd annual StepFWD Awards looks set to continue its national celebration of the ‘Best of British’. Even with the Awards fast becoming the largest and most diverse gathering of UK music creatives, the guiding principle remains rooted in Romans 12:10 – “Love one another with brotherly affection. Outdo one another in showing honour.”

Let’s continue to shine the light on our amazing music ministers and the world will see and be impacted by the good news and life-transforming message we know they bring. We shouldn’t expect mainstream exposure and recognition though if we, the Christian & Gospel community, are not willing to better support, encourage and celebrate the amazing musical giftings in abundance all around the country.

The StepFwd Awards takes place on 11 November at Fairfield Halls, Croydon. Visit www.stepfwdawards.com for more details and to get tickets.