February 23, 2023
Tobias Jesso Jr. You may know his name from his 2015 solo album Goon. Or maybe from his work on various popular songs, such as “When We Were Young” by Adele and “Alive” by Sia. Or even from his rece
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February 23, 2023
HBO’s The Last of Us is arguably the hottest show out right now, receiving near universal acclaim from viewers and critics alike. This holds especially true for episode three: “Long, Long Time”.
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February 21, 2023
Folk singer. Songwriter. Canadian. Polyglot. All of these titles belong to Gina Lam, also known by her stage name Ginalina. In November 2022, she released her latest album titled Going Back: Remembe
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February 21, 2023
Rihanna is an illustrious artist. She is among the best selling female artists of all time, and was one of the greatest hitmakers of the 2000s and 2010s. She has since grown to become the richest...
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February 20, 2023
Streaming is now the driving force of the music industry, making up 84% of the industry revenue in the U.S. While streaming is much more convenient for listeners, many artists argue that it is near im
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February 23, 2023
Who is the greatest rapper of all time? Is it even possible to crown just one person? Well, Billboard and Vibe did exactly that. And, according to them, that person is Jay-Z. In honor of Hip-Hop’s
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February 18, 2023
Kaytranada (Louis Celestin) is a Haitian-Canadian record producer and DJ. He is a highly acclaimed electronic artist, having earned two Grammys and countless other awards for his work. Kaytranada has
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February 17, 2023
What happens when a famous music producer takes an interest in self-help books? The Creative Act is your answer. But who is Rick Rubin? Without a doubt, Rubin has an impressive track record in the
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February 14, 2023
The music industry is a place full of musicians, producers, and creators who have the magical ability to make those perfect sounds we hear everyday through our digital devices. We want to listen close
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February 14, 2023
What do popular video games franchises Super Mario, Legend of Zelda, and Star Fox all have in common? They were all produced and published by Nintendo, and the iconic music themes that you hear in...
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February 8, 2023
Being a successful woman in the music industry is no easy feat. Not only do they deal with the typical trials and tribulations of being a musician, but there are also gender-specific challenges.
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February 8, 2023
“Is it just me, or are songs getting shorter these days?” This is a question I have often pondered, especially in the last few years. It appears that in the era of social media, attention spans are
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What the Conversation is About
A June 13, 2025, Baptist News Global article highlights the long-standing conflicts between traditional Black gospel music and contemporary Christian music (CCM), which are exacerbated by racial dynamics, commercialization, and political uses of worship music.
Is CCM Cliché or Justifying Culture?
In order to sell more records and reach a wider audience, CCM is commonly criticized for embracing secular music styles. Leah Payne, an award-winning historian and Theologian noted that CCM has cosmic spiritual significance because evangelical parents have long viewed it as the safest marketing avenue to "save" teenagers. Critics claim that CCM frequently turns into rhetoric rather than truth, a sanitized religion influenced more by business than by more profound doctrine.
Is CCM Just Secular Music in Disguise?
Some traditionalists contend that CCM borrows the emotional impact of secular music without delving deeper into spirituality by contemporary rhythms like pop, hip-hop, and rock.
"Most CCM can be rejected on the basis of lyrics alone,"
according to one critic, with its shallow theology and secular rhythms that don't reference Jesus.
What Gospel Still Stands For
Thomas A. Dorsey, an American musician and Christian evangelist, on the other hand, laid the groundwork for Black gospel music, which grew into a true musical expression based on Black worship traditions. According to the study, even as CCM expanded into mainstream markets, the gospel maintained its cultural identity and deeper grounding.
Historically, the Gospel Music Association (GMA) and Dove Awards honored primarily white CCM singers. They have only lately begun to remedy chronic racial exclusion, including the first-ever Black Artist of the Year award as late as 2022 and 2024.
Latest Reactions & Growing Debate
Final Take
It may be harsh to refer to CCM as "secular music with Jesus lyrics," but it is not unjustified when popular formulas take precedence over spiritual depth. However, contemporary movements; particularly those led by Black people or artistic Christian acts are redefining spiritual authenticity in ways that go beyond the traditional dichotomies.
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