Christian and gospel music is surging in popularity, defying a broader decline in streams for new releases, according to The Associated Press citing a Luminate’s 2025 Report.
While overall streams of music from the last 18 months fell compared to the previous year, Christian/gospel emerged as one of the fastest-growing genres in the U.S., driven by artists like Forrest Frank, Brandon Lake, and Elevation Worship.
These acts are attracting a younger, streaming-savvy audience—60% female and 30% millennial—who engage heavily with playlists and repeat listens.
For the first time in 11 years, two contemporary Christian songs broke into the Billboard Hot 100's all-genre Top 40: Frank’s “Your Way’s Better” and Lake’s “Hard Fought Hallelujah” (featuring Jelly Roll). This crossover success has blurred lines between sacred and secular music, with traditionally mainstream artists like Jelly Roll, Killer Mike, and T.I. earning nominations in Christian categories at the 2026 Grammys.
Holly Zabka, president of Provident Entertainment (a Sony subsidiary), notes that Christian music now spans rap, hip-hop, rock, and country, competing directly on streaming platforms without being seen as a “lesser” alternative to mainstream hits.
Artists like Lauren Daigle and Elevation Worship’s Chris Brown highlight improved production quality and artistic freedom, moving beyond past criticisms of the genre as formulaic. Streaming’s democratization, combined with social media discovery and a perceived resurgence of faith among young people, has created what Zabka calls “a perfect storm.”
While the share of Americans identifying as Christian has declined for years, recent data from Pew Research Center’s 2025 survey indicates the drop may be slowing or stabilizing. This cultural shift aligns with Christian music’s mainstream breakthrough, as younger listeners embrace faith-infused tracks in everyday listening.