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WHAT’S INSIDE: INDUSTRY Q&A: Q&A with Steve McPherson, Manager, Steve McPherson, Manager, Music Publishing Publishing

News By CCM Magazine Managing Editor, Celebrations Kevin Sparkman and Milestones bodies creating their own musical elements, Radio Movement arrangements, and even songs, isn’t really that new of a concept. One of the first congregations Appearances to embark on publishing and making their in Film/TV songs known the globe over, Australia’s blazed the trail and Steve McPherson has Top Adult been there from the start. With a keen sense of Contemporary Songs ministry on a localized level, initially serving at Hillsong in youth ministry and on worship teams, Top Gospel Songs McPherson has taken his twenty-five year-plus career to now serve the Church through music on Top Rock Songs a worldwide scale. We take a few moments to chat with McPherson about the music, milestones, and Overall Chart Toppers ministry, as well as a little more about him on a personal level (Ever wondered what a guy like him Top Artists jams to while cruising the Sydney streets?) on Social Media Steve McPherson (Continued on page 3)

Movement

NEWS the current cover artists for the Jun. 15th with hip hop artist Blake Whitely and edition of CCM Magazine. speaker Clayton Jennings. ’s sixth studio John Butler, former Wonder debuted VP of Promotions at at No. 1 and No. 5 on Curb Records, began the iTunes Christian his role as the head and Overall charts. of Christian Music Garnering immediate at in late April. critical acclaim, the Butler will oversee Australian worship band is currently Sanctus Real announced new lead Christian music touring the US, making recent stops singer Dustin Lolli, in addition to its first globally for Spotify in New York City for a Today Show single in more than two years, “Safe In through playlist curation, programming appearance and in Nashville for a live My Father’s Arms.” Now a trio, Lolli and and editorials, also serving as an performance at the historic Ryman longtime members Chris Rohman and ambassador for Christian music inside Auditorium. Hillsong UNITED is also Mark Graalman are currently on tour and outside of Spotify.

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WAY FM announces Dean Sims Rocker John Schlitt recently wrapped as Chief Technology Officer. the debut season of his radio show Live It Loud. The program is syndicated Jeff Berry announces the launch of by NRT (New Release Today) Radio new venture, Courage Management Syndication Network and is airs on Group. Jordan Greiner and Angilee numerous radio stations and online Smith, formerly of Eaglemont outlets from coast to coast. Integrity Music welcomes worship Entertainment, will join him in leader- Corey Voss to their managing an artist roster featuring label roster and announces the July , Stars Go Dim, David Dunn, 28th release of his new EP, Songs Carrollton and Grayson/Reed. Of Heaven & Earth: Volume 1. Voss’ songwriting has recently been featured Gaither Homecoming favorite Gene Show Hope recently announced on Jaci Velasquez’ “Praise The King” McDonald recently announced a Emily Chapman Richards as VP and and “I Will Call” (from Trust), Selah’s partnership with Adoration Agency Executive Director. “I Got Saved” (from Unbreakable), and as his primary booking agent. several cuts on ’s latest, Multi-award winning Southern Gospel Your Mercy. Integrity Music duo Wilburn & Wilburn was recently welcomes honored with a 2017 Telly Award. joined the cast Nashville-based As a part of the Jacksonville State of PBS’ A CAPITOL FOURTH, Live singer, songwriter University television services, the from the US Capitol. and worship leader father-son Gospel group was awarded Alisa Turner to for “ Southern Style” 2016 FairTrade Services welcomes Sarah the roster and Christmas show. Lowe to its radio promotion team announces the August 25th release of her self-titled debut. as Manager, National Promotions. Daywind Records announced the addition of Mark Lowry to its roster. BMI Christian Awards awarded Bernie Provident Music’s Tauren Wells and Lowry will release his new project, Herms for Songwriter of the Year, wife announce the due date of their What’s Not To Love? August 18th. third baby in December. “Good, Good Father” for Song of the Year and Capitol CMG Publishing for Publisher of the Year. Bethel Music’s Brian & Jenn Johnson adopt a baby boy, Ryder Moses Johnson.

Tenth Avenue North’s Mike Donehey announced that he and his wife are expecting their fourth daughter. recently announced TBN announced that former Fox the signing of New Orleans, LA hip-hop News Channel host and Presidential artist Aha Gazelle. Having released On the heels of releasing his first single Candidate Gov. Mike Huckabee his first single “Momma House” in in more than two years, John Waller will launch an hour-long talk late April, his follow up mixtape and announces the launch of his own show focusing on news, issues, first label releaseTrilliam 2 dropped coffee company Crazy Faith Coffee. entertainment and faith this fall. nationally in June.

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RADIO the afternoon program “The Way KZTH/OKC (The House FM) announced Home” with Stephanie Plumb. Kevin Brooks as the new morning Salem has appointed Val Carolin as show co-host. General Manager of the Greenville Family Life Radio’s Director of market, replacing Joey Hudson. Programming Adam Biddell will WBSN/New Orleans welcomes be assuming the position of Chief Nancy Luketich back to the LifeSongs WBSN/New Orleans (LifeSongs Broadcast Systems Officer, overseeing studios, as she joins Josh to co-host Radio) announces the launch of the the station’s engineering, FCC the Morning Show from 5:30-10am station’s seventh frequency, 95.1 FM compliance and technical operations. each weekday. Hammond, LA. KNOT/Prescott (Radio Shine) GM Evening Night Light host, Andrea WGTS/Wash DC Morning Show co-host Sally M. Barton has joined the FLR Jaxson exits, KLTY/. Blanca Vega has been recognized team in the newly created role of as one of the 100 most influential Chief Engagement Officer. Faith Radio/St Paul hires Bill Arnold people for the Nation’s Capital Metro as the host of its new morning show, Area Latinos. Gregg (Shimmy) Chimento joins Early Morning Late Show with Centricity Records as National Bill Arnold. Greg Fentress is joining the staff of Promotions Director, working the WKNZ/Milford (88.7 The Bridge) as region west of the Mississippi River. Charles Van Dyke is heading back to an announcer and program host. Provident Label Group as the Director WLGH/Lansing (Smile FM) has hired of National Radio Promotions. WJQK/Grand Rapids (JQ99) PD Josh Strickland to join the morning morning host Ace McKay is joining show, The Morning Espresso with Radio Movement Provided by 93.7 WDJC/Birmingham to co-host Jenn & Brian. HisAir.net

When you first entered ministry at Hillsong Church, could widest group of believers while remaining true to ourselves. you have envisioned the way church music is marketed, It’s always a balance. made, and sold today? Why do you think church worship music has become McPherson: No, not at all. When I first got involved, church so widely popular? music was a fraction of what it is today, at least in Australia. McPherson: All of us have our own likes and dislikes when There were small pockets of music being written at that time, it comes to the music that we listen to, and I think Christian most of it was coming out of the US and very few songs were consumers have drawn a line between entertainment and coming from local church communities. Today almost every their devotional life. There is plenty of music out there church has some sort of musical expression and it’s available that entertains us, and it’s great, but that’s as far as it goes. almost everywhere. The resources that are available to a Worship music has a different purpose. It lifts us, draws us worship director today are unprecedented. Never have there closer to our God and causes us to see Him in a new light. been more options of songs to sing on a Sunday morning and It’s pretty powerful when a person can be drawn to a song never has it been easier to access those resources to prepare because of what it says to them regardless of whether they a worship team to lead those songs. “like” the musical style of the artist performing it. In your opinion, what, if anything, has changed with the way approach writing for the church? When it comes to worship music coming out of the church itself, I feel like worship is most powerful when McPherson: I think our writers are more mindful of it’s congregational. Our one-to-one relationship with the different shades of the church. We’ve always been God is crucial, but there’s something powerful about focused on writing, producing and releasing music that a community of believers developing a sound and lyric expresses the heartbeat and message of Hillsong Church around their worship. (our local church), but I think we’re more aware of the wider body of Christ and balance what will reach the (Continued on page 7)

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TOP 20 ARTISTS ON TOP 20 ARTISTS ON TOP 20 ARTISTS ON INSTAGRAM

Tercer Cielo 18,150,288 Hillsong United 1,524,613 Ricardo Montaner 8,258,625

Jesus Adrian Romero 11,042,429 Erica Campbell 1,410,810 Juan Luis Guerra 7,230,119

Thalles Roberto 8,984,987 1,114,358 Thalles Roberto 1,299,261

Alex Campos 7,661,823 Tercer Cielo 1,053,222 1,175,451

Juan Luis Guerra 7,576,828 1,025,990 Lecrae 1,163,447

Marcos Witt 6,209,407 989,987 Hillsong United 1,132,257

Lilly Goodman 6,081,661 Jesus Culture 916,575 Jesus Adrian Romero 1,115,963

Hillsong United 5,747,482 Lilly Goodman 913,600 Marcos Witt 1,070,399

Ricardo Montaner 5,472,113 Marcela Gandara 895,921 Alex Campos 1,067,777

Don Moen 5,311,885 Marcos Witt 850,718 955,256

Skillet 5,237,224 834,020 Tercer Cielo 915,066

Marcela Gandara 4,723,735 Christine D’Clario 833,083 Marcela Gandara 704,340

Casting Crowns 4,657,622 Bethel Music 770,059 Lilly Goodman 691,428

Hillsong Worship 4,391,643 Alex Campos 769,112 Kari Jobe 676,546

Danilo Montero 4,192,666 Hillsong Y&F 713,982 Marco Barrientos 670,523

TobyMac 3,907,032 Marco Barrientos 662,918 Danilo Montero 639,898

Mary Mary 3,796,042 Kirk Franklin 656,034 TobyMac 601,189

Chris Tomlin 3,481,209 Tasha Cobbs 653,808 Jesus Culture 590,451

Marco Barrientos 3,452,954 Danilo Montero 650,364 572,896

Daniel Calveti 2,903,596 Kiki Sheard 633,490 Michael W Smith 549,146

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4 | GOSPELMUSIC.ORG JULY 2017 Top 20 Adult Contemporary Songs

ADULT CONTEMPORARY PROVIDED BY CMTA

RANK ARTIST SONG TITLE RANK ARTIST SONG TITLE

1 MercyMe Even If 11 David Dunn I Wanna Go Back 2 Chris Tomlin Home 12 Testify 3 Oh My Soul 13 Micah Tyler Never Been A Moment 4 Unfinished 14 Ryan Stevenson Eye Of The Storm / ft. GabeReal 5 Hillsong Worship 15 Zach Williams Chain Breaker 6 TobyMac Love Broke Thru 16 Jordan Feliz Beloved 7 I Have This Hope 17 for KING & COUNTRY Priceless 8 Citizen Way Bulletproof 18 Broken Things 9 19 The Lion And The Lamb 10 Zach Williams Old Church Choir 20 This Is Amazing Grace

BDS ENcore Format Playlist Report Date: 7/7/2017

Top 20 Gospel Songs

GOSPEL PROVIDED BY CMTA

RANK ARTIST SONG TITLE RANK ARTIST SONG TITLE

1 J.J. Hairston/YP You Deserve It 11 Travis Greene You Waited 2 Todd Dulaney My Victory Belongs To Jesus 12 Isabel Davis The Call 3 VaShawn Mitchell Joy 13 Anthony Brown/GT Trust In You 4 Kirk Franklin My World Needs You 14 Jermaine Dolly Come And Knock On Our Door 5 Tamela Mann Change Me 15 Donnie McClurkin I Need You 6 Tye Tribbett Work It Out 16 Tim Bowman Jr. Fix Me 7 Troy Sneed Kept By His Grace 17 Earnest Pugh I Need You To Breathe 8 Bryan Popin I Got Out 18 Deitrick Haddon A Billion People 9 GI Pray And Don’t Worry 19 James Fortune/FIYA I Forgive Me 10 William Murphy 20 GEI Hang On / ft.

BDS ENcore Format Playlist Report Date: 7/7/2017

5 | GOSPELMUSIC.ORG JULY 2017 Top 20 Rock Songs

ROCK PROVIDED BY CMTA

RANK ARTIST SONG TITLE RANK ARTIST SONG TITLE

1 Glasslands Deadman 11 Social Club Misfits Pop Out Revenge / ft. Amari 2 Safemode This Is Not The End 12 Fallstar Radio 3 Skillet Back From The Dead 13 Devil Wears Prada To The Key Of Evergreen 4 Heavydirtysoul14 Artifex Pereo Soft Weapons 5 Paper Route Balconies 15 Wolves At The Gate Asleep 6 Hearts Like Lions Pretty Little Phase16 Silent Planet Understanding Love As Loss 7 Crusoe Wild Ones 17 Thrice Hurricane 8 Aaron Cole Do What I Gotta... / ft. 18 Demon Hunter Cold Winter Sun 9 The Afters Shadows 19 Eisley Louder Than A Lion 10 Out Of This World20 Tiger Drive Free To Go

BDS ENcore Format Playlist Report Date: 7/7/2017

Top 20 Overall Songs

OVERALL PROVIDED BY CMTA

RANK ARTIST SONG TITLE RANK ARTIST SONG TITLE

1 MercyMe Even If 11 Tauren Wells Hills And Valleys 2 Chris Tomlin Home 12 Tenth Avenue North I Have This Hope 3 Casting Crowns Oh My Soul 13 Elevation Worship O Come To The Altar 4 Mandisa Unfinished 14 Crowder Forgiven 5 Hillsong Worship What A Beautiful Name15 Danny Gokey The Comeback 6 Zach Williams Old Church Choir16 Unspoken The Cure 7 Jordan Feliz Beloved 17 Matthew West Broken Things 8 Citizen Way Bulletproof18 Micah Tyler Never Been A Moment 9 TobyMac Love Broke Thru19 NEEDTOBREATHE Testify 10 NEEDTOBREATHE Hard Love20 Ryan Stevenson Eye Of The Storm / ft. GabeReal

BDS ENcore Format Playlist Report Date: 7/7/2017

6 | GOSPELMUSIC.ORG JULY 2017 GET TO KNOW STEVE MCPHERSON

WHAT DO YOU ENJOY DURING YOUR DOWN TIME? McPherson: I like taking the 4x4 out, hiking, and don’t mind getting dirty in the garden from time to time.

WHO ARE SOME OF YOUR Hillsong Church, Sydney, Australia FAVORITE ARTISTS/BANDS OUTSIDE OF WORSHIP/CHRISTIAN From “Kumbaya” and “Jesus Loves Me” to what is happening in churches MUSIC, AND WHAT WAS THE LAST around the world today—have you personally ever just taken a moment LIVE SHOW YOU ACTUALLY PAID to wonder, “How (and, perhaps, why) did we get here?” FOR A TICKET TO SEE? McPherson: [Laughs] I have 4 McPherson: I think we owe so much of what we’re seeing today to pioneers teenagers so I rarely get to listen like William Booth of the Salvation Army, who made the decision to make the to the music I want unless I’m songs sung in church sound like the songs they were singing in the pubs. Or the alone, and when I am, believe worship leaders of the early 80’s who broke tradition and brought the it or not I have a leaning towards and electric guitar into church worship. rock acts—especially when I’m driving. My “recently played” list I think over the years the sound of worship has developed so much and at has everything from old rockers the same time the church has become a lot more open and discerning when like AC/DC and to Thousand it comes to songs that cause people to worship regardless of instrumentation Foot Crutch and Red. At the or style. Today worship music comes in all styles and genres, and it should— same time, I’m really enjoying Ed the church is so diverse and the job of the music is to capture people where Sheeran. I think he’s an incredible they’re at. writer. The last show I attended What about traditional hymns and the role they play today? was Tommy Emmanuel, easily one of the world’s greatest guitarists. McPherson: I think hymns will always be a part of worship music, but I think the responsibility is on the writers of today to write the lyrics that WHAT BOOK ARE YOU the generations following us will want to sing. CURRENTLY READING? McPherson: I’m studying for an Do you see a correlation between the way in which the world is turning MBA right now, so it’s mostly right now and the reasons why modern worship music has permeated textbooks unfortunately. But I have and impacted culture as it has in recent years? just started Bob Goff’s Love Does McPherson: I think where there’s darkness, people will always look for light. and am really enjoying it. Songs that focus on the greatness of God cause people to look beyond the circumstance and condition of our world. So yes, I feel that the darkness we are seeing in the world is leading people to church and I feel that the songs we are singing express the message of the gospel and people have attached themselves to these songs. What an incredible privilege it is to work in this field. But I also feel that the church needs to continue developing artists that can bring hope and faith in all areas of art. Worship music is just one of those.

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