WHAT’S INSIDE: INDUSTRY Q&A: Q&A with Steve McPherson, Manager, Steve McPherson, Manager, Hillsong Music Publishing Hillsong Music Publishing News By CCM Magazine Managing Editor, Celebrations Kevin Sparkman and Milestones Church 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 Hillsong Church 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. Hillsong UNITED’s sixth studio album 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 Spotify 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. 1 | GOSPELMUSIC.ORG JULY 2017 Movement 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-songwriter Corey Voss to their managing an artist roster featuring label roster and announces the July Jason Gray, 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 Paul Baloche’s latest, Multi-award winning Southern Gospel Your Mercy. Integrity Music duo Wilburn & Wilburn was recently welcomes honored with a 2017 Telly Award. Yolanda Adams 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 “Gospel Music 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. Reach Records 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. 2 | GOSPELMUSIC.ORG JULY 2017 Movement 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/Dallas. 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 songwriters 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) 3 | GOSPELMUSIC.ORG JULY 2017 Social Media TOP 20 ARTISTS ON FACEBOOK TOP 20 ARTISTS ON TWITTER 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 Lecrae 1,114,358 Thalles Roberto 1,299,261