Contemporary Christian is the broad umbrella term for modern faith-based popular music that emerged in the late 1960s and truly crystallized in the 1980s as a commercially viable alternative to mainstream pop, rock, and adult contemporary formats. Unlike traditional gospel with its roots in African American church traditions or straightforward worship music designed for congregational singing, contemporary Christian prioritizes radio-friendly production, polished songwriting, and individual artist expression while maintaining explicitly Christian lyrical content. The genre absorbs virtually every popular music style—power pop, arena rock, acoustic folk, electronic dance—filtering them through a lens of personal testimony, spiritual encouragement, and devotional reflection.
What sets contemporary Christian apart from its neighboring categories is its dual citizenship: it functions both as ministry and entertainment, crafted for personal listening rather than exclusively liturgical settings. Artists like Amy Grant and Steven Curtis Chapman brought sophisticated pop craftsmanship to faith-based audiences, while bands like Jars of Clay and Third Day proved the genre could achieve critical respect alongside commercial success. The infrastructure—dedicated radio networks, festival circuits, and retail chains—created a parallel music industry where artists could build substantial careers while addressing themes of doubt, redemption, and everyday spirituality.
Whether you're drawn to the anthemic worship-rock of Hillsong United, the confessional singer-songwriter vulnerability of Matthew West, or the genre-blending experimentation of TobyMac, contemporary Christian offers a vast catalog that reflects the full emotional spectrum of faith in modern life. It's music that doesn't require you to check your intelligence or musical taste at the sanctuary door.
Click column headers to sort
List updated:
| #38 | ByJoy Williams | Released:1982 | |||
| #79 | ByJoy Williams | Released:1992 | |||
| #84 | ByRich Mullins | Released:1993-10-26 | contemporary christian | ||
| #22 | ByNewsboys | Released:1994-07-26 | contemporary christian | ||
| #30 | ByRich Mullins | Released:1995-07-18 | |||
| #21 | ByDC Talk | Released:1995-11-21 | |||
| #47 | ByNewsboys | Released:1996-01-01 | |||
| #80 | ByDelirious? | Released:1997-05-05 | |||
| #83 | BySteven Curtis Chapman | Released:1997-10-21 | contemporary christiangospel | ||
| #73 | ByDC Talk | Released:1998-09-22 | |||
| #66 | ByNewsboys | Released:1999-01-01 | contemporary christianchristian rock | ||
| #45 | ByFFH | Released:1999-02-09 | contemporary christian | ||
| #35 | BySonicflood | Released:1999-02-23 | |||
| #87 | By4HIM | Released:1999-04-01 | contemporary christianworship | ||
| #96 | ByCaedmon's Call | Released:1999-04-13 | |||
| #39 | BySteven Curtis Chapman | Released:1999-06-15 | |||
| #82 | ByGinny Owens | Released:1999-07-20 | contemporary christiansinger-songwriter | ||
| #72 | ByFFH | Released:2000-05-07 | contemporary christian | ||
| #64 | ByLincoln Brewster | Released:2000-05-17 | |||
| #65 | ByThird Day | Released:2000-07-11 | |||
| #1 | ByMercyMe | Released:2001-08-14 | |||
| #63 | BySteven Curtis Chapman | Released:2001-09-25 | contemporary christian | ||
| #51 | BySonicflood | Released:2001-10-02 | |||
| #28 | ByThird Day | Released:2001-11-06 | |||
| #58 | ByTobyMac | Released:2001-11-06 | |||
| #77 | ByChris Tomlin | Released:2002-09-17 | |||
| #93 | ByBrian Doerksen | Released:2002-09-17 | contemporary christian | ||
| #71 | ByNichole Nordeman | Released:2002-09-24 | contemporary christian | ||
| #13 | ByMercyMe | Released:2002-10-01 | contemporary christian | ||
| #49 | ByAudio Adrenaline | Released:2003-02-25 | contemporary christian | ||
| #61 | ByDavid Crowder Band | Released:2003-05-06 | |||
| #54 | ByBig Daddy Weave | Released:2003-09-30 | contemporary christian | ||
| #91 | ByKathryn Scott | Released:2003-11-11 | contemporary christianworship | ||
| #92 | ByMatthew West | Released:2003-12-26 | |||
| #88 | ByBig Daddy Weave | Released:2003 | contemporary christian | ||
| #17 | ByJeremy Camp | Released:2004-01-29 | |||
| #75 | ByNatalie Grant | Released:2004-04-20 | contemporary christianworship | ||
| #70 | BySonicflood | Released:2004-09-14 | contemporary christianchristian rock | ||
| #9 | ByChris Tomlin | Released:2004-09-21 | |||
| #18 | BySteven Curtis Chapman | Released:2004-09-21 | contemporary christianchristian rock | ||
| #99 | ByShane & Shane | Released:2004-10-19 | |||
| #24 | ByJeremy Camp | Released:2004-11-16 | christian rockcontemporary christian | ||
| #6 | ByThe Afters | Released:2005-02-22 | christian rockcontemporary christian | ||
| #31 | ByMatthew West | Released:2005-06-21 | |||
| #5 | ByCasting Crowns | Released:2005-08-30 | |||
| #33 | ByTodd Agnew | Released:2005-09-16 | contemporary christianchristian rock | ||
| #50 | ByAaron Shust | Released:2005-10-11 | |||
| #16 | ByThird Day | Released:2005-11-01 | |||
| #76 | ByAlan Jackson | Released:2006-02-28 | contemporary christian | ||
| #32 | ByMercyMe | Released:2006-04-25 | rockcontemporary christian | ||
| #8 | ByChris Tomlin | Released:2006-09-26 | |||
| #42 | ByDelirious? | Released:2006-10-23 | |||
| #55 | ByJeremy Camp | Released:2006-10-31 | christian rockcontemporary christian | ||
| #43 | ByLincoln Brewster | Released:2006-11-07 | contemporary christianworship | ||
| #41 | BySnatam Kaur | Released:2006-12-02 | contemporary christiannew age | ||
| #100 | ByJason Upton | Released:2007-01-01 | contemporary christianworship | ||
| #98 | ByTobyMac | Released:2007-02-20 | |||
| #34 | ByBuilding 429 | Released:2007-05-01 | |||
| #53 | ByWavorly | Released:2007-06-12 | contemporary christian | ||
| #15 | ByMarvin Sapp | Released:2007-07-03 | |||
| #37 | ByCasting Crowns | Released:2007-08-28 | |||
| #59 | ByRobbie Seay Band | Released:2007-08-28 | contemporary christianrock | ||
| #86 | ByCaedmon's Call | Released:2007-08-28 | contemporary christian | ||
| #7 | ByDavid Crowder Band | Released:2007-09-25 | contemporary christianworship | ||
| #25 | BySteven Curtis Chapman | Released:2007-10-23 | contemporary christian | ||
| #26 | ByKim Walker | Released:2008-02-05 | contemporary christian | ||
| #36 | ByNatalie Grant | Released:2008-02-12 | |||
| #97 | ByGateway Worship | Released:2008-04-08 | |||
| #68 | ByTenth Avenue North | Released:2008-05-20 | |||
| #46 | ByCharlie Hall | Released:2008-08-19 | contemporary christian | ||
| #19 | ByLincoln Brewster | Released:2008-09-23 | |||
| #44 | ByCasting Crowns | Released:2008-10-07 | christian rockcontemporary christian | ||
| #11 | ByJoy Williams | Released:2008 | |||
| #85 | BySnatam Kaur | Released:2008 | contemporary christian | ||
| #78 | ByJoy Williams | Released:2009-01-27 | |||
| #90 | ByNewsboys | Released:2009-05-05 | |||
| #69 | ByBig Daddy Weave | Released:2009-09-22 | contemporary christian | ||
| #89 | ByBrenton Brown | Released:2009-09-22 | contemporary christian | ||
| #56 | BySwitchfoot | Released:2009-11-03 | |||
| #12 | ByCasting Crowns | Released:2009-11-17 | |||
| #4 | ByPhil Wickham | Released:2009 | |||
| #62 | ByNew Life Worship | Released:2010-01-01 | contemporary christian | ||
| #27 | ByTobyMac | Released:2010-02-09 | |||
| #95 | ByHillsong | Released:2010-06-29 | contemporary christianworship | ||
| #94 | ByNewsboys | Released:2010-07-13 | contemporary christian | ||
| #14 | ByHillsong United | Released:2011-02-15 | contemporary christianworship | ||
| #57 | ByBuilding 429 | Released:2011-05-10 | christian rockcontemporary christian | ||
| #81 | ByMatt Redman | Released:2011-07-08 | |||
| #48 | ByCasting Crowns | Released:2011-10-18 | christian rockcontemporary christian | ||
| #40 | ByChris Tomlin | Released:2011-11-11 | |||
| #3 | ByHillsong United | Released:2013-02-26 | |||
| #60 | ByJoy Williams | Released:2014-01-01 | |||
| #29 | ByJoy Williams | Released:2015-06-30 | |||
| #67 | ByJesus Culture | Released:2016-01-15 | contemporary christianworship | ||
| #74 | ByJoy Williams | Released:2016-07-22 | |||
| #2 | ByJoy Williams | Released:2017-01-20 | |||
| #10 | ByJoy Williams | Released:2017-03-12 | |||
| #20 | ByMatthew West | Released:2017-09-22 | contemporary christian | ||
| #52 | ByJoy Williams | Released:2017-11-17 | |||
| #23 | ByJoy Williams | Released:2019-05-03 |