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{{christian music}}'''Contemporary Christian Music''' (or '''CCM''') is a genre of [[popular music]] which is lyrically focused on matters concerned with the [[Christianity|Christian faith]]. The term is typically used to refer to the [[Nashville, Tennessee]]-based [[pop music|pop]], [[Rock music|rock]], and [[worship music|worship]] Christian music industry, currently represented by artists such as [[Steven Curtis Chapman]], [[Skillet (band)|Skillet]], [[Pillar (band)|Pillar]], [[Amy Grant]], [[Jars of Clay]], [[MercyMe]], [[Third Day]], [[Relient K]], [[Jeremy Camp]], [[Hillsong United]], [[Shawn McDonald]], and a host of others. The industry is represented in [[Billboard Magazine]]'s "Top Christian Albums" and "Hot Christian Songs" charts,<ref name="BB_Main">{{cite web |url=http://www.billboard.com/bbcom/charts/christian_gospel_index.jsp |titleSynopsis=Best Selling Christian Singles and Albums |accessdate=2007-02-28 |publisher=''[[Billboard Magazine]]'' }}</ref> as well as the [[iTunes Music Store]]'s "Christian & Gospel" genre.

The term "Contemporary Christian Music" originated (or CCM) is a term originally used in the late [[1960s]] in reference 1970s to the emerging [[pop music|describe a new form of pop]] and [[rock music|rock]] "that was lyrically based in the Christianity. The music had its roots in [[Jesus musicMusic]]", which sprung from the musical outpouring of the [[hippie]] [[Jesus Movement]] of the timeearly 70s.<ref name="Powell_Fe">{{cite book |last=Powell |first=Mark Allan |title=Encyclopedia of Contemporary An entire Christian music industry soon sprang up, with Christian Music |year=2002 |publisher=Hendrickson Publishers |location=-only artists, record labels, [[Peabody, MassachusettsChristian radio|Peabodyradio stations]], [[Massachusetts]] |isbn=1-56563-679-1 |edition=First printing |pages=10-13}}</ref> Artists and record stores. By the 1980s, CCM was a large music industry with artists such as [[Larry NormanAmy Grant]], [[2nd Chapter of Acts]], and [[Love Song (band)|Love Song]] were among the first to express their [[Christianity|ChristianMichael W. Smith]] faith in the form selling millions of popular musicrecords.

There is also a great deal of [[popular music]] which lyrically identifies with [[Christianity]] but is not normally considered Contemporary Christian Music.<ref name="Powell_Fe"/> For example, many underground [[Christian punk|punk]] and [[Christian hardcore|hardcore]] bands deal explicitly with issues of faith but are not a part of the Nashville industry (e.g., [[Seattle]]-based [[Tooth and Nail Records]]). Also, several mainstream music artists sometimes deal with Christian themes in their work, such as [[Bob Dylan]] and [[U2]], but fall outside of the CCM genre.<ref name="Powell_Fe"/>Contents==

==Controversy== {{topics}}* [[Contemporary Christian Songs Index]] | [[Contemporary Christian Albums Index]] | [[Contemporary Christian Song-Writers and Bands Index]]* [[Jesus Music has been a topic of controversy in various ways since its beginnings in the 1960s.<ref name="Powell_Fe"/>]] | [[Christian alternative rock]] | [[Christian hardcore]] | [[Christian hip hop]] | [[Christian industrial]] | [[Christian metal]] | [[Christian pop]] | [[Christian punk]] | [[Christian rock]] | [[Christian ska]] | [[Cprog]] | [[Christian worship music]]

Some conservative Christians feel that the medium of popular music is unholy, and thus unfit for Christian participation. For example, [[Bob Jones University]] prohibits its dormitory students from listening to CCM.<ref name="BJU_Hall">{{cite web |url=http://www.bju.edu/prospective/expect/rhall.html |title=BJU ~ Residence Hall Life |accessdate=2007-02-28 |publisher=[[Bob Jones University]] opinions}}</ref> Other noted Christian critics of CCM include [[John F. MacArthur|John MacArthur]], Dan Lucarini (the author of the book ''Why I Left the Contemporary Christian Music Movement''), and Kimberly Smith (author of the books ''Oh Be Careful Little Ears'' and ''Let Those Who Have Ears to Hear'').

CCM also draws criticism from those who feel it is simply a "Christianized" imitation of mainstream music, thus lacking originality and creativity. On [[Reformation Day]] ([[October 31]]), [[1998]], in homage to [[Martin Luther]]'s [[95 theses]], CCM artist [[Steve Camp]] sent out 107 theses calling for a "Reformation" in contemporary Christian music,<ref name="Camp_107">{{cite web |url=http://www.worship.com/steve_camp_107_theses.htm |title=A Call For Reformation in the Contemporary Christian Music Industry |accessdate=2007-02-28 |last=Camp |first=Steven John |authorlink=Steve Camp |year=1997 |publisher=[http://www.worship.com Worship.com]quotes}}</ref> challenging Christian artists to "recover Biblical Christianity in the arts"<ref name="Camp_107"/> and bring a new level of excellence to the field.

Also, oftentimes CCM draws criticism from those who simply find the concept of Christian pop/rock music to be an unusual phenomenon, since rock music has historically been associated with themes such as sexual [[promiscuity]], [[rebellion]], [[drug]] and [[alcohol]] use, and other topics normally considered antithetical to the teachings of Christianity.<ref name="Powell_Fe"/> (For more on this topic, see: [[Social effects of rock and roll]].) Perhaps the most well-known (and humorous) defense to this criticism is a quote from a 19th century Methodist minister [[Rowland Hill]]: "Why should the devil have all the good music?" (Note: this quote is often incorrectly attributed to [[Martin Luther]]).=Main article==

==Further reading==* Alfonso, Barry. ''The Billboard Guide to Contemporary Christian Music''. Billboard Books, 2002.* Beaujon, Andrew. ''Body Piercing Saved My Life: Inside (or CCM) is a term originally used in the Phenomenon 1970s to describe a new form of Christian Rock''. Da Capo Press, 2006pop and rock music that was lyrically based in the Christianity.* Di Sabatino, David. ''The music had its roots in [[Jesus Music]] which sprung from the hippie [[Jesus People Movement: An Annotated Bibliography and General Resource''. Westport, Conn.: Greenwood, 1999.* Flux, Chris. ''Music Evangelism: Spreading ]] of the Gospel through Music''early 70s. BloomingtonAn entire Christian music industry soon sprang up, IN: AuthorHousewith Christian-only artists, 2006. [http://www.musicevangelism.com http://www.musicevangelism.com]* Grangerrecord labels, Thom. ''[[CCM Presents: The 100 Greatest Albums in Christian Musicradio|radio stations]]''. Nashville: CCM Books, 2001.* Howard, Jay R and John M Streckrecord stores. ''Apostles of Rock: The Splintered World of Contemporary Christian Music''. Lexington: The University of Kentucky PressBy the 1980s, 1999.* Joseph, Mark. ''The Rock and Roll Rebellion: Why People of Faith Abandoned Rock Music-- And Why They're Coming Back''. Nashville: Broadman & Holman, 1999.* {{cite book |last=Mount |first=Daniel J. |title=A City on CCM was a Hilltop? The History of Contemporary Christian Music |year=2005 |url=http://www.danielmount.net/ccm.html |accessdate=2007-02-12}}* {{cite book |last=Powell |first=Mark Allan |title=Encyclopedia of Contemporary Christian Music |year=2002 |publisher=Hendrickson Publishers |location=large music industry with artists such as [[Peabody, Massachusetts|PeabodyAmy Grant]], and [[MassachusettsMichael W. Smith]] |isbn=1-56563-679-1}}* Romanowski, William D. ''Eyes Wide Open: Looking for God in Popular Culture''. Brazos Press, 2001.* Pruitt, Jimselling millions of records. ''Contemporary Christian Musician's Survival Manual''. Lulu, 2003. http://www.cyshift.com/jarc/ccmsm.html* Young, Shawn David, M.A., Hippies, Jesus Freaks, and Music (Ann Arbor: Xanedu/Copley Original Works, 2005.ISBN 1-59399-201-7

==See also=Controversy===*[[GMA Music Awards]]*[[Korean Contemporary Christian music]]*[[List of Contemporary Christian music artists]]

==External links==* Steve Camp's [http://www.worship.com/steve_camp_107_theses.htm 107 Theses: A call for Reformation in Contemporary Christian Music Industry]* [http://wwwhas been a topic of controversy in various ways since its beginnings in the 1960s.christianitytoday.com/Some conservative Christians have felt that the medium of popular music is unholy, and thus unfit for Christian Music Today]* [http://www.christianmusicmonthly.com Christian Music Monthly]* [http://www.jesusfreakhideout.com/ Jesus Freak Hideout]* [http://www.cmcentral.com Christian Music Central]* [http://www.ccmcomparticipation.com Contemporary Christian Music (CCM) Magazine]

CCM also draws criticism from those who feel it is simply a "Christianized" imitation of mainstream music, thus lacking originality and creativity. On [[Category:Contemporary Christian musicReformation Day]](October 31), 1998, in homage to [[Category:Christian music genresMartin Luther]]'s [[Category:Popular music95 theses]], CCM artist Steve Camp sent out 107 theses calling for a "Reformation" in contemporary Christian music, challenging Christian artists to "recover Biblical Christianity in the arts" and bring a new level of excellence to the field.

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