Wikipedia:WikiProject Christian music/Sources
This page is intended to help in sourcing Christian Music articles on Wikipedia. It serves to inform users on questions about a source's credibility, and provide suggestions as a starting point for research. The following list consists of recommended sources for expanding Christian music articles about albums, songs, and artist pages that primarily or exclusively cover Christian music topics. This list is a supplement to Wikipedia:WikiProject Albums/Sources, as most Christian artists do not receive consistent coverage in publications that are not geared specifically to a Christian audience. In addition, the list also includes book sources that contain information on Christian artists, even if that is not that book's primary focus. This list is merely a collection of suggestions, and other good sources may exist, so please help to expand this list. Questionable sources or proposals for additional sources may be discussed on the talk page. CMNexus.org is a useful resource for finding issue numbers and article titles for many of the online and print resources found here.
Note that site-operators and publishers, by nature of their role, are presumed to not be subject to the usual editorial process and thus are regarded as self-published sources. They are still reliable as experts in their field but should not be used for controversial statements and cannot be used for any claims about living people other than themselves. When citing an article or other published work, check if the author is the site operator or publisher.
Online and print
[edit]| Publication | Genre(s) | Rating system | Country | Website | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CCM Magazine | CCM, hip hop, metal, rock | Older Grades B+/-, Now five star  
|
US | ccmmagazine |
Many archives can be found at http://ht.salemweb.net/ccm/ccmmagazine/pdf/200709.pdf, with the date in the url modified to the desired year and month. These now require the use of Internet Archive to find. Many of the magazine issues are also accessible here. |
| Charisma | CCM, gospel, worship, rock | Unrated | US | charismamag |
Non-rated reviews |
| Christianity Today | All | Five stars
|
US | christianitytoday |
Ratings for older albums can be found by using the Wayback Machine. |
| Cross Rhythms | All | Ten squares  
|
UK | crossrhythms |
Articles prior to 2005 usually correspond to the now defunct magazine. |
| HM and Heaven's Metal | CCM, rock, metal, hip-hop | Five stars
|
US | hmmagazine |
Sometimes deals with non-Christian, particularly in "So & So Says". Heaven's Metal was relaunched in 2005. HM Founder and former owner and editor; founder and operator of Heaven's Metal: Doug Van Pelt HM Owner and editor: David Stagg |
| Singing News | Southern Gospel | No rating | US | singingnews |
|
| Worship Leader | CCM, praise & worship, rock | Five stars
|
US | worshipleader |
Online only
[edit]| Publication | Genre(s) | Rating system | Country | Website | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 365 Days of Inspiring Media | Popular music | Five stars
|
AUS | 365daysofinspiringmedia |
Joshua Andre (editor) |
| All About Worship | CCM, praise & worship | Out of five stars
|
US | allaboutworship |
|
| Angelic Warlord | Rock, metal | Percentage (85%) | US | www |
Andrew Rockwell (administrator) |
| Christian Broadcasting Network | CCM, praise & worship, rock, hip hop | Five spins  
|
US | secure |
|
| The Christian Beat | Popular music | Five point system | US | thechristianbeat |
Jessie Clarks (lead editor) |
| The Christian Post | Popular music | No rating | US | christianpost |
Sometimes deals with non-Christian |
| Crosswalk.com | CCM, pop, praise & worship, rock | No rating | US | crosswalk |
Also deals somewhat with non-Christian. Many article are reprints from Christianity Today or CCM Magazine - using the original sources are preferred in such cases. |
| The Front Row Report | Popular music | Ten points/stars  
|
US | thefrontrowreport |
Also deals with non-Christian. Reggie Edwards (editor) |
| Indie Vision Music | Popular music | Five stars
|
US | indievisionmusic |
Brandon Jones (founder and site operator) |
| Jam the Hype | Hip-hop, urban gospel music | 8.6/10 | US | jamthehype |
Contains content formerly hosted at DaSouth.com, which is now defunct. Mike Laxton (managing editor) |
| Jesus Freak Hideout | All | Five stars
|
US | jesusfreakhideout |
Contains both staff and fan reviews. Official staff reviews use red stars, while user reviews use yellow stars; some albums, often older ones, have reviews from both readers and staff. Example. John DiBiase (owner and publisher) |
| Jesus Wired | CCM (adult contemporary, praise & worship), Gospel (contemporary, rhythm & praise, traditional), hip hop, rap, rock (alternative, folk, hardcore, metal) | Five or five stars (old) Ten or ten stars (new)
|
US | jesuswired |
Iain Moss (owner and editor) |
| Louder Than the Music | All | Five stars
|
UK | louderthanthemusic |
Jono Davies and Dave Woods (editors) |
| The Metal Resource | Metal | Numeric 7/10 | The Netherlands | mauce |
Website devoted to Christian metal; also hosts a local music festival. Maurice "Mauce" (co-founder and publisher) and Eelco "Thrashboy" (co-founder and head editor) |
| New Release Today (formerly New Release Tuesday) | All | Five stars
|
International | newreleasetoday |
Often reprints reviews from other publications. Contains both staff and reader reviews. Staff and featured reviews are labeled as such, and are located first on the review list. Kevin McNeese (founder) and Paul Phillips (senior editor) |
| The Phantom Tollbooth | Popular music | Five stars/clocks
|
US | tollbooth |
Shari Lloyd (co-publisher and managing editor) and Linda LaFianza (co-publisher) |
| Rapzilla | Hip hop | Five stars
|
US | rapzilla |
Chad Horton (owner and publisher) and Justin Sarachik (editor-in-chief and site operator) Philip Rood (former owner and publisher) |
| Sphere of Hip Hop | Hip hop | No rating | US | sphereofhiphop |
Josh Niemyjski (site operator) |
| Today's Christian Entertainment | Popular music | Five or five stars
|
US | todayschristianent |
Jay Heilman (co-founder and site operator) Sean Perry (co-founder and general manager) |
| Up | Popular music | No rating | US | uptv |
Formerly the Gospel Music Channel and GMC TV |
Defunct
[edit]Defunct print
[edit]| Publication | Genre(s) | Rating system | Country | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 7ball | Metal, rock | — | US | 7ball |
| Christian Music Planet | Popular music | Five stars
|
US | Some reviews reprinted in New Release Today. |
| OnCourse | CCM, metal, praise & worship, rock | Five or five stars
|
US | oncourse |
| True Tunes News | Alternative, metal, rock | — | US |
Defunct online
[edit]| Publication | Genre(s) | Rating system | Country | Website | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alpha Omega News | CCM, hip hop, metal, rock | Letter Grades B+/- | US | alphaomeganews |
Ken Wiegman (editor). |
| Alt Rock Live | Metal, rock | 8/10 or
|
US | altrocklive.com/ (domain usurped, use the archived version | Also deals with non-Christian. Drew Bartlett (founder) |
| BREATHEcast | CCM, Gospel, Praise & Worship, Rock | No rating | US | breathecast |
Affiliate of The Christian Post. |
| ChristCore | Rock, metal | Five star
|
US | christcore.net/ (domain was usurped in 2021, use the archived versions of the site from 2019 and prior) | Bryce Cooley (editor) |
| The Christian Manifesto | Popular music | Five star
|
US | thechristianmanifesto.com/ (the domain was usurped in 2019, used archived versions of the site from 2018 and prior) | Calvin E'Jon Moore (editor) |
| Christian Music Review | Popular music | Five or five stars , if not on the whole or half put 4.25 or 4.75/5; older grades B+/-
|
US | christianmusicreview |
Daniel Edgeman (current editor), Jay Heilman (former editor) |
| Christian Music Zine | Popular music | Five or five stars , older grades B+/- |
US | christianmusiczine |
Tyler Hess (editor) |
| cMusicWeb.com | CCM, pop, praise and worship, rock, hip-hop, folk | No rating | US | cmusicweb |
Ceased updates in 2005; creators and publisher launched InReview.net instead |
| CMSpin | Popular music | Sometimes out of ten | US | cmspin |
|
| inReview.net | CCM, pop, praise and worship, rock, hip-hop, folk | No rating | US | inreview |
Published by Different Media, a continuation of cMusicWeb.com. Has not updated since 2011. |
| New H2O | CCM, hip hop, rock | Five stars/water bottles
|
US | newh2o |
Sister site of Rapzilla |
| Today's Christian Music | CCM, praise & worship, rock | Five stars
|
US | todayschristianmusic | |
| The Sound Opinion | All | No rating | US | thesoundopinion.com/ (domain was usurped, use the archived version from 2019) | Lindsay Williams (site operator) |
| Wade-O Radio | Hip hop, praise & worship | No rating | US | wadeoradio |
Some articles reprinted in Daily News, Houston Chronicle and The Wall Street Journal. Owner and operator: DJ Wade-O |
Defunct print and online
[edit]| Publication | Genre(s) | Rating system | Country | Website | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cornerstone | Popular music | No rating | US | cornerstonemag |
Some reviews can be found by using the Wayback Machine. |
Books
[edit]Primarily or exclusively Christian
[edit]- 100 Greatest Songs in Christian Music: The Stories Behind the Music that Changed Our Lives Forever. Nashville: Thomas Nelson. 2006. ISBN 9781418561239.
- Alfonso, Barry (2002). The Billboard guide to contemporary Christian music. Broadway: Billboard Book. ISBN 0823077187.
- Brothers, Jeffery L. (1999). Hot Hits: Christian Hit Radio: 20 Years of Charts, Artist Bios, and More. Nashville: CCM Books. (Available at World Radio History)
- Cusic, Don (2009). Encyclopedia of Contemporary Christian Music: Pop, Rock, and Worship. Santa Barbara: ABC-CLIO. ISBN 9780313344268.
- Cusic, Don (2002). The Sound of Light: A History of Gospel and Christian Music. Milwaukee: Hal Leonard Corporation. ISBN 9781617743566.
- Di Sabatino, David (1999). The Jesus People Movement: An Annotated Bibliography and General Resource. Bibliographies and Indexes in Religious Studies, Number 49. Westport: Greenwood Press. ISBN 0313302685.
- Dowley, Tim (2011). Christian Music: A Global History. Minneapolis: Augsburg Fortress. ISBN 9780800698416.
- Dowley, Tim (2011). The Lion Companion to Christian Music. Oxford: Lion Hudson. ISBN 9780745953243.
- Foley, Edward (2009). Foundations of Christian Music. American essays in liturgy, Volume 24. Piscataway, New Jersey: Gorgias Press. ISBN 9781607243755.
- Granger, Thom (2001). CCM Presents: The 100 Greatest Albums in Christian Music. Nashville: CCM Books.
- Howard, Jay R; Streck, John M. (1999). Apostles of Rock: The Splintered World of Contemporary Christian Music. Lexington, Kentucky: The University of Kentucky Press. ISBN 081319086X.
- Joseph, Mark (1999). The Rock and Roll Rebellion: Why People of Faith Abandoned Rock Music—And Why They're Coming Back. Nashville: Broadman & Holman. ISBN 9780805420616.
- King, Roberta Rose; Kidula, Jean Ngoya; Krabill, James R.; Oduro, Thomas (2008). Music in the Life of the African Church. Waco, Texas: Baylor University Press. ISBN 9781602580220.
- Moberg, Marcus (2009). Faster for the Master! Exploring Issues of Religious Expression and Alternative Christian Identity within the Finnish Christian Metal Music Scene. Turku: Åbo Akademi University Press. ISBN 978-951-765-492-0.
- Powell, Mark Allan (2002). Encyclopedia of Contemporary Christian Music. Peabody, Massachusetts: Hendrickson Publishers. ISBN 1-56563-679-1. (Available for rent at Internet Archive)
- Stowe, David Ware (2011). No Sympathy for the Devil: Christian Pop Music and the Transformation of American Evangelicalism. Chapel Hill, North Carolina: University of North Carolina Press. ISBN 9780807834589.
- Thompson, John J. (2000). Raised by Wolves: The Story of Christian Rock & Roll. Toronto, Ontario: ECW Press. ISBN 978-1-55022-421-4.
- Wilson-Dickson, Andrew (2003). The Story of Christian Music: From Gregorian Chant to Black Gospel: an Authoritative Illustrated Guide to All the Major Traditions of Music for Worship (2nd ed.). Minneapolis: Fortress Press. ISBN 9780800634742.
Includes Christian artists
[edit]- Contemporary Musicians. Farmington Hills, Michigan: Gale Group. ISSN 1044-2197.
- Contemporary Musicians is a multi-volume general reference work. It covers the modern era of music, and does not leave out Christian artists, so long as they have had a measurable impact. It is published as a hardback periodical; each volume has its own ISBN in addition to the series ISSN.
- Hale, Mark (1993). Headbangers (1st ed.). Ann Arbor, Michigan: Popular Culture, Ink. ISBN 1-56075-029-4.
- This is an indispensable general market resource for broad information on 1980s era metal bands, though it has few full biographies.
- Sharpe-Young, Garry (2005). New Wave of American Heavy Metal. New Plymouth: Zonda Books Limited. ISBN 0-9582684-0-1.
- The foremost book on the New Wave of American Heavy Metal, it includes many Christian hardcore and metal acts from the mid-90's onward.
- Turner, Steve (1995). Hungry for Heaven: Rock 'N' Roll and the search for redemption. Downers Grove: InterVarsity. ISBN 9780340630440.
- Examines the impact of Christianity and faith on rock music.
- Wagner, Jeff (2010). Mean Deviation. Bazillion Points Books. ISBN 0979616336.
- Mean Deviation focuses on progressive and experimental metal music and associated topics. It includes profiles of artists associated with Christian metal.
Academic papers
[edit]- Moberg, Marcus (June 11–13, 2007). "Turn or Burn? The Peculiar Case of Christian Metal Music." (PDF). Heavy Fundamentalisms: Music, Metal & Politics. Norrköping: Linköping University.
- Moberg, Marcus (November 3–5, 2008). "The Transnational Christian Metal Scene: Expressing Alternative Christian Identity through a Form of Popular Music" (PDF). INTER: A European Cultural Studies Conference in Sweden. Salzburg.
- Strother, Eric S. (2013). Unlocking the Paradox of Christian Metal Music (Ph.D). University of Kentucky.
Self-published
[edit]Self-published sources are generally unacceptable as references on Wikipedia. An artist's social networking site, such as Facebook or Twitter, in addition to personal blogs and forum posts, should largely be avoided. If the information being added from one of these websites is truly notable enough for inclusion, a publication will likely report about it. However, the following sources are classified as reliable self-published sources, as the authors have worked for other, reliable publications. Use of them is acceptable under the following conditions: They MUST NOT be used to make statements about living persons except for information about themselves. Statements by interviewees in interviews can be used for statements about themselves.
Self-published sources also should ONLY be used if no other source for the information can be found. For more details on usage of self-published sources, see WP:SPS, WP:ABOUTSELF, and WP:BLPSPS. Only the writers mentioned in this table are considered reliable self-published sources on the listed websites.
| Publication | Author | Genre(s) | Rating | Country | Website | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Blacforje Magazine | Andrew Voigt | Black metal and dungeon synth | No rating | US | blacforjemagazine |
2024 rationale. Only use content from Voigt |
| CM Addict | CCM, metal, praise & worship, rock | Five or five stars
|
US | cmaddict |
Only use for interviews. | |
| Jay's Musik Blog (now defunct) | Jay Wright | CCM, metal, praise & worship, rock | Out of five or five stars
|
US | jaysmusikblog |
Many reviews reprinted at New Release Tuesday, those are not self-published. |
| Jesus Musik | Sketch the Journalist | Hip hop, praise & worship | No rating | US | blog |
Some articles also appear in DaSouth.com, Rapzilla, and Wade-O Radio. |
| Notes from the Sketch Pad | Sketch the Journalist | Hip hop, praise & worship | No rating | US | sketchthejournalist |
Many articles also appear in the Houston Chronicle, DaSouth.com, Rapzilla, and Wade-O Radio, those are not self-published. |
| Metal for Jesus (now defunct) | Johannes Jonsson | Metal, rock | Out of five guitars
|
Sweden | metalforjesus |
Rationale (journalist and part of the editorial team for HM/Heaven's Metal; academically noted for his work in the Nordic Christian metal scene) |
| The Whipping Post (now defunct) | Matt Morrow | Metal, rock, underground | Out of ten skulls
|
European | thewhippingpost |
HM writer, and website is listed at Angelic Warlord as well as discussed in academic source. Some articles appear in similar form in HM, those are to be given preference and are not self-published. Occasionally deals with non-Christian. |
| No Life 'til Metal | Scott Waters | Metal, some rock | No rating | US | nolifetilmetal |
Some recent reviews appear in HM. Only use reviews written during or after 2013, which is when HM began publishing reviews by Waters. As the entries are not dated, use the Wayback Machine on Internet Archive to find if the review was posted before 2013. |
Not reliable
[edit]- The Metal Onslaught [1] - Deemed unreliable in this 2024 discussion, and has extensive issues with sponsored content. It also has a history of usage in conflict of interest editing on Wikipedia.
- The Worship Community [2]
- Praise.com [3] - About us does not list staff and no staff list could be found.
Acceptable charts
[edit]United States
[edit]| Publication | Information | Charts |
|---|---|---|
| The CCM Update | Published by CCM Magazine and originally known as MusicLine, this was the only Christian chart format until the introduction of Radio & Records charts in April 2001. The charts were updated monthly from July 1978 to September 1986, bi-weekly from September 1986 to June 1992, and weekly from June 1992 to April 15, 2002.
Chart histories are generally unavailable online, but some are available in individual magazines as well as three out-of-print books:
The CCM Update is reliable for pre-Radio & Records charts. Because Radio & Records continued all of the charts, it is preferred to use those once the comparable chart there was created. User:Toa Nidhiki05 owns Hot Hits: AC Charts and both them and User: 3family6 own The Encyclopedia of Contemporary Christian Music and will gladly find chart numbers/artist entries for you if asked. |
|
| Radio & Records | R&R began covering Christian charts in 2001. While not available in a database, most issues of Radio & Records can be found at World Radio History, including year-end charts. R&R Christian charts were published weekly from April 27, 2001 until June 2009, when the magazine was shuttered and Billboard took over all formats.
R&R charts are reliable and a good accompaniment for the Billboard charts, especially for the Christian CHR, INSPO, and Christian Rock formats, which Billboard did not cover for most of when Radio & Records was active. |
|
| Billboard | Billboard began covering CCM singles with the creation of the Christian Songs and Hot Christian AC charts on June 21, 2003. After the shuttering of R&R in 2009, Billboard took over publication of the Christian CHR, INSPO (Christian Soft AC), and Christian Rock charts. As of 2022, the legacy R&R charts have all been shuttered.
Chart histories are available in database form at Billboard.com and Billboard.biz, and World Radio History has full archives of most magazine issues up until 2021. The smaller Billboard charts (Christian AC, Christian AC Indicator, CHR, Soft AC, and Christian Rock) were only available on Billboard.biz, which has a paywall, but individual song/album results can be found through manual search. Beginning November 28, 2013, the Christian Songs chart began incorporating digital downloads and streaming, as well as radio play from secular stations if a song on the chart receives mainstream play. The old airplay-only format continues on the Christian Airplay chart, and both charts have identical archives going back to June 21, 2003. |
Active
Discontinued
|
International
[edit]- Australia
- United Kingdom
- Cross Rhythms
- Official Christian & Gospel Albums Chart
See also
[edit]- Wikipedia:WikiProject Albums/Sources
- Wikipedia:WikiProject Christian music/Sources (archive) - old version of this page, contains rationale for numerous sources listed.