In Christian media, it can be easy to spend so much time creating encouragement for others that we forget our own need to be encouraged. We spend our days serving audiences, leading teams, solving problems, navigating change, and faithfully showing up for the mission God has given us. Momentum gives us the rare opportunity to pause and gather with people who truly understand that calling.

That is what makes Momentum so meaningful.

In just a short time, broadcasters, programmers, air talent, digital leaders, fundraisers, and ministry partners from across the country will gather in Orlando—not simply to attend another conference, but to reconnect around a shared purpose. We come from different organizations, different markets, and different experiences, yet we are united by one mission: using media to point people toward Jesus. Who has a better mission than that?

And let’s be honest: for many of us (me!), attending a conference requires at least three internal pep talks, one canceled plan to “protect our energy,” and a promise that we can hide in our hotel room for exactly 17 minutes after a meal. Christian media may be powered by extroverts on-air, but behind the scenes? A surprising number of us would happily communicate entirely through carefully worded emails.

And yet, we come anyway. Because this matters.

What excites me most about Momentum 2026 is the combination of inspiration, practical growth, and authentic community. The CMB team has put together a lineup that reflects the challenges and opportunities we are facing. We will hear from leaders who understand culture, leadership, spiritual health, innovation, and the importance of staying rooted in Christ while navigating an ever-changing landscape and the future of our work.

But if you have attended Momentum before, you know the real impact often happens in conversations over coffee. In hallway discussions after a session sparks a new idea. In the moments where someone shares a challenge you thought only your team was facing. This is our reminder that none of us are carrying this work alone.

There is something powerful about being surrounded by people who believe deeply in the mission of Christian media. Momentum reminds us that what we do is not just programming, marketing, fundraising, or content creation. Lives are impacted every single day through these ministries. Thank you, God!

I am looking forward to seeing you and pray that Momentum 2026 rejuvenates your vision for the work, enabling you to lead more effectively when you return home.

And if you see me quietly standing alone with a caffeinated beverage before the first session of the morning, just know I’m emotionally preparing to network. One brave conversation at a time.

The post Why This Community Matters first appeared on CMB.

The post Why This Community Matters appeared first on CMB.

As broadcasters, we sit in a sacred place—standing at the intersection of faith and influence. We carry a message of hope to a weary world through the voices and songs of artists who sing about God’s grace, mercy, and truth. But when sin is exposed or trust is fractured, we’re left wondering: How do we respond?

We believe the answer begins with prayer.

Pray for Our Industry

This is not a time to harden hearts or point fingers. It’s a time to get on our knees. The Christian music industry is more than a business—it’s a mission field. It’s a space where the Gospel is shared through melodies and lyrics, where the power of testimony meets creativity. But like any mission field, it is also a battleground.

Pray for spiritual protection over labels, managers, booking agents, radio teams, and ministry partners. Ask the Lord to expose what needs to be brought into the light—not to shame, but to heal. Pray for unity and clarity in a time of confusion. Pray for courage, that we wouldn’t shrink back from truth, and for wisdom, that we wouldn’t rush to judgment.

Pray for Our Artists

Artists carry unique burdens. Many live under pressure—publicly expected to inspire, perform, and model holiness, even as they privately wrestle with the same human struggles we all face. Fame and faith can be a challenging mix. We must resist the urge to idolize or villainize. Instead, let’s be people who intercede.

Pray for purity and accountability behind the scenes. Pray that artists would be surrounded by godly voices who speak truth in love. Pray for their marriages, their children, their teams. And if there’s repentance to be made, pray for soft hearts and safe places to walk the road back to restoration.

Pray for One Another

None of us are immune. We all need the grace of Jesus, and we all need each other. This is a moment for humility—for checking our own hearts, for re-centering on the Gospel, and for renewing our commitment to live lives worthy of the calling we’ve received.

Let’s not just pray about people. Let’s pray with people. Let’s reach out, lift each other up, and link arms in love and truth. Let’s be the kind of industry where confession isn’t met with gossip, but with grace and accountability. Where wounded hearts find healing, and where the enemy’s schemes are overcome by the prayers of the saints.

In a culture quick to cancel and slow to forgive, let us be known as those who turn first to God.

This isn’t just a crisis; it’s a call.

To integrity.

To community.

To prayer.

Let’s answer it together.

Jason Sharp, a fellow sinner saved by grace, serves as the Senior Vice President of Northwestern Media and Chairman of the CMB Board of Directors. He can be reached at jrsharp@unwsp.edu.

The post A Call to Prayer for Our Industry, Our Artists, and One Another first appeared on CMB.

The post A Call to Prayer for Our Industry, Our Artists, and One Another appeared first on CMB.

Jesus never called His followers to live safe, predictable lives. Instead, He invites us into a journey of faith, trust, and bold obedience. As Christian communicators, we are uniquely positioned to influence hearts and minds. But influence requires movement. And movement requires courage.

Taking risks may look different for each of us. It could mean revamping your station’s brand or programming to better reflect the needs of your audience (and future audience). It might involve investing in cutting-edge streaming platforms or stepping into podcasting. For others, it’s launching community-focused content that addresses real-life struggles with transparency and biblical truth. These steps are not taken lightly—they require prayer, discernment, and a deep trust that God is guiding the way.

Yet risk is not recklessness. It’s strategic, Spirit-led boldness. The kind that fuels innovation, opens doors, and leads to breakthrough moments—those seemingly small changes that yield big Kingdom impact. When we realign with our purpose, we stop playing it safe and start playing our part in a much bigger story.

But the journey isn’t just professional—it’s personal. Living fearlessly starts in the heart. It means silencing the voices of doubt, comparison (rampant in our industry), and fear of failure. It means embracing discomfort, knowing that growth rarely happens in places of ease. Courage, after all, is not the absence of fear—it’s the decision to press forward in spite of it.

Thriving in this space requires a daily return to Jesus—the true source of our confidence and creativity. When we depend on Him, our risks become acts of worship. Our innovation becomes a platform for the Gospel. And our success is measured not by numbers alone, but by lives changed and truth proclaimed.

In this season of change, don’t retreat—rise. Let your faith inform your strategy. Let your mission drive your decisions. And let the message of hope you broadcast be the very truth that propels you forward. 

In seasons of uncertainty and bold decisions, God’s promise in Isaiah 41:10 brings deep reassurance: “There’s no need to fear…” As you take steps of faith—God promises strength, help, and stability. And remember, you were not called to comfort. You were called to influence. So, step out. Be brave. Take the risk.

And watch what God can do.

The post Living Fearlessly Embracing Change and Risk with a Kingdom Mindset first appeared on CMB.

The post Living Fearlessly Embracing Change and Risk with a Kingdom Mindset appeared first on CMB.

There are rumors that Christian record labels are seeing diminishing value from Christian radio and shifting their time and money to break new artists and songs elsewhere. These rumors are true. Since CMB represents Christian radio, we worked to get key individuals from radio, labels, artist management, and promoters in the same room to chat about the current state of the relationship between radio and records, our desired future, and a plan for how we can, together, continue to impact the world through music. 

The rumors that radio may not be as prevalent today are also true. It’s a harsh reality that we all should be working to address. Edison Research reveals that while radio still has amazing reach, the average person listens to audio for four hours a day, with 36% of that time dedicated to radio. This is on the decline, as we now have less time with listeners than we did five years ago, when the number was 68%. Also, the next big trend is that radio listening is coming from older people with 45% of listening done by those 55 and older. 

It’s time for you to define the relationship between your station and record labels before it is too late. (“Too late” because many mainstream radio stations and record labels have already ended their relationships). 

The basis for any healthy relationship starts with asking how you can help accomplish someone else’s goals. Oftentimes, we get this backwards and think that someone else needs to meet our needs in order for the relationship to thrive. So, with a terrestrial signal, and a plethora of other media channels available (online, podcasts, etc.), as you define your relationship with record labels, consider whether there are broader options you could summon to help them meet their needs. Intentional conversations with them will help you find common ground and perhaps even assist in helping you welcome younger listeners to your station.

Record labels are not the enemy. 

There is a narrative, albeit I believe it to be somewhat of an arrogant one, that the two (radio and records) have to be at odds to thrive. Some have said, “We don’t play the record label game at our station.” What I heard at the Symposium is that no one is asking radio to play a game. What I heard was a request for us to consider ways to use the opportunities presented to us in a more innovative way so that record labels can feel good, and see success, about our future and their investment in us. They are willing to keep the conversation moving even in the midst of radio’s challenges. 

Imagine a relationship where Christian radio becomes more proactive in working to understand the record label’s priorities and then the record labels reciprocated that approach and learned your station’s strategic approach for reaching your community and helped you do so. At the Symposium, they said that’s what they wanted to do. Everyone wins, including your listener. It’s a bigger conversation than just playing the latest song by said artist. It’s about a relationship that benefits radio, record labels, artists, and the entire industry.

That’s moving the needle from transactional relationships to transformative ones, and I think you’ll agree that those are the best kind.

Let’s communicate in a way that builds a relationship that is honest, truthful, collaborative, open, and life-giving. Being honest is important, trust is a big piece, radio needs to shoot straight. Our friends at the record labels deserve that.

Jason Sharp
SVP for Media, Northwestern Media
CMB Board Chairman

The post Dear Christian music broadcaster… first appeared on CMB.

The post Dear Christian music broadcaster… appeared first on CMB.