The Top 5 Male CCM Artists – Finney’s Fast 5

Chuck Finney

Date: May 03, 2021

in: Finney's Fast 5, Radio

NATIONWIDE RESEARCH AT A GLANCE

Year-round, Finney Media tests Contemporary Christian Music (CCM) across the United States to get a view on how listener tastes change over time. So, we thought it would be helpful to give you a look at the Top Male and Female Artists based on the latest research of library songs from across the country. Based on a weighted scoring system (higher scoring songs mean higher weighting) over the past few months of testing, here are The Top Five Male Artists:

1. CHRIS TOMLIN

2. Casting Crowns

3. Third Day

4. Mercy Me

5. Jeremy Camp

The list might surprise you. Where’s For King & Country? Where’s Crowder? For context, here are the next five artists:

6. For King & Country

7. Big Daddy Weave

8. Crowder

9. NEEDTOBREATHE

10. (tied) Newsboys
Zach Williams
Tenth Avenue North

Bottom line, CCM listeners still score songs from Chris Tomlin, Casting Crowns and Third Day well if your station and your market continue to play them. If you’re testing, they’re worth a look.

Next month, The Top Five Female Artists – we’ve seen strong scores from women over the past couple years. Who rises to the top in our latest nationwide research?

Chuck Finney’s had radio playing in his head since he was just a boy. Over the course of his career, he’s worked in programming, radio research, and audience connection. Chuck’s passion for words and communication is widely recognized and he’s won several industry awards.

If you ask Chuck how he’s doing, he’ll either say “Blessed, thank you,” or “I really get to do this for a living?!” He’s the President of Finney Media, a speaker and author who loves telling stories and helping you do the same. Chuck is married and has two adult daughters. He lives with his wife, Lynda, in the Dallas area. For more information, read about Chuck at finneymedia.com.

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Jim Campbell, Founder & Network President of Radio Training Network, Inc. began his radio career in commercial radio in Tennessee in 1964. In 1966 he moved his family to Lakeland, Florida to attend college, and upon graduation he joined the staff at First Assembly of God Church where he and the church launched in the mid 1970s the first Contemporary Christian Radio Station in the nation, WCIE-FM. The station grew in both market impression and influence not just in Lakeland, but around the country inspiring others to follow Jim’s lead. In 1989 Jim left the church and founded Radio Training Network, Inc. (RTN) and over the next 30+ years, he oversaw the acquisition and development of 40+ stations plus translators. With 130 team members, RTN stations serve the Carolinas, Georgia, Alabama, Florida, and Missouri. These stations are well recognized in their respective markets thanks to the servant leadership of the staff, aggressive marketing, and a commitment to a strong emphasis on Jesus first. At present RTN has some two million listeners each week on air and approximately the same number online.

Andrea Kleid is a 24-year veteran of radio and records. She began her career working in Christian radio at WNLT in Cincinnati, and then moved onto WAY-FM in West Palm Beach working in programming and promotions. Her next stop took her to JOY-FM in Tampa where she served as the Promotions Director. In 2004, Andrea moved to Nashville to begin her music industry career in radio promotion under Grant Hubbard at Capitol CMG. In 2008, Andrea became the Vice President of Promotion at Word Label Group where she led one of the most successful and influential radio promotion teams in the Christian music industry. Through her signature brand of honesty, passion for Christian music, and focus on relationships, Andrea developed a reputation for successfully launching new artists’ careers including for KING and COUNTRY, NEEDTOBREATHE and Francesca Battistelli. This year, Andrea celebrates her fifth year as the President of her own company, Boxer Poet. An advocate for both radio and artists, Andrea continues to zealously host conversations around further representation for women and people of color on Christian radio.

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