The Christian music industry is a small part of the larger music industry, that focuses on gospel music, contemporary Christian music and Christian rock music.
The majority of artists working and performing within the Christian music industry are isolated from the larger industry, to Christian radio, magazines and record stores. Some artists however are able to "cross over" to achieve success both within the Christian music industry and the larger, "mainstream" music industry.
The Christian music industry's roots are found in the late 1960s and early 1970s Jesus Movement and its Jesus Music artists.
The Christian music industry is made up of:
- singers
- songwriters
- musicians
- Musicians' Unions
- composers
- publishers
- Writers' rights organizations like ASCAP and BMI
- record producers
- record companies
- print music companies who create printed music and accompaniment recordings of contemporary Christian music, praise songs and traditional hymns
- record label
- record distributors
- band managers
- tour promoters
- bookers
- roadies
- and so on...
Christian music industry organizations: