The Jesus Music | |
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Directed by | Erwin Brothers |
Screenplay by | Jon Erwin |
Produced by |
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Cinematography | Kristopher Kimlin |
Edited by |
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Production companies |
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Distributed by | Lionsgate |
Release date |
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Running time | 108 minutes |
Country | United States |
Language | English |
Box office | $1 million [1] |
The Jesus Music is a 2021 American documentary film distributed by Lionsgate and directed by the Erwin brothers, detailing the history of contemporary Christian music as a musical and cultural phenomenon.
The film was released by Lionsgate on October 1, 2021. [2] The Jesus Music was nominated for the GMA Dove Award for Inspirational Film/Series of the Year at the 2022 GMA Dove Awards. [3]
The film documents the history of contemporary Christian music, from its roots in the Jesus music of the 1970s, through the Christian rock and Christian metal eras of the 1980s and 1990s, into the rise of praise and worship music in the early 21st century. A number of prominent figures in Christian music are interviewed, including Amy Grant, Michael W. Smith, Steven Curtis Chapman, CeCe Winans, Toby McKeehan, Michael Tait, Kirk Franklin, Russ Taff, Lecrae, and Lauren Daigle.
An accompanying book, written by Marshall Terrill, was published alongside the release of the film. [4] The film was screened for an audience of music industry personnel, including many of the artists interviewed in the film, in Nashville the week prior to its theatrical release. [5]
Steve Pulaski of Influx Magazine and his personal website gave the film an "A−" letter-grade, calling it "the Summer of Soul for Christian music," in reference to the Academy Award-winning documentary about the 1969 Harlem Cultural Festival released earlier in the year, and added that it "is such a formidable documentary because it consistently reminds us that music is the most universally powerful tool we have as humans. Thoughts you can convey through song often hit harder than they do in casual conversation. Whether you're a fan of contemporary Christian music, a devout believer, or simply someone hungry for knowledge, this is a documentary well-worth your time." [6] [7]
Audiences polled by CinemaScore gave the film an average grade of "A" on an A+ to F scale. [8]
The Gospel Music Association (GMA) is a nonprofit organization founded in 1964 for the purpose of supporting and promoting the development of all forms of gospel music. As of 2011, there are about 4,000 members worldwide. The GMA's membership comprises a network of artists, industry leaders, retail stores, radio stations, concert promoters and local churches involved with the wider Christian music industry.
Kirk Dewayne Franklin is an American songwriter, choir director, gospel singer, and rapper. He is best known for leading urban contemporary gospel and Christian R&B ensembles such as The Family, God's Property, and One Nation Crew (1NC) among many others. He has won numerous awards, including 20 Grammy Awards. Variety dubbed Franklin as a "Reigning King of Urban Gospel", and is one of the inaugural inductees into the Black Music & Entertainment Walk of Fame.
The 35th Annual GMA Music Awards were held on April 28, 2004 recognizing accomplishments of musicians for the year 2003. The show was held at the Municipal Auditorium in Nashville, Tennessee, and was hosted by Deion Sanders and Yolanda Adams.
The 37th Annual GMA Dove Awards, also called the 37th Annual GMA Music Awards, were held on April 5, 2006 recognizing accomplishments of Christian musicians for the year 2005. The show was held at the Grand Ole Opry House in Nashville, Tennessee, and was hosted by Rebecca St. James and Kirk Franklin. This was the last year in which the awards were called the "GMA Music Awards", since they will change their names to "GMA Dove Awards".
The 29th Annual GMA Dove Awards were held on April 23, 1998, recognizing accomplishments of musicians for the year 1997. The show was held in Nashville, Tennessee, at the Nashville Arena. Live coverage on The Nashville Network was hosted by John Tesh and Naomi Judd, with a one-hour pre-show hosted by Clarence Gilyard and Kathy Troccoli.
The 29th Annual GMA Dove Awards were held on April 25, 1997, recognizing accomplishments of musicians for the year 1996. The show was held at the Nashville Arena in Nashville, Tennessee, and was hosted by Gary Chapman and CeCe Winans.
We Cry Out: The Worship Project is the seventh studio album from contemporary Christian musician Jeremy Camp. It was released on August 24, 2010, and peaked at No. 1 on the Billboard Christian Albums Charts and No. 15 on the Billboard 200.
The 48th Annual GMA Dove Awards presentation ceremony was held on Tuesday, October 17, 2017 at the Allen Arena located in Nashville, Tennessee. The ceremony recognized the accomplishments of musicians and other figures within the Christian music industry for the year 2017. The ceremony was produced by the Trinity Broadcasting Network and was hosted by female singers Kari Jobe and Tasha Cobbs Leonard. The awards show was broadcast on the Trinity Broadcasting Network on October 22, 2017.
The 50th Annual GMA Dove Awards presentation ceremony was held on Tuesday, October 15, 2019, at the Allen Arena in Nashville, Tennessee. The ceremony recognized the accomplishments of musicians and other figures within the Christian music industry for the year 2019. The awards show aired on the Trinity Broadcasting Network on Sunday, October 20, 2019, at 8 p.m. ET.
"Together" is a song performed by an Australian Christian pop duo For King & Country with American singer Tori Kelly and American gospel musician Kirk Franklin. It was released as a standalone single on 1 May 2020. It was later included on the deluxe edition of the duo's third studio album Burn the Ships (2018), as well as their fifth studio album, What Are We Waiting For? (2022). The song was written by duo members Joel and Luke Smallbone, alongside Ran Jackson, Ricky Jackson. and Franklin.
Michael Brandon Lake is an American Christian worship singer, songwriter, guitarist, and worship pastor. Lake is a former member of Maverick City Music and serves as a worship pastor at Seacoast Church in Charleston, South Carolina. Lake began his recording career with a successful crowdfunding campaign to produce an album in 2015, which resulted in the independent release of his debut studio album, Closer, in 2016.
Maverick City Music is an American contemporary worship music collective founded by Norman Gyamfi and Jonathan Jay originating from Atlanta.
Dante Bowe is an American contemporary music singer, and songwriter. He is known as a former member of the Bethel Music collective and Maverick City Music.
The 52nd Annual GMA Dove Awards presentation ceremony was held on Tuesday, October 19, 2021 at the Allen Arena located in Nashville, Tennessee. The ceremony recognized the accomplishments of musicians and other figures within the Christian music industry for the year 2021. The awards show was aired on the Trinity Broadcasting Network on Friday, October 22, 2021.
"My Jesus" is a song by American contemporary Christian music singer Anne Wilson, released on April 16, 2021, as the lead single from her debut studio album, My Jesus (2022). Wilson co-wrote the song with Jeff Pardo and Matthew West.
Anne Claire Wilson is an American Christian musician and songwriter. Wilson made her debut in 2021, with the release of the single "My Jesus" through Capitol Christian Music Group. "My Jesus" was Wilson's breakthrough hit, having reached number one on Billboard's Hot Christian Songs chart and Bubbling Under Hot 100 chart. Wilson also released her debut extended play, My Jesus (2021), which reached number twelve on the Top Christian Albums Chart in the United States. She was the recipient of the 2022 GMA Dove Award for Best New Artist.
What Are We Waiting For? is the fifth studio album by For King & Country, an Australian Christian pop duo comprising brothers Luke Smallbone and Joel Smallbone, released via Word Entertainment on 11 March 2022. The album contains guest appearances by Dante Bowe, Sleeping at Last, Tori Kelly, and Kirk Franklin. The duo collaborated with Tedd T., Josh Kerr, Jeff Sojka, Federico Vindver, Benjamin Backus, and Seth Mosley in the production of the album.
Believe for It is the first live album and twelfth overall album by American gospel singer CeCe Winans. It was released on March 12, 2021, via Puresprings Gospel and Fair Trade Services. The deluxe edition of the album was released on April 1, 2022. The album was produced by Kyle Lee.
"Bless Me" is a song performed by American contemporary worship collective Maverick City Music and American gospel musician Kirk Franklin. The song was released on May 20, 2022, as a promotional single from their collaborative live album, Kingdom Book One (2022). The song was written by Kirk Franklin.
"Fear Is Not My Future" is a song performed by American contemporary worship collective Maverick City Music and American gospel musician Kirk Franklin featuring American singers Brandon Lake and Chandler Moore. The radio version of the song was released on November 4, 2022, becoming the lead single from their collaborative live album, Kingdom Book One (2022). Brandon Lake had originally released the song featuring Chandler Moore on his third studio album, Help! (2022). The song was written by Brandon Lake, Hannah Shackelford, Jonathan Jay, and Nicole Hannel. At the 2023 GMA Dove Awards, "Fear Is Not My Future" was nominated for Song of the Year and Worship Recorded Song of the Year awards.