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Christian Radio has made a huge impact on the evolution of Christian music on a global scale. In the 50's and 60's Christian music was contained within the walls of the church. The 1970's brought about an huge overhaul that gave Christian music a platform on the radio. The traditional church choir and hymnals have been replaced with synthesized beats, electric guitars and a variety of musical styles.
The change in Christian music began with the "Jesus Movement" of the 1970's. The Jesus Movement gave the Woodstock generation the stage to create music with Protestant ideals. The most notable musicians who gained notoriety within Christian music in the 1970's were Barry McGuire, Love Song, Second Chapter of Acts, All Saved Freak Band, Servant, Petra, Stryper, Resurrection Band, Phil Keaggy, Dion DiMucci, Paul Stookey of Peter, Paul, and Mary; Randy Stonehill, Randy Matthews, Andraé Crouch (and the Disciples), Nancy Honeytree, Keith Green, and Larry Norman. These musicians were responsible for giving Christian music a popularity with the masses that was unprecedented. This new form of Christian music was spread primarily through record sales, live concerts and festivals. As the sound gained acceptance, radio stations sprang up in random markets, that began to play Christian music part-time. By the mid-'70s, full-time Contemporary Christian stations began to rise up throughout the country and around the world. There are some cities that are served by multiple stations and others, sometimes large metropolitan areas, have no Christian music presence on the radio at all. New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, San Francisco, and Dallas-Ft are five of the largest radio markets in the country. They all have at least one Adult Contemporary station Christian radio presence. There are three major companies that dominate Christian Radio. K-LOVE, can be heard on 243 different frequencies in 41 states. WAY-FM's signal is broadcasted on 17 frequencies in nine states. Salem Media operates 13 Christian Adult Contemporary stations in 10 states. The Recording Industry of America reported that religious music, which accounted for 2.5 percent of total music sales in 1990, rose to 6.7 percent in 1995. That percentage has continued to grown dramatically until this day. Radio continues to expand its reach in new markets and even new genres. The 1990’s were responsible for an explosion of Christian music on the radio as the definition of Christian music expanded to include rock, hip-hop, urban gospel, metal, contemporary country and and pop. Artists like Carmen, dcTalk, Kirk Franklin, Third Day, and Amy Grant were responsible for chart topping hits that received continuous play on Christian and mainstream stations. The explosion of cross-over hits from record-breaking 90’s artists laid the foundation for Christian radio in the 21st century. With music now available not only on the radio but through downloads, streaming audio, and even satellite; upon first glance it might seem that radio’s relevance would dissipate as new technology advances. This could not be father from the truth. Christian artists feel very strongly about radio and its importance to their music. Contemporary Christian musicians Charles Martin and Rob Kenoly both believe that radio has a very special place in Christian Radio history and can never be replaced by Itunes and other online mediums. “It’s logical that the root of anything must remain or everything else will die. Just as Television was the root of the Internet, it will always exist to some degree. The same is true of the Radio. Radio is a tradition and a culture and is important to music, particularly to the spoken word. I was listening to some Christian teachings the other day on the radio that is unavailable on any other medium. Christian Radio will never go anywhere as long as radio waves exist.” Rob Kenoly believes that Christian Radio aids his ministry to continue to grow because Radio connects with the individual listener more than online forums. “My ministry continues to grow through personally connecting with hundreds of pastors and participants who attend conferences that I perform at around the country. These pastors play my music on their radio stations. The heartbeat of my ministry is based on relationships with people.” Kenoly attributes his success within the Christian music industry to God and the listeners of Christian Radio. The pinnacle of his chart topping success came in 1992 when Lift Him Up became the fastest selling worship album to that point. Welcome Home was also critically acclaimed, becoming Billboard's "Top Indie Contemporary Christian music album" in addition to winning a Gospel Music Association Dove Award for "Praise and Worship Album" in 1997. Christian radio has a rich and powerful history that is continually evolving and will never die.

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