Your pop music is influenced by God - Today, Explained Recap

Podcast: Today, Explained

Published: 2025-12-19

Duration: 26 minutes

Guests: Elias Light, Charlie Harding

Summary

Pop music has seen a notable influence from Christian music in recent years, with artists like Forrest Frank and Brandon Lake making mainstream gains. This trend is driven by the accessibility of music through streaming and social media platforms like TikTok.

What Happened

The episode explores the significant rise of Christian music in mainstream pop culture, particularly in 2025. Music reporter Elias Light discusses how Christian artists like Forrest Frank and Brandon Lake have gained popularity on platforms like TikTok and the Billboard charts. The conversation delves into how these artists are blending traditional Christian themes with contemporary pop sounds to appeal to a broader audience. Elias highlights the rapid growth of Christian music, noting its proximity in size to genres like electronic dance music in the U.S. He explains that these artists aim to create music that resonates beyond church walls, making it suitable for everyday settings like gyms and parties. The role of social media, particularly TikTok, is emphasized as a powerful tool for promoting music, allowing artists to bypass traditional industry gatekeepers. The episode also touches on how genres that were once niche are now more accessible due to streaming, allowing them to reach wider audiences. Charlie Harding, a music professor and podcast host, discusses the historical influence of gospel music on secular sounds, noting its impact on artists like Justin Bieber and Coldplay. He explains how Christian music has always been influential but is now more visible due to changes in how music is consumed and measured through streaming.

Key Insights

• The rise of Christian music in mainstream pop culture has positioned it nearly on par with electronic dance music in terms of size within the U.S. music industry.
• Christian artists like Forrest Frank and Brandon Lake are successfully blending traditional religious themes with contemporary pop sounds, making their music suitable for settings beyond church, such as gyms and parties.
• Social media platforms, particularly TikTok, have become powerful tools for Christian artists to promote their music and reach wider audiences, allowing them to bypass traditional music industry gatekeepers.
• The historical influence of gospel music on secular artists like Justin Bieber and Coldplay highlights the longstanding impact of Christian music, which has become more visible due to changes in music consumption and streaming metrics.