“My journey as a Christian, I think that's the only thing I could ever write about,” she says. “I’ve always been in church, and when I started songwriting, it just made sense to write about God and Jesus and His love.”
Gospel music has long influenced mainstream sounds, from legends like Aretha Franklin to contemporary artists such as Stormzy and Dave. Yet for all these big names—and for emerging artists like Ehio—there has never been an official platform to formally recognise the music they create. That is changing this week with the launch of a dedicated UK singles chart for gospel music.
BBC Newsbeat spoke to Ehio and other gospel artists about why this moment is significant for them.
A Genre Rooted in History and Hope
Gospel music emerged from Afro-American culture in the 18th and 19th centuries, deeply tied to the conversion of enslaved Africans to Christianity. Its traditions emphasise faith, hope, and resilience, often delivered through upbeat tempos, clapping choirs, and powerful solo performances.
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| Laura Ehio |
The Rise of Faith-Based Music
The Official Charts Company reports a surge in interest for faith-based music over the past decade. Their data shows the UK Christian and gospel albums market has grown by 64% since 2015, with sales and streams of these albums surpassing 500,000 for the first time last year.
Launching the weekly Official UK Christian & Gospel Singles Chart, the company said the aim was to “highlight singles released by British artists” based on sales and streaming metrics.
Ehio, who released a new EP recently, says the chart is “absolutely great.” “It creates infrastructure for the UK Christian scene, which means there are more open doors and opportunities,” she says.
Chantelle Rutendo
Recognition Beyond the Church Walls
Singer-songwriter Chantelle Rutendo, 23, whose first single Holy Father has been streamed 1.4 million times on Spotify since its 2023 release, agrees. She says the chart validates gospel music as a “real genre” and acknowledges the artists behind it.
“It’s always a good thing when Christian artists are given a platform outside the four walls of a church—a platform to reach people they normally wouldn’t,” Rutendo says. “It means the artists creating really good music have the opportunity to be recognised.”
Changing Perceptions of Gospel
While reports have suggested a rise in church attendance among 15-to-30-year-olds in England and Wales, this claim has sparked debate among experts, with questions over survey reliability. Regardless, both Ehio and Rutendo agree that the traditional image of gospel—choirs and handclaps—is evolving.
Ehio, who released an Afrobeats-inspired gospel song last year, says there has been a “great shift in recent years” with “something for everybody” across different musical styles. Rutendo adds: “The gospel music we grew up on was hymns and traditional music. Now, there’s so much—Afro gospel, R&B, rap—and it touches on so many different subjects.”
Streaming Numbers Show Growth
Spotify reports that streams of gospel music in the UK have risen by 119% since 2020. While the platform does not provide exact figures, gospel now surpasses UK garage and approaches dancehall in popularity. However, compared with mainstream genres like rap or rock, streaming levels remain less than 10% of those more dominant categories.
Social media is also playing a key role in reaching new audiences. Christian content creator Jordan Boateng, who has 7.2 million likes on TikTok, says gospel music is more than “mellow beats.” It’s a chance to share faith and hope through music.
“It’s an opportunity to showcase the love of the Lord,” he says. “There were times in my life when I was very anxious and depressed, and gospel music helped me find freedom from whatever I was going through.”
On TikTok, posts tagged #GospelMusic worldwide have doubled over the last 12 months, from two to four million, and hashtags like #GospelTok and #ChristianMusic have seen significant growth since February last year.
Tolu “Lady T” Adepegba
Long-Overdue Industry Recognition
The Official Charts Company hopes the new chart will deliver “long-overdue recognition for a vibrant and influential sector of the UK music industry.”
Tolu “Lady T” Adepegba, who works for the media and creative organisation AStepFWD and helped establish the chart, says it took “months of planning” and emphasises that the chart focuses solely on British artists.
“For them, this is a chance to have their music nationally recognised,” she says. “There’s a hunger for music with substance, and gospel music brings that.”
Looking Beyond Chart Positions
However, Rutendo and Ehio stress that being on a chart is only the first step. Rutendo says: “A spot in the chart is one thing, but the right people need to be looking to acknowledge the talent. Then it becomes a door to real opportunities.”
Ehio agrees, highlighting a market and audience eager for gospel music. “Gospel has been overlooked for a long time, not noticed by mainstream platforms, charts, or radio stations,” she says. “If you do not tap into the Christian music scene, you are missing out.”
A Moment for Growth and Innovation
With its first dedicated singles chart, UK gospel music is finally gaining recognition, while artists continue to innovate and expand the genre’s sound. From traditional hymns to Afrobeats, R&B, and rap, gospel music is proving it has a vibrant, diverse, and enthusiastic audience ready to be heard.