In our special 13th Annual We Love Christian Music Awards (WLA) editorial series, members of the NRT staff discuss this year's nominees. Part 4 of our series begins with a dialogue between NRT Contributors Bradden Ford and Brendan Burke, focusing on the categories of Group of the Year and Next Big Thing.
Public voting is now open through Friday, January 24, 2025, at WeLoveAwards.com. This awards cycle will conclude with a live ceremony on Tuesday, April 8, 2025, at The Factory at Franklin in Franklin, Tennessee, where winners will be announced, and performances will feature top nominees. Tickets for the live event are now on sale here.
Group of the Year
Brendan: The Group of the Year category is the most challenging for award nominations because there are so many talented bands. Each year, many bands release fantastic music, and this year is no different. We have Elevation Worship, Newsboys, Unspoken, Skillet, and We Are Messengers.
Elevation Worship, the acclaimed worship band, consistently releases impressive albums yearly. Their latest effort, When Wind Meets Fire, features standout tracks like "What a Miracle," "Another One," and "Sure Been Good." The group has been touring extensively, ranking its Elevation Nights tour among the top-selling Christian music tours.
Newsboys released their newest album, Worldwide Revival Part 1, in 2024. Lead vocalist Michael Tait's exceptional songwriting was evident on the album, which included massive radio hits like "Heaven on Earth" and "How Many Times."
The Newsboys have dominated the Christian music industry for years. Since Michael Tait replaced Peter Furler as the lead vocalist, I've thoroughly enjoyed every project they've released. The band continues to churn out hit after hit, solidifying its status as one of Christian music's most consistent and successful acts.
Unspoken's fourth album, IV, is a surprising and welcome addition to the Artist of the Year rankings. Led by Chad Mattson, the album has significantly impacted the radio with its hit single "God Help Me," which recently features some of the most genuine and emotionally resonant lyrics in contemporary Christian music.
I thoroughly enjoyed every aspect of the album, finding myself returning to it again and again. Unspoken is rising, and I'm excited to see what they accomplish next following this fantastic release.
Skillet, the legendary rock band, has also been nominated for Group of the Year. After announcing their transition to independent status, the band was named the headliner for the Winter Jam tour and released their new album, Revolution. Known for its sold-out shows, singable songs, and overall excellence within the Christian music scene, it's no surprise that Skillet has earned this nomination.
The final contender for Group of the Year is We Are Messengers, led by Irish frontman Darren Mulligan. The group recently released its album, "Where The Joy Is." I recall seeing them perform as a pre-show act at Winter Jam and thinking they were destined for greatness. Fast-forward to 2024, and my prediction has come true—We Are Messengers is now nominated for Group of the Year. I highly recommend checking out Darren's latest work when you cast your vote.
New Artist/Group of the Year
Bradden: I agree. There are so many outstanding nominees in the Group of the Year category. Another category stacked full of great artists is New Artist of The Year. I can’t lie; this was the most challenging category for me to decide on. One of the great features of the We Love Christian Music Awards is that you can vote as many times as you like (at least until January 24). This means you can update your selections for categories where you want to support multiple artists.
The two biggest heavyweights are independent breakout artists Forrest Frank and Josiah Queen. I’ve loved these guys since before they blew up, and seeing their music's impact is impressive. They both released debut albums that were highlights of the year and sold out so many tour dates, playing these songs live on tour together and on their headline shows.
Forrest has his hits “Good Day,” “Up,” and “Never Get Used To This,” while Josiah has his top songs “The Prodigal,” “My Promised Land,” and “Garden In Manhatten” that I can see either of them taking this. Following Forrest especially, he seems likelier to win this one. However, there are a few more artists that have a great shot.
Seph Schlueter has become a notable name this year. He released his debut EP after his breakout hit, “Counting My Blessings.” This song is a beautiful and powerful reminder, along with the whole EP I have listened to—and cried to—countless times. I interviewed him for NRT on the Dove Awards red carpet, and hearing his passion for these songs was so encouraging that I wouldn’t be surprised if fans voted for him to win this award.
Another artist who has taken off this year is Bodie. After blowing listeners' minds on The Voice, where his cover of worship artist Brandon Lake’s “Gratitude” went viral, Bodie released his debut EP. His song "RIP" showcases his alternative rock vibe, which I wish we had more of in Christian music. His album includes deep, beautiful tracks like "Whisper and the Wind.”
Bodie is a breath of fresh air and energy in his songwriting and style, giving listeners anthems to sing of life in Jesus and honesty. I would love to see Bodie take this the most out of everyone.
The final artist in this category is the fantastic Aodhan King. The former Hillsong Young & Free artist has captivated fans for a decade with powerful songs of worship and energy. I told Aodhan during another NRT Dove Awards red carpet interview, “You may not be considered a legend, but in my book, you are a legend.” Following Y&F, he returned to music with his debut album, Beyond Us. The album is gorgeous, with worship and honest cries of wanting and loving Jesus. I’ve heard so many stories from fans about how this album has impacted them that it would be amazing to see him win.
The Next Big Thing
Brendan: The last category we will discuss is The Next Big Thing, which was more challenging than the previous one. Cody Towell, a close friend, kicks off this category with his impressive musical achievements. His song "Finale" reached the #5 spot on my Spotify Wrapped, showcasing its irresistibly catchy appeal that compels listeners to sing along.
Cody has released another track, "Found Me On The Road," contrasting with his hit single while remaining a worthy addition to his repertoire. His debut EP, Our New Beginning, was one of my top favorites of the year, and I highly recommend streaming it to experience Cody's burgeoning talent. As Cody's journey in the music industry is just beginning, I eagerly anticipate witnessing what the future holds for this promising artist.
Jordan Merritt, a People & Songs, and The Band Table band member has been nominated in this category. In a recent interview, NRT founder Kevin McNeese spoke with Jordan about his journey. Jordan is a talented songwriter who has significantly impacted the Christian music industry. He will soon join the Winter Jam tour with his band, and I encourage you to see him perform when he comes to your area.
Hopeful, a promising new band, has been nominated in this category. The group enjoyed a breakout year, releasing numerous singles and their debut EP. Their track "Words Don't Pay" was particularly well-received, showcasing the band's talent and potential. Industry experts are eager to see what the future holds for this up-and-coming act. Fans are encouraged to stream Hopeful's music and share their thoughts.
Bradden: Yes. All these artists are amazing. Jordan is a phenomenal songwriter and artist, along with Cody and Hopeful, friends of mine who also have fantastic music. Speaking of friends, another artist nominated here is BLVRS. BLVRS made up of artists Jordan Blaine (also known as JSteph) and Owen Bloomfield (also known as Nitro X), is one of my favorite new bands I’ve long heard. They released their debut EP, Behind The Scenes, featuring some of the best EDM and pop songs in Christian music. I had the honor to interview them recently, which you can watch here, and was blown away by their heart for impacting listeners with God’s truth in such a fun and impactful way. I would love to see their fanbase push them over to win this one.
Finally, Hannah Barr is one of Christian music's most prominent underground artists. I discovered her music after she went viral on social media for her song "P31."Her styles of pop, rap, EDM, R&B, and other genres caught my attention, as well as the attention of fans from all over. Now, she has grown to over 135 thousand followers on TikTok and 100 thousand on Instagram. She released an impressive 10 singles this year and two EPs, all fan favorites. If Hannah rallies her fanbase, she could secure victory, which is well-deserved for her remarkable growth as an independent next big thing.
Every artist we covered deserves to win and has released such powerful music. I’m so excited to see who fans vote for. As we mentioned earlier, voting is open until January 24, 2025, and fans can vote as many times as they want; it could be anyone’s game. I love how many artists and great Christian music people are discovering through this award show. It’s a blessing for all of us at NRT to put on every year for the community. We’ll see who wins on April 8th.
Assembled from the four corners of North America and many other corners in between, the NRTeam comprises staffers whose energy is equally dispersed towards loving and writing about the music they love.
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