Subject: CCM

CCM Digital Magazine – yesterday and today

This article was published March 24, 2014. The original information is archival content and no longer current due to ownership and editorial changes at CCM Digital Magazine. 

Get exposure to over 560,000 with CCM Digital Magazine! The CCM Digital Magazine is a great way for you to get your information in front of tons of new people, and is a very limited offer! CCM Magazine has asked me to let Christian indie artists, bands, worship leaders know about this incredible opportunity! Here’s stats on CCM Digital Magazine:

  • It is the industry leading magazine, exposing label artists and events for the past 35 years!
  • It is sent to 1,000,000 subscribers!
  • Digital PDF Delivery, which doesn’t get lost or eaten by the dog!
  • These are fans of Christian music, industry people, churches, festivals, radio, and others!

Here’s How It Works We purchase a full page in the magazine we call “The Indie Corner,” and split it into 6 slots for independent artists to promote their music and mission at a highly reduced rate. Each of the 6 artists will have their picture, up to 50 word bio/description of their music and mission, and a link of their choosing to their website.


Here is a 2026 update which covers the full history of CCM Magazine:

CCM Magazine is a leading digital publication dedicated to Christian music, artists, and faith-driven media.

Founding and Early Years (1978–1990s)

  • Origins: Founded in July 1978 by John Styll during the height of the "Jesus music" movement. Initially published under the name Contemporary Christian Music, the publication helped coin and define the "CCM" genre name, transitioning away from the older label "Jesus music".
  • Format Evolution: The first six issues were printed in a black-and-white, folded tabloid newsprint format. By September 1980, it shifted to coated paper and introduced paid subscriptions ($7.50 a year).
  • Name and Editorial Shifts: The title was shortened to CCM, briefly renamed Contemporary Christian Magazine to broaden its scope, and later returned to Contemporary Christian Music (and eventually Christ. Community for a brief period in 2007). 

Corporate Ownership and Print-to-Digital Transition (1999–2008)

  • Salem Media Group Acquisition: Salem Publishing (a division of Salem Communications, later Salem Media Group) acquired the magazine in 1999. 
  • End of Print Edition: On January 16, 2008, Salem announced that the April 2008 issue would be the final physical print edition, transitioning the brand to an online-only format at CCM Magazine. 

Recent Independent Ownership (2025–Present)

  • Acquisition by Logan and Amanda Sekulow: In February 2025, CCM Magazine was acquired from Salem Media Group by Logan and Amanda Sekulow to rebuild and expand the brand.
  • Current Operations: The platform continues to operate digitally via CCM Magazine Online, YouTube, and social media channels, featuring artist interviews, live performances, podcasts, and daily Christian music news.

Key Milestones and Cultural Impact

  • Top 100 Albums: In 2001, the magazine published a definitive list of the genre's top albums, compiled into the book CCM Presents: The 100 Greatest Albums in Christian Music, ranking Amy Grant’s Lead Me On at number one.
  • Frequent Cover Stars: Over its decades of publication, artists like Amy Grant (who also served as a guest editor for a 25th-anniversary special issue), Michael W. Smith, and Steven Curtis Chapman made the most cover appearances.
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