Kirk Franklin and the success of “Try Love”
Kirk Franklin, icon of gospel musicrecently reached an impressive milestone by securing his 11th No. 1 on the Billboard Gospel Airplay with his song “Try Love,” which climbed to the top of the chart. This song saw an 8% increase in plays between December 13 and 19, according to Luminate data.
“Try Love” is from Franklin’s album, Father’s Daywhich debuted at #1 in the Top Gospel Albums in October 2023, marking his 14th chart-topping album.
Franklin thus ties Tamela Mann’s record for the most No. 1s on the Gospel Airplayestablished since the launch of the ranking in 2005.
Phil Wickham and his rise with “Angels”
At the same time, Phil Wickham also scored a highlight in the contemporary Christian music. His seasonal song “Angels (Glory to God)” reached #1 on the Christian Airplaywith an audience of 1.3 million, an increase of 11%. This song, co-written with Jonathan Smith, had Wickham’s fastest run to the top, reaching the top spot in just four weeks.
Wickham previously dominated the Christian Airplay with titles such as “This Is Our God” (2023) and “House of the Lord” (2021). Additionally, he also has another track, “The Jesus Way,” which currently ranks at #11.
THE success recent work by Kirk Franklin and Phil Wickham highlight the importance oforiginality in music and the quality music production in the field of gospel music and contemporary Christian. Their ability to capture audiences’ attention through engaging melodies and meaningful lyrics continues to redefine today’s musical landscape.
