Gospel / Christian / Spiritual

Modern worship/praise, CCM/Christian pop, contemporary/urban gospel, traditional/Black gospel, gospel choir, gospel soul/R&B, Christian hip-hop/gospel rap, Christian rock, Southern/quartet gospel, country/roots gospel, bluegrass/mountain gospel, inspirational/AC, hymns/modern hymns, ballads, folk Christian, alt/indie Christian, devotional/scripture/psalm, prophetic/prayer-room, sacred choral/liturgical, spirituals/early gospel, gospel blues, funk/disco gospel, Christian electronic/dance, devotional lo-fi/ambient, Christian metal, Christian punk/emo, gospel jazz, Latin/Spanish Christian, global/world gospel, reggae/Caribbean gospel, Sacred Harp/a cappella, youth/kids, Christmas/seasonal, musical/stage, spoken word, justice/mission, experimental, comedy/novelty. (tree: MUS-128)

39 families774 sub-genres

Click a family to fan out its sub-genres · dashed = cross-listed

1Modern Worship / Praise & Worship

The main contemporary church-singing family: congregational choruses, live worship arrangements, big bridges, spiritual uplift, repetition, prayerful lyrics, and church-band production.

Modern Worship / Praise & Worship

The main contemporary church-singing family: congregational choruses, live worship arrangements, big bridges, spiritual uplift, repetition, prayerful lyrics, and church-band production.

CCM / Pop Contemporary Christian

The biggest Christian radio lane: polished pop structure, clean production, inspirational lyrics, accessible melodies, and broad Christian-market songwriting.

CCM Contemporary Christian Music Pop / Contemporary Christian Christian Pop Radio CCM Christian AC Christian Adult Contemporary Faith Pop Inspirational Pop Worship Pop Christian Dance-Pop Christian R&B Pop Christian Country Pop Christian Teen Pop Christian Singer-Songwriter Pop Christian Ballad Crossover Christian Pop

Contemporary Gospel / Urban Gospel

Modern gospel shaped by R&B, hip-hop, jazz, blues, pop, and contemporary production while keeping faith-centered lyrics, testimony, church vocals, and gospel performance energy.

Contemporary Gospel Urban Gospel Urban Contemporary Gospel Modern Gospel Black Contemporary Gospel Contemporary Black Gospel Radio Gospel Gospel R&B Gospel Pop Hip-Hop Gospel Trap Gospel Gospel Jazz-Pop Contemporary Choir Gospel Praise Break Gospel Testimony Gospel Gospel Ballad Gospel Worship

Traditional / Black Gospel

The deep church-rooted gospel family: powerful vocals, call-and-response, choir support, soloist leadership, vamps, handclaps, testimony, and emotional release.

Gospel Choir / Gospel Worship

The choir-centered branch: mass vocals, call-and-response, big modulations, choir vamps, church dynamics, claps, organ, and communal power.

Gospel Choir Mass Choir Gospel Church Choir Gospel Choir Gospel Worship Choir Choir Worship Gospel Worship Gospel Choir Ballad Praise Choir Choir Vamp Call-and-Response Choir Choir Shout Contemporary Choir Gospel Traditional Choir Gospel Youth Choir Gospel Community Choir Gospel Gospel Choir Anthem Festival Gospel Choir Choir R&B Gospel

Gospel Soul / R&B Gospel

The soul/R&B bridge: gospel vocal fire, R&B harmony, church chords, romantic/sacred emotional intensity, grooves, and polished vocal production.

Gospel Soul Soul Gospel Gospel R&B Urban Soul Gospel Neo-Soul Gospel Contemporary R&B Gospel Smooth Gospel Gospel Slow Jam Quiet Storm Gospel Gospel-Soul Ballad Choir R&B Gospel Hip-Hop Soul Gospel Funk Gospel Gospel Pop-Soul Gospel Jazz-Soul Blue-Eyed Gospel Soul Testimony Soul Worship R&B

Christian Hip-Hop / Gospel Rap

The rap-rooted Christian family: testimony bars, biblical themes, redemption arcs, trap drums, boom-bap, drill, melodic rap, worship hooks, and youth-culture reach.

Christian Rock / Worship Rock

The rock-band Christian family: guitars, drums, worship lyrics, alternative-rock textures, arena choruses, and faith-centered rock songwriting.

Christian Rock Worship Rock Contemporary Christian Rock Christian Pop Rock Christian Alternative Rock Christian Hard Rock Gospel Rock Praise Rock Church Arena Rock Christian Folk Rock Christian Indie Rock Christian Emo Rock Christian Post-Grunge Christian Southern Rock Christian Blues Rock

Southern Gospel / Quartet Gospel

The Southern gospel family: quartet harmonies, piano-led arrangements, family groups, traditional harmonies, church concert culture, and Southern religious storytelling.

Country / Roots Gospel

The country, Americana, and roots branch: acoustic guitars, fiddle, steel, country storytelling, rural faith, testimony, family harmony, and devotional warmth.

Bluegrass / Mountain Gospel

The acoustic mountain branch: banjo, mandolin, fiddle, upright bass, high lonesome harmony, fast picking, and old-time faith themes.

Inspirational / Adult Contemporary Christian

Soft, polished, encouraging Christian music: adult-radio arrangements, piano, strings, gentle vocals, hope-filled lyrics, and devotional clarity.

Hymns / Modern Hymns

The hymn family: durable sacred texts, strophic melodies, theological density, congregational singing, reverence, and modern arrangements of old forms.

Ballads / Inspirational Songs

Emotion-forward Christian songs: piano, strings, vocal focus, testimony, grief, hope, healing, surrender, and devotion.

Singer-Songwriter / Folk Christian

Lyric-first faith music: acoustic guitars, personal testimony, scripture reflection, folk melodies, intimate vocals, and narrative songwriting.

Alternative / Indie Christian

Left-of-center faith music: indie production, vulnerable lyrics, art-pop instincts, lo-fi textures, alternative rock/pop, and less radio-polished arrangements.

Devotional / Scripture / Psalm-Based Songs

The word-centered devotional family: psalms, prayers, scripture memory, lament, meditation, and intimate spiritual reflection.

Prophetic / Prayer Room / Spontaneous Worship

The charismatic, extended, live, prayer-centered branch: spontaneous singing, repeating choruses, prophetic phrases, long builds, soaking sections, and prayer-room atmosphere.

Sacred Choral / Classical / Liturgical

Formal sacred music: choral writing, liturgy, chant, classical structure, sacred texts, organ, orchestration, and ceremonial worship.

Spirituals / Early Gospel / Historic Sacred Roots

The roots branch: spirituals, Jubilee singing, freedom songs, early Black sacred music, camp meeting songs, and early gospel foundations.

Spirituals Negro Spirituals African American Spirituals Jubilee Spirituals Freedom Songs Civil Rights Spirituals Work Song Spirituals Call-and-Response Spirituals Camp Meeting Songs Ring Shout Early Gospel Pre-Gospel Sacred Song Old-Time Religious Song Shape-Note Roots Revival Hymn Historic Gospel Early Black Gospel Sacred Folk Roots Freedom Hymn

Gospel Blues / Sacred Blues

The blues-rooted sacred branch: blues guitar, evangelistic lyrics, grit, lament, testimony, slide guitar, and roots spirituality.

Funk / Groove / Disco Gospel

The groove branch: funk bass, danceable rhythm, gospel vocals, disco shimmer, choir hooks, and praise-through-movement.

Gospel Funk Christian Funk Funk Gospel Gospel Groove Praise Funk Gospel Boogie Gospel Disco Gospel Dance-Funk Gospel Soul-Funk Choir Funk Gospel Gospel Bass Groove Gospel Jam Funk Minneapolis Gospel Funk P-Funk Gospel Christian Funk Rock Funk Worship Groove Worship Church Funk

Christian Electronic / Gospel Dance

Faith-centered dance music: EDM drops, house grooves, worship vocals, gospel samples, club rhythm, and energetic praise.

Devotional / Lo-Fi / Ambient Christian

Atmosphere-first Christian music: prayer, meditation, quiet-time listening, lo-fi beats, ambient pads, sleep music, scripture reflection, and soft instrumental worship.

Christian Metal / Heavy Worship

The heavy Christian branch: metal riffs, screaming, breakdowns, worship themes, spiritual warfare, testimony, and intense catharsis.

Christian Punk / Hardcore / Emo

The punk/hardcore/emo faith branch: speed, DIY energy, angst, confession, youth culture, raw vocals, and redemption narratives.

Gospel Jazz / Sacred Jazz

Jazz-shaped sacred music: gospel harmony, swing, improvisation, horns, jazz chords, spiritual themes, and church-jazz fusion.

Latin / Spanish-Language Christian

Spanish-language and Latin Christian music: worship, gospel, pop, urbano, regional, tropical rhythms, and congregational praise.

Global / World Gospel / International Worship

International Christian music: regional rhythms, languages, diaspora gospel, African worship, Asian Christian pop, Celtic sacred influence, and global church sounds.

Reggae / Caribbean Gospel

The Caribbean/sound-system branch: reggae grooves, dancehall cadence, dub space, island praise, and gospel lyric themes.

Gospel Reggae Caribbean Gospel Gospel Dancehall Lovers Rock Gospel Roots Reggae Gospel Dub Gospel Soca Gospel Calypso Gospel Island Worship Caribbean Worship Reggae Worship Afro-Caribbean Gospel Gospel Dubstep Sound-System Gospel Jamaican Gospel Praise Reggae Caribbean Gospel Choir

Sacred Harp / Shape-Note / A Cappella

Unaccompanied or harmony-centered sacred singing: communal participation, old hymn traditions, shape-note singing, church harmony, and vocal architecture.

Youth / Family / Children's Christian

Music for children, youth groups, camps, VBS, families, and church education: simple hooks, scripture memory, motions, sing-along structure, and clean pop energy.

Christmas / Seasonal Christian

Holiday and church-calendar Christian music: Christmas, Easter, Advent, Lent, resurrection themes, pageants, choral works, and seasonal worship.

Musical / Stage / Screen Christian

The stage, film, and church-production branch: musicals, pageants, cantatas, choral collections, soundtrack songs, and dramatic sacred storytelling.

Spoken Word / Poetry / Scripture Performance

Faith-centered spoken and semi-musical performance: sermons, poetic testimony, scripture recitation, prayer tracks, and rhythm-backed proclamation.

Justice / Mission / Protest Christian

Faith music built around mercy, justice, mission, service, repentance, reconciliation, and public witness.

Experimental / Avant-Garde / Spiritual

Genre-breaking faith music: sacred sound art, experimental worship, drone, noise, electroacoustic, art gospel, and concept-driven spirituality.

Comedy / Novelty / Character Christian

Faith-centered novelty, parody, humor, character songs, and educational content. Usually a secondary tag rather than the primary sound-home.

Era / Scene Labels

Era, scene, and movement tags. These should usually attach to a song's primary family rather than become the main sound-home.