This Month in Christian Music – June

1 - 2003 - Billboard magazine incepts the Hot Christian Songs (also known as National Christian Audience). The Christian Songs chart ranks the top songs by calculating overall audience impressions of songs played on contemporary Christian music radio stations. Sales from digital downloads are not factored in. 

With the Billboard issue dated December 7, 2013, the Christian Songs chart begins utilizing the same methodology used for the Hot 100 chart to compile its rankings; that is, measuring the airplay of Christian songs across all radio formats, while incorporating data from digital sales and streaming activity.

1 - 2013 --  For the Billboard charting week of June 1, 2013, Amy Grant's How Mercy Looks from Here debuts at No. 12 on the Billboard 200 chart with 26,000 copies sold, making it her highest debut on the chart since her 1997 album s. Behind the Eye, How Mercy Looks from Here also charts at No. 10 on the Top Digital Albums chart, and becomes Grant's record 16th chart-topping album on the Christian Albums chart.

4 -- 1962 -- Christian worship leader and songwriter Paul Baloche is born.

9 - 2009 -- Country music singer Tracy Lawrence releases his first Christian album The Rock.  This is also his tenth studio album and the first release from his Rocky Comfort label. Lead-off single "Up to Him" debuts at number 57 on the Hot Country Songs chart, and reaches 47 shortly after the album's release.

12 -- 2012 - Gospel artist Tamela Mann's "Take Me to the King" is released.  It is her lead single from her third studio album, Best Days. At the 55th Grammy Awards, the song receives a Grammy nomination for "Best Gospel/Contemporary Christian Music Performance." Also a huge commercial success, "Take Me to the King" tops the US Billboard Gospel Songs chart for 19 consecutive weeks.  

14  -- 2007  -- Chris Tomlin's version of the song "Indescribable" is used as the official wake-up call for Mission Specialist Patrick Forrester on Space Shuttle mission STS-117.

14  --  2008 - Known for hit songs such as "We Are the Reason" and "One Small Child," David Meece is inducted into the Christian Music Hall of Fame.

25 --  1996 - God, the third studio album by Christian pop and rock artist Rebecca St. James is released.  The album peaks at No. 200 on the Billboard 200.  The title song is also featured on WOW #1s: 31 of the Greatest Christian Music Hits Ever. This is the first of many Rebecca St. James albums produced by Tedd Tjornhom aka Tedd T.

26  --  1972 --  One of the first Christian rock festivals, the six-day Explo '72, is held in Dallas, Texas.  It is attended by around 80,000 people with around 100,000 - 150,000 at the final concert and which features acts such as Larry Norman, The Archers, Love Song, Randy Matthews, Children of the Day, Johnny Cash and Kris Kristofferson.

24 - 1958 - Kathy Trocoli, one of the few contemporary Christian artist to crossover to the pop charts with great success is born. 

29  -- 1950 - Don Moen often dubbed as the "father of worship music" is born. 

29  -- 2010--  Australian mega church Hillsong releases their 19th live album "A Beautiful Exchange."  Featuring Darlene Zschech, Reuben Morgan, Joel Houston and the Hillsong team, the album features worship staples such as "Forever Reign," "Believe" and "The Greatness of Our God."  Later, "A Beautiful Exchange" goes on to be nominated for two Dove Awards: Praise & Worship Album of the Year and Long Form Music Video of the Year, at the 42nd GMA Dove Awards

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