TobyMac Reveals Why He’s Wary of the ‘Christian Music’ Label
TobyMac is the voice behind countless Christian music hits and the headliner of one of the industry's most popular events, the Hits Deep Tour. Still, he wishes the "Christian music" label didn't feel so -- in his words -- heavy-handed.
It's not that TobyMac is ashamed of the label. It's just that the "Christian music" label, he believes, pushes away potential fans.
"I've always thought that," TobyMac told Crosswalk Headlines during a break from the 2025 Hits Deep Tour as he gears up for the release of his new album, Heaven on My Mind, on March 7.
The seven-time Grammy winner is the writer of such legendary hits as Jesus Freak and more than a dozen other chart-toppers, including 2022's The Goodness.
He's excited about the future of CCM. He's also encouraged by mainstream artists who are open about their Christian faith as they make excellent music.
"I think sometimes the labels turn people off. I'm kind of excited about this thing where people are Christians making music, and it's not labeled 'Christian music.'… I'm excited about the fact that it's spreading out a little bit, and it's not so, 'This is contemporary Christian music.' I'm excited that it has more than one tentacle out there, for lack of a better term. …We're more accepting of that. We're not putting each other in the tiny box as much as we used to."
TobyMac has similar thoughts about worship music.
"To me, I'm worshiping half the night at my show, but you don't call me a worship artist, and that's fine. I'm just saying there are all these labels, and I think they're a little heavy-handed at times. You should listen to music and figure out: Does this resonate with my spirit? Does it build me up, or does it not? Does it build up my flesh, or does it build up my spirit?"
There are "definitely" fans in the wider music market who hear the "Christian music" label and tell themselves, "Well, that's not for me," he said.
Following is a transcript of Crosswalk Headline's interview with TobyMac.
Q. What aspects of touring do you find most fulfilling, and what personal challenges does touring present to you?
A. Believe it or not, I love the backstage element of touring. To me, the on-stage is just what we do. It's what we're called to do. …If we are community backstage, if we're praying together, if we're hoping for each other, if there's unity backstage and there's real God things going on backstage, then the stage is just an overflow of really the community that's happening, the God community backstage. So, I've learned to focus on backstage, which leads to this on-stage beauty. I know that sounds weird, but if we go on stage and act like we have that, but it's a mess backstage, then it's just hypocrisy. I want to focus on the real relationships that I have, and then when I go out to present my music, I don't know those people, but I care for them because I care for everyone. I wish well for everyone. So like I care when I walk on stage for the people in that audience, deeply, I really do. It's my prayer that God would move on their hearts, that a wayward believer would turn back to God ...or God would introduce Himself to someone for the first time. And the Christian that's walking strong would be encouraged and edified. But really, our relationships are backstage, and I think that leads to a great on-stage performance.
Q. Christian music has changed a lot over the past 30 years, and you've seen it change. I'm curious, what do you see as the changes in the future for Christian music?
A. Well, I really care for it. It's become more and more important to me to not take from it, but give to it. The reason the Hits Deep Tour existed is because I wanted to develop artistry that our audiences fall in love with. I wanted to walk alongside these younger artists. The reason Gotee Records exists is the very same -- I wanted to find artists that I feel could step into the roles of headliners and ultimately navigate this thing with some wisdom spoken and people that have walked the road before them and invite them along. So, I try my best to help other artists along. I see it growing.
Q. Give me your thoughts on the future of Christian music in terms of the young, new artists. It seems that we have an excellence among the different genres that we did not have 10 or 20 years ago.
A. I agree. I think there's some great artistry out there. Like, I mean, Terrian is unbelievable, and she's going to go places. You could feel it. There's also obviously Josiah Queen, Hulvey, Jon Reddick -- the list could go on and on. …And then you have this thing on the side of it, where it's these artists that are sort of in the mainstream, they're openly Christians. …I think it's really cool. I don't think we need such a heavy label on us. I've always thought that. It should be people making music. And it either sort of resonates with your spirit, or it doesn't. It doesn't need to be called this thing or that thing. And even the whole thing where it's either worship or Christian music, and I've never liked that. To me, I'm worshiping half the night at my show, but you don't call me a worship artist, and that's fine. I'm just saying there are all these labels, and I think they're a little heavy-handed at times. You should listen to music and figure out: does this resonate with my spirit? Does it build me up, or does it not? Does it build up my flesh, or does it build up my spirit?
I think sometimes the labels turn people off. I'm kind of excited about this thing where people are Christians making music, and it's not labeled "Christian music."… I'm excited about the fact that it's spreading out a little bit, and it's not so, "This is contemporary Christian music." I'm excited that it has more than one tentacle out there, for lack of a better term. …We're more accepting of that. We're not putting each other in the tiny box as much as we used to.
Q. Do you think the Christian label then sometimes turns some demographics off? Have you seen that as an artist, that when people learn that you're a Christian artist, that maybe they're less likely to listen to your music?
A. I think there's definitely people out there that don't. If you label that, it's immediately, "Well, that's not for me."
Q. Your new album, Heaven on My Mind, is set to release March 7. What central themes do you hope listeners will connect with?
A. It's about walking out our faith -- the good, the bad, the ugly of my life and trying to walk with Jesus for the last three years. I just try to write songs from my life, the things I'm experiencing, the valleys and the mountaintops, and all the in-between. Trying to write songs that are based on the things I'm experiencing -- my relationships gone good, gone bad, the hardship and grief, trying to gain a footing again in my faith, all those things.
Photo Credit: ©Hits Deep Tour
Michael Foust has covered the intersection of faith and news for 20 years. His stories have appeared in Baptist Press, Christianity Today, The Christian Post, the Leaf-Chronicle, the Toronto Star and the Knoxville News-Sentinel.
Listen to Michael's Podcast! He is the host of Crosswalk Talk, a podcast where he talks with Christian movie stars, musicians, directors, and more. Hear how famous Christian figures keep their faith a priority in Hollywood and discover the best Christian movies, books, television, and other entertainment. You can find Crosswalk Talk on LifeAudio.com, or subscribe on Apple or Spotify so you never miss an interview that will be sure to encourage your faith.
Originally published February 19, 2025.
