Years active 2001 (2001)–present Website bethelmusic.com | Associated acts Kari Jobe | |
Labels Bethel Music, Integrity, Kingsway Music Albums | ||
Bethel Music is an American worship group from Redding, California, where they started making music in 2001, at Bethel Church. They focus on producing worship songs and albums that are largely written and recorded by members of their Artist Collective.
Contents
History
From 2009 to 2013, Bethel Music rapidly grew from being a relatively small local church music ministry to becoming a fully-fledged record label and publishing company, featuring songwriters and worship leaders based out of Bethel Church in Redding, California.
In January 2015, Bethel Music launched their Artist Collective, expanding their group of locally based artists to include North Carolinians Josh Baldwin and Jonathan and Melissa Helser. Later that year, in May, they included Cory Asbury, formerly of the International House of Prayer. In September 2015, it was announced that Leeland would also be joining the Collective. In the spring of 2016, Kristene DiMarco joined the Collective. Later that year, in early November 2016, it was announced that Sean Feucht would officially join the artist collective of Bethel Church. However, it was back in June 2016 that Feucht himself made this news available on his personal blog.
Members
Albums
We Will Not Be Shaken
Bethel Music's live album, We Will Not Be Shaken was produced by Bobby Strand and Chris Greely, and introduces 11 original songs led by the Bethel Music Artist Collective, including Brian Johnson, Jenn Johnson, Hunter Thompson, Amanda Cook and Matt Stinton, as well as debut artists Kalley Heiligenthal, Hannah McClure, Paul McClure, Jonathan David Helser and Melissa Helser. We Will Not Be Shaken was intended as a catalyst for other worship communities to remain steadfast in their faith no matter what the circumstances. The title track was inspired in a spontaneous moment of worship during a Sunday service and highlights God's enduring promises during times of trouble.
CCM Magazine also lauded the album, saying that there "is quite a bit of buzz surrounding the anticipated release from Bethel Music...and it's all warranted. This is an album that simply soars above the rest... Every track holds a different aspect of beauty...flawless." Christian Review Magazine gave it a five-star review saying the album is an "out-and-out worship release on which each track contains lyrics that praise and glorify God, and point toward His faithfulness, love and grace." NewReleaseTuesday.com for its part loves the "anointed lyrics that are both emotionally stirring and grounded in truth alongside musical atmospheres that quiet the soul while simultaneously clearing space for God to speak."
You Make Me Brave
You Make Me Brave was recorded live at Redding's Civic Auditorium during Bethel Church's women's conference in the summer of 2013. According to The Church Collective, it is "classic Bethel", with 3 of the 12 tracks recorded during spontaneous moments of worship. Their reviewer goes on to say that "the worship leaders from Bethel seriously outdo themselves with their musical influence, heavy synth, and wisely put-together arrangements of songs." Produced by Gabriel Solomon Wilson (www.GabrielWilson.net), & Daniel Mackenzie.
Have It All
On March 11, Bethel Music released Have It All, a live album recorded at Bethel Church. The album was nominated for Worship Album of the Year and Recorded Music Packaging Award at the 2016 GMA Dove Awards, but won neither.
Starlight
On March 1, 2017, Bethel Music announced that they would be releasing a new album, recorded live on tour, on March 17, 2017.
Awards and achievements
Brian Johnson and Jeremy Riddle were nominated for Song of the Year at the 44th Annual GMA Dove Awards for "One Thing Remains". At the Dove Awards' Nashville ceremony in October 2013, Brian and Jenn Johnson sang One Thing Remains alongside Kristian Stanfill and the Passion Band.
Canadian-born Bethel Music artist Amanda Cook was recognized at the 2014 GMA Canada Covenant Awards, named as Female Vocalist of the Year, and winning Song of the Year for, "You Make Me Brave".
In March 2015, the American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers (ASCAP) gave top honors to Jeremy Riddle's "This is Amazing Grace" as their Song of the Year.
At the 2016 GMA Dove Awards, members from the Bethel Music Collective were nominated for ten Dove Awards. Of the ten nominations, they won four: Brave New World, by Amanda Cook, won Inspirational Album of the Year; Come Alive, by Bethel Music Kids, won Children's Album of the Year; "No Longer Slaves", by Jonathan David and Melissa Helser, won Worship Song of the Year; and Without Words: Synesthesia won Instrumental Album of the Year.
Events and tours
Bethel Music regularly tours both in the U.S. and internationally. Their heart for their Worship Nights tours is to partner with what God is doing in communities around the world and see heaven invade earth.
Artists from the Bethel Music family visited South Africa for the first time in March 2015 and led evenings of worship in Johannesburg, Pretoria, Durban, Cape Town and Port Elizabeth.
In October 2016, Bethel artists Brian and Jenn Johnson, Amanda Cook, Steffany Gretzinger, Jonathan and Melissa Helser, Kalley Heiligenthal, Kristene DiMarco, Paul and Hannah McClure, and Josh Baldwin embarked on a two-week tour to record a live album with guest worship leader Francesca Battistelli. On March 1, 2017, it was announced that the album would be titled Starlight, and would release on March 17, 2017.