Maverick City Music

History[edit]

Maverick City Music was launched in 2018 when seventeen songwriting camps brought together over one hundred Christian artists and songwriters, resulting in the creation of over one hundred songs and a label.^[2][3] Tony Brown and Jonathan Jay intended to create space for diversity by including creatives who are often marginalized such as black people and women who are CCM singers and songwriters, and bringing attention to their voices and ability.^[1][4] Maverick City Music released their first extended play, Maverick City, Vol. 1, on July 29, 2019. The EP debuted on Billboard's Top Gospel Albums Chart at number ten.^[5] On November 12, 2019, Maverick City Music released their follow-up EP, Maverick City, Vol. 2. The release debuted at number 35 on Billboard's Top Christian Albums Chart.^[6]


On April 17, 2020, Maverick City Music released their debut album, Maverick City Vol. 3 Part 1, independently.^[7] In the United States, the album debuted at number six on Top Christian Albums and number two on Top Gospel Albums charts.^[8][9] Maverick City, Vol. 3 Part 1 also debuted at number 15 on the Official Christian and Gospel Albums Chart in the United Kingdom.^[10] On July 27, 2020, Maverick City Music announced that the song "Man of Your Word" which features Chandler Moore and KJ Scriven, would impact Christian radio stations on August 21, 2020, being their debut radio single.^[11] "Man of Your Word" peaked at number 18 on the Hot Christian Songs chart, and spent a total of twenty-six non-consecutive weeks on the chart.^[12] Maverick City Music garnered two nominations for the 2020 GMA Dove Awards, with "Promises" being nominated in the Gospel Worship Recorded Song of the Year award and Maverick City Vol. 3 Part 1 being nominated in the Gospel Worship Album of the Year award.^[13]


On October 9, 2020, the collective released their second studio album, Maverick City, Vol. 3 Pt. 2.^[14] The album debuted at number four on Top Christian Albums and number two on Top Gospel Albums charts in the United States.^[15][16] Maverick City, Vol. 3 Pt. 2 also debuted at number eight on the Official Christian and Gospel Albums Chart in the United Kingdom.^[17] Maverick City Music and Upperroom released their first collaborative extended play titled You Hold It All Together, on November 20, 2020.^[18] You Hold It All Together debuted at number twenty on Top Christian Albums and number two on Top Gospel Albums charts in the United States.^[19][20] Maverick City Music released a holiday-themed extended play titled Maverick City Christmas a week later, on November 27, 2020.^[21] Maverick City Christmas debuted at number four on Top Gospel Albums charts in the United States.^[22]


On January 29, 2021, Maverick City Music and Upperroom released their second collaborative extended play titled Move Your Heart.^[23] Move Your Heart debuted at number 15 on Top Christian Albums and number one on Top Gospel Albums charts in the United States.^[24] On February 26, 2021, the collective released an extended play titled Jubilee.^[25] Jubilee debuted at number 14 on Top Christian Albums and number two on Top Gospel Albums charts in the United States.^[26] On March 12, 2021, Maverick City Music released their first Spanish-language single, "Acercame" which features Johnny Peña & Laila Olivera as the lead single to their first Spanish album, Como En El Cielo.^[27] Como En El Cielo was released on March 19, 2021.^[28]


On March 26, 2021, Elevation Worship and Maverick City Music released a promotional single titled "Jireh" which features Chandler Moore and Naomi Raine,^[29] in the lead-up to the release of their first collaborative album, Old Church Basement.^[30] "Jireh" peaked at number eight on the US Hot Christian Songs chart,^[12] and debuted at number one on the Hot Gospel Songs chart.^[31] On April 9, 2021, Elevation Worship and Maverick City Music released "Talking to Jesus", which features Brandon Lake as the second promotional single from Old Church Basement.^[32] "Talking to Jesus" debuted at number nine on the US Hot Christian Songs chart and at number one on the Hot Gospel Songs chart.^[33] On April 23, 2021, Elevation Worship released "Wait on You" which features Dante Bowe and Chandler Moore as the third promotional single from Old Church Basement.^[34] Elevation Worship and Maverick City Music released Old Church Basement on April 30, 2021,^[35] also releasing the music video for the song "Build Your Church" which features Naomi Raine and Chris Brown, on YouTube.^[36] Old Church Basement debuted at number 30 the mainstream Billboard 200 chart,^[37] while also charting at number one on the Top Christian Albums chart and the Top Gospel Albums chart in the United States with 19,000 equivalent album units sold in the first week, and nine tracks from the album also charting in the top ten sector of the Hot Gospel Songs chart.^[38] Old Church Basement also debuted at number two on the Official Christian and Gospel Albums Chart in the United Kingdom.^[39] The album also achieved mainstream chart placements in Australia,^[40] Canada,^[41] New Zealand,^[42] and Switzerland.^[43] Maverick City Music released "Promises" featuring Joe L. Barnes and Naomi Raine as a single on May 3, 2021.^[44] "Promises" reached number one on both the Hot Christian Songs and the Hot Gospel Songs charts.^[45] In May 2021, Maverick City Music announced their first headlining tour, dubbed the Welcome to Maverick City Tour, set to visit twelve cities in the United States during the fall of 2021.^[46]


On June 2, 2021, Maverick City Music announced that they were preparing for the release of their following project, Jubilee: Juneteenth Edition.^[47] On June 4, 2021, Maverick City Music released "Breathe" featuring Jonathan McReynolds and Doe as the lead single from Jubilee: Juneteenth Edition.^[48] "Breathe" peaked at number 31 on the Hot Christian Songs chart,^[12] and number ten on the Hot Gospel Songs chart.^[49] Jubilee: Juneteenth Edition was released on June 18, 2021, in celebration of Juneteenth, which became an official federal holiday in the United States.^[50] Jubilee: Juneteenth Edition debuted at number eight on Top Christian Albums and number two on Top Gospel Albums in the United States, with 3,000 equivalent album units earned.^[51] Jubilee: Juneteenth Edition also debuted at number five on the Official Christian and Gospel Albums Chart in the United Kingdom.^[52] On July 23, 2021, Maverick City Music alongside Tribl released a collaborative live album named Tribl I.^[53] Tribl I debuted at number ten on Top Christian Albums,^[54] and number three on Top Gospel Albums,^[55] in the United States. On October 1, 2021, Maverick City Music released their second Spanish-language album, Venga Tu Reino.^[56] On November 30, 2021, Maverick City Music released their second Christmas recording, A Very Maverick Christmas.^[57] A Very Maverick Christmas debuted at number nine on Top Christian Albums,^[58] and number three on Top Gospel Albums,^[59] in the United States. A Very Maverick Christmas also debuted at number five on the Official Christian and Gospel Albums Chart in the United Kingdom.^[60]


At the 2021 GMA Dove Awards, Maverick City Music received three nominations: New Artist of the Year, Worship Recorded Song of the Year for "Jireh" alongside Elevation Worship, Chandler Moore and Naomi Raine, and Worship Album of the Year for Old Church Basement alongside Elevation Worship;^[61] the collective won the GMA Dove Awards for New Artist of the Year and Worship Album of the Year for Old Church Basement with Elevation Worship.^[62] At the 2022 Grammy Awards, Maverick City Music received four nominations across the Christian and Gospel categories, ultimately winning the Grammy Award for Best Contemporary Christian Music Album for Old Church Basement with Elevation Worship.^[63] Maverick City Music also performed "Jireh" at the 2022 Grammy Awards,^[64] becoming the first Christian gospel group to perform at the Grammy Awards show in 20 years.^[65] At the 2022 Billboard Music Awards, Maverick City Music received six nominations across the Christian and Gospel categories.^[66]


On January 3, 2022, Maverick City Music released "Firm Foundation (He Won't)" featuring Chandler Moore and Cody Carnes as a single.^[67] "Firm Foundation (He Won't)" peaked at number 33 on the Hot Christian Songs chart,^[12] and at number ten on the Hot Gospel Songs chart.^[49] On February 11, 2022, the collective released the EP Breathe, in commemoration of Black History Month.^[68] Breathe debuted at number 16 on Top Christian Albums,^[69] and number four on Top Gospel Albums,^[70] in the United States. In March 2022, Maverick City Music and Kirk Franklin announced that they will be embarking on the Kingdom Tour, with a collaboration album titled Kingdom initially set to be released by the artists following the conclusion of the tour.^[71] Maverick City Music released "Worthy of My Song (Worthy of It All)" featuring Phil Wickham, Chandler Moore and the Mav City Gospel Choir as a single on April 8, 2022.^[72] "Worthy of My Song (Worthy of It All)" peaked at number 27 on the Hot Christian Songs chart,^[12] and at number 11 on the Hot Gospel Songs chart.^[49] On April 29, 2022, Maverick City Music and Tribl released their second collaborative live album, Tribl Nights Anthologies.^[73] Tribl Nights Anthologies debuted at number 41 on Top Christian Albums,^[74] and number six on Top Gospel Albums,^[75] in the United States.


On May 20, 2022, Maverick City Music and Kirk Franklin announced that they will release a collaborative album titled Kingdom Book One on June 17, 2022,^[76] concurrently releasing "Kingdom" featuring Naomi Raine and Chandler Moore as the first promotional single from the album that same day.^[77] "Kingdom" peaked at number 17 on the Hot Christian Songs chart,^[12] and at number six on the Hot Gospel Songs chart.^[49] On June 3, 2022, "Bless Me" was released by Maverick City Music and Kirk Franklin as the second promotional single from Kingdom Book One.^[78] "Bless Me" peaked at number 19 on the Hot Christian Songs chart,^[12] and number eight on the Hot Gospel Songs chart.^[49] The collective also featured on "God Really Loves Us" by Crowder and Dante Bowe, a single which was released on June 3, 2022.^[79] "God Really Loves Us" peaked at number three on the Hot Christian Songs chart,^[12] and number one on the Hot Gospel Songs chart.^[49] Maverick City Music released their third Spanish-language album, Simple Adoración, on June 10, 2022.^[80] Kingdom Book One was released on June 17, 2022.^[81] Kingdom Book One debuted at number 151 on the Billboard 200 chart,^[82] while appearing at number two on the Top Christian Albums and the Top Gospel Albums charts in the United States, with 5,000 equivalent album units earned.^[83] Kingdom Book One also debuted at number five on the Official Christian and Gospel Albums Chart in the United Kingdom.^[84] On November 4, 2022, Maverick City Music released the radio version of "Fear Is Not My Future" featuring Brandon Lake and Chandler Moore.^[85] "Fear Is Not My Future" peaked at number 13 on the Hot Christian Songs chart,^[12] and number five on the Hot Gospel Songs chart.^[49] "Mary Did You Know?" was released by Maverick City Music to Christian radio in the United States, impacting on November 25, 2022, becoming the first single from A Very Maverick Christmas (2021).^[86] "Mary Did You Know?" peaked at number 23 on the Hot Christian Songs chart,^[12] and number 11 on the Hot Gospel Songs chart.^[49]


On September 26, 2022, Maverick City Music announced via a statement on Instagram that they had paused their professional relationship with Bowe, citing behavior that was inconsistent with their core values and beliefs, the nature of which was not specified.^[87] Bowe released a statement of apology, stating that he was receiving counsel and support, while also taking a step back from social media and expressed recommitment to God's purpose for his life.^[88]


At the 2022 GMA Dove Awards, Maverick City Music received seven nominations including Artist of the Year, Worship Recorded Song of the Year for the radio version of "Jireh" alongside Chandler Moore and Naomi Raine, Gospel Worship Recorded Song of the Year for "Breathe" with DOE, Chandler Moore, and Jonathan McReynolds, Contemporary Gospel Album of the Year for Jubilee: Juneteenth Edition, and Gospel Worship Album of the Year for Tribl Nights Atlanta alongside Tribl;^[89] the collective ultimately winning the GMA Dove Awards for Gospel Worship Recorded Song of the Year and Gospel Worship Album of the Year.^[90]


At the 2023 Grammy Awards, Maverick City Music received five nominations across the Christian and Gospel categories: Best Gospel Album for Kingdom Book One (Deluxe) with Kirk Franklin, Best Contemporary Christian Music Album for Breathe, Best Gospel Performance/Song for "Kingdom" with Kirk Franklin, and two Best Contemporary Christian Music Performance/Song nominations for "Fear Is Not My Future" with Kirk Franklin and "God Really Loves Us (Radio Version)" with Crowder and Bowe.^[91] The collective ultimately won four awards: Best Gospel Album, Best Contemporary Christian Music Album, Best Gospel Performance/Song, and Best Contemporary Christian Music Performance/Song.^[92][93] The four awards tied Beyoncé for most awards won at the 2023 Grammy Awards.^[94][95]