Steve McPherson from Hillsong Music Publishing. Source: Justin Malinowski, Blue Murder Studios

A Christian music stalwart has made the Australian Music Industry Directory’s annual Top 50 list of Australia’s most influential figures in the music industry.

Hillsong Music Publishing CEO Steve McPherson scraped into the list at #50, a “surprise inclusion” according to The Rock Around Australia radio team.

Music festival promoter AJ Maddah topped the list with Michael Gudinski of Mushroom Marketing taking out second place as leaders shaping the Australian music scene.

McPherson, a successful singer and songwriter in his own right, is also a board member of two of the nation’s leading music business organisations – The Australasian Mechanical Copyright Owners Society (AMCOS) and the Australasian Music Publishers Association (AMPAL).This is the first time he’s made the prestigious list.

He says the way the music industry in Australia now perceives Christian music is beginning to change.

“Some years ago none of us would have expected anyone from a Christian organisation clearly involved in Christian music would be listed on a list like that. I think to see someone listed from the community, from that part of the music sector, shows that perception’s changing; that there’s an acceptance and an openness to songs of faith in the wider music community and industry.”

McPherson says there are many Christians around the country that are writing great music that inspires and brings hope to people.

“Christian music—worship music if you like—is a significant part of music overall in Australia. If you just think about live music for example, there are hundreds and possibly thousands of musicians playing music in churches right across Australia, and that’s a significant live music scene in itself. So, I personally felt like there needed to be the influence in that world. We need to help the overall music industry understand a big part of the industry is happening in the church environment.

“You’ve only got to look at the reality TV shows we have. A lot of the talent is coming out of the church environment, so why should we be sitting back and letting other people control the music industry? We should be right in the middle of it.

“There’s lots of Christians in the music industry in different shapes and forms, whether it be executives or artists or worship leaders and songwriters, there are Christians spattered right throughout the industry and I think there’s a shift these days for just good music that says good stuff…I think Christians are doing that. They might not necessarily be walking around with the brand and label of Christian artist but they are living out their Christian life in their music that just has a message behind it. And I think if you look at the overall music coming out today across the world, there’s a change. There’s definitely a change.

A reminder to check out the most played songs on Australian Christian radio each week at therockacrossAustralia.com.