Guide
How to Become a Christian Music Artist
To become a Christian music artist, write songs every week, perform live as often as you can, record and release music, build a small team (manager, booking, label or distributor) and learn the business side. The fastest path is hands-on training in Nashville, the center of Christian and worship music, where you can learn from working artists and play real stages. CMC Nashville is a 15-week, hands-on music industry semester in Brentwood, Tennessee (just outside Nashville), for high school graduates, gap year students and college students. Students earn 16 college credits under Greenville University’s accreditation, which can transfer to your home school, start in January, and the semester costs $17,600 including room and board.
Step by step
1. Write consistently
Co-write with other writers, learn song structure and finish songs instead of collecting ideas. Nashville runs on co-writing.
2. Perform live
Lead worship, play writers' nights and open for other artists. Stage presence and a tight live show matter as much as the recording.
3. Record and release
Learn how a studio session works, how to prepare demos and how independent distribution and streaming playlists work.
4. Understand the business
Learn publishing, royalties, booking, management and how Christian labels sign and develop artists.
5. Build relationships
Most opportunities come from people. Being in Nashville puts you in the room with artists, labels and churches.
Where CMC fits in
Alumni have gone on to roles like front-of-house engineer and tour director for TobyMac and executive director of Ascend Amphitheater, and have worked with artists like Lauren Daigle, John Mayer and U2.
FAQs
- Is CMC Nashville a Christian program?
- Yes. CMC is a faith-based music industry semester. Many students go on to Christian music, worship ministry and mainstream entertainment careers.
- Do I need to move to Nashville to be a Christian artist?
- Not forever, but time in Nashville helps. It is home to most Christian labels, publishers and many worship movements. CMC students live in the area for the semester.
- Can I go to CMC instead of a gap year or before college?
- Yes. Many students come as a gap year or between high school and college, and the 16 college credits (under Greenville University’s accreditation) can transfer back to many colleges.
- When does the next semester start?
- You can start as early as January. Apply online at cmcnashville.com/apply.