TobyMac and the Weight of the “Christian Music” Label: A Call for Freedom in Artistry

In the world of contemporary Christian music (CCM), few names resonate as deeply as TobyMac. With a career spanning decades, seven Grammy Awards, and a catalog of hits that have become anthems for believers worldwide, TobyMac is undeniably a titan of the genre. Yet, despite his success, the artist born Kevin Michael McKeehan has a complicated relationship with the label that has defined his career: “Christian music.”

As he prepares to release his latest album, Heaven on My Mind, on March 7, 2025, TobyMac is reflecting on the evolution of CCM, the challenges of touring, and the future of faith-inspired artistry. In an exclusive interview with Crosswalk Headlines, the artist shared his thoughts on the “heavy-handed” nature of the Christian music label and why he believes it’s time to rethink how we categorize and consume music made by people of faith.

The Burden of Labels

For TobyMac, the term “Christian music” carries a weight that can feel restrictive—not just for artists, but for listeners as well. “I’ve always thought that,” he admits, reflecting on how the label can alienate potential fans. “There are definitely people out there who hear ‘Christian music’ and immediately think, ‘Well, that’s not for me.'”

This sentiment isn’t born out of shame or a desire to distance himself from his faith. On the contrary, TobyMac’s music is deeply rooted in his relationship with God. Songs like Jesus Freak (from his days with DC Talk) and The Goodness (from his 2022 solo album) are unapologetically faith-driven. Yet, he believes the label can create unnecessary barriers, preventing people from engaging with music that might otherwise resonate with them.

“I’m excited about this thing where people are Christians making music, and it’s not labeled ‘Christian music,'” he says. “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.”

Worship Beyond the Box

TobyMac’s critique extends to the way worship music is categorized. “To me, I’m worshiping half the night at my show, but you don’t call me a worship artist, and that’s fine,” he explains. “I’m just saying there are all these labels, and I think they’re a little heavy-handed at times.”

His perspective challenges the notion that worship music must fit a specific mold—slow tempos, congregational lyrics, and a focus on adoration. For TobyMac, worship is a broader experience, one that can happen in the midst of a high-energy concert just as easily as in a church sanctuary. “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?”

The Hits Deep Tour: Community On and Off the Stage

TobyMac’s commitment to authenticity extends to his approach to touring. As the headliner of the wildly popular Hits Deep Tour, he emphasizes the importance of community—not just with the audience, but among the artists and crew backstage.

“Believe it or not, I love the backstage element of touring,” he shares. “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.”

This focus on relationships fuels his performances. “When I walk on stage, I care for the people in that audience, deeply. 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.”

The Future of Christian Music: A Broader Tent

TobyMac is optimistic about the future of CCM, particularly as younger artists bring fresh perspectives and excellence to the genre. He points to rising stars like Terrian, Josiah Queen, Hulvey, and Jon Reddick as examples of the talent shaping the next generation of faith-inspired music.

“I think there’s some great artistry out there,” he says. “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.”

He envisions a future where the lines between “Christian” and “mainstream” music blur, allowing artists to create without being confined to a specific box. “We’re more accepting of that,” he says. “We’re not putting each other in the tiny box as much as we used to.”

Heaven on My Mind: A Personal Journey

TobyMac’s upcoming album, Heaven on My Mind, promises to be a deeply personal project. “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,” he explains. The album reflects his experiences with relationships, hardship, grief, and the ongoing journey of faith.

“I just try to write songs from my life, the things I’m experiencing, the valleys and the mountaintops, and all the in-between,” he says. “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.”

A Call to Listeners: Beyond the Label

TobyMac’s message is clear: music is meant to be experienced, not categorized. Whether it’s labeled “Christian,” “worship,” or something else entirely, the true measure of a song’s value lies in its ability to resonate with the listener’s spirit.

As the CCM genre continues to evolve, TobyMac remains a guiding voice, challenging conventions and championing authenticity. His hope is that listeners—whether believers or not—will approach music with an open heart, free from the constraints of labels.

In the end, it’s not about the box we put music in. It’s about the way it moves us, inspires us, and draws us closer to something greater than ourselves. And for TobyMac, that’s what truly matters.