Worship music is a style of Christian music that is commonly used to denote songs that are used to worship God and set in a choral music style, usually with repeating, short, easily sung "chorus" parts. While worship music may still be found in a church congregation setting, it is becoming more common for people to enjoy listening to and singing worship music wherever they are: at home, work or while commuting.

History

Worship music became popular in the 1980s, when Christian music publishers such as Maranatha! Music and Integrity Music started releasing a new style of songs of worship to God that featured a choral music format.

Worship music's goal is to bring people and entire churches into a deeper personal worship experience and intimacy with God. This emphasis on building and strengthening the relationship between God and man is the true foundation of worship music. Praise, worship and adoration of the Creator is the focus of worship music, and it serves as one of the ways a Christian can give thanks to

Worship music is sometimes also referred to as praise and worship music. The two terms are often intermixed today. Praise usually is used to refer to faster, upbeat type of songs, while worship music implies a slower, more heartfelt expression of adoration and worship to God.

New styles of worship music have been emerging and becoming popular, such as the intimate or deep worship style, which is used to denote more of a quiet type of worship music. There is also acoustic worship, which relies on acoustical instruments only without electronic instruments such as electric guitars.

The popularity of worship music has grown tremendously since the year 2000, and has seen the release of many new worship music albums by both the major record companies and independent labels. This explosion in the Christian music market has brought worship music to the forefront, and no longer relegated for congregational singing only.

See also

• Worship leader
• Worship band
• Praise song
• Hymn
• Contemporary Christian music
• List of Christian worship music artists