Throughout the month of August, the GMA is celebrating all things international music. We had the opportunity to sit down with industry professional Chris Lawson Jones and hear about his history with international music.
About Chris Lawson Jones:
Chris Lawson Jones is the Founder & CEO of Wings Music Group, a fast-growing Music Distribution, Publishing, Management & Artist Services company with offices in the USA, UK and Asia, specializing in Christian & Gospel Music. Chris is also Chair of the European Sub-Committee of the Church Music Publishers Association (CMPA) and is a member of the Recording Academy. Prior to founding Wings, Chris was Head of A&R for Integrity Music Europe. Chris is an avid fan of Arsenal FC soccer team and lives just outside London, England, with his wife and two young boys.
Tell us about your history with international music.
Growing up just outside London, England, I was surrounded by an extraordinary variety of global music from an early age. London is one of the most multicultural cities in the world, with over 300 languages spoken, and that diversity is reflected in its vibrant music scene. From street markets to local festivals, and even just turning on the radio, I regularly encountered rhythms, melodies, and instruments from across the globe. This international flavour was equally present in the church. I experienced worship that blended traditional hymns with African gospel harmonies, Caribbean praise rhythms, and the distinctive tonalities of Asian and Middle Eastern traditions. These moments gave me a deep appreciation for how music can cross cultural boundaries while still expressing the truth of the Gospel. Over time, my interest grew into a deliberate pursuit. Through my work in Christian & Gospel Music over the years, I have had the privilege of traveling the world, experiencing international music in its own context. My history with international music is more than just listening—it’s about connecting with people and cultures, and recognizing music’s unique ability to unite us. It continues to shape how I engage with both the global and local music communities.
What defines the international music genre?
The Bible paints a powerful picture in Revelation of “a vast crowd, too great to count, from every nation and tribe and people and language” worshiping together before the throne. For me, this vision captures the heart of what defines the international music genre, particularly within the global Christian & Gospel music community. International music is more than just songs that come from different countries—it is the sound of cultures meeting, blending, and celebrating a shared faith. It reflects the rich diversity of God’s creation, expressed through the rhythms, melodies, and languages used by different people in different places to express themselves. What defines this genre is its ability to transcend borders. It communicates across linguistic and cultural differences, uniting believers in a common purpose: to worship God. It also carries the authenticity of local expression—songs are shaped by the stories, struggles, and celebrations of the communities they come from. In essence, international music is the living sound of the global Church. It reminds us that worship is not confined to one style, place, or language, but is a universal act of praise that connects us all.
How is international music influencing culture today?
Personally, I believe we’re experiencing the most creative and dynamic era of international Christian & Gospel Music ever. Not only are we seeing the encouraging statistics around the global growth in consumption of the music, young artists from around the world are finding their voice, confidently pioneering new sounds that reflect their local culture, blended with other popular sounds from around the world. Just this week I was speaking to a Korean artist who’s involved in a new type of K-Pop they’re calling Kingdom Pop and many will be familiar with the vibrant blend of AfroBeats and Gospel, ArfoGospel, emerging from West Africa. I’ve been really impressed with the streaming services such as Spotify, Apple Music and Amazon Music, for boldly getting behind these pioneers with prominent global editorial positioning. More and more often, the music that fits this description that we distribute through Wings, is finding it’s way onto global general market taste making playlists such as Spotify’s New Music Friday and Apple Music’s New Music Daily. It’s a trend not only happening in the church. Ed Sheeran's latest single, ‘Sapphire’ is a collaboration with Indian singer Arijit Singh and features strong Indian musical influences, including traditional percussion and sitar, and even some Punjabi vocals.
For someone new to international music, where is a good place to start?
Thanks to the pioneering and globally minded spirit of the Christian & Gospel Music editorial teams at the major streaming services, you only need to check out their new music playlists, such as Fresh Christian on Amazon Music or New in Christian on Apple Music, to quickly find music from different parts of the world. And for a deeper dive, you could check out Spotify’s AfroGospel or Todas Novedades Cristianas to get a flavour of what’s going on creatively around the world. As I said earlier, I think we’re in a truly exciting era of international music representing every nation and tribe and people and language.
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