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| Sixsteps Records | |
|---|---|
| Name | Sixsteps Records |
| Founded | 2000 |
| Founder | Mark Miller |
| Status | Active |
| Genre | Contemporary Christian music, worship music |
| Country | United States |
| Location | Franklin, Tennessee |
| Parent | Sparrow Records (distribution partner) |
Sixsteps Records is an American contemporary Christian music and worship record label founded in 2000 in Franklin, Tennessee. The label is known for producing influential worship bands and solo artists who have shaped modern evangelical worship practices across megachurches, conferences, and international tours. Sixsteps has collaborated with major Christian institutions and media organizations to distribute recordings, videos, and licensing for congregational use.
Sixsteps Records was established by music industry figures associated with the worship movement emerging from the late 1990s and early 2000s. Early activity intersected with events such as Passion Conferences, Passion: The Movement gatherings, and collaborations with leaders from Hillsong Church, Saddleback Church, Willow Creek Community Church, and Gateway Church. The label's development mirrored trends in worship music alongside contemporaries like Integrity Music, Sparrow Records, Essential Records, and Elevation Worship's affiliates. Over time, Sixsteps engaged with distributors and partners including Capitol Christian Music Group, EMI Christian Music Group, and mainstream platforms such as iTunes Store and Spotify for global reach. Key milestones included charting albums on Billboard Christian Albums charts, placements in worship compilations, and participation in festival lineups at events like Passion Conference, Creation Festival, and Soulfest.
The roster historically emphasized collective bands and singer-songwriters rooted in congregational worship contexts. Notable acts associated with the label have included worship collectives and artists who have performed at venues such as Madison Square Garden, Staples Center, and regional arenas connected to national tours. Artists recorded corporate worship albums used by ministries like Life.Church, North Point Community Church, Sovereign Grace Ministries, and international networks such as Hillsong Church and Bethel Music collaborators. The roster also created music used in televised events on networks like TBN and in recordings distributed by Provident Label Group and independent evangelical publishers.
Sixsteps Records' music aligns with contemporary worship trends evolving from the influence of Chris Tomlin, Matt Redman, Charlie Hall, Darlene Zschech, and Marty Sampson. Songs typically feature congregational-friendly structures, repetitive choruses, and instrumentation drawing from rock music, pop music, and acoustic singer-songwriter traditions exemplified by artists like Fernando Ortega and Steven Curtis Chapman. The label's repertoire influenced hymnody reform discussions and liturgical adoption in denominations ranging from Southern Baptist Convention congregations to charismatic networks. Its releases have been cited in academic studies on contemporary worship alongside works by scholars connected to institutions like Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary and Fuller Theological Seminary.
Sixsteps operates with an integrated model combining artist development, live recording at conferences, and licensing for congregational use. The label has navigated relationships with major distributors including Capitol Records, Universal Music Group, and Christian distributors such as EMI CMG Distribution and Integrity Distribution. Revenue streams include album sales on platforms like Amazon Music, sync licensing for documentaries and films, sheet music and chord chart licensing through publishers comparable to Hal Leonard Corporation and LifeWay Christian Resources, and ticketed events tied to ministries and festivals. Strategic partnerships extended to production entities involved with Passion Conferences, church networks, and international licensing partners in the United Kingdom, Australia, and across Europe.
Sixsteps artists and releases have appeared on industry charts and received nominations and awards within the Christian music ecosystem. Recognition from institutions such as the GMA Dove Awards, placements on the Billboard charts, and inclusion in year-end lists by outlets like Christianity Today and CCM Magazine reflect the label's impact. Individual songwriters associated with the label have received songwriting accolades and performance nominations, and albums have been cited in compilations of influential worship recordings alongside works by Casting Crowns, MercyMe, and Newsboys.
Philanthropic activity connected to Sixsteps artists often aligns with ministries and relief organizations such as Compassion International, World Vision, Samaritan's Purse, and disaster relief partnerships with networks like Convoy of Hope. Outreach has included benefit concerts for causes promoted at large conferences and collaborative campaigns with ministry partners for humanitarian projects in regions served by mission agencies and church planting networks. Educational outreach via songwriting workshops and worship leader training has involved institutions and conferences such as Passion Conferences, National Worship Leaders Conference, and campus ministry networks including Cru.
Category:American record labels Category:Christian record labels