What Mercyme does

MercyMe is an American Christian music band founded in 1994, headquartered in Franklin, Tennessee. The group is best known for the song "I Can Only Imagine," which is described as one of the best-selling Christian singles in history and was the basis for a 2018 major motion picture, with a sequel slated for 2026. MercyMe generates revenue through three primary streams: physical music sales (CDs at $10) of a 14+ album catalog, branded merchandise (t-shirts at $15-$35, hoodies at $45-$50, hats at $20-$25, accessories), and live touring with ticket sales across US amphitheaters and arenas. The band also sells companion books such as the "Even If" title tied to the I Can Only Imagine 2 film. All physical products are sold direct-to-consumer through a Shopify-powered e-commerce store at mercyme.org with international shipping across 100+ countries, and ticketing is integrated via Bandsintown.

The business operates without disclosed external funding, parent company, or institutional ownership; ownership appears retained by the band members led by vocalist Bart Millard. The technology stack is intentionally lean and outsourced: Shopify for commerce, Bandsintown for event distribution, and the agency Two Seven Two for web build/maintenance. There are no proprietary software products, APIs, SDKs, or AI/ML components. Marketing is driven by a five-platform social media presence (Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, TikTok, X/Twitter), an email newsletter program offering 10% first-order discounts, and touring as the primary live revenue engine. Featured collaborations on the Inhale (Exhale) album with Gloria Gaynor and Gary LeVox (Rascal Flatts) indicate cross-genre audience extension, while 2026 co-headlining tours with artists such as Jeremy Camp, Katy Nichole, and Benjamin William Hastings reflect an ecosystem-of-Christian-music strategy rather than solo headliner expansion.

The customer base is entirely consumer (B2C), targeting Christian worship and contemporary Christian music fans who purchase albums, attend concerts, and buy faith-themed merchandise as expressions of identity. Geographic reach is US-centric for live events but globally distributed for digital and merchandise sales. Strategic positioning leans on brand recognition, a deep catalog, and an established touring fanbase rather than technology differentiation; the principal IP asset is the "I Can Only Imagine" franchise spanning music, film, and print.

Name

Mercyme

Legal name

MercyMe

Website

https://mercyme.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1994

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

MercyMe is an American Christian music band founded in 1994 that sells recorded music, branded apparel, books, and live concert tickets direct-to-consumers worldwide through a Shopify storefront and US touring circuit, serving the Contemporary Christian Music fanbase.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Christian Music & Worship

NAICS

Sporting Goods, Hobby, and Musical Instrument Retailers (4591), All Other Miscellaneous Retailers (459999)

SIC

Retail-Record & Prerecorded Tape Stores (5735), Retail-Apparel & Accessory Stores (5600)

akta.pro primary industry

Recorded Music Retail & D2C Merch Bundles (MPAIAAAF)

Keywords

• Contemporary christian music
• Worship music albums
• Christian band merchandise
• Faith-based apparel
• Live concert touring

Headquarters

HQ city

Texas City

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Supply Chain, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Merchandise Sales: Sale of branded merchandise including t-shirts, hoodies, hats, and accessories through the official Shopify-powered online store. Products range from $10 CDs to $50 hoodies, with various apparel items priced between $15-$45.
2. Music Sales: Sale of physical CDs and music albums directly through the online store. Albums include Wonder & Awe, Always Only Jesus, Inhale (Exhale), and catalog titles. Physical CD sales at $10 per album.
3. Live Events/Touring: Revenue from concert ticket sales. Tour dates displayed on website with ticket purchasing links through Bandsintown integration. Co-headlining tours with artists like Jeremy Camp, Tim Timmons, and Sam Wesley.
4. Book Sales: Sale of companion books including 'Even If: Trusting God Through the Fire — Official Book for I Can Only Imagine 2' written by Bart Millard and Shannon Millard, priced at $20 (marked down from $24.99).

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

MercyMe sells recorded Christian music on physical CD and an extensive line of branded merchandise including t-shirts, hoodies, sweatshirts, hats, and accessories through their Shopify-powered direct-to-consumer online store. The band also generates revenue from live concert ticket sales through an active touring schedule featuring co-headlining dates with other Christian artists at major US amphitheaters. Companion books tied to motion picture tie-ins (e.g., the official I Can Only Imagine 2 book) round out the catalog.

Product overview

MercyMe is a Christian music band offering recorded music and branded merchandise. Their core product portfolio consists of studio albums (CDs) spanning their discography including Wonder & Awe, Always Only Jesus, Inhale (Exhale), and classic releases like I Can Only Imagine. They also sell an extensive line of branded apparel including t-shirts featuring song lyrics and artwork (Say I Won't, I Can Only Imagine, Even If, Almost Home, Grace Got You collections), hoodies, sweatshirts, and accessories including hats. Additional products include books such as the official I Can Only Imagine 2 companion book. All products are sold through their Shopify-powered e-commerce store.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Wonder & Awe CD Studio album featuring 12 tracks including Canary In A Coal Mine, All God's People, Fred Astaire, Overflowing, Wonder & Awe, So Many Reasons, Oh Death, Why Not Now Why Not Me, Trust The One, Sing (Like You've Already Won), OK, and Heartbroken Hallelujah. Sold as a physical CD for $10.
• Always Only Jesus CD Album with 10 tracks including Hands Up, Better Days Coming, Forgivable, To Not Worship You, Always Only Jesus, Heart Beats For Your Good, Grace Amazing, Lost In You, Then Christ Came, and Nothing But The Blood. Sold as a physical CD for $10.
• Inhale (Exhale) CD 16-track album including Inhale, Blessed, On Our Way (feat. Sam Wesley), So Yesterday, A Little Love (with Gary LeVox), Whiplash, Bright Side Of Broken, Let Yourself Be Loved, Hurry Up and Wait, Brand New (feat. Gloria Gaynor), Uh Oh (Here I Go), The Moment, Then Christ Came, Say I Won't, Almost Home, and Exhale. Sold as a physical CD.
• Coming Up to Breathe CD Album featuring tracks including Coming Up to Breathe, So Long Self, Hold Fast, Something About You, You're To Blame, No More No Less, Where I Belong, Bring the Rain, Last One Standing, One Trick Pony, 3:42 Am (Writers Block), Safe and Sound, and I Would Die For You. Sold as a physical CD.
• The Hurt and the Healer CD Album produced by Brown Bannister and Dan Muckula featuring tracks including You Know Better, You Don't Care At All, The Hurt & the Healer, To Whom It May Concern, You Are I AM, Take The Time, Don't Give Up On Me, Hold On, Best Of Me, and The First Time. Sold as a physical CD.
• I Can Only Imagine: The Very Best of MercyMe CD 13-song anthology featuring I Can Only Imagine (The Movie Session), Greater, God With Us, Here With Me, Word Of God Speak, Move, Flawless, Shake, The Hurt And The Healer, Bring The Rain, Homesick, Dear Younger Me, and I Can Only Imagine. Sold as a physical CD.
• Welcome to the New CD Album featuring Welcome To The New, Gotta Let It Go, Finish What You Started, New Lease On Life, Wishful Thinking, and Burn Baby Burn. Sold as a physical CD.
• It's Christmas CD Christmas album featuring Newborn, Christmastime Again, Sleigh Ride, I'll Be Home For Christmas, Hold On Christmas, Holly Jolly Christmas, Go Tell It On The Mountain, Do You Hear What I Hear, Our Lullaby, Joy, and O Come, O Come. Sold as a physical CD.
• The Christmas Sessions CD Christmas album featuring It Came Upon a Midnight Clear, Gloria, God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen, Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree, Winter Wonderland/White Christmas, Christmas Time is Here, Silent Night, Drummer Boy, I Heard the Bells, O Holy Night, and Joseph's Lullaby. Sold as a physical CD.
• Spoken For CD Album featuring tracks including The Change Inside Of Me, All The Above, Spoken For, There's A Reason, Come One Come All, Crazy, Your Glory Goes On, The Love of God, Go, and All Because of This. Sold as a physical CD.
• Almost There CD Album featuring tracks including I Worship You, Here Am I, On My Way To You, How Great Is Your Love, Bless Me Indeed (Jabez Song), Cannot Say Enough, House of God, Call to Worship, Fall Down, and In You. Sold as a physical CD.
• Undone CD Album featuring tracks including Where You Lead Me, Everything Impossible, In The Blink of An Eye, Unaware, When You Spoke My Name, A Million Miles Away, Caught Up In The Middle, Never Alone, Undone, Shine On, and Keep Singing. Sold as a physical CD.
• The Generous Mr. Lovewell CD Album from MercyMe's discography, sold as a physical CD.
• All That Is Within Me CD Album from MercyMe's discography, sold as a physical CD.
• Lifer CD Album from MercyMe's discography, sold as a physical CD.
• I Can Only Imagine Cream Hoodie Premium cream/off-white fleece hoodie with I Can Only Imagine lyric artwork on front, kangaroo pocket and adjustable drawstring hood. Unisex sizing S-3XL, priced at $50.
• "Even If" Crew Sweatshirt Navy fleece crewneck sweatshirt featuring "MY HOPE IS YOU ALONE" lettering inspired by the song Even If. Available in sizes Small to 3XL.
• MercyMe Logo Crewneck Sweatshirt Embroidered MERCYME logo crewneck sweatshirt available in Blue and Lavender colorways.
• Holy Righteous Redeemed Hoodie Teal unisex hoodie featuring "Holy, Righteous, Redeemed" print with MercyMe logo on front pocket. Sizes Small through 2XL.
• Always Only Jesus Denim Tee Denim-blue t-shirt with bold Always Only Jesus icon graphic. Unisex sizing S-3XL.
• To Not Worship You Black Tee Classic black heavyweight t-shirt with bold To Not Worship You front graphic. Unisex sizing S-3XL including XS.
• You're Able Lyric Tee Vintage cream wash t-shirt featuring lyrics from "Even If" on front and back, printed in washed blue ink on natural heavyweight cotton.
• Word of God Speak Navy Tee Navy blue t-shirt featuring Word of God Speak artwork inspired by the worship anthem. Unisex sizing S-3XL.
• Say I Won't Verse Tee Sage green t-shirt with bold Say I Won't verse graphic on front.
• I Can Only Imagine Lavender Ladies Tee Lavender ladies' cut t-shirt with I Can Only Imagine artwork. Sizes Youth XL, S, M, L, XL, 2XL, 3XL.
• ICOI 1999 Black Tee Black heavyweight t-shirt commemorating the 1999 original "I Can Only Imagine" release with "ICOI MCMXCIX" on front and "I CAN ONLY IMAGINE" across back. Sizes XS-3XL.
• I Can Only Imagine Bird Tee Light blue t-shirt featuring bird artwork with I Can Only Imagine lyrics. Unisex sizing XS-3XL.
• Eagle Est. 1994 Tee Black unisex t-shirt featuring bold eagle graphic with "MercyMe Est. 1994" design commemorating the band's founding.
• Say I Won't Record Player Navy Tee Navy t-shirt featuring vintage record player graphic with "Say I Won't" lyric. Unisex fit.
• I Can Only Imagine Black Retro Tee Black t-shirt with retro multicolor IMAGINE print in vintage style. Sizes S through 3X.
• Natural Music Hat Natural/unbleached low-profile baseball cap with embroidered MercyMe Music logo patch. Adjustable strap closure, one size fits most. Priced at $20-$25.
• Camo Trucker Hat MultiCam camo trucker hat with adjustable back and embroidered MercyMe logo on front.
• Even If: Trusting God Through the Fire — Official Book for I Can Only Imagine 2 Book by Bart Millard and Shannon Millard, the official companion to the I Can Only Imagine 2 film. A true story of faith, hope, marriage, and God's redemptive grace. Priced at $20 (marked down from $24.99).
• Live Concert Events/Touring Live concert performances and co-headlining tours with artists including Jeremy Camp, Tim Timmons, Sam Wesley, Benjamin William Hastings, and Katy Nichole. Tour dates include amphitheaters such as Red Rocks and Epcot. Ticket sales managed via Bandsintown integration on mercyme.org.

Named customers1 record

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• Benjamin William HastingsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-headlining artist on the 2026 tour, appearing with MercyMe at the Red Rocks Amphitheatre show on August 5, 2026. Australian singer-songwriter and worship artist.
• Katy NicholeminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-headlining artist on the 2026 tour, appearing with MercyMe at the Red Rocks Amphitheatre show on August 5, 2026. Christian music artist known for contemporary worship.
• Jeremy CampminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-headlining artist on the MercyMe Live tour dates in October 2026 (Columbus GA, North Charleston SC, Tallahassee FL, Charlotte NC, Brandon MS, Duluth GA). Well-known Christian music artist.
• Tim TimmonsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-headlining artist on the MercyMe Live tour dates in October 2026. Christian worship artist and songwriter.
• Sam WesleyminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-headlining artist on the MercyMe Live tour dates in October 2026. Appears as featured artist on the 'On Our Way' track from the Inhale (Exhale) album.
• ShopifycoreTechnology or IntegrationE-commerce platform powering mercyme.org online store. Enables payment processing, inventory management, and store operations. Shopify collects and processes personal information for the Services.
• BandsintowncoreTechnology or IntegrationTour date management and ticketing integration embedded on mercyme.org. Enables fans to RSVP for shows, purchase tickets, and receive updates on new tour dates.
• Gloria GaynorminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFeatured artist on the 'Brand New' track from the Inhale (Exhale) album. Legendary disco artist collaborating with MercyMe on this album.
• Gary LeVoxminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFeatured artist on the 'A Little Love' track from the Inhale (Exhale) album. Country music artist known for Rascal Flatts.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• NEEDTOBREATHE: Rock-rooted band with substantial Christian/crossover fan base, active touring schedule, and own DTC merch store. Comparable as a touring band selling directly to fans in adjacent Christian-adjacent territory.
• Chris Tomlin: Worship music artist with comparable scale in the Christian music segment, active touring and branded merchandise through own DTC channels. Direct peer in worship/contemporary Christian category.
• Casting Crowns: Contemporary Christian music band with comparable long-running career, large catalog, and active touring + merch DTC model. Closest direct competitor in the same genre with similar fan demographic.
• Switchfoot: Alternative rock band with deep Christian/crossover roots, multi-decade catalog, and similar touring + merch DTC structure. Comparable as a long-running touring band selling branded merchandise direct to fans.
• Jeremy Camp: Christian music artist who co-headlines with MercyMe and serves the same worship/contemporary Christian audience with similar touring and merchandise dynamics. Direct comparable in catalog depth and fan demographics.
• For KING & COUNTRY: Contemporary Christian music act with comparable touring footprint, multi-format commercial reach (music + film/TV placements), and DTC merchandise operation. Peer in the Christian pop/mainstream crossover lane.
• Matthew West: Christian songwriter/artist with a comparable touring cadence, branded merch operation, and worship-leaning fan base that overlaps directly with MercyMe's audience.
• TobyMac: Established Christian music artist with multi-decade career, extensive catalog, and similar touring + merch ecosystem. Closely comparable as an established Christian act selling direct-to-fans.

Broad incumbents

• Hillsong Worship: Broader worship music brand (church-affiliated) with global reach and large catalog of worship recordings. Larger, more established player in the worship music space, competing for the same concert and merch dollars.

Emerging players

• Bethel Music: Worship music collective driving a significant share of contemporary worship music discovery, particularly among younger listeners. Emerging competitive force for MercyMe's audience and touring draw.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/mercyme
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCSK2vitdNzVlVpg3XVb2hIg
• Facebookfacebook.com/mercyme
• Instagraminstagram.com/themercyme
• TikToktiktok.com/@themercyme
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/mercyme-inc

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Mercyme