Michael W Smith
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1981
- HeadquartersWest Manchester, Ohio, United States
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What Michael W Smith does
Michael W. Smith is a privately held individual artist entity operating in the contemporary Christian and worship music industry, with a career spanning more than 35 years since his 1981 debut. The core offering is a deep music catalog (15M+ albums sold cumulatively, 36+ No. 1 songs, three GRAMMY Awards, 45 Dove Awards, Gospel Music Hall of Fame inductee) distributed via major streaming platforms (Spotify, Apple Music, YouTube), exclusive physical retail (Cracker Barrel), and an owned merchandise storefront (michaelwsmith.shop).
The business generates revenue across four streams: concert tours (annual Christmas tours, worship tours, the 2026 Kingdom Come tour, and the Christmas Together arena co-headline with Amy Grant and CeCe Winans), music sales and streaming royalties, branded merchandise (apparel priced $29.95-$39.95), and licensing/sponsorship partnerships (Balsam Hill tour sponsorship, Cracker Barrel exclusive releases, TBN broadcast). GTM is event-driven: touring anchors demand, supported by streaming presence, email marketing, and social media (Facebook, X/Twitter, Instagram, YouTube/MichaelWSmithTV).
The artist is managed by one:eight entertainment and booked through Platform Artists, with tour production handled by promoters such as Awakening Events and Outback Concerts. He wholly owns two non-music subsidiaries: Rocketown (a Tennessee-based youth safe haven) and NurturingSteps (children's books and music). A longstanding charitable partnership with Compassion International has supported 70,000+ children. International reach spans the U.S., Canada, the Caribbean, and select European markets (Sweden, Netherlands, U.K., Denmark, Germany, Bulgaria). Core team headcount is 1-10, and no external institutional investment is present.
Michael W Smith firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Michael W Smith
- Legal name
- Michael W. Smith
- Website
- https://michaelwsmith.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1981
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Michael W Smith industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Christian Music
- NAICS
- Record Production and Distribution (51225), Musical Groups and Artists (711130)
- SIC
- Books: Publishing Or Publishing & Printing (2731)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Worship & Liturgy Publishing (Liturgical Texts, Missals, Service Books, Hymnals) (MPAJAHAE)
Keywords
Where Michael W Smith is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- West Manchester, Ohio
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices2 records
Markets served
Michael W Smith business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D
Revenue model
- Concert Tours: Revenue from ticket sales for live performances including annual Christmas tours, worship tours, and special event concerts across the US and internationally.
- Music Sales and Streaming: Revenue from album sales, digital downloads, and streaming platform royalties across multiple releases including studio albums, live worship albums, Christmas albums, and EPs.
- Merchandise: Sale of branded merchandise including clothing (hoodies, t-shirts) and other products through the official online store.
- Licensing and Partnerships: Partnership revenue from tour sponsorships, brand collaborations, and exclusive retail releases through partners like Cracker Barrel.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Merchandise items |
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | Exclusive album releases |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels5 records
Marketing channels7 records
Michael W Smith product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Michael W. Smith develops, records, distributes, and performs Christian music through studio albums, live worship recordings, EPs, singles, and seasonal releases. The business also offers branded merchandise and paid live concert experiences spanning worship, Christmas, and career-spanning hit performances.
Product overview
Michael W. Smith's online presence comprises a digital music catalog available across major streaming platforms, featuring albums spanning his 35+ year Christian music career. His product offering includes live concert tours (such as Kingdom Come, Beyond the Far Horizon, and Christmas Together tours), a merchandise store, specialty events like Caribbean cruises, and an online worship series. The music catalog includes studio albums (A Million Lights, Surrounded, Sovereign, Hymns), Christmas releases (Every Christmas, Christmas At Home), worship projects (Worship Forever, Still), and EPs (Worthy Is The Lamb). The core offering is the music catalog and touring business, supplemented by merchandise sales and exclusive event experiences.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Rocketown: A safe haven for young people in Tennessee to meet and find hope
- NurturingSteps
Products and services
- Michael W. Smith Music Catalog A digital catalog of Michael W. Smith's singles, studio albums, live worship albums, EPs, and Christmas releases, available through major digital music services.
- Michael W. Smith Merchandise Store An official online store offering branded apparel and related merchandise, including the Friends Are Friends hoodie, Above All ladies tee, and Worship Scripture tee.
- Live Concert Tours Ticketed live performances featuring Michael W. Smith's worship music, Christmas shows, and career-spanning hit repertoire, presented through tours and special events.
- Michael W. Smith Caribbean Cruise An annual Caribbean event that combines concerts, worship sessions, Bible studies, activities, and exclusive experiences with Michael W. Smith and guest artists.
- Hymn for Communion A single co-written by Michael W. Smith and Michael Olsen, centered on communion and invitation and available for digital listening.
- Kingdom Come A Michael W. Smith single promoted through the official website and made available through a digital listening link.
- Arms Around the Sun A single featuring Jonathan Roumie on drums and serving as the first release from an upcoming studio project.
- Worthy Is The Lamb A five-song worship EP combining four classics with the new song Crimson Dust and recorded live with the Nashville Recording Orchestra and choir.
- Every Christmas A Christmas album released for seasonal listening by Michael W. Smith fans and Christmas music audiences.
- Worship Forever A re-imagination of the Worship album recorded with a full symphony orchestra and featuring Amy Grant, Matt Redman, and Tauren Wells.
- Still An atmospheric album of improvisational music paired with inspirational scriptures and accompanied by a visual album of calming landscapes.
- Christmas At Home A Christmas EP featuring six new Christmas standards performed with participation from Michael W. Smith's children and grandchildren.
- Surrounded A live worship album recorded in connection with the Bridgestone Arena worship event and featuring CeCe Winans.
- A Million Lights A studio album containing 13 new songs and released as part of a two-album release with Surrounded.
- AWAKEN: The Surrounded Experience A live recording from the A Night to Pray, Worship and Be Awakened event at Bridgestone Arena, featuring CeCe Winans.
- Sovereign A studio worship album and the artist's first studio worship album since 2008; its deluxe edition included a concert DVD filmed at Smith's barn in Franklin, Tennessee, with Kari Jobe and Leeland Mooring.
- Hymns An album of 15 traditional church hymns, including The Old Rugged Cross, How Great Thou Art, and It Is Well, released exclusively through Cracker Barrel.
Quantifiable outcome
- 15 million+ albums sold over career
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use Michael W Smith
Customer profileNamed customers4 records
Segments2 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Michael W Smith technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Michael W Smith partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and minor.
- Compassion InternationalcoreLong-standing charitable partnership where Smith has helped over 70,000 children through child sponsorship. Smith brings awareness to Compassion at each tour.
- one:eight entertainmentcoreManagement company handling Michael W. Smith's professional management and business affairs
- Platform ArtistscoreBooking agency securing live performance opportunities and tour arrangements
- RocketowncoreSafe haven for young people in Tennessee founded by Michael W. Smith to provide a place for youth to meet and find hope
- Awakening EventsmajorTour promoter producing over 250 Contemporary Christian concerts and events nationwide, consistently ranked in Pollstar's Top 50 Promoters
- Balsam HillminorTour sponsor for Christmas tours; manufacturer of artificial Christmas trees and holiday decorations
- Cracker Barrel Old Country StoreminorExclusive retail partner for album releases including the Hymns album; album sold at all Cracker Barrel locations nationwide
- TBN (Trinity Broadcasting Network)minorTelevision network broadcasting concert specials, worship programs, and documentary footage of live events
- Outback ConcertsminorConcert promoter that organized the 35th anniversary tribute concert at Bridgestone Arena
- Inspiration Cruises & ToursminorOrganizes the annual Michael W. Smith & Friends Cruise featuring concerts, worship, and Caribbean travel experiences
- Samaritan's PurseminorCharitable ministry partner participating in cruise events and humanitarian efforts
Scale indicators7 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Michael W Smith competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- MercyMe: Multi-platinum contemporary Christian band with comparable arena touring scale, Dove Award recognition, and a catalog of worship and inspirational hits targeting the same Christian music consumer.
- Chris Tomlin: Contemporary worship artist with a similar catalog of worship standards, active touring circuit, and Dove/Grammy recognition profile — one of the closest direct competitors in the worship music space.
- Casting Crowns: Grammy-winning contemporary Christian band with extensive touring, Dove Awards, and a comparable catalog of worship and congregational songs widely used in churches.
- Amy Grant: Christian and pop music artist of similar vintage and career arc; direct co-headlining touring partner on Christmas Together, sharing the same fan demographic, tour infrastructure, and genre crossover between faith-based and mainstream audiences.
- TobyMac: Seven-time Grammy-winning Christian artist with comparable arena-tour scale, Dove Award recognition, and a similarly diverse catalog spanning worship, pop, and hip-hop-influenced Christian music.
- CeCe Winans: Gospel music artist and Grammy winner with overlapping worship and Christmas concert audience; co-headliner on Christmas Together tour and recurring collaborator on Smith's live worship recordings.
- Steven Curtis Chapman: Five-time Grammy-winning Christian music artist of comparable career vintage and longevity, with an extensive catalog of worship and inspirational hits and a parallel touring/ministry profile.
- Lauren Daigle: Multi-platinum contemporary Christian artist with arena-level touring, Grammy wins, and crossover appeal to both worship and mainstream audiences — a direct peer in the contemporary worship category.
Emerging players
- Hillsong Worship: Worship movement/collective whose songs define contemporary congregational worship; represents the next-generation worship canon that competes for the same church and consumer worship-music dollars.
- Bethel Music: Worship music collective and label producing widely-used contemporary worship songs; competes for streaming and church-licensing share with Smith's worship catalog.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Michael W Smith social profiles
Digital presenceMichael W Smith financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Michael W Smith leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles1 record
Michael W Smith subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries2 records
Michael W Smith funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Michael W Smith M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Michael W Smith
What does Michael W Smith do?
Michael W. Smith develops, records, distributes, and performs Christian music through studio albums, live worship recordings, EPs, singles, and seasonal releases. The business also offers branded merchandise and paid live concert experiences spanning worship, Christmas, and career-spanning hit performances.
Is Michael W Smith a public or private company?
Michael W Smith is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was Michael W Smith founded?
Michael W Smith was founded in 1981. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is Michael W Smith based?
Michael W Smith is headquartered in West Manchester, Ohio, United States, in the North America region.
How does Michael W Smith make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. Concert Tours are the primary driver. The others are music Sales and Streaming, merchandise and licensing and Partnerships.
Who are Michael W Smith's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are MercyMe, Chris Tomlin, Casting Crowns, Amy Grant, TobyMac, CeCe Winans, Steven Curtis Chapman and Lauren Daigle. Emerging players are Hillsong Worship and Bethel Music.
Does Michael W Smith have an API?
No public API is recorded for Michael W Smith.
What industry is Michael W Smith in?
Michael W Smith's product category is Christian Music. Its primary akta.pro industry code is MPAJAHAE, Worship & Liturgy Publishing (Liturgical Texts, Missals, Service Books, Hymnals). Its NAICS code is 51225 and its SIC code is 2731.