Michael W Smith

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.

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

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

• Christian music recordings
• Live concert performances
• Worship music albums
• Christmas music releases
• Artist merchandise sales

Headquarters

HQ city

West Manchester, Ohio

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Concert Tours: Revenue from ticket sales for live performances including annual Christmas tours, worship tours, and special event concerts across the US and internationally.
2. 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.
3. Merchandise: Sale of branded merchandise including clothing (hoodies, t-shirts) and other products through the official online store.
4. Licensing and Partnerships: Partnership revenue from tour sponsorships, brand collaborations, and exclusive retail releases through partners like Cracker Barrel.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core 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

Named customers4 records

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and minor.

• Compassion InternationalcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 1952Long-standing charitable partnership where Smith has helped over 70,000 children through child sponsorship. Smith brings awareness to Compassion at each tour.
• one:eight entertainmentcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerManagement company handling Michael W. Smith's professional management and business affairs
• Platform ArtistscoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorBooking agency securing live performance opportunities and tour arrangements
• RocketowncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSafe haven for young people in Tennessee founded by Michael W. Smith to provide a place for youth to meet and find hope
• Awakening EventsmajorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorTour promoter producing over 250 Contemporary Christian concerts and events nationwide, consistently ranked in Pollstar's Top 50 Promoters
• Balsam HillminorGTM or Marketing PartnerTour sponsor for Christmas tours; manufacturer of artificial Christmas trees and holiday decorations
• Cracker Barrel Old Country StoreminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorExclusive retail partner for album releases including the Hymns album; album sold at all Cracker Barrel locations nationwide
• TBN (Trinity Broadcasting Network)minorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorTelevision network broadcasting concert specials, worship programs, and documentary footage of live events
• Outback ConcertsminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorConcert promoter that organized the 35th anniversary tribute concert at Bridgestone Arena
• Inspiration Cruises & ToursminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorOrganizes the annual Michael W. Smith & Friends Cruise featuring concerts, worship, and Caribbean travel experiences
• Samaritan's PurseminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCharitable ministry partner participating in cruise events and humanitarian efforts

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct 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

• Xtwitter.com/michaelwsmith
• YouTubeyoutube.com/MichaelWSmithTV
• Facebookfacebook.com/michaelwsmithofficial
• Instagraminstagram.com/mwsmithofficial
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/michael-w-smith

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Subsidiaries2 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 Michael W Smith