Phil Wickham’s ‘I Believe’ Bounds In at No. 1 on Top Christian Albums Chart
Written by djfrosty on August 30, 2023
Singer-songwriter Phil Wickham scores his fourth No. 1 on Billboard’s Top Christian Albums chart, as I Believe rockets in atop the Sept. 2-dated tally.
The 14-song set, released Aug. 18, earned 7,000 equivalent album units, with 3,000 in album sales, in its first week (ending Aug. 24), according to Luminate.
The LP was produced by Jonathan Smith.
“Wow, I am absolutely floored by all the love and support for this album,” Wickham tells Billboard. “This is wild. I felt called when I started writing this record to create songs that feel fresh, but at the core get back to the basics of who we are to God, and who He is to us. Thanks to everyone for listening!”
For the 39-year-old San Diego-based Wickham, I Believe marks his fourth Top Christian Albums leader, and his third to open at the summit. His last No. 1, Hymn of Heaven, arrived in the penthouse in July 2021. The set followed his prior leaders Living Hope, in August 2018, and Sing Along 3 with Kari Jobe, Shane & Shane and Jeremy Riddle in May 2015.
The new collection is also Wickham’s ninth Top Christian Albums top 10, a run that began with his self-titled first entry, which hit No. 8 in May 2006.
Meanwhile, “This Is Our God,” the lead single from I Believe, climbs 6-2 for a new high on the streaming-, airplay- and sales-based Hot Christian Songs chart. It drew 1.8 million official U.S. streams, up 33%, during the tracking week. The song, which Wickham solely wrote, led Christian Airplay for two weeks starting in June, becoming his fourth No. 1.