Housefires, JWLKRS Worship, Blake Wiggins & Ryan Ellis’ ‘I Thank God’ Tops Christian Airplay Charts
Written by djfrosty on November 29, 2023
Housefires and JWLKRS Worship rise to No. 1 on Billboard’s Christian Airplay chart dated Dec. 2 with “I Thank God,” featuring Blake Wiggins and Ryan Ellis.
The collaboration also reaches No. 1 on Christian AC Airplay.
During the Nov. 17-23 tracking week, the song drew 5.4 million audience impressions, according to Luminate.
“I Thank God” was written by Dante Bowe, Chuck Butler, Jesse Cline, Maryanne George, Enrique Holmes and Aaron Moses. It was produced by Tony Brown, Jonathan Jay and Aaron Robertson.
The song is the first entry on both Christian Airplay and Christian AC Airplay for Atlanta-based worship collective Housefires, following four entries, including two top 10s, on Top Christian Albums: Housefires lll hit No. 3 in September 2016 and We Say Yes reached No. 6 in June 2017.
On the streaming-, airplay- and sales-based Hot Christian Songs survey, the act has logged five tracks. “I Thank God” lifts 14-13 on the latest list, a new career high for Housefires.
Orlando, Fla.-based JWLKRS Worship (the first word in their name is pronounced Jaywalkers) logged one prior Christian Airplay appearance as “Silence” reached No. 43 in August, as well as No. 31 on Hot Christian Songs in February.
“I Thank God” marks the first billed Christian Airplay and Christian AC Airplay entry for Wiggins, who is a member of Housefires. Ellis, meanwhile, has one additional top 10 on both lists: his own “Heart of the Father” hit No. 3 on the rankings in 2022.
Angel Taylor’s ‘Speak’ Now No. 1
Angel Taylor ascends to No. 1 on Gospel Airplay with her first solo entry on the chart, “Speak,” which increased by 13% in plays Nov. 17-23.
Taylor is one of the founding members of Trin-I-Tee 5:7, which formed in New Orleans in 1997. The act has notched three No. 1s on Top Gospel Albums: its self-titled LP, in 1998; Spiritual Love (2000); and Angel & Chanelle (2011).
The outfit has earned three top 10s on Gospel Airplay: “Listen” (No. 9, 2008), “Over & Over” (No. 2, 2011) and “Spirit Break Out” (No. 3, 2016).