Gospel quartet The Group Fire notches its first No. 1 on Billboard’s Gospel Airplay chart (dated Jan. 16), as its sophomore single “More Than Friends” powers from No. 6 to the summit.
In the tracking week ending Jan. 10, the song increased by 29% in plays, according to MRC Data.
The Group Fire, which hails from Newark, New Jersey, comprises two sets of brothers: Juwan and Terelle Cooper and Al-Shamir and Tajohn Hill (all between the ages of 17 and 23).
“Friends” is from the foursome’s debut album, Heal the Land, which is expected this fall.
The track also hops 12-8 on the streaming-, airplay- and sales-fueled Hot Gospel Songs chart, granting the act its first top 10 (with airplay contributing almost all its activity).
The single marks the group’s first Hot Gospel Songs entry and its second on Gospel Airplay, after “Again,” which reached No. 19 in December 2019.
‘EVIDENCE’ SHOWS BALDWIN IN TOP 10 Josh Baldwin nabs his second Hot Christian Songs top 10, as “Evidence” rises 13-10 on the multi-metric chart. The song, which he co-wrote, increased by 37% to 1.2 million U.S. streams and 15% to 1,000 downloads sold in the tracking week.
On Christian Airplay, “Evidence” holds at No. 9 (6.7 million audience impressions, up 4%), after reaching No. 4 in December.
“Evidence” is Baldwin’s third Hot Christian Songs entry and second top 10. “Stand in Your Love” reached No. 7 in March 2019, followed by “Let the Redeemed” (No. 18, January 2020). The tracks hit Nos. 2 and 12, respectively, on Christian Airplay.
In addition to his output as a solo artist, Baldwin is a member of worship music collective Bethel Music. The act, based in Redding, California, has achieved 15 top 10s on Top Christian Albums, including five No. 1s.
