If you work in radio and you don’t know the name Forrest Frank, let me give you a moment to repent. Because while most programmers are busy watching callout scores and praying for Rihanna to finally drop something good, Forrest is quietly building a ministry of millions—millions of streams, millions of believers, and millions of reasons why he’s ready to “cross” over to the mainstream.
Take this week, for example: “Your Way’s Better” just clocked 7.7 million streams. That’s not over the course of a month. That’s not since release. That’s this week alone. His catalog? 42 million streams in 7 days—and 710 million in 2025…so far.
For perspective: that’s more weekly streams than this week’s ‘Top 10’ songs from Benson Boone, Lola Young, Teddy Swims, or Lady Gaga. Yet, most programmers wouldn’t recognize Forrest Frank if he walked into their studio wearing a name tag that said “He’s Him.”
His shows are selling out across the country. Fans know the lyrics front to back. Yet, the few PDs who do know his name are probably scheduling him somewhere between TobyMac and Elevation Worship.
The first time I heard Forrest Frank was likely the same moment a lot of other radio folks did—the song “Sunday Best” from his former band, Surfaces.The beach-pop sound fit into pop playlists without many realizing it carried a faith-based message. As a solo artist, Forrest had a viral moment last year with “Good Day,” and more recently, released “Nothing Else” with country star Thomas Rhett. All three of those songs have faith woven through but his latest, “Your Way’s Better,” preaches his message loudest.
And yes, there’s a TikTok dance—for where two or three are gathered, a trend is born.
Thou Shalt Not Kill Your Cume
Let’s call it what it is: if Forrest ditched the Christian label and called himself “genre-less,” he’d likely already be on several “Z,” “Kiss,” or “Hits” stations. Most PDs just don’t know who he is. He isn’t being worked by a major-label promo staff with a budget for cocktails and coozies. If you’re asleep in the pew and not doing your own digging, Forrest won’t be on your radar… yet.
I’ve Seen The Light
I was at Forrest’s sold-out show at the Moda Center in Portland. The crowd was a fascinating cross-section—kids as young as ten, adults well into their sixties. The merch line wrapped around the arena like it was a Taylor Swift or Billie Eilish concert. Fans were wearing gear from past Forrest tours. This wasn’t a one-time curiosity crowd, this was a community.
And the production? Heavenly. The lighting, the effects, the sound—honestly, I’d put his live audio quality up against any tour on the road right now. It was intentional, dialed-in, and sonically rich on every level. If you still think Christian concerts are a tier below, you’re missing the Forrest for the trees.
Following The Footprints In The Sand Of Those That Came Before Him
Christian artists have risen at pop radio before. Amy Grant and Michael W. Smith in the ‘90s, The Fray in the 2000s, Tori Kelly and Lauren Daigle in more recent years. But those were occasional crossover moments. Forrest feels different.
His albums Child of God and Child of God 2 sound right at home next to today’s CHR hits. Breezy pop? Check. Island-flavored production? Got it. Hip-hop trap beats? Yes and amen.
But Forrest’s music doesn’t sound like Christian songs trying to “fit in.” It is modern pop—with purpose baked in, like Brandon Lake’s “Hard-Fought Hallelujah,” or Shaboozey and Jelly Roll’s “Amen.”
Radio’s job isn’t to “Golden” gatekeep. It’s to reflect the world outside our studio walls. And outside those walls, there’s a revival happening.
Need proof? This week, the Christian Music Broadcasters convention is taking place in Orlando. It’s sold out. It’s a younger gathering, with more optimism about the future of radio than any broadcast convention I’ve attended in recent memory.
Listen to Forrest Frank, run your research and if you still don’t understand the “why” behind Forrest, there’s a good chance you haven’t spent much time with the “who” behind Forrest.
Sorry. I’m just being Frank.
By Phil Becker