CCM AC chart was an adult contemporary chart that was originally started by CCM Magazine in 1978. According to author Jeffrey Lee Brothers in his book Hot Hits: AC Charts 1978 – 2001, "When CCM published music charts, it received data from a specific number of radio stations regarding the number of times a song was played. This airplay data was then assigned points and weights based on the cumulative number of plays per song. The result was a weekly chart that ranked the most played, and presumably, most popular songs. The AC charts have long covered the most radio stations in the Christian music industry. The charts themselves have gone through several changes over the years. When CCM first published its radio hits charts, AC was not a recognized format. What is today considered adult contemporary was then covered under the title of contemporary hits. On September 30, 1981 CCM published its first AC chart, but only for a year. CHR (Contemporary Hit Radio) and AC merged again on October 6, 1982 until CCM split them again on May 6, 1985 to reflect the current formats."[1][2]
From July 1978 to September 1986, charts were derived essentially the same way, however, they were published monthly. In 1983, MusicLine was launched publishing their charts monthly. On September 30, 1986 MusicLine charts became bi-weekly and was renamed The MusicLine Update. It published Christian Album charts as well as four radio charts: CHR (Christian Hit Radio)/Pop, AC (Adult Contemporary), Inspirational/Praise and Rock. While the magazine focused on the contemporary Christian music industry-related content that was previously included in CCM Magazine, CCM Magazine retained the consumer-related content. In 1988, The MusicLine Update was renamed The CCM Update. On June 15, 1992, The CCM Update began publishing their charts weekly. In 1999, Salem Media Group acquires CCM Magazine and then on April 15, 2002, Salem closed The CCM Update. At that point, CCM turned over its data and charts to Radio & Records, which continued to publish weekly charts until July 2006.[3][4] Billboard magazine has since taken over the Christian charts with their Christian Airplay, Hot Christian Songs and Christian AC Airplay.
| Number of weeks |
Artist(s) | Song | Year(s) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 35 | Barry McGuire | "Cosmic Cowboy" | 1978-79 |
| 27 | Andrus, Blackwood and Company | "Soldiers of the Light" | 1981 |
| 20 | Andrus, Blackwood and Company | "Jesus, You're So Wonderful (Live)" | 1980-81 |
| 18 | Don Francisco | "Got To Tell Somebody" | 1979-80 |
| 18 | Twila Paris | "The Warrior is a Child" | 1984 |
| 16 | Leon Patillo | "Cornerstone" | 1982-83 |
| 15 | Amy Grant | "Sing Your Praise to the Lord" | 1982 |
| 15 | Russ Taff | "We Will Stand" | 1983 |
| 14 | Don Francisco | "He's Alive" | 1978 |
| 13 | Dan Peek | "All Things Are Possible" | 1979 |
| 13 | Benny Hester | "When God Ran" | 1985-86 |
| 13 | Amy Grant | "Angels" | 1984 |
| 13 | The Imperials | "I'm Forgiven" | 1980 |
| 13 | Michele Pillar | "Look Who Loves You Now" | 1984-85 |
| 10 | Steve Camp | "He Covers Me" | 1986 |