Contemporary gospel stands firmly upon the groundwork paved by Hawkins’ approach to the genre as well as upon music from such artists as Andraé Crouch, The Rance Allen Group, Beverly Glenn, and others who incorporated R&B musical elements into their songs beginning in the late 1960s. While some refer to the 21st-century version as urban contemporary gospel, most fans and industry professionals generally call gospel music either traditional or contemporary. Contemporary Gospel can also feature R&B elements, but in every subsequent decade since its beginnings, the genre has embraced the latest urban musical sounds and techniques. The list includes but is not limited to jazz, blues, folk, classical idioms, hip-hop, and trap, genres generally viewed as being outside of the “ritualized” sound many have come to expect from gospel music. Because this Contemporary Gospel generally mirrors the most popular Black music of the period, it can be viewed as the industry side of gospel, for while its words minister to many, the sound allows for airplay on secular stations. For that reason, its artists tend to be among gospel’s most recognized outside of the genre.

Music that falls within this category generally does not utilize the sonic elements traditionally associated with the Black church—full-throated vocals often delivered by choirs supported by a Hammond B3 organ and handclapping. What it can include is sampling from other songs, both sacred and secular. For example, Kirk Franklin’s “Stomp,” recorded with God’s Property and rapper Salt, samples George Clinton’s “One Nation Under a Groove, and the instrumentation can include a range of electronic devices, from keyboards to the revolutionary Roland TR-808 drum machine.

The initial choir members who recorded “Oh, Happy Day” wore suits, dresses, and choir robes and could have easily been categorized as traditional singers because of their look. As Hawkins pared down to a smaller group, the attire often aligned more with that worn by R&B singers at that time, including open shirts for the men worn with neck chains. Contemporary gospel artists of the first decades of the 21st century can be seen in casual styles, including ripped jeans and form-fitting tops. On dressier occasions, the men may be found in slim-fit suits, and the women, if they wear dresses, will often pair them with pants or leggings.