Josiah Queen’s ‘The Prodigal’ Debuts at No. 1 on Top Christian Albums Chart
Plus, Pastor Mike Jr. scores his record-extending sixth consecutive career-opening Gospel Airplay leader with "Windows."
Josiah Queen’s launch album The Prodigal enters Billboard’s Top Christian Albums chart (dated June 8) at No. 1. Released May 24, the set earned 4,000 equivalent album units in the U.S. through May 30, according to Luminate.
The LP marks the first Top Christian Albums appearance for the 21-year-old Queen, based in Tampa, Fla. He initially accumulated traction by posting videos on TikTok, where he has approximately 100,000 followers.
“It’s been surreal to see the response to The Prodigal,” Queen tells Billboard. “It’s wild to me that these songs which I wrote in my living room and bedroom have made their way to people all over the world. My hope is that the album leads people closer to God.”
Meanwhile, the set’s title track ranks at No. 7, after hitting No. 4, on the multimetric Hot Christian Songs survey. It drew 2.2 million in airplay audience and 1.8 million official U.S. streams in the tracking week.
Queen co-authored the single with Jared Marc, who also produced it. Queen co-wrote or solo-authored all 11 songs on the new album. He’s on tour and scheduled to make his first appearance at Nashville’s Grand Opry July 2.
Pastor Mike Jr. Extends Record Run
Pastor Mike Jr. adds his record-extending sixth consecutive career-opening No. 1 on Gospel Airplay with “Windows.” The song, which he wrote with Jaicko Lawrence, increased by 9% in plays during the tracking week.
The Birmingham, Ala., native previously topped Gospel Airplay as featured on Kierra Sheard’s “Miracles,” for a week last July and with his own “Impossible,” featuring James Fortune (two weeks, April 2023); “Amazing” (two weeks, May 2022); “I Got It” (four weeks, beginning in March 2021); and “Big Rock City” (10 weeks, beginning in February 2020).
Pastor Mike Jr. also ties Todd Dulaney and Jonathan McReynolds for the longest streak of Gospel Airplay No. 1s overall, regardless of career-launching runs. All three acts’ streaks are active, with Dulaney currently rising 25-24 with his newest entry, “No Weapon.”