By Andy Argyrakis

This week, we look forward to Christian music’s major moments of 2009.

GOSPEL GREATS AT INAGURATION

All eyes will be on Washington D.C. come January 20, 2009, as the American Music Inaugural Ball pays tribute to Barack Obama as the 44th President of the United States. Several different shows comprise the gala evening, including performances from Kirk Franklin, Marvin Sapp, The Caravans, Smokie Norful and Chaka Khan, plus hosting roles from faith-based entertainers like Yolanda Adams and Dionne Warwick.

WINTER JAM WONDERLAND

The tip of 2009 kicks off with a robust rock, pop and soul show known as “Winter Jam,” the industry’s longtime touring staple spearheaded by NewSong (“The Christmas Shoes”). Outside of a performance from that founding group, expect to see hip-hop hero tobyMac, pop/punkers Hawk Nelson, singer/songwriter Brandon Heath, piano-driven acoustic tunesmith Francesca Battistelli, speaker Tony Nolan, alt-rocker Stephanie Smith and tween poppers pureNRG.

MERCYME’S MULTI-ARTIST BILL

Taking cues from that very tour, MercyMe stages the like-minded “Rock and Worship Road Show Tour” kicking off in early spring. Expect the “I Can Only Imagine” act to top the bill, followed by Jeremy Camp, a road reprisal for Hawk Nelson, Tenth Avenue North and Addison Road.

COMPASSIONART COLLABORATION

Subtitled “Creating Freedom From Poverty,” the CompassionArt collaboration (landing on shelves in America January 27) not only unites Christian music’s biggest names but also spreads outreach awareness. Even so, the cast list is thus far earning the most headlines, if only for once in a lifetime pairings like Chris Tomlin, Martin Smith (Delirious) and Kirk Franklin throughout “Come to the Water” or Matt Redman, Tim Hughes and Joel Houston (Hillsong United) across “King of Wonders.”