As Cook Media Global finalizes its acquisition of Fair Trade Services on October 31, 2025, the Christian music industry faces one of its most significant power shifts in recent memory. The purchase of the leading independent label in faith-based music, home to major artists like Phil Wickham, MercyMe, and CeCe Winans, represents the latest chapter in Cook’s strategic expansion across Christian media.
Founded in 1999 as INO Records by Jeff Moseley, Fair Trade Services built a 25-year legacy of Grammy and Dove Award-winning artists, gold and platinum certifications, and countless No. 1 radio hits. The label’s acquisition follows Cook Media Global’s previous strategic moves, including purchases of Integrity Music (2011), Standard Publishing (2015), and Group Publishing (2024), cementing Cook’s dominant position in faith-based content as it celebrates its 150th anniversary.
The consolidation raises questions about artistic autonomy for Fair Trade’s roster, which includes some of Christian music’s biggest names. While artists gain access to Cook’s extensive distribution networks and publishing assets, industry observers wonder how much creative freedom they’ll maintain under new corporate oversight. Cook Media Global CEO Bill Reeves has emphasized that cultural alignment was a key consideration in pursuing the acquisition. The nonprofit ministry model that Cook Media operates under may influence how resources are allocated to artist development and promotion.
Market implications extend beyond Fair Trade’s walls, as competing independent labels now face increased pressure to scale up or seek their own mergers. The shrinking field of major independent Christian labels leaves fewer options for emerging artists seeking label partnerships, potentially reshaping how new talent enters the industry. Artists may need to explore diverse income streams to supplement traditional label support in this changing landscape. Artists will likely need to enhance their promotional strategies through social media advertising and streaming campaigns to maintain visibility in an increasingly consolidated market.
Financial details remain undisclosed, though the acquisition includes Fair Trade’s entire recording and publishing catalog, giving Cook control over valuable gold and platinum-certified works. The deal shifts significant licensing power to Cook Media Global, which now controls an expanded portfolio of hit songs for sync and licensing opportunities.
Industry reaction has been mixed, with some welcoming Cook’s resources and others expressing concern about concentrated power. As Fair Trade becomes an independent subsidiary under Cook’s umbrella, the acquisition represents not just a business transaction but a fundamental restructuring of Christian music’s power dynamics for years to come.
