More on the Christian Music Industry
I raised a ruckus (sp?) in my blog about the Christian Music Industry being crap a couple days ago and I must say I have been shocked that the comments on the post have been mostly in agreement with the cruel - I mean, assertive statements therein. I really expected a lot of “YOU have a bad attitude, girl” and “YOU are the problem, you discourager of good and godly intentions…” and so on and so forth.
I do want to clarify one point, however, while i’ve got your attention and since the proverbial can of worms is spattered all over the place anyway… *eww. not a pleasant mental picture*
Christian artists, for the most part, do make good music. Or at least have the potential to make great music.
Wait. Didn’t I just say they don’t?
Not exactly. My point was that the INDUSTRY has set poor standards and selects from the bottom of the barrel of christian music to play on the radio, give awards to, hold up as the “best” when it clearly isn’t. And apparently I’m not the only one who feels this way (see previous post.)
Case in point: I am a fan of a few of the artists played on the airwaves – Joy Williams (no longer a part of the CMI, visit her myspace page for a whole lot more validation of the recent ranting by yours truly) Plumb (LOVE her), Newsboys (Michael Tate is now the lead vocalist – wierd), Nichole Nordeman, Switchfoot, Barlow Girl….you get the picture
I own one or more albums by each artist/band mentioned above and let me tell you – the songs chosen from them all are NOT the cream of the crop. In most cases, not even close! It’s like the artists get to have some say and creative input on about 50% of the album but the rest of it must be according to the sound-just-like-Chapman-Smith-and-Rice terms or else “no airplay, you rebel!!” reverberates off the well-insulated walls of the studio.
The stuff that lands on the radio is COOOORRRRRNNNNNYYYYY. Dumbed down. Warm fuzzy. Unenlightened. Absolutely no competition for YouTube and what’s out there on the Internet for the rest of us to download.
Another thought/question. Who is it exactly that is driving the cornball, dumbed down music on your local Christian radio station? The technically unsavvy. Those of us who are online and able to search for what we want, or have our kids/friends searching for us are not blinded. We have heard what else is out there and we are ANGRY. *cue fist-thrust and crazed grimace* We have been led astray for far too long and it is time. Time for change!
Thoughts, please.
I hear you loud and clear and my are placing all of your thoughts into careful consideration. Thanks for your honest frankness.
the reason this happens on CCM radio is because the largest demographic are self absorbed, whats in it for me Christians. Christian radio isnt about the music, its about getting donor money to keep the machine going, or selling ads to Christian dentists.
The whole point is that it is an industry driven by a market. People who buy CD’s determine which CD’s will be mass-produced. Since most (old) people who listen to “Christian” radio would rather listen to a Michael W. Smith remake of a Hillsong song than the original, Michael W. Smith continues to sell CD’s of remakes when he is perfectly capable of generating cutting-edge worship music on his own. The same (old) people who listen to “Christian” radio would rather purchase a CD for their (grand)children that sounds like the Jonas brothers or Hillary Duff since “that’s the kind of music they want to listen to, so I am just getting them something with more of a positive influence in the lyrics.”
These same technically savvy people you talk about who download songs are just as likely to illegally download and copy songs (not a biased judgment – just hang out with a church youth group or a bunch of “Christian” college students for awhile and you’ll see the truth of it), so they have no power to drive a market. If you don’t buy things, you don’t change a market. The beauty of capitalism and basic economics.
So this is all great commentary, and I’m with you 100% (well, maybe 95%). What are you going to do about it? Or, perhaps I should rephrase: what should I do about it?
Does the term “Praise and Worship music for sale” bother anyone else but me?
TQuan – thanks for listening and considering!! God bless you.
Keith – “Christian radio isnt about the music, its about getting donor money to keep the machine going, or selling ads to Christian dentists.” – HA, you’re so right, and what a humorous way to put it!
Jason – I hadn’t thought about the illegal downloading aspect. That was me in college. Now i’m all for the paid download on my Zune software (no IPOD for me, it’s ZUNE all the way – has an FM radio feature). So I guess a good chunk of the generation that could be driving the better music is missing in the stats and therefore powerless. The illegal behavior is more consequential than they realize.
What am I doing? Well, besides purchasing songs that would never make it on the radio but should, I hope that when choosing songs to use at church – both worship and “specials,” I’m choosing them for their capacity to be REALLY relevant and worshipful in a corporate setting, and not just because they’re at the top of the CMI-generated charts.
Although she’s been gone from the scene for a long time, I think Jennifer Knapp was an original and an exception to the type of music you’re talking about. I’m still amazed at her sound and the depth of her lyrics. On today’s scene, I’m encouraged by what I’ve heard from Brooke Fraser so far. But you’re right, there does seemed to be a “dumbed-down” feel to a lot of what’s out there. Keep doing what you’re doing and looking for these new gems, and let us know what you find !
Blessings-
I am a songwriter and the a member of Gee’s Gee’s rythmn Band.
I’ve had my fill of “the business” and do not see the Christian music organizations any different than secular at this time. In fact, worse as they wish to create formula within the genre.
At this moment, I’m starting a Christian label as a musicians cooperative. One member one vote and sharing of profits after core expenditures.
Right now its a coop of one, but I’m working regionally to change that.
I understanmd very well the economic of the music industry, as well as others and am confident that cooperatives based on a mutual support
network can be sustainable.
Marketing can by pass the traditional as we’ve seen in other industries.
Its time for musicians to have some faith and come out of Egypt.