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Your Turn

Posted by Scott McClellan on July 29th, 2008 at 1:43 pm

Today I received two notes from people telling me they enjoyed the “Is Christian Music Dying?” cover story from our last issue. On the other hand, I’ve also had someone tell me they had problems with the piece. Now, it’s your turn. I’d love for you to share your thoughts on the piece as a comment on this post. What did you agree or disagree with? What is your prediction for the future of the Christian music industry?

If you haven’t read the piece yet, it’s online here. Even if you have read the piece, you might be interested in this short, unedited Q&A with Charlie Peacock that I conducted in preparation for writing the cover story.

Let me know what you think.

This entry was posted on Tuesday, July 29th, 2008 at 1:43 pm and is filed under Music. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Both comments and pings are currently closed.

Comments to “Your Turn”

I don’t think I’ve ever felt the Christian Music Industry as a whole was very relevant. Even going to Christain bookstores seemed like such a walled garden; some kind of wierd subculture we could hide in away from the rest of the world. Which obviously isn’t the point; we’re supposed to have an impact on the world, not hide from it.

It is strange, though how many people participate in this. I think it’s probably just out of comfort. It’s easy to be with like minded people, especially where religion is concerned. I found it interesting in the article that John Styll says that this was never the intent of Christian Music when it began and I believe that. Once the sub-culture began to form, the business side of the industry probably kicked in and they saw ways to make easy money, telling themselves they were really helping people.

It’s like a vicious cycle! And now here we are with all these “Christian” versions of different bands; we even have our own awards show. All they doing is providing alternatives; not challenging and making us grow as Christians.

I will say there have always been those that stuck out from the pack. I remember listening to bands like Switchfoot and MuteMath and knowing they were going to transcend the Christian label. They truly fused art and beliefs together in a way that was amazing.

Will Christian music go away? I don’t know. I do think there will always be those who buy into the mindset, but hopefully more and more people are starting to realize it may not be the best thing.

posted at 2:38 pm on July 29th, 2008 by Jonathan Longnecker

As long as U2 produces another album (or ten) I’m fine.

posted at 3:11 pm on July 29th, 2008 by Chilly

I think Christian Rock is long dead. But the worship music industry is thriving. No?
Christian Rock labels quickly became the signing ground for bands that “sound like” or couldn’t get a real record deal.

But if you look at bands like Third Day that started out as Pearl Jam/Hootie and the Blowfish sound-a-likes… and then quickly switched over to full tilt worship music with Offerings, I’d say things are going really well for them! (and Tomlin, Redman, etc, etc)

posted at 10:30 am on July 30th, 2008 by barton damer

I think that Christian music is not dead, nor even dying. It seemed like back in the late 90s or early 2000 that there was a surge of Christian bands that seemed to imitate. I’ll admit I was part of it by trying to get my friends to listen to Christian bands that sounded like their favorites. About that time a unique band I was following started getting recognized, P.O.D. They blazed the way for Christian music that was a bit different than your Michael W. Smith alternative. So, my point is, while it seemed like there was a surge of bands around that time, I think it has slowed drastically. It gives the appearance of a stale market. But in reality there are more and more quality artists that ACTUALLY DO innovate: Switchfoot, TobyMac, David Crowder Band, Superchick, Third Day, Derek Webb, and Relient K.

Switchfoot and P.O.D. just sounded so good and so different from other bands, they couldn’t help but be propelled into the mainstream. They also have lyrics that people can relate to.

Have you ever seen TobyMac in concert? Or just heard his albums? All he does is innovate and try to make music that is more unique and better than before. He’s not afraid to include others in his musical art, like Mandisa and Kirk Franklin, for a totally daring sound.

Third Day on the cover of Billboard Magazine? Why not. Third Day has such a unique sound, but didn’t really rocket off until they released their Worship albums. Soon after, they were receiving awards left and right.

It’s pretty convincing looking at artists like these, and I know I’m leaving out more. (http://www.beliefnet.com/features/christianartists.html)

As far as Labels… I always thought Tooth & Nail Records did a really good job of breaking out of the box.

There will always be the bands that want to move the Message to mainstream. Skillet has 2 record labels, one for distribution in the Christian markets and one for mainstream. It also gives them more radio play. Then there will be artists that want to only play in the Christian markets, church groups, worship events, etc. Artists like Chris Tomlin, Third Day, and Kutless. It’s just based on audience, who do you want listening to you music. There will always be a blur between the two, and I think more bands are blurring that line.

Beliefnet asked TobyMac what the biggest change was in Christian music: “Well, we lost the plastic model. The guy in a perfect stance in front of the microphone singing, ‘Great is the Lord.’ Which is an amazing song, but I think Christian music needed to have another dimension, about how this faith really hits the streets, what it looks like when we walk around, when we’re struggling with sin, with anxiety and anger and pride and ego. These younger bands are honest about their own struggle. We’re saying, “Man, this is hard. It’s hard to live a life of faith.’” (http://blog.beliefnet.com/idolchatter/2008/05/twin-peaks-an-interview-with-t.html)

posted at 12:42 pm on July 30th, 2008 by Daniel V.

Terry Hemmings suggests that the Chistian Music Industry and the Mainstream Industry are not better/worse but different in intent. He also states that the intent of musicians in the Christian industry might be to minister, feed, and disciple the Church.

But in with the holistic viewpoint in mind, who is to say that the Church cannot be ministered to, fed by, and discipled by mainstream music?

I think it’s time Christians broaden their view on what is and is not “Christ-like”.

posted at 10:53 pm on July 30th, 2008 by dan simmons

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