The Future of Christian Music
This is a bit of different topic than we usually talk about here, but I found this article by Charlie Peacock in CCM quite insightful about the current and future state of the Christian music industry. Charlie Peacock is one of the Christian artists who doesn’t get enough recognition in my opinion, but his overall influence on the industry is hard to overstate. He has worked with a diverse bunch of musicians including Al Green, CeCe Winans, and Switchfoot to name a few. So, as the saying goes, when he talks, we should listen.
There are a lot of good quotes in the article, but here’s a few I really find hard-hitting:
The music business, Christian and otherwise, has been a wealth-creation mechanism for a small, elite group of executives, songwriters, producers and artists. Those days are over. Still, the old guard won’t go peaceably. They’ll fight for control to the end. When they finally exit, the new music business will be underway.
Christian music as a genre has always been a music you move on from. Young Christian baby-boomers and Gen-X once in love with the music abandoned it in adulthood and have not returned. As a result, legacy artist catalogs (ranging from Larry Norman to Amy Grant to dcTalk and beyond) do not and will not have the staying power of their mainstream counterparts such as The Beatles, The Eagles, Elton John, Led Zeppelin, Celine Dion, James Taylor, Bob Dylan, Bruce Springsteen and U2. All these artists, and a hundred others, remain popular and economically viable today. Sadly, the pattern does not hold true for what was contemporary Christian music.
I can especially speak for the validity of the second paragraph. I think I had close to 300 albums when I left for college, and the vast majority of them were “Christian”. I look back on some of those groups like Audio Adrenaline, dc Talk, and the Newsboys with fond memories, but honestly I find a lot of it written for the 12-18 year-old demographic.
Working with college students, I find that many of them do not have the same type of devotion to Christian bands that students had even less than 10 years ago. They have access to practically any song from an artist in any genre at any moment. They no longer have to go to the shady record stores to get their music. The ones that into more mainstream music no longer listen to the church-lady warnings about personal holiness. I’m not saying whether this is good or bad, I’m stating what I see. I think that in the future is going to get harder and harder for Christian publishing companies to survive. Like Peacock says, the mainstream CCM industry will probably get distilled down to one big company.
Anyway, I found the article interesting, and I hope to hear people’s thoughts. I think parallels can be drawn between the CCM industry and the church as a whole. People are less willing to invest themselves in top-down, power-driven institutions, and I think the time is coming when these institutions will need to make some big changes to survive.
HT: Tall Skinny Kiwi
May 2nd, 2008 at 1:03 pm
Interesting article, and different. I like it.
Sorry to say it, but I don’t really like Christian Contemporary Music. Oh sure, I like old stuff from Amy Grant, DC Talk, Jars of Clay, and so on, but lately CCM sounds like all the same dull stuff to me. There’s some stuff I don’t mind, but I really don’t care for CCM as an industry. I wouldn’t mind seeing more Christian artists go mainstream. I love my classic rock ‘n’ roll too much, and Christian rock just doesn’t even compare to it . . . it’s a little too easy for it to sound cheesy and “wannabe”, and like you said, mostly for preteens-early teens. When I listen to Christian music it’s usually worship music from Marantha or something like that.
May 2nd, 2008 at 5:32 pm
Rather than being music in its own right, Christian music - like all modern Christian things - has to have a “target audience”. Combined with being designed to directly compete with the worldly music, you get an engineered, second rate result. If Christian artists made music for its sake, not copying existing stuff, then we would be in a better place.
The other issue is that most Christian artists I have met only know what an E and A power chord is, and when you shift it around the guitar neck it makes different noises and you can whine or grunt your voice in a different way to this new sound, or on keys you can change the MIDI patch to strings and play the root + third over the “emotional” part and add a 13th every two chords.
A typical conversation:
(about a song 6/8, A Aeolian)
me: The song ends on the root and you are singing the word “Jesus”. I think it really need to finish on C for a positive end. It’s currently VI-III-VII-I and I think the effect will be better VI-III-VII-III
response: uh…it sounds good like it is.
May 2nd, 2008 at 6:57 pm
. . . Yeah, I think we can add a lack of musical/song-writing talent to our list of complaints. It’s great that their hearts are in the right place, but that shouldn’t be enough to land a record deal.
I know I sound harsh. I just think that if people are going to write songs about God for a living, they should make a bit of an effort and know a few things about music besides three chords on the guitar.
May 2nd, 2008 at 7:39 pm
Well I don’t know about that, punk rock is essentially guys who know a chord and have some passion, and while it may not be your cup of tea, there’s a reason its still around.
May 2nd, 2008 at 8:09 pm
I was just bored with the CCM scene in the 90’s. There is some really good stuff out there today, though much of the mainstream is still fluffy.
Most of the stuff I listen to is indie.
I tend to like edgier stuff that makes you think.
As far as musicianship. I think much out there today is better than on the secular market. (laugh if you want) but it is just marketable to do “Jesus music” as my brother calls it… (though it was ironic that he stated that as the groups I was listening to did not even say “Jesus” in the songs…
I think some groups that just knock off secular groups have their place. There are some great sounds out there but honestly I would rather my kids listen to Barlow Girls than Evanescence.
iggy
May 2nd, 2008 at 8:57 pm
Tim, I’m not a fan of any punk rock at all, so yeah!
Actually when I wrote that comment I was thinking about worhip bands/leaders/people who seem to win Dove Awards every year for reasons beyond my understanding!
Iggy, yeah, there’s a lot of mainstream music/garbage out there that isn’t worth listening to. But there is so much beautiful, amazing, exciting music in the world, if you dig around for awhile to find it. CCM too many times doesn’t fall under any of those categories.
May 2nd, 2008 at 9:09 pm
Oh I know, and I agree, but I think it has less to do with music theory knowledge and more to do with the CCM industry mass producing music the same way GM used to do with cars.
May 2nd, 2008 at 9:30 pm
“more to do with the CCM industry mass producing music the same way GM used to do with cars.”
Lol. Yes. Some have a theory about a giant CCM machine that produces numerous songs at a time . . .
It’s not just music theory that needs help. The lyrical side of it is lacking as well.
May 2nd, 2008 at 9:42 pm
Merry,
I feel ya, in fact the passion that infuses punk could do CCM a lot of good.
May 2nd, 2008 at 9:57 pm
I find speaking about Christian music as a business is especially revealing. Strategies and demographics and economice viability are just mirrors of the secular music industry. I am disappointed no one really addressed what God wants to hear - music emanating from a deeply committed heart with no concern about the monetary opportunity.
Christian music has unfortunately become an idol in many ways.
May 2nd, 2008 at 10:22 pm
I don’t think Christian artists have ever been held to the standards of the regular music industry (calling it the “secular” music industry is part of the problem, actually…).
When I was growing up, I had some cousins (still do, but they’re grown now) who didn’t listen to “secular” music, and everything they said, and everything their publications said, was like “listen to this if you like Sarah McLachlan! listen to this if you like Green Day!”
And, then, I would listen to it, and I’d go “oh wow. these people are absolutely horrible!”
Hopefully, because of the proliferation of the internet, “Christian artists” will quit playing in that made-up world and just be artists who happen to also be Christian. Music is, after all, a business any way you slice it, and hopefully those with talent and enough business acumen (or representation that holds the artists’ best interests as paramount) will get heard.
Also, from the standpoint of Evangelicals, I would think that would be far preferable, since only a teeny-tiny segment of the population is actually interested in “Christian Music” and they’re already Christians!
May 2nd, 2008 at 11:07 pm
Strategies, demographics, economic viability, business acumen, literary artistry, musical theory, and depth of musical difficulty will one day be accomplished by a computer.
If a computer composes a song with meaningful Christian lyrics and an amazing and moving melody accentuated by a fantastic orchestral arrangement, is it Christian?
May 3rd, 2008 at 12:36 am
Remember the Huntingtons? They were sort of a Ramones knock off, yet they were asked by the Ramones to play at one of their last gigs. The Ramones loved them… and they were Christian…CCM… and punk…
iggy
May 3rd, 2008 at 1:34 am
That was my early experience. It seemed that all bands were geared as compeition to a superior band.
May 3rd, 2008 at 8:06 am
Igs,
Love the Ramones, I went to their farewell tour, even at that advanced age they could put on a show.
I also remember the Huntingtons, my wife has most of their CDs though I didn’t get into them quite as much they were enjoyable.
Did you ever listen to the Deadlines?
May 3rd, 2008 at 10:16 am
I was writing my comments on this when it grew longer and longer so I put it on my blog (clicking on my name above gets you there.) I used to get my hands on anything relating to CCM but got disillusioned as to the direction it was going….basically nowhere.
May 5th, 2008 at 11:33 am
Rick,
Alas. You are a voice lone voice crying the wilderness. ** Oh, I’m sorry. . . Rick did you have a comment?” **
May 5th, 2008 at 12:23 pm
John,
I thought we already covered this… but… that is the main issue I have with CCM. When all the major Christian labels were bought out by the big labels that killed “Christian” music as ministry. I see most of it as just entertainment with some exceptions.
When it was bought out they sold (souled) out and instead of trusting God to reach who He wanted to, they put it in the hands of worldly marketing.
There are some I know have integrity and do what they can, but as with the Jesus West Coast of years ago the guy that ran it found that it was not “ministry” but business and not what he thought it would be.
Though I guess the alternative is to listen to whatever is approved by Ingrid. ; )
iggy
May 5th, 2008 at 12:33 pm
I, for one, would not be too sad to the Christian music industry fade away into obscurity. There are definitely some decent artists within the walls, but I think there are also too many people just looking to make a quick buck. The evidence of this can be seen by all the artists who have released “worhsip” CDs in the last ten years. I mean, come on, how many times does “God of Wonders” need to be covered?
I also really dislike the practice of attaching the word “ministry” to everything in order to somehow validate it. In reality, if a Christian is called to anything, it is his ministry, regardless if he gives an altar call or passes out invitation cards or whatever. I honestly think that passing band off as ministries has allowed a lot of sub-par bands to have an audience whereas they would normally get laughed off the stage.
I guess a lot of the issues come from the fact that things become messed up when we start paying people to be in “ministry”.
May 5th, 2008 at 12:48 pm
I know… Third Day/Caedmon’s Call did it and that was all we needed! Who could top it?
iggy LOL!
May 5th, 2008 at 1:01 pm
“The evidence of this can be seen by all the artists who have released “worhsip” CDs in the last ten years.”
I have a theory about how worship songs are written. It involves drawing slips of paper out of a barrel.
Written on those slips are cliched Christian phrases such as “the blood of the lamb,” “forgiven and free,” or, if you really want to bring the house down, “Hallelujah!”
May 5th, 2008 at 1:07 pm
merry,
LOL!
the funny thing is, often those are my favorite songs!
iggy
May 5th, 2008 at 1:12 pm
Amen!
I DO think that there are some talented artists who specialize in music for corporate worship - Steve Fee, Chris Tomlin, David Crowder, and some others. There are also some who just jump on the next bandwagon, whose “worship albums” are akin to their “Christmas Albums” - remakes of songs that were just fine before…
May 5th, 2008 at 1:14 pm
Which gets back to the question - what makes one song “Christian” and another one “Secular”? And should we get bent out of shape when a “secular” song is used as part of pastor’s illustration of a Christian truth?
May 5th, 2008 at 1:25 pm
I think they’re are some truly talented people as well. Right now, I think it’s a bit odd. The industry, I think, needs them more than they need the industry. Prior to the internet age, it was difficult to impossible to be an independent artist and sell records. Now, I think if someone like David Crowder or Chris Tomlin went independent, they could easily sell albums and book shows.
May 5th, 2008 at 3:14 pm
Iggy - “When it was bought out they sold (souled) out and instead of trusting God to reach who He wanted to, they put it in the hands of worldly marketing.”
Well said!
May 5th, 2008 at 4:48 pm
“I also really dislike the practice of attaching the word “ministry” to everything in order to somehow validate it.”
If you do not have to pay to get in it can be (although not necessarily) called a ministry. Everything else is a business to some degree.
“And should we get bent out of shape when a “secular” song is used as part of pastor’s illustration of a Christian truth?”
Not always. I have quoted the poetic theologian Ian Anderson to show the searching of man. We must avoid sensationalism at the expense of discipleship though. Everyone must answer to God individually.
May 5th, 2008 at 9:06 pm
iggy (a minister in ministry) is here to talk (minster) about the music ministry industry (ministry of music) call CCM (ministry with music). I (a minister in ministry) too almost take offense (often my ministry is offensive) that ministry (minister) is attached to everything (ministry).
It is as if we were given a ministry (ministry) by God (One Who Ministers in and through us) wants us to minister (ministry) to everyone where ever we go (an minster our ministry).
I hope you (the one’s I ministered to) understand (what we hope our ministry will also bring to you) how important our ministry (ministry) is.
Thanks for this talk (ministry time) it really ministered (ministry) to me.
iggy (a minister in ministry)
I feel so validated (ministered to)
May 6th, 2008 at 4:30 am
A book some of you may be interested in Body Piercing Saved My Life: Inside the Phenomenon of Christian Rock by Andrew Beaujon a secular reporter for spin
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0306814579/fishtheabys-20/ref=nosim