tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3508293003737956258.post7494952278722923033..comments2024-03-17T04:17:30.905-05:00Comments on PostConsumer Reports: The Troubled Future Legacy of Christian MusicPostConsumer Reportshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04382150335755928153noreply@blogger.comBlogger57125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3508293003737956258.post-48491790407502574902023-10-09T21:52:10.701-05:002023-10-09T21:52:10.701-05:00I don't think it is profitable to make vinyl r...I don't think it is profitable to make vinyl repressing of ccm's greatest's, beacause if you go to any thrift store, record shop, or pawn shop, and you will find them. I purchased Larry Norman, Kieth green, agape force, the imperials, and Chris christian at thrift shops within cycling distance of my house.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3508293003737956258.post-76967344910409213952017-10-11T22:26:17.402-05:002017-10-11T22:26:17.402-05:00It's great to have ringtones from your music i...It's great to have ringtones from your music idol. Download the free ringtones here: <a href="https://bestringtonesfree.net/" rel="nofollow">https://bestringtonesfree.net/</a>Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3508293003737956258.post-15233353518416077052017-08-15T17:22:46.380-05:002017-08-15T17:22:46.380-05:00Oh, I hope this works because I sooo want to comme...Oh, I hope this works because I sooo want to comment! This was an excellent piece of writing weighing in on a valid subject. My prayer is that you planted seeds in the industry and caused concern to do action. I found this article last week because I was searching for David and the Giants, and thankfully, your blog showed up! How I wish I coulda shared with you all my good news way back in June: Legacy Christian music artist fans -- I am here to share that THE band, David and the Giants, are celebrating their 40 years of faithful ministry of reaching the lost!! It's a GIANT cause to celebrate!! The official event is this Friday, the 18th, at Church on the Rock in St. Peters, Missouri! You had me agreeing, that even in their case, the Christian labels that the band recorded for should do re-releases, promotions and all (like Capitol did for the Beach Boys). And that someone, anyone in the Christian music industry should, in my opinion, be lauding this milestone, celebrating its own as co-laborers, fellow musicians, for Jesus Christ - articles, interviews, etc. The Dove Awards should even set time aside for this band -- and even for the legacy artists that you all have mentioned. And then there's the lack of radio play for them which is so senseless (in my opinion) because David and the Giants are still recording (!), still touring, and David is still releasing solo albums -- praise the Lord!! So I am all the more beside myself because last July the Lord gave David Isaiah 43:19. He's been sharing that Scripture and the story behind it in performance settings. He said, "It's for you, too!" We who are all going to this event Friday are believing that God will do much more than all we can ask or imagine for this night! It'll be a glorious night of celebration and worship to the KING of kings and LORD of lords, JESUS CHRIST!! We are all so excited, anticipating!! These men have such a great love for their Savior, surrendering their hearts more than 40 years ago because of the great sacrifice He made to set them free!! Anyone with a testimony with this band (I got baptized at their New Orleans concert in '97 and haven't looked back!!) or appreciates their music and ministry -- come!! We'll be "Rockin' for the Rock"!! It'd be something if an extra night was added!! Hallelujah!! Thank You, Jesus!! Thank you for this space to comment! May the Lord also hear our cry on behalf of all these legacy artists! NancyAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3508293003737956258.post-76041608456558983552017-07-07T16:37:48.938-05:002017-07-07T16:37:48.938-05:00Finn, thanks for your comment and for pointing me ...Finn, thanks for your comment and for pointing me to your blog!<br />blessings,<br />ChrisPostConsumer Reportshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04382150335755928153noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3508293003737956258.post-15440033068682868992017-07-06T20:53:52.404-05:002017-07-06T20:53:52.404-05:00Found your well written post while looking up more...Found your well written post while looking up more info on Glenn Kaiser. I just posted something about my experience of sharing his music with someone who had never heard of him and now is a huge fan.<br />Feel free to view my post.<br />https://finnodell.blogspot.com/2017/07/labels.htmlPapa Finnhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14689566398473910324noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3508293003737956258.post-62542644295862850112017-06-13T18:36:39.568-05:002017-06-13T18:36:39.568-05:00Great article. I disagree with some of the comment...Great article. I disagree with some of the comments about refraining from tearing the CCM industry down. No, I think it's all-but-death is deserved. The problem is that the artists, as you've so well pointed out, have been shafted as a result. What I've never understood in my nearly 34-35 years as a musician, and during that heyday of CCM I was in Christian bands, is why these artists both now and then didn't seem to seek better labels and deals. Like now, if I were to shop my album (which, I have been, actually), I would NOT target Christian labels, whether my new album has lyrics or not. Christian labels were generally awful, I felt. Incredible shame of how artists struggled that were so good, like Phil Keaggy and the rest you cite here. This is a topic of intense frustration, anger, and sadness for me. I know well the work that goes into music. I was never even able to "make it" anywhere much, except some really close brushes with success in the 1990s when the band I was in started blowing up and playing with known acts...then self-destructed. Now I make my own music, much of it instrumental. The one song that has lyrics are "Christian", but not so overtly. But, I would not shop this to any Christian outlets. And if bands like Newsboys, Petra, and the like ever did really want to save the lost, they shouldn't necessarily have been hibernating on Christian-centric labels and gigs also...and I love these bands. I really do.troytalihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17809456736568452657noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3508293003737956258.post-57004169564861096142017-06-12T07:17:13.395-05:002017-06-12T07:17:13.395-05:00Gary, just this week I was listening to everything...Gary, just this week I was listening to everything is possible - what a lyrically rich song. Had to play it on repeat. Ur music ministered to me all the way in UgandaAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3508293003737956258.post-7371304408384369682017-06-11T23:48:26.308-05:002017-06-11T23:48:26.308-05:00Maybe we have gone full circle..
Maybe the music n...Maybe we have gone full circle..<br />Maybe the music needs to go back to Church...and leave the lucre outside the Church...��Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3508293003737956258.post-37423386989689973432016-11-14T14:29:46.044-06:002016-11-14T14:29:46.044-06:00Man, those are some good questions! I'm sure w...Man, those are some good questions! I'm sure we could go round and round about them.<br /><br />Phillip Sandifer was my first live show.<br />Some Amy Grant album was my first purchase.<br />My last purchase was Phil Keaggy and King's Kaleidescope.<br /><br />Jesus Freak!? That's old! You need to buy some new music! ;)PostConsumer Reportshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04382150335755928153noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3508293003737956258.post-68956250906298524862016-11-09T18:55:42.636-06:002016-11-09T18:55:42.636-06:00Not to resurrect a dead thread, but it was interes...Not to resurrect a dead thread, but it was interesting reading and I wanted to thank the other contributors. Having experienced the rise, peak and decline of Christian Radio from the early 80's to the early 90's, here's a few thoughts:<br />1.) What is the purpose of CCM? Ministry to Christians? Outreach to non-Christians? Entertainment for Christians? It's hard to tell.<br />2.) Authenticity vs. Commercialism - The more "slick" the product became, it seemed to lose some of its "realness" as well.<br />3.) Too segmented / separated from secular venues. Live music venues (outside of churches) too hard to find. People's undies would get all clenched up if a secular club had Christian rock every now and then. The 70's style coffeehouses with stages for music and poetry readings are gone, too.<br />4.) Crap production / theology / insider lingo. Heard some forgettable song recently about holding the sparrow or something like that. Huh? <br />5.) Artists/audience too willing to shoot their own wounded. God forbid if you sing about being gay or have some lyrics wondering about universal salvation or something outside of a fairly conservative theology. Or got divorced, e.g. Amy Grant and Sandi Patti.<br />6.) Too hard to discover new music. I miss Cornerstone. Wisconsin has Lifest, but I prefer more meat and less sugar to my music. It's just weird, and not in a good "Cornerstone '88" type of weird. By the time high-speed internet arrived, it was too late.<br />7.) Sorry, other commenter, but Jimi Hendrix never claimed Keaggy as the greatest guitarist. http://www.snopes.com/music/artists/keaggy.asp<br /><br />Here's a question, if we want to keep this discussion going: First live show, First CCM purchase, LAST CCM purchase.<br />For me, the Imperials, (not sure if it was with Taff or not) Rez Band's Between Heaven and Hell, and, lastly, (I think) DCTalk's Jesus Freak.<br />GKoelpienhttps://www.facebook.com/gkoelpiennoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3508293003737956258.post-20251106352285304222016-10-25T17:31:09.246-05:002016-10-25T17:31:09.246-05:00Some things just have a lifetime and they run thei...Some things just have a lifetime and they run their course. Religious artists existed in a different space previously. We can't go back in time. Sad reality--but let it be. JCHaywirehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11112418189222465886noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3508293003737956258.post-73538808914029195872016-10-22T00:23:33.000-05:002016-10-22T00:23:33.000-05:00A Few things:
- It never depresses me more than t...A Few things:<br /><br />- It never depresses me more than to think that the insanely talented guys like Kaiser and Keaggy off playing in corners somewhere while The Who go out for another zombified tour. Yes, this is wrong...<br /><br />- But, this was the CCM Bubble for 40 years. Phil Keaggy and REZ were not well known except by us at Cornerstone, Creation, or the like. They were a big fish in a small pond while the labels were pushing the next Amy Grant or Michael W Smith -- not the next REZ. In the 90s Grammy-nominated Bride put on a killer show and gave it their all -- in churches in the midwest where they were lucky to get 200 people. In the 80s as FM Top40 was exploding, CCM was confined to fuzzy AM stations where the tamest of Phil's songs were allowed. Speaking of which,<br /><br />- We figured out too late that CCM radio wasn't really our friend. For music like Phil's and Glenn's you waited until 10pm Saturday night. And don't even start on the embarrassing "Christian Hit Radio" experiment that marketed Inspirational Pop to kids while their friends were listening to rap and rock. CCM Radio still sounds like the audio version of Diet Mountain Dew. <br /><br />- Pop music is cyclical and a cruel mistress -- and CCM isn't immune. Remember the gigantic hit Iggy Azelea was 3 years ago? She's down at the casino next week. Carly Rae Jepsen was on the Tonight Show one night and played to 40 people in a mall a few months later. At one point Boston was the biggest name in rock, now they're playing Native Casinos in rural North Dakota. This is what happens to the huge pop music with millions spent on promotion. Guess what happens to the scrappy independent CCM people who barely made it by word-of-mouth 20 years after their biggest success. <br /><br />- So what do we do? Don't expect CCM Radio to care -- they're off looking for the next Hillsong and more Christian Mumford and Son soundalikes. Don't expect the owners of the labels to care, they're still seeing if they can market more pop-country acts to the CCM world regardless of their lifestyle. They don't know their back catalog of tiny CCM labels they got in a fire sale 15 years ago. <br /><br />But at least start here: DON'T Pirate the music, check and see if the artist sells it from their site. They deserve the income (and go direct as much as possible). Likewise, don't only stream back catalogs of your favorites, check and see if they're available in a better form. And if you know a thing or two about promotion make some noise: it's always been a weak link in the Christian music chain. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3508293003737956258.post-52681569325677019572016-10-21T05:51:06.806-05:002016-10-21T05:51:06.806-05:00Thanks for writing this article on the state of af...Thanks for writing this article on the state of affairs of these amazing artists. I'm from India, and I can say that there is an increasing demand now for good quality Christian music. If only they can be re-mastered and shared here, then atleast we can preserve their legacy offshore and also serve the purpose of such music - in connecting hungry people to God.Sandeephttp://www.fusionchurchhyderabad.innoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3508293003737956258.post-45925854306746827762016-10-20T17:34:37.150-05:002016-10-20T17:34:37.150-05:00Great thought! Do we please Christ, our treasure ...Great thought! Do we please Christ, our treasure (reward) isn't in this world. Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02818642743261628029noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3508293003737956258.post-1512837487304862642016-10-20T16:07:50.632-05:002016-10-20T16:07:50.632-05:00I hate to be that guy, but none of the things you ...I hate to be that guy, but none of the things you are asking about will happen without demand. Furthermore a lot of legacy CCM Artists are just that - artists. If they focused on a sustainable ministry business versus a music business they could have more impact. - Len JenningsAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3508293003737956258.post-12945172827619925092016-10-20T12:23:29.956-05:002016-10-20T12:23:29.956-05:00To make your point more real, I didn't even kn...To make your point more real, I didn't even know Andre Crouch passed away until I read this article. How sad is that?Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09991713538460627214noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3508293003737956258.post-29551118274534857072016-10-20T12:23:07.527-05:002016-10-20T12:23:07.527-05:00To make your point more real, I didn't even kn...To make your point more real, I didn't even know Andre Crouch passed away until I read this article. How sad is that?Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09991713538460627214noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3508293003737956258.post-57941313279158132212016-10-20T12:20:57.077-05:002016-10-20T12:20:57.077-05:00This comment has been removed by the author.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09991713538460627214noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3508293003737956258.post-68331163043557277482016-10-20T11:44:59.044-05:002016-10-20T11:44:59.044-05:00Do you create new demand? Or do you nourish existi...Do you create new demand? Or do you nourish existing demand? I do not believe that creating new demand is feasible. Music is tightly bound to eras and experiences. When people move on, only nostalgia tends to bring them back, and if the nostalgia is not there, neither will be the depth of appreciation.<br /><br />While I am certain better publicity might help a little, I truthfully don't believe the nostalgia factor is strong enough. Worsening this is the fact that a lot of Christians find the music reminds them of an era they can't recapture at all, even through nostalgia. Much of this is linked to youth groups, and being new in Christ, and going back there by listening to the music may be more bittersweet than secular counterparts experience. <br /><br />I can't speak for everyone, but as much as I loved the CCM music of my youth, with very, very few exceptions, revisiting it feels strangely disconnected, and reconnecting does not rekindle the flame. Secular music experiences this too, but I think the effect is compounded in CCM. This says nothing about quality or musicianship. It's more about the time, the place, and the people with whom you bonded so long ago, in a youth group or small group of un-recreatable memory.dlehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02475467561892290120noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3508293003737956258.post-43781426843657114042016-10-20T10:07:48.376-05:002016-10-20T10:07:48.376-05:00It is somewhat interesting about your comment rega...It is somewhat interesting about your comment regarding Keaggy as a great guitarist. Clapton was asked in an interview back in the day, how it felt to be the greatest guitarist in the world (so named by some music mag). His response was alarming to most of the world. He said, he wouldn't know. You would have to ask Phil Keaggy. In the land of their peers, Christian artists are seen as artists. They are known and respected. In the Christian world that they have chosen to be part of they are forgotten. Oh, we still remember "Layla" and "Brown Eyed Girl" and "Smokin in the Boys Room" but "Lovespeak" or "Love Broke Through" or "Eyes on the Clouds" or any of the other masterful songs of the same period by a Christian artist is forgotten. I still have my old vinyl. I would say "Christian" vinyl but I am not fond of that term. <br /><br />These guys... and gals were artists, some of the best that the world has known but they were segregated by an industry. In 2014 I paid nearly $400 to see the Eagles in Vegas. My most recent trip to California, I searched for a "Christian concert" and could not find one. Google failed me. Or did it? I found concerts for Jackson Browne, ZZ Top, Cindi Lauper and a score of "secular artists that I never heard of. But not one reference to the music of my youth that sustained me, encouraged me, spoke into my life.<br /><br />The aforementioned secular tunes were feel good music, great for crusin. For many of the songs, I garbled the lyrics maybe only getting a few words here and there, but the tune brought back memories. The Christian tunes were that and more. They were there during my struggles and my pain; the times of growth. <br /><br />Chuck Girard has a song "Don't shoot the Wounded". Maybe as Christians we do not only shoot the wounded but we also bury our aging soldiers.<br /><br />By the way, my wife is a singer and shortly after the release of that song by Chuck Girard she attempted to get the soundtrack. Not available. Out of determination she called the contact number on the album. She ended up speaking with Chuck Girard. His response.... he sent her a cassette copy of the studio track used on the album. No charge! Just an encouraging word.<br /><br />Maybe it is time for, we the listeners, to step up to restore the musical heroes of our faith, not as Christian artists, but as artists, as the voices of our youth. Bruce Humphrieshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18141668863356413495noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3508293003737956258.post-16911355193776577272016-10-20T09:05:43.826-05:002016-10-20T09:05:43.826-05:00Petra, Michael Card, Don Francisco, Keith Green al...Petra, Michael Card, Don Francisco, Keith Green all still live in my CD player. Constantly. I think there's a few problems already mentioned. <br /><br />1) Yes the pool is shrinking - for everybody. Even secular artists who were considered to have "made it" are lamenting the state of the music biz. <br /><br />2) Christians aren't listening to it any more. I'm baffled by this one - at our normally theologically conservative church, there seems to be an attitude of "CCM = Christian Ghetto and if we want to be "culturaly relevant" we should listen to secular stuff. Not said, but it's pretty pervasive. I happen to think there's still a very solid purpose for edification, teaching, reproof and correction within the church. But I seem to be in the minority. I do know that at all our public church functions, whenever they invite the neighborhood, the music played is the same stuff you hear on any radio station. Those in ministry don't seem to even be aware of "legacy" ccm acts. <br /><br />3) CCM as in "radio" has never been a friend of any genre but current light pop du jour. I'm not really a fan of 'positive and insipid' radio. None of the acts I enjoy have ever been the darlings of radio. <br /><br />I'd love to know how to more efficiently support CCM as I know it. Third Day seems to do a great job. My wife is a rabid fan. I know we've dropped a LOT of cash going to their shows, special releases etc... I'd like to know that the bulk of my money is actually going to the artists and support staff, and not Ticket Master. Getting rid of THAT leach would double everyone's bottom line. I wish legacy merchandise were more available. I'd pay good money for a More Power To Ya T-shirt. (I get that record labels do provide benefit, but ticketmaster not so much - it's money that goes to neither the artist, nor the venue. It's basically a super expensive credit card processing service) <br /><br />I also think - speaking to people where they are now is key. I'm a 45 yo married Christian with a kid. Non-christians aren't going to accidentally discover CCM. I actually have a pretty direct (but very close to the text) song I was working on based out of 1 Cor 7. Even if one of the big guys were to write such a song - think it'd get radio airplay? Yeaaah right. <br /><br />4) On that radio thing.. CCM and teaching for the most part do NOT mix. I LOVE old hymns. I think the modern church is neglecting a lovely treasure. What my son knows, he learned from me (he thinks they're rock anthems - many are. shhh....) But when it comes to radio - we have "organ playing sitting around waiting to die hymns" and preaching, or we have positive and insipid, perhaps with Swindoll's joke of the day. Gimme Michael Card, Petra, Rez, Keaggy AND Swindoll, Begg, David Jeremiah. Please? Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16605459230310609468noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3508293003737956258.post-21089083631338115912016-10-20T08:53:40.062-05:002016-10-20T08:53:40.062-05:00Great article! There are definitely different seas...Great article! There are definitely different seasons in life and ministry! While I have taken on new pastoral responsibilities I still do limited touring. Yet I have to remind myself that my significance is not based on the way the "industry " treats me but in Christ and his calling in my life no matter where it leads me!Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00760456551823884720noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3508293003737956258.post-41713964326051815262016-10-20T07:59:25.107-05:002016-10-20T07:59:25.107-05:00I'm not convinced your arguments are all found...I'm not convinced your arguments are all founded. I live an hour from Champaign and had no idea these guys were even going to be there. So, bad marketing. <br />You mention CCM is bad about aging musicians, I think that's the same for mainstream as well though. You look at mainstream music and you probably have a 10 year window at most to make your mark and your money, then you are left doing state fairs and "reunion tours". There is no retirement as a musician no matter who you are.<br />There are a lot of Christian artists over the past couple decades who have signed on with major record labels who have gotten known by the secular world. Some of these bands music will be remembered and heard for quite a while.<br />CCM has always been so inclusive and maintained with in only the Christian community. Bands like Petra really tried to forge the gap by doing secular events like Farm Aid, but also took a lot of flack as well. This has been the problem.<br />Not to mention CCM has lacked originality. In most cases CCM artists are attempting to copy a sound to play to the ears of mainstream and draw them over. <br />I love CCM muisc, but it has a lot of faults that have helped shoot its own self in the foot.Brendon Traxlerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04656312806064483657noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3508293003737956258.post-8245605282627836212016-10-20T02:48:32.562-05:002016-10-20T02:48:32.562-05:00It's driven by fans and their dollars. This is...It's driven by fans and their dollars. This is all CCM has ever cared about. Even back in the day, these artists required self-promotion. I grew up in St. Louis that had a huge Christian station. REZ and Keaggy were, even then, confined to a late Saturday or Sunday night "rock" show. REZ and Keaggy made it past those years because they were the best, but they also self-promoted taking others along (e.g. Cornerstone, the best festival ever.)<br /><br />I know Keaggy just played Wheaton College and picked up a few hundred fans that saw in him the origins of the guitar work Ed Sheeran is doing. Most though just said it was some old guy playing his songs (so wrong.)Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3508293003737956258.post-3636679528185326722016-10-20T01:14:33.469-05:002016-10-20T01:14:33.469-05:00This comment has been removed by the author.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16916383470006974084noreply@blogger.com