Contemporary Christian - New Music NOT there

[joshzz]

I don't know what's behind it, but the Christian Record Labels are not putting out enough good music. This has always been a problem but the problem is much worse than ever before.

Many talented artists are being released by their labels.. For instance, Joy Williams released her best song as an Independent, "One of Those Days".

Too much of what's coming through the major label pipeline is just bland.

I believe if this continues, many station owners like myself will be adding more clean secular and independent music to compensate. ... We're already playing about 20% secular music & have even contemplated reinventing our station.

I listened to K-Love and another regional station today while on the road just to make sure I wasn't missing anything.. ... unfortunately heard nothing new . josh

 

[brian.marchand]

As a listener I agree and have felt that way since christian music radio stations started in my area when i was in high school. I am 42 now. Christian music has a lot of bland songs and rarely adds new songs and if they do most new songs are bland too. That is why I have always been bored with adult christian music. At least christian chr is not quite so bland so is my choice when I want to listen to music. So I will stream Air1 online but still a network like air1 or wayfm plays too much bland christian ac crossovers and also has very little new music added. I do not like most secular music though. At least what I hear on secular music stations sounds even worse to me.

I listen to a local community station sometimes where they play indian and african music one night a week and smooth jazz another night because at least that is something different and not bland. I do not like xmas music so I have not listened to the local ccm here WIBI since November and after the xmas music every year I have a hard time going back to it after a month of boring xmas songs. I take WIBI off my presets and it takes a long time for me to add them again as I got used to not listening to them.Instead I listen a lot to NPR news. When I do scan by WIBI they are playing the same boring music over and over again.

 

[rbrucecarter5]

I am 42 now. Christian music has a lot of bland songs and rarely adds new songs and if they do most new songs are bland too. That is why I have always been bored with adult christian music.

Ditto here - I'm 55 and remember days long ago when CCM was much better. Too much "playing it safe" with praise and worship. I'm done, the local CCM is not even on my presets. And I helped establish them 30 years ago, now I consider that money wasted.

I'm not too worried about my own spiritual condition, I am firmly entrenched as a Christian. I am very worried because at least two generations of teens have had no Christian music on the radio, and therefore have been listening to secular. Just one more way the church owned stations have let them down. Not good - and it didn't have to be that way. There was plenty of good music out there. I don't think the vast majority of teens will be coming back to Christian radio - or churches. Not a good long term business plan if you look at things that way.

Now it sounds like the PW promoting record company execs are pushing only the bland stuff to everybody. Praise and worship is garbage, nobody under 50 really wants it, especially non-believers. Ichabod.

 

[R.D.P.]

Ditto here. One issue though, since I get mostly Christian Talk, I'm forced to listen to my CD collection. This is not of my own doing though. The local Christian radio stations have alienated me.

R.D.P. <><

P.S. I'm going to be 39 years old, next April too. Like the rest of you, I have issues with 95% of this P&W music. It's too boring and predictable for me. That's why I usually buy the harder and more in your face type of CD's, when I'm able to get them.

B.T.W. One such CD I've been listening to lately is Family Force 5's Dance or Die. It may have a "Quirky Sound" but this one absolutely rocks.

 

[MyCatKnight]

I will agree to disagree with you, guys. This is all subjective, and dependent on what your individual station's target demo is. We're not all exactly gunning for the same listeners, nor should we be. Along with some great, innovative songs, there has been a lot of sub-standard CCM since the mid-to-late 80's. If you believe that the record labels' bottom line is money, then they would embrace any artist who would sell, old or new. If you believe that other stations' bottom line is audience, then it stands to reason that they're playing what their individual audiences' like, lest they lose listeners to the competition. Don't like it? Play something else on your station. If you're right, you'll take some of their listeners.

But airing 20% secular implies that you'd rather take the easy route of playing "family-friendly enough" pop over some great (sometimes older) CCM. Step out of the box, go to the mall, and befriend managers at a music store and at a Christian bookstore. Then ask them which CDs are in constant demand. Out here, ancient CDs from Wes King, FFH, Brooklyn Tab, and others continue to sell because great songs are timeless. Some of them never even got good airplay when they were new. Listeners will not go to your CCM station because they hear Daughtry's or Miley Cyrus' latest. They have the local CHR/AC outlets for that, and I would rather aim to be listeners' first pick.

A station owner has far more freedom than a station employee. Seek His vision, clarify it, sell it to your employees, then run with it as hard as you can. Give your market the identification that "When I want to hear ______, I will listen to ____ (YOUR station, preferably first)." Get out in the public and promote yourself at any event your demo would attend. If you've found great indie acts, then who's stopping you from playing them? Run an all-indie program and see how it goes. Then shamelessly remind the audience who broke the song first (thus, where to go for the greatest new music before any other station plays it).

FWIW, people I meet (including my kids, our little church, and hipper music fans) happen to enjoy acts like FF5, VOTA, Skillet, Kutless, Relient K, tobyMac, Decypher Down, Disciple, Hawk Nelson, David Crowder, Britt Nicole, Jeremy Camp, Switchfoot, Red, Sleeping Giant, Stellar Kart, Manic Drive, Tenth Avenue North, Addison Road, Remedy Drive, etc. They even like some PW from bands like Kutless, Tree 63, Crowder, Chris Tomlin, Matt Redman, Matt Maher, etc. (though generally the more upbeat or harder-rocking versions). Festivals like LifeLight and Creation pack in enough of a crowd to confirm that there must be some demand for these artists. I hate to admit it, but a lot of the Christian music shoved down my throat as a kid did not stack up to these modern artists. Sure, there were a select few great ones (I personally enjoy Larry Norman to Rich Mullins to Stryper), but I hardly think posting my list of really cheesy, bad artists of my youth serves anyone. Then again, this age has many more options (iPods, streaming, etc.), and it really is all subjective.

 

[joshzz]

You bring up some great points.. The bottom line is, "Who are we trying to reach, the targeted demographics?"


If we were trying to attract an older audience only it would be wise to introduce older acts but in our market every Christian station is trying to target an older audience with P&W, soft AC, & talk... Another station that attracts an older audience would just further divide the small pie...

"Run an all-indie program and see how it goes"... We were broadcasting the program Power Praise but realized most of the acts were paying CRW to be considered for their charts which they used to determine which acts would get on the show.. .... The truth is there is not enough good Christian Indie music to warrant a program.


Our radio station conducted a survey and found that the vast majority of Christians that listen to Christian radio also listen to secular radio.. it would be great to go all Christian music but there aren't enough quality songs being offered by the labels and indies.

 

[William_Yeager]

I actually think that given the wretched state of the music industry as a whole, Christian labels are doing a pretty good job putting out new music, it's Christian radio that's holding up it's end of the bargain. It's not entirely radio's fault; listeners who keep demanding familiar material are still generally driving the bus. As someone who programs a hybrid Hot AC, I get to see that first hand. As, an example, here's my top ten for this week:

1. Daughtry - No Surprise (recurrent)
2. Theory of a Deadman - Not Meant to Be (current)
3. Linkin Park - Leave Out All the Rest (recurrent)
4. Matthew West - More (recurrent, if not Gold; "The Motions" is #32)
5. Lifehouse - Broken (recurrent)
6. Lifehouse - First Time (recurrent)
7. Lifehouse - Whatever It Takes (recurrent)
8. Brooke Fraser - Shadowfeet (recurrent)
9. Rob Thomas - Someday (current)
10. Plain White T's - 1, 2, 3, 4 (recurrent)

I also have some material that hasn't exactly dominated at Christian Radio in my Top 40, such as Lara Landon's "For the First Time" and Corrie Carlson's "Empty".

It also hasn't helped that a considerable number of younger listeners have turned to sources other than radio for their new music (i.e. MySpace, Last.FM, YouTube, file sharing, etc.), although I don't feel it's the doomsday scenario we keep hearing, unless of course you're trying to actually sell CDs.

As a side note, I'd like to commend WAY-FM (the network) for breaking Kris Allen's "Live Like We're Dying". The mainstream stations in my market have been slow to adopt this one, and it's rare to see a Christian station be first to market with a crossover single.

 

[R.D.P.]

If we were trying to attract an older audience only it would be wise to introduce older acts but in our market every Christian station is trying to target an older audience with P&W, soft AC, & talk... Another station that attracts an older audience would just further divide the small pie...

To Mr. Josh, you're spot on. That's the reason why I no longer listen to Christian radio.

Moody, WLBF from Montgomery and AFR have lost me completely. One is trying to see who can out talk the other. AFR has won that battle for now but I wouldn't be surprised, if Moody and/or WLBF from Montgomery were to soon ditch their few remaining music blocks and do all Talk too.

The radio, as of now, no longer appeals to me. There's no compelling reason for me to listen to it, at this time. That's the reason why I now depend on my ever growing CD collection to keep me entertained and Ministered to.

R.D.P. <><

 

[audiophile.]

Have you guys listened to a 'General Market' AC lately?

Seems like some of your comments are misdirected, because your tastes have become jaded.

Stations are looking at their research, if the audience wants to hear it more it will be played more, if they don't, it won't...

 

[brian.marchand]

I realize stations test music and play what people want to hear. And I realize stations that keep a tight rotation usually have better ratings. That is the best business model to stay on the air agreed. And no I do not like general market AC stations and do not want to listen. However what the masses of people like I usually do not. I am only speaking of myself. Not to offend anyone but what is popular in mass appeal is usually dumbed down and simple.

 

[xmusicmatt]

I realize stations test music and play what people want to hear. And I realize stations that keep a tight rotation usually have better ratings. That is the best business model to stay on the air agreed. And no I do not like general market AC stations and do not want to listen. However what the masses of people like I usually do not. I am only speaking of myself. Not to offend anyone but what is popular in mass appeal is usually dumbed down and simple.

Your right.. and It's no different here on the internet.. for about 6 months I tested a more selection with my internet radio station playing more recurrent, gold and indy stuff... and tell you what? listenership dropped... within a few hours of going back to spinning the "current chart hits" in a heavier rotation ... listenership doubled .. and this is during 'off hours' for most internet radio (ie not during 9-5 M-F) ... so "the mass people" want what is current and hot.. whatever it is at the moment.

 

[JimmyJames]

Which goes back to how "what's hot" is decided in the first place.

 

[nitnitr]

I run an Internet station too, and find that charted music fairs the best with listeners. Who determines what makes the charts is who determines what gets played on most CHR and AC stations. Maybe a little too simplistic an answer, but following the charts gets my station the most listeners. Is this wrong? I'm not so sure. I will admit, that I like to keep the rotation more upbeat, a little edgier, than most Christian AC stations. In the evening hours, I like to take it up a notch too, and play a little more CHR than during the day. The point is, I want the most listeners I can get, and if that means chart play, then so be it.

What bugs me is when some fairly unique artist/group comes along, does well, and then all the sudden you have a flood of of other artists/groups try to duplicate the sound. Casting Crowns, MercyMe and Big Daddy Weave entered the industry several years ago, and all the sudden you had a bunch of groups trying to duplicate their sound. At least with Big Daddy Weave, I haven't seen many groups adding horns to the sound, except maybe Salvador, which has their own unique sound when they want. As for the groups mentioned above, they all seem to have an homogenized sound now, as it all blends in with all the other artists/groups that have come on the scene more recently.

Personally, I like the horn sound, and am happy to see a unique group, The O.C. Supertones, starting to come back on the scene. I notice that they are playing at Joshuafest this year in California. I hope they can get some new music out, cut a record deal, and start delivering music again. I realize SKA is a small niche in Christian music, but at least the sound is different, and a little edgier, how I like it myself, even if my station listeners don't.

 

[rbrucecarter5]

I realize stations test music and play what people want to hear. And I realize stations that keep a tight rotation usually have better ratings. That is the best business model to stay on the air agreed. And no I do not like general market AC stations and do not want to listen. However what the masses of people like I usually do not. I am only speaking of myself. Not to offend anyone but what is popular in mass appeal is usually dumbed down and simple.

And - radio listenership in general, not just Christian, is declining as a result. Christian radio as a whole is on the verge of becoming ineffective as a tool of the ministry. Dumbed down and generic doesn't excite anybody. We need to generate some real interest among listeners, not lull them to sleep - literally and spiritually.

I squirmed and was really bored with the traditional music service today in church. That stuff might bless somebody, but it doesn't bless me. The local praise and worship station is even worse - it makes me sleepy when I drive so I don't even tune it in.

 

[MightyFrenchman]

Personally, I like the horn sound.

I do too. That's why I really like Jimmy Needham's "Forgiven & Loved". It has horns and it doesn't sound like every other song being played on K-Love. Someone else made a good point earlier that can be applied to both CCM and secular music...there's just not a lot of creativity going on right now.

 

[JimmyJames]

Is it true that there's "not a lot of creativity going on right now" or true that we aren't looking for it and giving it airplay?

 

[MightyFrenchman]

Is it true that there's "not a lot of creativity going on right now" or true that we aren't looking for it and giving it airplay?

Answer: There's not a lot of music creativity going on right now.

 

[nitnitr]

Is it true that there's "not a lot of creativity going on right now" or true that we aren't looking for it and giving it airplay?

You may be right, but I am generally finding that the independent artists I come across, though they seem to have a deeper message and sometimes a unique sound, don't have the production values that are needed for airplay. The thing is, I don't have the time to go out and actively search for new and creative music that may be out there, if indeed it really is out there.

 

[landtuna]

We have a deal in my family. Whoever is driving gets to choose the radio station (or CD). As my wifey usually chooses K-love or another close relative I get exposed to CCM music every now and then.

To be honest, I have to agree with those posters here who claim there is a lack of variation and originality. Most of what I hear (except for the obvious Christian lyrics) would be a cross between heavy metal and grunge and a majority of the songs sound so similar I could not identify any one by name without concentrating.

The 'musicians' are (for the most part) semi-skilled and the A&R guy must have two dead ears. From a music perspective the current CCM is almost as repulsive to me as rap. I guess to the fans the message is more important than the sound.

 

[Goat Rodeo Cowboy]

The 'musicians' are (for the most part) semi-skilled and the A&R guy must have two dead ears. From a music perspective the current CCM is almost as repulsive to me as rap. I guess to the fans the message is more important than the sound.

Well, Landtuna, I will comment on the message side of the issue in terms similar to what you have used on the music side. If you analyze the "message" in Christian music today you find a lot of semi-skilled theologians and the gatekeepers who decide which tunes get on the air could be accused of having theologically dead ears.

Since this forum is no place to try to settle the theological issues of our era, I guess we are left to discuss the artistic value and talent of the music.