Keeping Christian Radio Relevant

[R.D.P.]

In the K-Love Vs. Air-1 discussion, many different views were offered, concerning the content of Christian radio. Some stated that Christian radio should avoid CCM altogether. Some, like me, said that it was alright to do CCM and even offered Bible Verses to prove our point. During that discussion, some good and bad points were made. I understand that some will never adapt to CCM. They see it as an offense to their walk with God. I don't see it as such. For years now, this music has been a blessing to my walk with God.

When the average Dan person reads from Psalms Chapter 33, 98 and 150 and puts those verses into their proper context, He takes the idea that God supports CCM and sees nothing wrong with it. In fact, this person believes that God can and will use any musical style He wants to help advance His Word and Praise to all mankind. It makes no difference what's being used.

Christian radio is trying to stay relevant. To keep up, they must adapt to the changing trends. If it means ditching the paid talk programs, they'll do it. If this means adding more upbeat tunes to their mix, they'll do this. If a Christian radio is still stuck in dark ages and believes that doing mostly talk and traditional music only will work, then it'll be a tough sell. I believe this and won't be talked out of it. When you meet people in the middle and give them some slow and fast songs, that's where success will meet you. If you limit the talk to a few local Church Services on Sunday and play music rest of the time, your radio station will see instant success.

Not trying to make you ditch anything. I'm stating the truth, from the way I see things going. Since I started working on this LPFM radio station, been doing my market research and talking with people too. My best success will come, if I keep the talk confined to four blocks on Sunday and do music rest of the time.

I've learned these truths over the years. If you skew the broadcast too old, it'll be hard to get support, since that audience is trying to survive. If you skew it mostly talk, that'll be big turn off. If you skew it too young, there won't be much support for it, since they don't have the disposable income. Now if you skew it down the middle and do a mix format of slow and fast songs, that's where success will come and meet you. It's the 18 to 54 year old crowd that'll give you the most support. That's going to be my target audience with WPJB-LP, once I get it on.

Dan <><

 

[beej65]

(Dan, that was me who emailed you earlier today about Air1, you can ignore it if you like. An LPFM cannot act as a translator and rebroadcast a full power station, but may broadcast a network feed with appropriate legal IDs and breaks.)

For me the decision to NOT pursue CCM is more than just personal taste; it's a market issue; we have several CCM stations on the air in this market already, and we are a church radio station with a rich theological heritage so the "traditional" model of talk and calming music seems to be the best fit. If our LPFM gets off the ground (and it's not guaranteed, as nothing from God is), it will be very much "counterculture" - we will the only station with this sound.

 

[R.D.P.]

My goal is to be Selma's first and only all local Christian radio voice. I have no plans to entertain the satellite fed program idea. It would be a waste of time.

Dan <><

 

[Avid Listener]

My goal is to be Selma's first and only all local Christian radio voice. I have no plans to entertain the satellite fed program idea. It would be a waste of time.

Dan <><

That still requires you to accept the fact that you either have to water down your theology to the point where no Christian disagrees with it, or you have to pick a segment of the Christian community to support, and accept that many other Christians won't want to listen to your station. Of course, if all you do are play pleasant songs with "Christian" lyrics, you'll attract listeners who just like pleasant music that they don't have to explain any of the lyrics to their kids.

 

[R.D.P.]

My on air presentation will be very Biblical. Plan on catering to CCM (Most Hours) and doing some Southern, Bluegrass and Country Gospel (Weekdays) by popular demand. Not going to be a watered down, make me feel good type of radio station. I'm going to present the truth of God's Word and let the chips fall where they may.

Dan <><

 

[Avid Listener]

My on air presentation will be very Biblical. Plan on catering to CCM (Most Hours) and doing some Southern, Bluegrass and Country Gospel (Weekdays) by popular demand. Not going to be a watered down, make me feel good type of radio station. I'm going to present the truth of God's Word and let the chips fall where they may.

Dan <><

Good luck with that.

You'll need it.

 

[R.D.P.]

Thanks.

Dan <><

 

[Stevens]

Good luck with that.

You'll need it.

Avid and all - Maybe we all just need to give Dan the benefit of the doubt. I've been involved with a couple of consultancies in southern markets…one in a city of about 150,000 population...another in a city of 30,000. I'm sure not the smartest guy in the room but both of those opportunities taught this midwestern boy that things are a whole lot different in the south. Part of the visit was a quick driving tour of the first market with the owner and GM. Their background was Southern Baptist and for good or bad their programming reflected that. As they showed me their city I was surprised by how many times the first qualifier in describing a neighborhood was denomination. "This is the Presbyterian neighborhood…the Catholic neighborhood…the Assemblies neighborhood." In that first case I sort of dismissed it. Then the same thing happened a few years later in the second city. I realized that denomination can be just as dividing as race in some areas of the south. You might say it's embedded in their DNA. It's about heritage and tradition. It's their comfort zone...their happy place. If your conversation with them isn't based in the same understanding of that tradition, it's like you're speaking to them in tongues with no one to offer the translation.

A few months back, another contributor on this site scolded me about my overly outspoken view regarding Dan's choice to block program his LPFM. That contributor tried to stress that things are different in the south. At the time I didn't appreciate his scolding and told him so. But as we've all continued to watch this unfold, I find myself coming back to those personal consulting experiences and those denominational qualifiers. We're not from Selma. Dan is. Most of what we know regarding Selma comes from a bloody 1965 Sunday on the Pettus bridge. It's the south and it IS a different place. Dan lives there and experiences that tradition every day. His choices regarding his radio station will come from his tradition's expression of "the truth of God's word" good or bad. And we're down right foolish to expect Dan to give consideration to any input that deviates from that tradition. It's what he understands and is comfortable with. It's easy to see this guy and see why he needs help. It's another thing to offer that help without understanding much about the culture Dan lives with daily. At best, you'll get a quick "thanks" and then find yourself scratching your head and asking "how does he not understand" the next time he shows up here or elsewhere.

 

[Goat Rodeo Cowboy]

I've been involved with a couple of consultancies in southern markets…one in a city of about 150,000 population...another in a city of 30,000. I'm sure not the smartest guy in the room but both of those opportunities taught this midwestern boy that things are a whole lot different in the south. Part of the visit was a quick driving tour of the first market with the owner and GM. Their background was Southern Baptist and for good or bad their programming reflected that. As they showed me their city I was surprised by how many times the first qualifier in describing a neighborhood was denomination. "This is the Presbyterian neighborhood…the Catholic neighborhood…the Assemblies neighborhood." In that first case I sort of dismissed it. Then the same thing happened a few years later in the second city. I realized that denomination can be just as dividing as race in some areas of the south. You might say it's embedded in their DNA. It's about heritage and tradition. It's their comfort zone...their happy place. If your conversation with them isn't based in the same understanding of that tradition, it's like you're speaking to them in tongues with no one to offer the translation.

I was raised in a home that was loyal to one of the "mainline denominations". During my high school years I walked away from that and aligned with a major denomination where I stayed for 25 years. Then I went on a 'pilgrimage' to find a new loyalty, participating in three different groups before moving into yet another "mainline denomination" where I have been for almost 20 years.

I have to quietly and gently take my pastor aside now and then when he gives his definition of what makes US different than THEM and he talks about some group that is in that resume I just gave. Even the professionals, the pastors with fancy seminary degrees sometimes don't understand the people living in The Baptist neighborhood or the Catholic neighborhood or the Pentecostal neighborhood.

And sometimes I come across people who are running radio stations and trying to select religious programming content who don't understand all these different groups. But, like the rest of us, they THINK they do. The conversation doesn't go on for long before you realize you are talking to someone who doesn't have a clue, or misunderstands the few clues they have.

Your observation, and the advice it implies, is right on. Southern Markets are places where people wear their theology on the cuffs of their shirt like monogrammed initials on a tailored shirt.

But I have a rhetorical question for Dan and everyone else who is operating or planning a station, or looking for one to recommend to their friends. The whole conversation here is about MUSIC. WHICH music will I play? Will I mix different genres of music? But what will you offer to people who are not musical? There are people who have little or no interest in music. There are people who do not have skill, talent or training in music. The conversation here is roughly: We don't care about those people. Those people don't count. Radio is not designed for them.

 

[R.D.P.]

Market research and taking requests is leading me to go Variety. My own mother, Pastor and a local Country music PD, believes it'll work. Have plans of broadcasting some local Church Services, every Sunday.

Dan <><

 

[Stevens]

Market research. That's great. Count me as impressed. Methodology type? Sample size? Did you do focus groups…telephone call out…?

 

[Avid Listener]

Whenever I hear people discussing about how to best exploit the "Christian" radio market for maximum results (ie. profits), this Bible passages springs to my mind:

John 2.15:
Making a whip of cords, he drove all of them out of the temple, both the sheep and the cattle. He also poured out the coins of the money changers and overturned their tables.

Maybe that's just me.

 

[Stevens]

Hey, I'm no fan of that impulse buy Jesus junk you can find at the check out of all your finer Christian retailers…little sugar free Ichthus shaped mints and gummy candies, etc.

But this is an non-com LPFM. I sure don't see Dan as trying to exploit the market for "profits." Or are you suggesting that finding out the interests of the listener is exploitive?

 

[R.D.P.]

1. Asking people in public, what they wanted to hear, over this new LPFM radio station.
2. Talking with a local Country station PD and asking him what would work best for me, as I shared my vision with him.
3. As I advertise for this new radio station, some have requested for me to play some Southern, Bluegrass and Country Gospel tunes.

Dan <><

P.S. I know where to take this broadcast. My future audience has already spoken. Will devote a large part of the time towards CCM. Have some time blocked out for the Southern, Bluegrass, Country Gospel tunes and local Church services. Still trying to raise all the money and resources needed, to get on air, as I type this.

B.T.W. Not doing this to make a profit. All I want to do, is help fulfill The Great Commission.

 

[Avid Listener]

Hey, I'm no fan of that impulse buy Jesus junk you can find at the check out of all your finer Christian retailers…little sugar free Ichthus shaped mints and gummy candies, etc.

But this is an non-com LPFM. I sure don't see Dan as trying to exploit the market for "profits." Or are you suggesting that finding out the interests of the listener is exploitive?

When I see the words "market research", a little bell goes off. I don't condone or condemn what anyone is doing. That's not my place. But I can share what I would do if I were attempting to set up an LPFM for the purpose of spreading the Gospel. I'd treat it like church, which is a place where "the Gospel is rightly preached, and the sacraments properly administered". If I felt called to launch a Christian LPFM station, I'd prayerfully consider what I perceived God was calling me to do, and then that's what I'd do. I would no more take public opinion polls about what sort of music to play on a Christian station I was running as I would take public opinion polls on what topic to preach about from the pulpit.

But that's just me. Your mileage may vary.

 

[Stevens]

For Dan, I'm sorry but that's not market research.

For the both of you, to the listener a radio is an appliance and nothing more. That LPFM permit is for a radio station not a church. If either of you want to fulfill the Great Commission or ensure that the Gospel is rightly preached and the sacraments are properly administered, great. Hit the mission field. Study for your ordination and find a pulpit.

Finally for Avid, I've seen your dog and pony act with David Eduardo. I'm not playing.

 

[R.D.P.]

With all the talking and research, I'm doing, going the CCM/SG hybrid route is best for me.

Now that I got my program plans in place, trying to get the building phase in high gear.

Things are slowly picking up, in that area.

Fixing to have a meeting, with a local Church, I plan on broadcasting.

Just spoke with their Pastor and he was very interested in helping me get on air.

This conversation lead to a meeting with him and the board of directors.

It's scheduled take place, at the end of this month.

My plans are threefold:

(1) Share my vision with them.
(2) See if they want to help me secure more building donations.
(3) And ask if they want me to broadcast their Sunday Morning Worship service.

Dan <><

 

[vchimpanzee]

In the K-Love Vs. Air-1 discussion, many different views were offered, concerning the content of Christian radio. Some stated that Christian radio should avoid CCM altogether.

I get the point that some people need CCM if they are going to listen to Christian music, but I'm one of those that says Christian radio for some of us SHOULD avoid CCM altogether. If we have only one station to choose from, I will avoid that station completely if it includes CCM.

 

[rbrucecarter5]

I get the point that some people need CCM if they are going to listen to Christian music, but I'm one of those that says Christian radio for some of us SHOULD avoid CCM altogether. If we have only one station to choose from, I will avoid that station completely if it includes CCM.

And that is the crux of the matter, isn't it? We Christian radio listeners are in the minority, even if a majority identify themselves as "Christian". The vast majority of Christians listen to secular radio, and a fair number of them do it even if they know it is inherently bad for their spiritual life. The reason? Christian radio isn't good enough to attract them as listeners. For you, if its CCM you don't listen. For me if its praise and worship I don't listen. So we Christians do a very good job of marginalizing the efforts of the Christian broadcasters to make a living at it. Still - folks like you and me won't change, and it leave Christian stations losing out on some portions of the Christian audience in order to serve the portion they think will support them the best. Self-fulfilling mediocrity formula if you ask me - we get the least common denominator in programming, designed to not offend anybody, but so bland nobody but those fanatical about only listening to Christian radio listen.

 

[Goat Rodeo Cowboy]

What we are brushing up against in this conversation is a question that has troubled and haunted The Church for 2,000 years now. When is it appropriate to cloister inside the monastery, and when is it appropriate to travel the Jericho Road out where the bandits and thieves are mixed in with the garden variety travelers.

Yeah. I managed a station with Christian programming. And what that taught me was that *** I *** don't belong or want to be isolated inside a fortress. For others, you mileage may vary as the window sticker in the car says.