Secular music on Christian Radio Station.

[joshzz]

In our market, there are numerous Christian stations playing CCM, Praise & Worship, & Christian Talk.

Sometime ago, we prayerfully decided to add some clean, secular music to our Christian Hit Radio format. A survey we conducted found that Christians who regularly listen to Christian Hit music also listen to secular music about 30- 40% of the time.


Someone mentioned to me that I may offend Christians that listen to the station but we found that people that listen to CHR radio are much more likely to listen to secular music than the groups that listens to AC Christian, Christian Talk and Praise and Worship. Actually the group that listens to Christian Talk also listens a lot to secular radio but in their case, they listen to political talk not music.


I don't know of any other stations that broadcast a unique format like ours but would be interested in finding out what stations do. If you know of any, please post their respective call letters. I would like to know more about their outreach etc. For those wondering who we are, we are known as LIFT FM.

 

[vchimpanzee]

I know this isn't really what you were looking for, but this time of year a CCM station which leans adult includes Vince Guaraldi's "Peanuts" music and such tunes as "Holly Jolly Christmas".

We don't have a Christian hit radio station on regular AM or FM around here. This one's bad enough, though.

 

[rbrucecarter5]

I don't know of any other stations that broadcast a unique format like ours but would be interested in finding out what stations do. If you know of any, please post their respective call letters. I would like to know more about their outreach etc. For those wondering who we are, we are known as LIFT FM.

KLTY in Dallas has been experimenting with secular music - not a lot but some is on there. Surprisingly - a lot of people won't complain about country singers, but will bitterly complain about top-40 or rock artists. Been there --- WAPN Daytona Beach - I tried some secular artists who had clean lifestyles and Biblical themes in their songs - OUCH! Did I get flamed --- toxic church - bad experience. Never again! I admire KLTY's courage - I've been burned and won't be again.

I feel the pain of the other poster - who hears secular Christmas stuff on Christian radio. I love the late Burl Ives - what a nice guy he must have been, tremendous talent, I don't even have to ask if he was saved - his whole demeanor screamed out Christian. But - there are so many Christmas CAROLS - great music from centuries past that are now un-played, and un-heard. In a generation, nobody will even remember things like "Silent Night". I get tired of secular stuff like "White Christmas" (Bing Crosby totally denied and disowned his beautiful and talented daughter Denise because she was illegitimate), and so forth. Have yourself a secular little Hannukwanzmas - that is the message on a lot of these songs that Christian stations play as Christmas music. Sheesh - I get more Christ centered Christmas carols on Sirius XM 77 this time of year. What next on Christian radio - "Christmas is Kind of Creepy" by Fred?!

 

[xmusicmatt]

I don't know of any other stations that broadcast a unique format like ours but would be interested in finding out what stations do. If you know of any, please post their respective call letters. I would like to know more about their outreach etc. For those wondering who we are, we are known as LIFT FM.

Check out http://www.myfusefm.com/music.html FuseFM in Michigan does something like that.. playing some Christian CHR/Rock along with some Mainstream music.

 

[xmusicmatt]

Have yourself a secular little Hannukwanzmas - that is the message on a lot of these songs that Christian stations play as Christmas music. Sheesh - I get more Christ centered Christmas carols on Sirius XM 77 this time of year. What next on Christian radio - "Christmas is Kind of Creepy" by Fred?!

I know the logic behind it "we want to catch the ears of those that may not know Christ and want to draw them into our station so they can hear the Christ stuff too"...

But .. I have yet to understand how playing Faith Hill, Michael Buble', Burl Ives, Bing Crosby, Perry Como, Jonnny Mathis, Mariah Carey (I heard that one on the syndicated Today's Christian Music Salem 247 Format)... If anything it confuses a lot of the non saved (and saved).. "your playing non Christian artists one month a year but wont touch them the rest?"

I run a Christian CHR/Rock formated internet station and at Christmas time the only non Christian thing I have in rotation is the Jingle Cats...

 

[William_Yeager]

Feedback appreciated:

http://downtown.grey.fm/ (Hot AC/Christian CHR)

http://heartland.grey.fm/ (Country/Christian AC)

 

[MikefromDelaware]

True, many Christians do listen to secular music sometimes. But when they want to be uplifted and better focused on the Lord, they tune back to their Christian station, be it hymn based, CCM, Praise and Worship, Gospel (southern or urban). They don't want to hear worldly music, or even Christian songs being sung by non-believers. It's sort of like hearing a sermon given by Bill Maher. He can read and speak well, but he makes no bones about his total dislike of Christ and his church. So why would his interpretation of God's holy word be of value to us? Same for a worldly singer's version or interpretation of a Christian song or religious Christmas Carol. Secular Christmas songs promoting Santa, gift giving, Santa Baby, Grandma getting run over by a reindeer, etc, don't belong on Christian stations, there's plenty of that being played on secular stations. Christian stations should be the one place you can tune where you'll hear proclaimed boldly that Jesus IS the reason for the season. That Christmas - Christ Mass (Christ Celebration) is all about Jesus, not Santa, Rudolf, the Grinch, Snowy days, Mistletoe, etc.

Would you want to hear Three Dog Night, The Dixie Chicks, Led Zeppelin, Buddy Holly, or Glenn Miller at church? No there's a time and a place for both secular and Christian music. Christian radio should be that "sanctuary"on the air where you can go and be in the Lord's presence.

 

[R.D.P.]

I know of one place that plays the "Secular" singers during the Christmas season and I loathe and detest it.   It's Music Choice's Contemporary Christian channel.  I don't get this service on Direct TV any longer but Charter Cable still carries them.  When I'm visiting a relative, I check out that channel.  Nothing has changed with it. They still mix the oldies with the currents.  Like that part of their presentation but I wish they would play the "Christian Based singers only" when they do the Christmas stuff though.  Glad that XM's CCM channel stays away from the "Secular Singers" when doing the Christmas tunes. 

R.D.P. <><

 

[rbrucecarter5]

But when they want to be uplifted and better focused on the Lord, they tune back to their Christian station, be it hymn based, CCM, Praise and Worship, Gospel (southern or urban). They don't want to hear worldly music, or even Christian songs being sung by non-believers. It's sort of like hearing a sermon given by Bill Maher. He can read and speak well, but he makes no bones about his total dislike of Christ and his church. So why would his interpretation of God's holy word be of value to us? Same for a worldly singer's version or interpretation of a Christian song or religious Christmas Carol. Secular Christmas songs promoting Santa, gift giving, Santa Baby, Grandma getting run over by a reindeer, etc, don't belong on Christian stations, there's plenty of that being played on secular stations. Christian stations should be the one place you can tune where you'll hear proclaimed boldly that Jesus IS the reason for the season. That Christmas - Christ Mass (Christ Celebration) is all about Jesus, not Santa, Rudolf, the Grinch, Snowy days, Mistletoe, etc.

Would you want to hear Three Dog Night, The Dixie Chicks, Led Zeppelin, Buddy Holly, or Glenn Miller at church? No there's a time and a place for both secular and Christian music. Christian radio should be that "sanctuary"on the air where you can go and be in the Lord's presence.

Well reasoned post - but I disagree with the first part. People don't like taking "medicine" and darn sure don't tune radio as spiritual medicine. They tune in to be entertained, which makes radio completely different from a worship setting. The way traditional stations stay on the air is they usually get big checks from a church or two. But they are always just one major donor away from financial disaster, so they "play it safe".

Once in a while, my preacher will play a piece of secular music or secular TV - a clip or two - to illustrate a point. Either the artist or show involved stumbled on a spiritual truth, or somehow it illustrates something in the sermon. One preacher even has "movie days" - airing films at the church that are Christian friendly. Seeing something familiar, I think, makes it relevant to the visitor. But some of these secular Christmas songs are really disgusting, and don't belong on a Christian station. I won't begrudge a "Run Run Rodolph" once in a while, but it is really incongruous to hear John Lennon and Yoko singing "I wish you a Merry Christmas", when he clearly and completely rejected the Christian faith. I'll take the blessing with a grateful heart - and a prayer that somehow in his last minutes he learned the true meaning of Christmas - and Christianity.

 

[MikefromDelaware]

Well reasoned post - but I disagree with the first part. People don't like taking "medicine" and darn sure don't tune radio as spiritual medicine. They tune in to be entertained, which makes radio completely different from a worship setting. The way traditional stations stay on the air is they usually get big checks from a church or two. But they are always just one major donor away from financial disaster, so they "play it safe".

Once in a while, my preacher will play a piece of secular music or secular TV - a clip or two - to illustrate a point. Either the artist or show involved stumbled on a spiritual truth, or somehow it illustrates something in the sermon. One preacher even has "movie days" - airing films at the church that are Christian friendly. Seeing something familiar, I think, makes it relevant to the visitor. But some of these secular Christmas songs are really disgusting, and don't belong on a Christian station. I won't begrudge a "Run Run Rodolph" once in a while, but it is really incongruous to hear John Lennon and Yoko singing "I wish you a Merry Christmas", when he clearly and completely rejected the Christian faith. I'll take the blessing with a grateful heart - and a prayer that somehow in his last minutes he learned the true meaning of Christmas - and Christianity./color]

Thanks for a good answer, as you may be correct on that first point. I'm a musician, so when I'm listening to the radio, it's not as background that it there as sort of "white noise", but I'm focused on it. So for me I'm very selective about what secular music I listen to (especially the words) as I remember what a brother in the Lord told me years before I was saved (he had witnessed to me in 1971 [I didn't get saved until 1976] and added this comment) that everyone should be careful what they read, listen to, or watch as you become what you take in to your spirit. Sort of the garbage in, garbage out thing (he said this back in 1971 before we had computers). Our pastor does as yours does, he'll play clips of songs or movies, TV shows to make a point during his sermon, but he'd never allow a secular song to be played during the praise and worship time.

I do look for a time with the Lord when tuning in to a Christian station, but that just may be me and not reflective at all of what the general Christian radio audience is seeking when tuning in to Christian radio. So my points my not be relevant. I can understand, your point about CCM stations playing it safe so they don't offend the big money donors. However, commercial radio has that same problem. If they are too controversial they too can lose sponsors. What is considered controversial could be different from radio market to radio market. What might seem fine in NYC and LA might truly offend in the Bible Belt of the South and Midwest. One man's music is another man's noise...

 

[vchimpanzee]

I don't know of any other stations that broadcast a unique format like ours but would be interested in finding out what stations do. If you know of any, please post their respective call letters. I would like to know more about their outreach etc. For those wondering who we are, we are known as LIFT FM.

I feel the pain of the other poster - who hears secular Christmas stuff on Christian radio.

Huh? He didn't even see my name. I'm the one who hijacked his thread about how CCM radio is more AC than C. I was explaining my feelings on Christian music in general and for a time, the thread was about nothing but what belongs in a church.

What makes this station bad is the loud music. Burl Ives and Vince Guaraldi and Bing Crosby--that's the good stuff.

It would be sad if "Silent Night" was forgotten. Just last night on "Community" I heard the lyrics changed to something politically correct. Perhaps those lyrics are on the Internet somewhere. Things were so bad on that show the man who delivers gifts wore blue and had some generic winter name.

Each of the show's stars represented a different religion, which I thought was an interesting choice on the part of the writers. The woman having the Christmas party was the only Christian in the group. The others were atheist, agnostic, Muslim, Jewish, Jehovah's Witness (which is sort of Christian but I've never been sure), and some weird cult the man thought was Buddhist.

 

[rbrucecarter5]

Each of the show's stars represented a different religion, which I thought was an interesting choice on the part of the writers. The woman having the Christmas party was the only Christian in the group. The others were atheist, agnostic, Muslim, Jewish, Jehovah's Witness (which is sort of Christian but I've never been sure), and some weird cult the man thought was Buddhist.

Well, since Christians number 1.5 billion, Moslems about the same, Buddhists about a billion, Hindus about a billion - minus those who aren't really into their faith - it is just cultural a truly mixed group representing mankind would have two Christians, two Moslems, one Buddhist, and one Hindu. Interestingly, this is about what I see in the workplace on my last two jobs. Truly tolerant people of all religions take the blessing of something like "Merry Christmas" and interpret it as "good thoughts to you during the holidays". I don't often have anybody, even an atheist - get bent out of shape by it. On the other hand, if somebody comes in and says "you have to change Christmas to fit our religion", I do get a little frustrated by their audacity. I wouldn't try it in certain middle Eastern countries - change Islam to match our sensibilities - your BEST case outcome would be deportation.

It is a strange world in Houston without the oldies station pumping out secular Christmas oldies - while the easy listening station does its best to not play anything with "Jesus" or "Christ" in the title or lyrics. Somehow - the "Christmas" station without Christ comes up hollow, empty, and just plain depressing. While the CCM station continues to plod out its slow boring PW format complete with PW Christian music - not a single Christmas carol from years gone by. Sirius XM 77, which darn sure isn't a "Christian" station has real Christmas carols, traditionally done, excellent stuff. Sad commentary when the format is so rigid at a praise and worship station it can't even play classically oriented Christmas carols. This is one case where my musical preference is even more conservative than theirs. Don't mess with Christmas you will get along fine with me! Make it into hannukwansmas and you'll get an ear full.

 

[vchimpanzee]

It is a strange world in Houston without the oldies station pumping out secular Christmas oldies - while the easy listening station does its best to not play anything with "Jesus" or "Christ" in the title or lyrics.

Wait--Houston has an easy listening station?

 

[rbrucecarter5]

It is a strange world in Houston without the oldies station pumping out secular Christmas oldies - while the easy listening station does its best to not play anything with "Jesus" or "Christ" in the title or lyrics.

Wait--Houston has an easy listening station?

KODA 99.1 bills itself as lite rock, but I'd call it easy listening. As close as you will get to the old beautiful music format these days. I think it has been the legacy easy listening for decades here. But still doesn't fill the gap on Christmas music left by the departure of oldies here - some of the secular Christian stuff is there, but if you like the stuff from the 60's, it doesn't play in Houston at Christmas any more.

The last time I heard a real beautiful music format was in Florida on 94.1 in Lakeland. Not sure what those folks are doing today ---

 

[anotherguyTN]

Have yourself a secular little Hannukwanzmas

That might be a good holiday for a Black Messianic Jew.

 

[rbrucecarter5]

Have yourself a secular little Hannukwanzmas

That might be a good holiday for a Black Messianic Jew.

Actually - a Messianic Jew is one who rejects the Roman coverup of the time and accepts that Jesus is the Jewish Messiah - making them, essentially, a Christian. Or a "completed Jew" as they like to call themselves.

African American does not = Kwana. A great majority of African Americans I know are members of Christian churches and celebrate Christmas.

 

[vchimpanzee]

It is a strange world in Houston without the oldies station pumping out secular Christmas oldies - while the easy listening station does its best to not play anything with "Jesus" or "Christ" in the title or lyrics.

Wait--Houston has an easy listening station?

KODA 99.1 bills itself as lite rock, but I'd call it easy listening.

I wish you and others wouldn't do that.

And I'll bet it's not. Some sources call WMAG Greensboro, N.C. easy listening, and yet people on the board for that market argue they're not soft like they used to be and should start calling themselves rhythmic AC or hot AC because they're doing what Clear Channel does on its ACs in every market.

There's a real easy listening station in Myrtle Beach, S.C. that calls itself soft adult contemporary, but of course that's completely wrong. I talked to the man who ran the station until I was blue in the face and he wouldn't listen. And yet the name of the station is Easy 105.9 and they promote themselves as "the relaxation station". A real adult contemporary station would try to avoid any association with easy listening, and yet this man thinks that despite the way the station is promoted, he needs to call it something it's not in order to keep from scaring people away.

I explained to him that just because the cover instrumentals are gone, that doesn't mean it's not easy listening. His station was beautiful music a few years ago, which it's not now, but it's still easy listening. Well, that argument didn't seem to work with him. By the way, cover instrumentals are what you used to hear on beautiful music radio, as opposed to hit songs you can, or could, go out and buy.

Getting back on topic, sort of, I heard Celtic Woman sing something that had a few words of "O Holy Night" this morning on Dial Global's adult standards satellite format. Not the important words, though. In fact, I heard 'N Sync or someone who sounded like them doing "Silent Night", but not the exact words. This satellite format doesn't necessarily have an aversion to the words "Jesus" and "Christ", but I have to admit I can't recall hearing either one this morning. Adult standards, by the way, is the industry term for the music some radio stations play year round that sounds almost like the most conservative of the all-Christmas AC stations. It's another term that could be used for that easy listening station I mentioned above.

On a related note, that Dial Global station does church services and other Christian talk programming on Sunday morning, though they were using their satellite feed, which has been all-Christmas since Thanksgiving, for part of that time this past Sunday.

 

[vchimpanzee]

The last time I heard a real beautiful music format was in Florida on 94.1 in Lakeland. Not sure what those folks are doing today ---

I checked Wikipedia and it says smooth jazz. For a while they did soft AC, but that area has plenty of those.

I belong to a Yahoo group committed to the preservation of beautiful music and there are still a few stations out there which do it. One is in Arizona and on a strong FM station. Another is in California but on a small AM, and it keeps getting demoted. Others are listener-supported or low-power. Or both.

The Christian version can be heard, with quite a few talk programs, on Bible Broadcasting Network stations.

 

[rbrucecarter5]

I wish you and others wouldn't do that.

Getting back on topic, sort of, I heard Celtic Woman sing something that had a few words of "O Holy Night" this morning on Dial Global's adult standards satellite format. This satellite format doesn't necessarily have an aversion to the words "Jesus" and "Christ", but I have to admit I can't recall hearing either one this morning. Adult standards, by the way, is the industry term for the music some radio stations play year round that sounds almost like the most conservative of the all-Christmas AC stations. It's another term that could be used for that easy listening station I mentioned above.

On a related note, that Dial Global station does church services and other Christian talk programming on Sunday morning, though they were using their satellite feed, which has been all-Christmas since Thanksgiving, for part of that time this past Sunday.

Properly chastized - KODA is lite rock.

Oh Holy Night is extremely hard to get right. Search for Ariana Grande on Youtube - this kid is 15 and does it flawlessly! Some boy tries it for about a minute before she takes over - amazing - that kid can SING! Can't wait for her TV show to premiere.

Sirius XM doesn't have an aversion to Jesus or Christ on XM 77 - I've heard it plenty. Along with butchering Gloria in Excelsis Deo. Why they insist on putting a "ch" in excelsis is beyond me - everybody knows the words "excellent" and "excel" don't have a "ch" in them. Oh well, can the Vienna boys choir be wrong? I think they can if they butcher Latin!!! But Roman Latin had no soft "X", it was more like a "ck" which wouldn't sound good AT ALL if sung that way. The "ch" is wrong no matter what. Better to have it butchered and sang than not heard at all.

Adult standards is something I associate with KAAM - it is a 40's to 70's based oldies format for lack of a better description. No Elvis, Beatles, or anybody like that, but everything from Andrews Sisters to Andy Williams. I know the format. For a time in the late 60's it almost went mainstream top-40 with artists like Petula Clark.

Those preaching and traditional music Christian satellite networks are a dime a dozen - well maybe there are a dozen or so of them. Not much commercial success, not much ratings, user supported for the most part.

 

[vchimpanzee]

Properly chastized - KODA is lite rock.

Oh Holy Night is extremely hard to get right. Search for Ariana Grande on Youtube - this kid is 15 and does it flawlessly! Some boy tries it for about a minute before she takes over - amazing - that kid can SING! Can't wait for her TV show to premiere.

Sirius XM doesn't have an aversion to Jesus or Christ on XM 77 - I've heard it plenty. Along with butchering Gloria in Excelsis Deo. Why they insist on putting a "ch" in excelsis is beyond me - everybody knows the words "excellent" and "excel" don't have a "ch" in them. Oh well, can the Vienna boys choir be wrong? I think they can if they butcher Latin!!! But Roman Latin had no soft "X", it was more like a "ck" which wouldn't sound good AT ALL if sung that way. The "ch" is wrong no matter what. Better to have it butchered and sang than not heard at all.

Adult standards is something I associate with KAAM - it is a 40's to 70's based oldies format for lack of a better description. No Elvis, Beatles, or anybody like that, but everything from Andrews Sisters to Andy Williams. I know the format. For a time in the late 60's it almost went mainstream top-40 with artists like Petula Clark.

Those preaching and traditional music Christian satellite networks are a dime a dozen - well maybe there are a dozen or so of them. Not much commercial success, not much ratings, user supported for the most part.

I sing in a choir and we were told "Ex-Chel-Sis". Our director is a college music professor.

The adult standards format these days has Elvis and the softer Beatles tunes.