WHY JUST ALT NOT HIP HOP

[VERITAS DE VOCE]

Any progressive Christian radio lovers in the house?

Riddle me this. WAY, SHINE, POWER FM, et cetera. These are all nationally-known alternative Christian stations. Good imagery, so-so brand, but great music. Someone tell me... why has Christian radio alienated sanctified hip-hop?! Back in the 80s and 90s, there were solid groups.
> PID
> Dynamic Twins
> T-Bone
> SFC (and that supreme DJ Dove)
> Gospel Gangstaz
> GRITS

But then these stations that were breaking the mold, created one of their own and suddenly rarely is a Hip-Hop song heard that exalts Jesus. Where are they? Why can't we hear this great music that can EASILY hold its weight against today's popular Urban stations?

NOTE TO BRETHREN: If you get the urge to share about DC TALK, Toby Mac and Out of Eden exploits on the holy rap scene, please save it. ;D

 

[xmusicmatt]

I can't speak for AM/ FM radio but ...

I have nothing against Christian Hip Hop but I have tried to air some of it on my Christian CHR / Rock formated internet radio station and I see a very high listener turn over rate when the hip hop comes on compared to the rock stuff.. I can even play an edge-ful rock tune or a softer AC song and not have high as turn over rate (drop rate) of listeners that I do with RAP or HipHop. Now the Rhym stuff does decent. So I tend to shy away from it to keep the listeners happy.

 

[War Of Attrition]

But then these stations that were breaking the mold, created one of their own and suddenly rarely is a Hip-Hop song heard that exalts Jesus. Where are they? Why can't we hear this great music that can EASILY hold its weight against today's popular Urban stations?

The answer to your question is actually amazingly simple. Are you ready? Christian Hip Hop (CHH) is not a viable radio format. And really, neither is Christian Rock (CA).

The market for CHH is just too small. Too few core artist and too few radio-worthy cuts. The few artists that are really good are very unknown, even to their target audience. There are also many cultural reasons why the market is so limited.

On the commercial side, the cume would be tiny and the aqh would be way too small to attract enough meaningful advertisers to make any money. It is much easier and safer to just put up one the "wallpaper" formats that are proven money-makers than to waste time with a format that will not work.

On the non-commercial side, the profile listener to this format does not have the means to support the station in a meaningful way to help keep it on the air. Again the market is just too small.

These same problems exist (albeit to lesser extent) with Christian Rock. Christian Rock is really only on the air in a few markets and almost all of which are either translators (as is the case with "The Effect") or week rimshots (as is the case in Dallas with Power) or stations in the smallest of markets. I think RadioU in Columbus is pretty much THE exception to the rule.

Air 1 which used to really be a rock station is now just a lot praise music with more aggresive beats. It's pretty mellow.

KCXR in Tulsa just switched from Christian Rock to the Christian AC of it's sister station KXOJ.

And the Christian Rock stations on both XM and Sirius have disappeared over the last 12 months.

You should note that most of the Christian Rock stations are secondary projects to their respective broadcast groups. This is because they are being subsidized by the groups other stations that are either Christian Talk or Christian AC, both of which are viable and financially stable.

I think the best you can hope for is some kind of speciality Saturday night show on you local Christian AC station that might be able to bridge the gap until the market gets big enough to support the format fulltime (I'm very doubtful). Until then you might want to take a look at radioy.com or 88.3 HD-2 if you are in Orlando.

 

[R.D.P.]

If you're looking for Holy Hip-Hop, check out these sources and enjoy.

Gospel Grooves (Word Network Direct TV Channel 373) 3:30 P.M. C.S.T. Monday-Thursday
The Torch (XM Radio Direct TV Channel 829) At 8 P.M. C.S.T. Saturday Nights.

R.D.P. <><

P.S. As I'm posting, Showbread is performing on "The Torch".

 

[ToddStach]

It takes money to run a radio station. Unfortunately, a niche within a niche format probably won't draw ratings or support (whether it's from listeners or advertisers).

It's one thing to want a radio station that 12 - 25 year olds love - it's another thing to operate one.

 

[VERITAS DE VOCE]

I agree with most of the insight here... I suppose my main qualm is why has the FULLY OPERATIONAL alt stations avoiding playing some hip-hop? Instead of being solely focused on Alt Rock, throw in a funky tune every once in a while?

OK, cume may go down. I get it. But man, there are more than just headbangin' young saved folk out there. RDP, thanks for the tip.

 

[War Of Attrition]

I agree with most of the insight here... I suppose my main qualm is why has the FULLY OPERATIONAL alt stations avoiding playing some hip-hop? Instead of being solely focused on Alt Rock, throw in a funky tune every once in a while?

Because alternative music listeners find hip hop musically offensive and visa-versa.

Imagine if KROQ in Los Angeles played some 50 cent. Or if Power 106 threw in The Killers every once in a while. The tune-out would be insane.

These are two very distinctive musical genres and should be on two distinctive formats. There really is little overlap (despite some of the anecdotal opinions in this forum).

 

[VERITAS DE VOCE]

Touche.

Niche within a niche. Crazy tune out due to taste. OK, OK I get it. Good thing God invented iPods

 

[War Of Attrition]

Niche within a niche. Crazy tune out due to taste. OK, OK I get it. Good thing God invented iPods

Yeah, this is one of the areas where iPods really shine. Maybe there are some Internet stations that can help to supplement your iPod listening with new music and add that level of unpredictability that makes radio so interesting.

 

[William_Yeager]

We'll gladly take the listeners that everyone else isn't serving at ChargeRadio.com.

Here's an hour from earlier today:

Sweeper
Manafest - Bounce
Disciple - After The World (CHR Mix)
Infinity - Holy Ghost Party
Ayiesha Woods - Beauty
Sweeper
Jeremy Camp - Let It Fade
Urban D - Un.orthodox
StorySide B - Tell Me What You Think of God
Sweeper
*PSA stopset, 2 minutes
Canton Jones - Stay Saved
Air Five - I Will Carry You
Skillet - The Older I Get (Rock mix)
Sweeper
Knapsackheroes - Sunshine Down on Me
Skillet - The Last Night
Everyday Process - Shine Bright (radio edit)
Stacie Orrico - Dont Look at Me

 

[smashedcd]

Any progressive Christian radio lovers in the house?

Riddle me this. WAY, SHINE, POWER FM, et cetera. These are all nationally-known alternative Christian stations. Good imagery, so-so brand, but great music. Someone tell me... why has Christian radio alienated sanctified hip-hop?! Back in the 80s and 90s, there were solid groups.
> PID
> Dynamic Twins
> T-Bone
> SFC (and that supreme DJ Dove)
> Gospel Gangstaz
> GRITS

But then these stations that were breaking the mold, created one of their own and suddenly rarely is a Hip-Hop song heard that exalts Jesus. Where are they? Why can't we hear this great music that can EASILY hold its weight against today's popular Urban stations?

NOTE TO BRETHREN: If you get the urge to share about DC TALK, Toby Mac and Out of Eden exploits on the holy rap scene, please save it. ;D

dont forget the cmc's. i listened to them a few nights ago on an old aircheck. good group. but didnt sell many cds.

 

[jegrant]

It's true, CHH is only on air in isolated markets, and nearly exclusively on LPFM or HD subchannels.

Really the best example of the format is WPOZ-HD2 88.3 Orlando, Y-Hot.

For something less R&B focused, and a bit more rap, try http://www.wlfq.org/ - WLFQ-LP Elkhart/South Bend.

Also, for iPod users, try the Hour 1 & 2 links at the Hype Radio Network - http://www.viberadionetwork.com/listen.html .

 

[joelr]

Any progressive Christian radio lovers in the house?

Riddle me this. WAY, SHINE, POWER FM, et cetera. These are all nationally-known alternative Christian stations. Good imagery, so-so brand, but great music. Someone tell me... why has Christian radio alienated sanctified hip-hop?! Back in the 80s and 90s, there were solid groups.
> PID
> Dynamic Twins
> T-Bone
> SFC (and that supreme DJ Dove)
> Gospel Gangstaz
> GRITS

But then these stations that were breaking the mold, created one of their own and suddenly rarely is a Hip-Hop song heard that exalts Jesus. Where are they? Why can't we hear this great music that can EASILY hold its weight against today's popular Urban stations?

NOTE TO BRETHREN: If you get the urge to share about DC TALK, Toby Mac and Out of Eden exploits on the holy rap scene, please save it. ;D

Then you had Freedom of Soul (with DJ Cartoon), IDOL King (with DJ Cut No Slack), ETW, D-Boy (the first CD I ever bought), A-1 Swift, Mike E and the G Rap Crew, Apocalypse (the fastest rappers I have ever heard) in the mix as well throughout the years.

Back in dc Talk's early years, they were mentioned with the above groups. Their self-titled tape was the second Christian tape I ever bought. FOS even gave them a shout out on one of their songs. DCT became more pop/mainstream and their success grew.

I remember hearing Out of Eden for the first time back in the early 90s with their first single "Lovely Day" (this is all on 91 FM in Oklahoma City). I have a remix CD of theirs that has a couple sweet remixes of Lovely Day.

Sorry VDV, I had to share about Out of Eden and DCT. I hope you're not offended.

 

[Big_Ben]

We'll gladly take the listeners that everyone else isn't serving at ChargeRadio.com.

Here's an hour from earlier today:

Sweeper
Manafest - Bounce
Disciple - After The World (CHR Mix)
Infinity - Holy Ghost Party
Ayiesha Woods - Beauty
Sweeper
Jeremy Camp - Let It Fade
Urban D - Un.orthodox
StorySide B - Tell Me What You Think of God
Sweeper
*PSA stopset, 2 minutes
Canton Jones - Stay Saved
Air Five - I Will Carry You
Skillet - The Older I Get (Rock mix)
Sweeper
Knapsackheroes - Sunshine Down on Me
Skillet - The Last Night
Everyday Process - Shine Bright (radio edit)
Stacie Orrico - Dont Look at Me

sounds like an awesome mix man. except the Skillet samech happening near the end of the hour. little too soon to repeat a group IMO. But both songs are great. we've actually got great response with both of those songs on our top 40 formatted college station.