3 things you need to know about Christian music industry and the economy

WOW. I disagree with the comment above on SO many levels. The 5 points listed above are incredibly uninformed and incorrect:

1. I don't know a lot of people getting rich off their CCLI checks. And anyway, "regular" (in which you mean mainstream) bands can access this if their songs get used in a public church setting. Churches had to set up CCLI, otherwise their use of worship songs would have been illegal. Poor argument.

2. People MOST DEFINITELY can tell a difference between a 15K record and a 100K record. These differences are NOT minute. There is NO WAY you can afford a great producer on 10 songs with a 15K budget. Not gonna happen...and that's only one example to start with...

3. ARE YOU KIDDING??? Christians illegally download Christian music all the time!

4. Totally incorrect. Plenty of mainstream artists work with non-profits as well, many of which have a larger reach. And that doesn't even compare to the sponsorship opportunities mainstream artists have. Third Day's partnership with Chevy was rare groundbreaking. But I can think of a million mainstream artists with major brands partnering with them.
And seriously...you refer to mainstream artists as "REAL" bands??? as if Christian artist's weren't?

5. Again Kyle, I'm sorry but you are misinformed. Christian acts DO NOT get paid more to play the same size venues as mainstream. Not to mention- there is no "built-in audience."

wow. . . by Kyle's estimations. . . I should not need a real job when we're off the road. . . Ok. . . prepare for the long-winded response from the Christian touring drummer

1) Where can we sign up? A majority of our shows are churches. . . and they barely cover gas and travel expenses. . . send me the "Special Royalties From Churches" application so we can start getting paid better

2) yeah. . . that's completely bogus. . . 90% of Christian recordings have a distinctly underproduced sound. . . because 90% of Christian artists have to use a neighborhood studio that charges $2500 per album, instead of $2500 per hour. . . The DIG Project has been blessed to be associated with an outstanding producer in Armand Petri. . . but we are most definitely the exception. . . as a studio tech myself in real life, I can tell you that the studios and mastering facilities and talent available to small bands is nowhere close to label quality studios. . . the differences in equipment and final product are like night and day

3) That's ridiculous. . . I found a copy of our EP online for torrent download. . . and had it pulled. . . we are a mid level national touring act that has limited airplay, and we're being illegally downloaded. . . just do a search for just about any middle/upper level Christian band and you will undoubtedly find innumerable download options

4)yeah. . . again. . . tell me where to sign up for that. . . one of our biggest struggles, whether playing a small church, big church, or huge festival, is to get any real promotion. We have to do the majority of promo, which can be unbelievably tough when we are based in NY and are playing in southern Florida. Venue based promotion is a hard thing to reliably get. We have no non-profits pushing us. We have a partnership with World Vision, but that really doesn't help on the promo side, which we don't care about. . . we're with them for the ways we can help the kids, not for how World Vision can help us. . . again, Kyle. . . swing and a miss

5) yeah. . . that's DEFINITELY not true. . . We traveled 1200 miles each way to play at Sonshine fest this past summer, a festival that has about 75,000 people in attendance for 3 days. . . what we were payed didn't cover the trip expenses. . . not that we really care. . .and built in audience? Kyle, bro, you have a lot of applications to send me. . . I want that one too. . . recycled dogmatic rhetoric? can you even coherently explain that? It would be so easy to write songs if we could recycle dogmatic rhetoric. . .I think we should try it

- In reality, Christian musicians have pretty much no edge at all in the music industry

So. . . what's with the the quotes around "musicians"? I would put many Christian musicians up against most of the mainstream and bet my life savings (which as a Christian musician, isn't much to speak of) that they'd either be just as good or better. . . I personally have been drumming since I was 4, sat first chair throughout high school, marched with the Reading Buccaneers DCI drum corps (one of 16 - out of 420 who auditioned), Played pit for 3 off-Broadway productions (Grease, Phantom Of The Opera, and Miss Saigon), drummed for 3 "secular" bands, and have played for 5 Christian bands, including 2 touring bands (as presently). I have endorsements with Risen Drums, Zildjian Cymbals, Vic Firth Sticks, and Evans Drumheads. I have drummed session on 18 albums for solo artists, and 7 albums for bands I was actually in. And I'm nowhere near as good as most Christian drummers.

I feel safely qualified in the request that even if you don't like Christian music, you must give them the respect to acknowledge that they are indeed musicians. . .

I'm going back to my practice room to recycle dogmatic rhetoric and do whatever a "musician" does. . . since I get payed so amazingly well to do it. . . the check must be in the mail

Well said T.P. and Joanne

umm, christian music has went downhill ever since michael w smith, amy grant, jars of clay, and dctalk were in their prime.. everyone started making worship praise albums, and while it did sell well to church goers, it gave very little artistic integrity, so it kinda alienated a big audience.New christian acts today are just like a coverband of the mainstream version, nothing unique, nothing fresh, just relying on lyrics that have been repeated over and over since the beginning of time. At least the artists I mentioned before didn't sound like anyone else in the mainstream. The reason people pay 10 dollars verses 350 dollars, is because it's Madonna, an icon, the only one that could ever be compared to her is Amy Grant. If Christian music wants survive, it should develope their talent and not just sign people who can carry a tune and know the hymn book.

There is very little money in Christian/Gospel music. In secular music, sex and booze combine with music and money and there are lots of people getting rich at the expense of their morals and their souls, while in Christian/Gospel music, it seems like everyone is "poor" and "can't afford" anything. I overheard a Christian radio DJ say, "Christians are the cheapest people on the planet." I understand where she's coming from, unfortunately, because I run a website about Christian/Gospel music and consistently hear "I can't afford to advertise..." You would think that Christians would be the richest people on the planet, and the most generous, but time after time I hear nothing but, "We're struggling financially." So often "Christian media" go out of business because of lack of advertising/advertisers.
-Mark from http://www.christianmusicdaily.com

My son is 11 years old and plays a mean guitar blues. It's really sad, if he knew I know he would probably go secular. He loves Stevie Ray, Eric, and others. He's at his age sees the condemnation of Christian Music. I really believe these are the last days.

We tell him as long as the Lord is for us who could be against us. His dad has played the bar seen and has made more money than I could In One Night.Hopefully things will change.
hang in there
Luv in Christ \cn

Randall, I agree with you wholeheartedly on that!! Who are we trying to reach? Our commission is to reconcile others to Christ. If we seperate ourselves from them, how can we do that? Jesus ate with them and was criticized and condemned for it. "Family that loves God" you sound like you have been hurt on a personal level. If so, I pray God will heal that hurt. I disagree with you that people are making them idols b/c they appreciate their music and are inspired. I would call is admiration. When a musician sings he/she gives greatly of themselves. It is art being expressed and takes a lot of work and determination. Of course, you have some that want the glory for themselves but do not confuse the two. When God calls you to go and do his will...you have to pick up and do it. I personally went to a gospel artist concert and was touched by the spirit of God. I had herd the same song plenty of times before but this one time of her ministering it in person changed my life! There is something about seeing with your own eyes in addition to hearing with your ears. These are senses the Lord gave to us to help us get the most out of life. Family is most important, can't be left out, and should be included in the ministry whenever possible.