Mercy Me!

Here’s an interesting article from SFGate.com on the state of Christian music in the West Coast, particularly the Bay Area. Let’s face it, we live in a very liberal part of the country where Christian music is last on everybody’s play list when it comes to radio or record music sales. I don’t listen to Christian music not because it isn’t easily accessible or because of a lack of a prominent radio station that carries it, but because it’s weak. Christian music, in general, is like the watered-down version of secular pop music. There are exceptions, however. Bands like Delirious, Five Iron Frenzy, Sixpence None the Richer, and Newsboys for example, are artists that took chances and formed their own original sound. Christian music is supposed to be inspired by God, not inspired by pop music. Another reason why Christian music has been ignored here in the Bay Area is because the artists themselves are either afraid to come here for moral reasons or they know that it might not reap them any profits. So, in the end, it all comes down to money. Isn’t Christian music supposed to be a tool for ministry, or a tool for life nourishment? I understand that artists need money, after all this is their lively-hood. But, it seems to me that the Christian music industry has lost its focus. When kids have to pay outrageous amounts of money to see their favorite acts live (in Great America of all places), I think that there’s truly something wrong with that. What’s the solution? Go back to basics. Instead of trying to compete or copy the mainstream secular music industry, just start thinking small again - play smaller venues, play in local churches, play in community & city functions, play for free (not all the time). Also, the industry should really start taking its music seriously. Artists need to start writing better songs and producing a more original product. Stop copying what secular music is doing. They need to start forming their own unique sound so that people would start to notice and actually take them seriously. That’s how you create a stir and revive a dying product.

Recommend: Old Michael W. Smith albums, The Imperials (for you tradionalists), Delirious, Five Iron Frenzy, Sixpence None the Richer, Jars of Clay’s first album, Sonic Flood’s first album, Newboys, Whiteheart (for you 80’s fans), "old school" DC Talk.