Comments on: Is “Christian” marketing the kiss of death for “Christian” bands?

By: Joel H

Joel H — Fri, 28 Jul 2006 20:41:22 +0000

Woah there, Greg — I’m “your” music critic. Untrue, creepy.

By: Greg

Greg — Mon, 24 Jul 2006 22:08:01 +0000

Not sure Collective Soul is actually Christian – they were always a little sketchy on their religious views – but point well taken.

By: Amanda

Amanda — Mon, 24 Jul 2006 16:31:08 +0000

As a non-Christian, I usually back away slowly from the CD’s that have obviously religious messages in them. But that doesn’t stop me from enjoying music by Christian artists who aren’t preachy. For instance, I love Collective Soul, Switchfoot and Lifehouse and it doesn’t matter to me that some of their songs have religious connotations because they aren’t pushy about it. When the music has more to do with taking joy in life and faith, and less to do with hellfire and damnation, there’s a much wider audience.

By: michaelF

michaelF — Mon, 24 Jul 2006 14:58:34 +0000

I have friends in the record industry and follow it pretty closely. Creed and Lifehouse were first marketed as Christian bands. There was another really big one that escapes my mind. Also Curb Records had a number of acts which are either directed toward the Christian music scene or got their start that way. Leeann Rhymes would be an example

Although the general market is larger, it is also more difficult to get air play there. Thus Christian markets are a good way for some acts to get started before finding a broader audience.

By: Pyst

Pyst — Mon, 24 Jul 2006 14:26:48 +0000

Green Day mentions drugs and sex plenty.

But they are much deeper than the party, party moronic stuff. I’d be 1000 more worried if she listened to Britney Spears.

But they are offensive towards simplistic thinking. All and all a very good band for anyone with an IQ above 90.

By: BrianOfAtlanta

BrianOfAtlanta — Mon, 24 Jul 2006 14:09:37 +0000

Greg, Amy Grant came to my mind as well as I read your post. Though, as you say, she has had other problems. Still, I remember mentioning her in passing to a youth minister a few years ago and he basically said she was a traitor. I’ve seen encouraging signs, though, of the wall coming down between Christian and secular music worlds, with more bands blurring the line. Back in the old days, we only had Kansas doing that. And, some blatantly Christian songs are making it onto secular radio stations down here, as well as secular bands making it onto Christian stations.

The big surprise for me came when my daughter mentioned the fact that she liked Green Day because they weren’t offensive. She meant that they sang about deeper stuff than sex and drugs, but my first thought was “Isn’t Green Day supposed to be offensive?”

By: Michael van der Galien

Michael van der Galien — Mon, 24 Jul 2006 13:45:18 +0000

Very interesting post Greg.

From a marketing point of view I understand the idea of marketing it as a Christian band. As I understand it, the ‘Christian Music Market’ is quite large in the US.
On the other hand, of course, the ‘general market’ is much bigger, so if one has a base already, a base that’ll buy the CD’s, radio stations that will play their songs, etc. it seems a better decision to me to try getting them in that general market.

However and most importantly, what I find strange is, didn’t they consult with the actual band members? Don’t they have to agree with what they are supposed to ‘be’, what they are supposed to express?