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We talk a lot about putting labels on the "style" of music, but consider this question:

Does the 'Christian Music Genre' Still Exist?

If the answer to this question is "no, not really," then what is "Christian Radio" to do? No longer is it a choice between "sacred" and "secular." And frankly, God has always used whatever and whoever he wants anyway.

Is it a day of reckoning with this dichotomy of life we live?

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Does the 'Christian Music Genre' Still Exist?
http://www.christianpost.com/article/20070329/26584.htm
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There is a real catch-22 with it and I could argue both sides.

Labels: commentary

Starting April 7, Daniel Britt & Friends launches in Atlanta on NewLife.FM. You can now hear the broadcast every week on 90.7 (Griffin / Atlanta / Macon) and 107.1 (Jonesboro) on the radio in Georgia, as well as online via web streaming at the station's website. The show will air every Saturday at 7 p.m. at the beginning of Daniel's "Southern Majesty."

And, soon the program will also be heard in Papua New Guinea on a series of stations called Wantok Radio Light, reaching the nation of over 5 million people with the good news in song!

Labels: news and updates

The interview with Karen Peck and New River is now available for download. We cover the history of the group, the current status of the group, and remind you why Karen's personality makes her so memorable!

Labels: audio / podcasts

I don't normally post on the blog much about upcoming shows of Daniel Britt & Friends on XM (really because you have several other places where you can keep up with that: the schedule page, the newsletter, or enlighten34).

However, there is a unique spotlight coming up that I thought you should know about.

Before Roger Bennett passed away on the 17th, we had plans already in place, and the broadcast fully produced, to air a special on Legacy Five the week of 3/26/07.

Now that Roger has passed, this interview and L5 spotlight will be even timelier. This is one of Roger's last interviews, recorded during NQC week 2006, just following the news of his leukemia relapse.

There's a lot of conversation with Roger in this special where he talks very candidly about his health struggles and some hard places where he has walked.

You will notice a tribute to Roger just before the produced broadcast airs. This edition of the program will last over an hour.

Here's the official synopsis of next week's show:

Coming up on the next Daniel Britt & Friends: In the quartet world of gospel singing, a group of FIVE guys may seem to be a quandary. Not so when talking about Legacy Five! This "quartet," with their talented pianist Roger Bennett, carries on a legacy the spans generations. You have the invitation to hear their music and share stories of their individual lives coming up. We've got them all sitting around our table with a place set for you, too. Glenn, Frank, the two Scotts and the one and only Roger are here for the hour. With the passing of Roger earlier this month, this interview provides one of the final opportunities for listeners to hear directly from his heart. It was recorded in September 2006, just a matter of days after Roger's reoccurrence of leukemia and he talked with us about that current situation he faced. In addition to the special hour-long highlight on Legacy Five, we also begin the program with a tribute to Roger Bennett. This is certainly a program worth holding out for and it's coming soon on Daniel Britt & Friends.

Daniel Britt & Friends is heard each week on XM Satellite Radio's enLighten 34 - Mondays at 7PM ET, Thursdays at 10PM ET, and Saturdays at 12 Noon ET. You can also hear it online at xmradio.com, at AOL Radio, or with DirecTV on channel 828. After the broadcast, you can download the extended interview from www.danielbritt.com

Labels: news and updates

Here's my interview with Greater Vision (Gerald Wolfe, Jason Waldroup, and Rodney Griffin).

In addition to normal biographical stuff about the group and their members, you'll hear our conversation move to industry talk -- like about the logistics of writing good songs like Rodney has written. And how the industry should respond to change in music styles and, yes, even hair styles!

Then, you can go back to 2004 and hear a previous interview I did separately with Gerald.

Labels: audio / podcasts

At SouthernGospelBlog.com, the topic of Table Sales came up. Throughout the comments on that post, the topic shifted somewhat to "custom projects" versus "record label projects."

One poster said that the custom, table-projects are often great projects in their own right, once the artist is free from following the wishes of a label executive.

I replied with my thoughts on the subject:

You have a point, Ron. I thought about this some during the conference at Crossroads. Because I've often heard the complaint from artists that record companies dictate what you record and, in their opinion, stifle the artist's own creativity (which is probably what attracted the record deal in the first place).

How often has one heard the complaint that "I liked them better before they 'made it big' and were signed? They were producing better, more original creativity on their custom/table projects."

HOWEVER, I tend to agree with how the record companies think, too. IF you have an artist who really is a creative genius and innovative with his music, then the record company probably is smart enough to let that artist run their own show. Realistically, though, how many artists are good talents, so-so at creativity, but still need a bit of seasoned help from the record company with whom they are signed? I think this may be the case for the majority.

So, just as remixes are popular, I'd like to see both angles and, from a fan's standpoint, choose for myself: "do I like the record company version of the artist or the artist's version of the artist?"

For the sake of good business, you'd probably have to side with the record company.

For the sake of variety and possibly a surprise-success, you'd look forward to see what the artist can do on their own.

Risk is risky which is why we don't see more of it.

Labels: commentary

I talked to comedian (or is it comedienne?) Chonda Pierce yesterday about an upcoming Atlanta concert event. But the conversation also talks about Christians performing in secular arenas, being a "funny lady" with depression at the same time, and about how singing fits into her shows. Chonda really is a blast!

Labels: audio / podcasts

This link announces the addition of XM's Southern Gospel radio channel, enLighten, to the satellite radio menu in Canada via XM Canada (www.xmradio.ca).

This announcement also means that the weekly release of "Daniel Britt & Friends" will now be heard throughout all of North America.

Expect these changes to take effect April 1, 2007.

Welcome, Canadians!

Labels: news and updates

As most of the other participants have already acknowledged, there was a summit of sorts in Asheville, NC on Friday.

I was a part of it; so were Mr. Averyfineline, Douglas Harrison; Mr. Musicscribe, David Bruce Murray; Mr. SouthernGospelBlog, Daniel J. Mount; from Crossroads: Mickey Gamble, Chris White, Jim Stover, and Scott Wagner; from Vine: Kevin Ward and Wayne Haun.

It was 1) a good dialogue of ideas, both from the record industry reps and from us guests and 2) filled with examples of how the business really works and what is really going on in the current state of the genre.

Key points, rhetoricals, and topics that I took away (although not necessarily in agreement with them all) include the following:

-Record companies are the financiers of the industry and are often last in line to get paid

-Song writers are, probably, the most important piece to the S.G. puzzle

-Without good songs to sing, the best singers in the world are (for the most part) useless

-Most albums today are filled with filler instead of outstanding songs; this is due to how often a new record is churned out, and lack of artist direction by the record companies

-Suggested changes to the album problem: let a record last for longer than 18months and only record songs that are individually, stand-alone hits in their own right; or, if you must record a new project more often, only cut a handful of GREAT songs that can receive the proper amount of dedication (read: spend more $$ on a few good songs than spreading your budget out over more tunes).

-Radio needs to play more currents to better the industry

-There may be no compelling reason to convince radio to play more currents, unless the audience absolutely demands it or ad revenue rates increase as a result of it

-There are almost no major market radio outlets representing S.G.

-There is a cashola/payola case currently being taken care of in S.G.

-Chart reform is necessary

-Performers need more "candy" to offer the fans of today's "A.D.D.-give-me-more-more-more culture"

-Gaither did not necessarily revive a "dying" industry in the early 90's

-The industry was not necessarily "dying" in the early 90's

-Gaither is a great example of quality; his success is based on quality; no one can deny it

-Gaither's success benefits Gaither more than it benefits the genre as a whole

-SoundScan monitors sales from major retailers

-SoundScan prohibits monitoring of record table sales in church settings

-Most groups appear to care less about retail (other than their own record sales)

-Good ministry is achieved best when there is good business

-If you're into ministry only and don't care about anything else (quality, business, popularity, etc.), then stay out of the business side altogether. Go minister, get your eyes off the $$, keep your calls away from radio, and don't hire a producer to enhance your sound

-Don't go 7 hours in a meeting with record company execs without taking a bathroom break

-The Southern Gospel feast is spread over a long, long table and there is room enough for you (if you sing correctly, hopefully)

-Good is usually subjective when speaking of music (e.g. Inspirations, Russ Taff, and Cynthia Clawson are all good singers; they sing notes well and can follow a beat. The fact that you may not like one sound over another doesn't make them bad, just different)

-I related S.G. to Polka. There isn't enough demand to warrant an individual radio format for their sub-genres. In other words, to create a Bluegrass S.G. format to please those fans, a quartet S.G. format to please those fans, and a progressive S.G. format to please those fans would be great, but I just don't think the marketplace would support them individually. One industry-ite admitted to being treated (albeit professionally) like "Polka" when representing Southern Gospel to the larger music community

-If S.G. were not as varied as it is, however, would it appeal to as many (different kinds of) people?

There was more, but for now, this is what comes to mind. Again, check David Bruce Murray, Averyfineline, and Daniel J. Mount for more perspectives on the summit.

-Daniel

Labels: commentary, news and updates

Here's the mp3 interview download of the extended interview with the men of Mercy's Mark, recorded in September during NQC week in Louisville, Kentucky. Enjoy!

Labels: audio / podcasts

I recently had another visit with John Christopher Knight, whose family produces some of the most unique, original music you've ever heard. It doesn't fall into any kind of box. They're Christians and some of the music references their faith while some simply references life (and after all, isn't God the God of all?).

Listen to this visit with John, recorded in February of 2007. Then, you can also go back and listen to an earlier interview recorded in September of 2005 at this link.

Labels: audio / podcasts

Here's my interview with John and Candy Pfeifer (siblings) and good friend Mary Jane Carter who collectively make up the unique Gospel sound of the Pfeifers.

BONUS: When you listen to the interview, you'll also hear some industry discussion about the new American Gospel Music brand and the Pfeifers' involvement.

Labels: audio / podcasts