danielbritt.com

Southern Gospel added to Sirius lineup, survives XM merger

2008-11-12T11:19:00.003-05:00

It's no longer a mystery or secret to keep. Tell the world! Southern Gospel programming not only survives the Sirius-XM merger, but flourishes on BOTH satellite platforms!

enLighten and its programs, including Daniel Britt & Friends and The Gospel Greats, will continue to be heard on both XM at channel 34 and on Sirius at channel 67.

In addition, the Gaither Homecoming Radio show is added to the enLighten family of programming.

Early estimates that I've seen for the combined Sirius+XM audience ranges as low as 17 million, and as high as 19 million. (The official number released by Sirius XM PR is "18 million.")

Another byproduct of this merger is the continued partnership between XM & DirecTV and Sirius & Dish Network. These satellite television services provide a simulcasted audio feed to their subscribers.

Certainly unofficial, I did a quick tabulation of subscribers to XM, Sirius, DirecTV, and Dish Network, and came up with a ballpark just under 50 million subscribers.

While that's strictly a very quick ballpark, it shows that Southern Gospel has a real chance to prove itself to an incredibly large number of people. Let us not disappoint!

Bill Gaither co-hosts 3-part series on Convention Style Music

2008-08-25T15:04:00.004-04:00

Bill Gaither called me earlier in the year wanting to do something educational in nature and focus on convention style music. We took 3 weeks of Daniel Britt & Friends and, together, co-hosted a series on that theme.

The first of the three weeks is tonight - coming your way at 7 p.m. Eastern time on XM 34 and DirecTV 828.

Two additional broadcasts will be heard on Thursday at 10 p.m. ET, and on Saturday at 12 p.m. (noon) ET.

Here's the PR piece:
Coming up on the next Daniel Britt & Friends: It's a three-part educational series on the history of Convention-Style music as we welcome guest co-host to the show, Bill Gaither! You'll hear many samples of what convention style music is, learn where it came from, and gain a passion for why this American art form needs to live. It's on the next three editions of Daniel Britt & Friends!

-Daniel Britt

Joy FM Gets Artists to Lip Sync!

2008-08-16T18:02:00.001-04:00

At Joy FM, we recently conducted a "Lip Sync" contest to win tickets to The Greene's annual Jubilee concert.

At the concert, we decided to take the lip sync challenge to the next level.

We invited audience members on stage to lip sync "Shouting Time" by The Hoppers.

At the second chorus, we surprised the crowd with a celebrity makeup of The Hoppers - see Rodney Griffin, Clayton Inman, Ivan Parker, Sue Dodge, Joseph Habedank, Scotty Inman, and Tony Greene acting as the Hoppers.

The videos are accessible at this link.

-Daniel Britt

AUDIO>> Talley Trio fake phone call

2008-07-15T15:48:00.003-04:00

At Joy FM, our staff pastor is Dennis Collins. He comes in regularly to answer questions from a Biblical perspective.

Friday was his birthday. In passing recently, he asked "so which special guest are you going to have call me on my birthday?"

Little did he know who we had up our sleeves... Talley-ho!

AUDIO/PODCAST INTERVIEW>> Ben Speer

2008-06-18T14:56:00.001-04:00

This is my interview - rather long - with the legendary Ben Speer. This was recorded during NQC week, 2007, in Louisville, Kentucky. Enjoy!

AUDIO/PODCAST INTERVIEW>> Gordon Mote

2008-06-11T14:31:00.001-04:00

Here's an interview I recorded with Gordon Mote at the Atlanta Gaither Homecoming backstage April 13, 2007.

AUDIO/PODCAST INTERVIEW>> Mark Lowry & Bill Gaither co-host the Morning JoyRide

2008-04-16T16:48:00.005-04:00

Mark Lowry was scheduled to co-host the Morning JoyRide with Daniel, Candi, & Melody on Wednesday, April 9th on Joy FM.

What we were surprised to learn is that Bill Gaither was making a surprise appearance too.

And to boot: Bill stayed around for the entire show!

The MP3 download gives you most of the show's discussions (sorry, no music is included for copyright reasons).

Enjoy!

Bill & Gloria Gaither 4-Hour Special

2008-03-31T07:57:00.002-04:00

I wanted to drop a note to alert you of a special extended broadcast presentation of Daniel Britt & Friends - starting tonight on XM's enLighten Channel 34:

It's a four-hour documentary on Bill & Gloria Gaither.

This week you can hear the first two hours; next week you can catch the final two hours.

Here's the scoop:

Coming up on the next Daniel Britt & Friends: Bill & Gloria Gaither! You�ve seen them on television, you may have been to a Homecoming concert or two, you�ve likely heard bits and pieces of the Gaither story � but did you know that the American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers (ASCAP) named these two folks Songwriters of the Century � based on the impact their work has made on American culture in the 20th century? Several weeks ago, Daniel Britt traveled to Alexandria, Indiana � the town where Bill Gaither has lived his entire life � to sit around microphones in a Gaither studio and hear their �life stories� from their own lips � a conversation which consumed more than four hours! Not only did Daniel talk with Bill and Gloria about their early lives and meeting, but about their songwriting together, traveling as the Bill Gaither Trio with Bill�s brother Danny and how the Homecoming phenomenon came about � and so much more! Plus, you�ll hear from some folks in their hometown of Alexandria who have know them for 40 or more years, including the principal of the high school where they were both teachers and first met. And, while in town, Daniel chatted with Bill�s lifelong best friend about the personal side of Bill and what �makes him tick.� Of course, you�ll hear how the Gaither musical sound has evolved over the years from its beginnings more than 40 years ago. You won�t want to miss a minute of these four hours devoted to these two humble folks who are truly icons of Gospel music � presented in two extended two-hour broadcasts of Daniel Britt & Friends � coming the weeks of March 31st and April 7th on XM Radio Channel 34, enLighten.

Daniel Britt & Friends is heard each week throughout the U.S. and Canada 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

AUDIO/PODCAST INTERVIEW>> Dr. Gary Chapman

2008-02-21T10:04:00.001-05:00

Listen to the Morning JoyRide with Daniel, Candi, & Melody as they interview Dr. Gary Chapman, author of "The Five Love Languages." This was recorded February 11, 2008.

Long Overdue Update

2007-09-05T20:30:00.000-04:00

Wow! It has been MONTHS since I've updated things around here. Forgive me; things have been a bit busy.

First: I'm now living in Winston-Salem, NC serving as Operations Manager and Morning Show Host of Joy FM.

Second: The New Joy FM launched this week (on Labor Day). With that, came the new morning show called "The Morning JoyRide with Daniel, Candi, & Melody." These ladies are fun to talk with each morning as we play great Gospel music. My biggest challenge is going to be in holding my own when these two gang up on me. Call it Two Girls and a Handtruck or Two Misses and a Hit ... either way, just throw me a bone every now and then! BONUS: See pictures from a recent photo shoot here >>

Third: I am still the afternoon guy and the Saturday Southern Gospel/Southern Majesty guru on NewLife FM in Atlanta. I'm enjoying that tremendously!

Fourth and finally: The New season of Daniel Britt & Friends is set to begin the week of September 10th on XM's enLighten 34. The kickoff guests are Gordon Mote, Ben Speer, and the Gaither(less) Vocal Band with Guy, March, & Wes. Stay tuned! (You can also keep up to date with the latest at http://www.enlighten34.com

Again, sorry for the lack of updates.

AUDIO/PODCAST INTERVIEW>> Ivan Parker

2007-07-16T21:02:00.000-04:00

Here is the interview with Ivan Parker as recorded in Atlanta on April 13, 2007.

AUDIO/PODCAST INTERVIEW>> Ernie Haase

2007-07-08T20:16:00.000-04:00

Here's an interview I recently conducted with Ernie Haase of Signature Sound. (Recorded April 13, 2007 at the Gwinnett Arena, Atlanta)

AUDIO/PODCAST INTERVIEW>> Jim Hamill

2007-07-05T09:29:00.000-04:00

This is the interview with Jim Hamill as recorded in September, 2006 at NQC.

AUDIO/PODCAST INTERVIEW>> The Isaacs

2007-06-26T09:28:00.000-04:00

Here now is the interview conducted with The Isaacs at NQC, September, 2006.

AUDIO/PODCAST INTERVIEW>> The Hoppers

2007-06-22T16:30:00.000-04:00

Here's an interview with entire Hopper Family - Dean, Mike, Kim, Claude, & Connie! Recorded in September 2006...

AUDIO/PODCAST INTERVIEW>> Lauren & Debra Talley

2007-06-11T09:39:00.000-04:00

This is an interview with The Talley Trio's Debra and Lauren Talley. We discussed things like the history of the Talley's music, Lauren's incorporation into its new wave of the sound, and what "dirt" we could dig up on Roger (after all, he wasn't there to defend himself)!

AUDIO/PODCAST INTERVIEW>> Kyla Rowland

2007-06-06T09:49:00.000-04:00

This is an interview with songwriter Kyla Rowland (recorded in the fall of 2006 at NQC). We go behind some of her top songs and hear Kyla's inspiration in writing them.

AUDIO/PODCAST INTERVIEW>> Janet Paschal

2007-05-30T10:19:00.000-04:00

I sit down with Janet Paschal to discuss her career from the 60s and 70s through to today. In addition to music, the conversation also talks about the bliss of marriage, struggles with cancer, and even a greeting to Miss Marple and Max the Wonder Dog! Listen here.

Roy Webb No Longer EHSS Pianist

2007-05-29T14:48:00.000-04:00

From a Signature Sound newsletter issued today:

Roy Webb will no longer be the piano player for EH&SS. I want to publicly thank Roy for his three plus years of service to our group. We truly wish our brother and His family the best as they move forward. Roy gave us all many laughs.

Please keep EH&SS in your prayers as we too move forward in the days ahead.

Oh What A Savior He Is,

Ernie

The first reasons given were because of the family situation surrounding Roy's dad, but now the absence has been made permanent.

AUDIO/PODCAST INTERVIEW>> Mark Trammell Trio

2007-05-22T22:58:00.000-04:00

Here's my full and complete interview with the Mark Trammell Trio, recorded at NQC '06, where we talked about police training, personal training, and the habitual training of eating daily at your neigborhood Subway.

AUDIO/PODCAST INTERVIEW>> Lily Fern & Steve Weatherford with Mike Allen

2007-05-14T10:42:00.000-04:00

Here's my interview with Lily Fern Weatherford, her son Steve, and former Weatherford member Mike Allen where we review a great deal about Gospel Music's history and the Weatherford's influence on it.

AUDIO/PODCAST INTERVIEW>> Triumphant Quartet

2007-05-07T09:18:00.000-04:00

My interview with the Triumphant Quartet is now available for download here. Our converstaion was recorded at NQC in September 2006.

AUDIO/PODCAST INTERVIEW>> The Down East Boys

2007-04-30T08:31:00.000-04:00

Here's my interview with The Down East Boys from the National Quartet Convention in September, 2006.

AUDIO/PODCAST INTERVIEW>> The Perrys

2007-04-23T08:40:00.000-04:00

Here's my interview with The Perrys: Libbi, Joseph, Nick, and Matthew. This was recorded in September 2006 at the National Quartet Convention.

Sinning Singers: Aren't They All?

2007-04-19T14:10:00.000-04:00

I was thinking and reading and formulating my thoughts recently on Christian artists/entertainers and their personal lives and struggles (read: sin). The biggest challenge to what I'm about to write is to not come across self righteous about self righteousness. And it's really hard. But here goes:

Fact 1: We all have sin in our lives. We all have secrets that would horrify us if word got out.

Fact 2: Your most favorite Gospel artist is a sinner. Regardless of how it is rated in our minds, he or she is still a sinner.

I believe that if you are going to be in the professional music scene, then you have to accept the �celebrity� baggage that comes with a successful career. That is, if you get divorced, people will find out about it and you can't hide it. If you cheat on your taxes, and get caught, the industry will know. If you abuse drugs and get caught, your fans will hear about it. I also believe there are some things even celebrities have the right to insist on being private -- some things are built in to "human decency" and should always remain private. (I don�t need to know which artist had a fight last night with their spouse and all the details therein. I don�t need to know what brand of underwear so-and-so wears or even how much money they really make. Those things are really, truly, none of my business).

But, at the same time, if I never knew one ounce of "dirt" on an artist and even though they may be the most "dirty" one of us all, if I'm not distracted by that, his or her music can still minister.

And some may be totally turned off to listening to anything a "known sinner" has to say or sing. I can understand that to a degree. (Sometimes I think it may be more of "our" problem with putting singers on a pedestal of holiness than anything else, although that's another topic for another day).

I hope, on the other hand, that we can be honest to know that we've got secrets just as bad as the artist has. Ours just may not have been "found out publicly" yet.

I like the advice of Spurgeon when presented the problem of a pastor who sinned publicly. The advice: Let him sit on the back row of the church until his repentance becomes as notorious as his sin.

Maybe we should look at the definition of "public sinning." I'm not sure what all would be included, although, in the case of Imus: that would be a "public" situation.

If a SG artist blatantly sinned in front of a crowd on stage, that would be a "public" situation.

And the time needed to sit on the back row certainly would vary. For some people, it may take longer to make the repentance known.

(And by the way, as a side note, I�ve been taught and believe the Greek word for repentance is metanoia which is not change but instead to change one's mind; knowing who you are, who God is, what you've done and going to him with it. God does the changing work.)

No matter how much some artists repent, they're still shunned from the larger Christian community.

So, the problem still is and probably always will be: God will forgive & forget, but his people don't always.

God doesn't put "level" on sin. We do and there are some things we're willing to put up with and �allow� more than others.

Christians are supposed to be accepting of sinners (we�re still beggars, we just found bread). We�re supposed to love to each other (again, even the really bad sinners). The church is to be a soft and safe place (it has drifted from that in many cases).

And the church is to apply discipline in the case of non-repentance.

I'm afraid it seems there is too much "discipline" being applied to those who have already repented.

And by the way, why are we so concerned with how much the singers are sinning anyway? I mean, if you really, really, really get down to the heart of the matter: not sinning isn't even the point.

Jesus is the point.

We can't even sit together at his feet 'cause we're too worried about who has disappointed us lately with their scandals.

The scandals aren't the "main attraction."

Jesus is.