Christians - What We Could Be in the Music Industry

Thanks to the great people behind such radio stations as the FISH, K-LOVE, or Air1, Christians have no lack of clean, uplifting songs to listen to in the car, through our smart devices, or just on the computer while internet browsing. In addition, Amazon and iTunes are filled with Christian artists and their albums. (There's also streaming services like Spotify and Pandora, but I'm too old-fashioned to get into that. Streaming is a young man's game. Haha). My point is that we can access Christian music of varying genres very easily in this day and age. It wasn't always this way.

Prior to the 1980's, the only Christian music you would be able to buy would be hymns and gospel music (Any of your parents know the Bill Gaither Trio?). It wasn't until the 80's when the first modern Christian bands began forming. Bands like Petra, Stryper, and my personal favorite - Idle Cure (Any of you guys know "Breakaway"?). Most of these bands were formed by Christians or newly-saved Christians who used to play in secular bands. So they knew the coolest sounds and music, but had the message of Christ for their lyrics. And these guys didn't hold at all back with their lyrics. (Seriously, check out the lyrics to "Who Cries For Me?" by Idle Cure. Deep stuff).

Then came the 1990's, when Contemporary Christian Music (CCM) - and especially Christian Rock in the late 90's - took off. Bands like Skillet, Fireflight, Thousand Foot Krutch, Kutless, Relient K, you name it. I was very fortunate to be able to rock out to these bands' music as I grew up. I think we can all agree that anyone born after 1990 was spoiled when it came to getting Christian music as a kid.

So what am I getting at? Well, an interesting thing happened in the 1990's. Christian music labels were formed. Christian radio stations were established. Christian music festivals and award shows were created. An entire subculture of music, iconography, and lingo was born out of an untapped audience desperate for good music that aligned with their values. This was Christ-centered music that the kids could get behind. I'll never forget listening to "Invincible" by Skillet for the first time, or my first Relient K album.

With this subculture, a shield was formed. Up-and-coming Christian artists now had a path to exposure wherein they could develop as artists and wouldn't be attacked for their faith and values. It was the freedom to create great music that glorified the Father. And sure, Christian music started out pretty bad at first (I like to pretend that Skillet's first two albums don't exist), but because the artists had the CCM subculture shield of radio stations, sympathetic music labels, and fans that supported their message, they could go through the growing pains necessary to find their feet. And now, some of the best music out there - secular or not - can be found among Christian artists.

But I think - 20 years on - there has grown an unintended side effect of the CCM shield. The shield has become a bubble. Rather than being a way for Christian artists to safely develop their skills until they have achieved mastery, I feel that many new Christian artists are using the safe environment to settle for mediocrity.

I know this can seem a harsh criticism, but hear me out. Here's a few songs from some of the top Contemporary Christian Music artists of our day, all with over a million views of these songs on YouTube, some in the 10's of millions.

You may have a differing opinion on these songs, but they all sound a little bland to me. The instrumentation, the melodies, and the lyrics are all very similar. Nothing stands out to me. Don't get me wrong, I believe there is a place for simple songs. Some of my favorite worship songs have just a guitar and some drums, and a very anointed singer with a powerful voice full of conviction. But when all the songs on Christian radio sound like that, you have to wonder if we couldn't be doing more.

Let me put it this way. If - as an up-and-coming Christian musician - you know that your intended audience is so desperate for clean and Christ-centered music that they'll absorb everything that comes from Christian radio stations and music labels, you may not feel as much incentive to innovate or be creative in your music. Why should you? As long as your lyrics are clean, and you have a sort of catchy tune, Christian radio stations will play your songs, and likewise, the Christian music labels will sign you.

This may be enough for the Christian listening audience, but what about the rest of the world? Again, don't get me wrong. I love that we have music tailored just for Christians. Casting Crowns is one of my favorite artists. But remember the great composers born out of the Reformation? Handel, Bach, Beethoven, etc. wrote many beautiful compositions - many which praised Christ - and weren't just regarded as great Christian composers. They were regarded by everyone as great composers by any standard. Christians were at the top of their game. The masters of their craft.

Now, this isn't true for all Christian music, as I've already mentioned. But I do think that one subgenre of Christian Contemporary Music is enjoying more creative innovation than the rest. I am talking about Christian Rock. I know not all of you are fans of rock music, but just listen to these songs by Christian rock artists that are still around today, and compare them to the first video I showed you - in terms of quality of lyrics, instrumentation, and composition.

Did you notice the difference? Pianos, violins, electronics, guitars, drums, male and female vocals. All arranged masterfully around powerful lyrics. I know this is subjective, but I hope you found - as I did - that these songs felt more cinematic, more creative, more powerful.

And this motivates the question, why is only the rock subgenre of Christian Contemporary Music this good? My educated guess is that Christian rock is the only subgenre of CCM that has the potential right now to cross over to the secular realm. As such, after a Christian rock band develops under the CCM shield, it can move over to the secular scene, where there is no such shield. Those bands now have to compete on a level even with every other rock band, forcing innovation and creativity and mastery in order to survive.

And look at the results. Skillet is popular all over the world (especially in Russia for some reason), have reached No. 3 on the Billboard 200 (meaning they had a song that sold the 3rd best for a week out of all songs released that week), and have sold millions of albums. RED also enjoys similar international success, as well as were nominated for a Grammy award twice.

And if you suspect that these two bands have watered down their message to get where they are, I can say with complete confidence that they have not. I've been to live concerts for both of these bands. Skillet is never afraid to give credit to their Lord and Savior Jesus Christ on stage in between (and sometimes in the middle of) their songs. And I personally witnessed Michael Barnes, the main singer of RED - at a secular venue - get down on his knees on the stage and say a prayer out loud in the middle of his song before finishing the song in bombastic fashion. It was an awesome show.

So all that to say... we can do better. Christians can - and should - be the masters of their craft. Whether it be music, engineering, mathematics, photography, writing, filmaking, or whatever, Christians should exemplify excellence. Like the great painters and composers of old, Christ should show through the excellence of our work, and the conviction of our testimonies. Because when we as Christians inspire like no one else can, solve problems that no one else can solve, and speak truth when no one else will, people cannot help but be pointed to the God who gives us the strength and talent to accomplish it all.

Be excellent, fellow Christians. Be masters of your craft. Change the world.

~ Drew